AFF 20th Anniversary Presentation and giveaway :)

[admin]

As many of you would be aware this is our 20th year, and we did have a bit of a celebration at our annual gathering in Adelaide a few weeks ago. You can read all about the event HERE. (Suggestion: jump to page 25 if you want to miss all the planning and just read about the event itself.)

At the Saturday night dinner, I did a 30 minute presentation on the history of AFF over the years. The presentation included some screenshots of key AFF milestones. I though you might find them interesting, so I'm sharing some of them in this thread - for all to see.

There was also a very special gift for each attendee at the dinner. There are 5 spares, which I'll be giving away to 5 lucky members.

Feel free to add to this thread...

 

[admin]

What AFF looked like when it went live in September 1998. (Screenshots courtesy of Internet Wayback Machine)
Unfortunately some of the images didn't come through, but you get the picture!

 

[admin]

The "early" AFF had no discussion board - I don't think forums were invented then! All we had was one "killer application" which was the ability to calculate how many points you needed to go from A to B using Qantas, Ansett (remember them!!), or FlyBuy points. Seems pretty basic now, but none else was offering this function via the internet back then. Not even the airlines!

 

[admin]

Even got a bit of free publicity. Interestingly (and coincidently) this article was published EXACTLY 20 years to the day, that I gave the presentation! And yes, that was pretty much my garage back then!

 

[admin]

This is what the first version of the Gazette looked like. Compare this to our most recent Gazette.

 

[admin]

The forerunner to AFF as we know it now: the very first "Message Board" we put on AFF in 2001. Remember, this was way before social media and I was really surprised how popular our "Message Board" became. We used a very basic 3rd party product, which probably doesn't exist anymore!

 

[admin]

In 2002, we introduced our first "proper" discussion board. An open-source product called phpbb, which still exists today. Note some of the posters from 2002 - you may recognise some names

 

[admin]

Then in 2006, we replaced phpBB with vBulletin which was the leading forum software back then. And as you probably know this lasted for 11 years. We only changed to Xenforo last year.

 

[admin]

Also important to mention our great moderation team, without whom AFF would simply not exist. Two of the moderators were part of the original moderation team I setup in 2006!

 

[admin]

And finally, this is the gift all dinner attendees received: a 4GB USB Stick/Bottle Opener/Keyring, with the AFF logo engraved. A collectors item indeed, which will be worth a lot of money one day!

I purposely got a few extra (actually five) produced, so that I can give them away to AFF members who couldn't attend the dinner.

If you would like one, please send a message to me (admin) saying why you should get it. Preference will given to long standing AFF members who still actively contribute. And to increase the chance of winning one, you can also donate to a charity of your choice and send the receipt with your message. As I say, preference will be given to the more established members, but hey - a big donation to a worthy charity, will be favourably considered.

I'll be choosing the 5 winners on Friday 9 November at 5pm (Melbourne time), and I'll publish the winners on this thread by Monday 12 Nov. I'll be deciding, and my decision will be final! The only "bribe" I'll be considering is a generous donation to the charity.

 

[Pushka]

Maybe we could nominate someone whom we think might be a worthwhile recipient as well?

 

[kpc]

....and having been here 15 of those 20 years, I have lived through many of those changes In the early days, you might post a Q, and when you came back a week later, you may be lucky and get one response!

 

[Hvr]

In the early days, you might post a Q, and when you came back a week later, you may be lucky and get one response!

And that was before the ignore feature was introduced.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Pretty cool. It takes a lot of enthusiasm, energy, time and knowledge in the back rooms, to keep a forum alive and active for so long. Having an enthusiastic membership base is equally as important, so congrats to Clifford and the management team ... as well as to all the posters, old and new, who have all contributed to the success of AFF. Come to think of it, I've just talked myself into charging my glass and being upstanding (well charging my glass at least ) Cheers to all!!

 

[JohnK]

....and having been here 15 of those 20 years, I have lived through many of those changes In the early days, you might post a Q, and when you came back a week later, you may be lucky and get one response!

So true. I've been here almost 14 years and it's been an interesting ride with lots of posters coming and going.

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip>

View attachment 142839

i can confirm that this device works as advertised, at both ends

 

[QF WP]

It's an unusual feeling that I can remember the message board iteration in post #6. I remember the switch over and was just fortunate to be the second member to sign up to the new version. I wonder how many didn't want to take the plunge to the new version.

I am especially grateful that I have been part of this community, as there have been many long term friendships formed and mutual respect with the sharing of knowledge. I was gobsmacked when @Admin asked me to be the inaugural Moderator, but so glad I told him I couldn't do it by myself (I'll bet he is as well!!)

I certainly wouldn't be in the status position across multiple FF and hotel programs without the knowledge base and sense of community. Here's to the next 20+ years and long may we game the system.

 

[VPS]

mmm I wonder what my key ring would be worth on ebay (that was a joke Joyce)

 

[Antoallison]

And finally, this is the gift all dinner attendees received: a 4GB USB Stick/Bottle Opener/Keyring, with the AFF logo engraved. A collectors item indeed, which will be worth a lot of money one day!

I purposely got a few extra (actually five) produced, so that I can give them away to AFF members who couldn't attend the dinner.

If you would like one, please send a message to me (admin) saying why you should get it. Preference will given to long standing AFF members who still actively contribute. And to increase the chance of winning one, you can also donate to a charity of your choice and send the receipt with your message. As I say, preference will be given to the more established members, but hey - a big donation to a worthy charity, will be favourably considered.

I'll be choosing the 5 winners on Friday 9 November at 5pm (Melbourne time), and I'll publish the winners on this thread by Monday 12 Nov. I'll be deciding, and my decision will be final! The only "bribe" I'll be considering is a generous donation to the charity.


View attachment 142839

Congratulations on reaching 20 years and maintaining a really useful and welcoming site. Well done.

I hope whoever wins this years prizes enjoys them....

but I am going to wait until the site turns 21 years of age next year ..I figure the prize is at least going to be a trip on a plane to somewhere !

 

[Hvr]

i can confirm that this device works as advertised, at both ends

But which end has had the most use?