It was one year ago on this day, December 30th, early on a Monday morning when I uploaded this site and a completely empty vBulletin message board to our old server. A server we'd outgrown in less than one year. Over 6,000 registered members later, here we are - the busiest Cadillac community on the planet. How did this happen?

This success is a result of all the hard work done by our Team (and team-members that have taken other roads since) and by our Members. Supporting Members and Vendors have made it possible to continue growing and flourishing online. Word-of-mouth has also been a major factor in promoting our community - and I thank you all for spreading the good word...

What's in store for the year ahead? Can we DOUBLE the amount of registered members we've attracted this year? I think so. I bet we can see our membership rise to 18,000 by this time next year. In fact, that's my goal... What are some of my other goals?

I'd love to see our Auctions section become the best place to buy or sell a Cadillac (or Cadillac parts) online. This area WILL become a "Classified" section shortly. I'm saving my money :p and I'll purchase a piece of software which will allow for Auctions and Classifieds to be placed side-by-side. Why is this area important? Because when you need a part, I don't want you looking far for it - and I don't want you paying top dollar either. For example, I need two parts right now. The script "Cadillac" ensignia that goes on the trunk - and the piece that covers the trunk-key section. I'd love to buy these pieces from someone who's looking to sell them RIGHT HERE.

I'd like to find more Supporting Vendors and Supporting Members - a total of about 90 will have this site running without any out-of-pocket expense for myself.

I'd like to have the entire site molded around these forums. I'll be purchasing a Content Management System which will allow for articles to be posted on our main pages (outside the forums) and bring many other interesting options to the table.

What are some of your wishes? What would you like to see happen in 2004?

Thank you for making this THE place to be for Cadillac discussion on the internet. I'm very happy to have everyone aboard...

Congrats, Sal. I didn't discover this place until January, but I've been here at least once a week ever since.

Congratulations also go to the moderators and contributing members, particularly Sandman and Wes who have probably consistently put more into this place over the past year than anyone else.

My own goal for 2004 is to actually go out and BUY a Caddy in order to become a more "respectable" member of this community in SOME PEOPLE'S eyes. I came close a couple of times in late 2003, but the cars didn't turn out to be quite what I expected. To get what I want is going to take a little more of the green stuff, and unfortunately in the past two months I've had to buy two sets of tires, a furnace, Christmas presents, and I've made four pricey visits to the veterinarian. But my time IS coming.

Happy New Year everyone.

Well,
Sal, you have done a great job btw at making this community for everyone and such a great place to hang on the web. I think we need to start contacting business and sending them emails and making phone calls to get more supporting vendors. Someone (not me) needs to draft up an intro letter that we can send out to different companies to get them interested in using us for advertising. Once they get intersted in i can talk to them on the phone if need be. That is what i do all day long.
Advertising on our end would be a good idea too. If you can get those vinel window clings with cadillacforums.com writen on them I WOULD put one in my car. NO BUMPER stickers. T-shirts are just not cost effective or any clothing for that matter. Already looked into it. Need to start small.
Lets keep it up guys

A sincere thank you !!!!

Basically we have what every other site has.... A great set of sponsors, a good membership (better than most IMO), and a top notch moderation team ( :D ).... However, we dont have a place that sells us wholesale cadillac parts... This is what we need to really make it complete... Like a dealer or something that will sell wholesale parts (20-30% off retail)......

Ive really enjoyed being here, despite the amount of crap I have to deal with :D ..... Just kidding... I dont have a cadillac, nor do I have plans to get one anytime soon... When I do get one, it will most likely be a second car.... But this is definitely the best cadillac site on the net, hands down... Now we need to take it up a notch and make it BY FAR the best site out there that no one will be able to compare to....

Here Here to Sal's post.....
My goal is to make this site more modding friendly! I want people with 35inch spinners to look at an modded xlr and get ideas, i want a 1940's restored cadillac guy to see a fleetwood and be jealous of a touch this person has or whatever. It'll get there eventually and were already seeing this stuff now....
Also i want to set up a database of good and bad dealerships in the next few months.......all in due time

congrats im glad to have found this large family

Im in total agreement with adding a more elaborate parts section. Us Catera owners are in dire need of OEM/Aftermarket parts... you may have seen me contribute to the aftermarket part, but when internal parts fail that are OEM we really have no where to look. :bouncer:


Reguardless, this is a great site; you people are great and im pleased to find more and more information everyday, that I didnt know about cadillacs!

Congrats Sal! Great site that has already been a big help to me. I will enjoy watching it grow as the new year progresses.
Thanks,
Tim

Thank you, everybody! I appreciate the kind words. Let's all continue to build this into the busiest Cadillac site online... :)