I'd like to give an alternative possibility.

I have been regularly monitoring and occasionally posting to this
newsgroup for about 7 years. I have learned a lot from all of you
during that time. But now I am more confident and fairly competent in
my turning than I was 7 years ago. I have a lot less questions and
spend more time turning.

I wonder if one of the reasons that their is less activity is because
more and more of us turners that lurk in the shadows are better
turners than we were and we don't always need as much help. If their
is no new blood joining this group that needs help then all we can do
is talk to each other. Instead we are busy turning (or doing other
somewhat important tasks).

It may be that we need to recruit. I think that this group does much
better when their are a lot of questions being asked. If their is no
one asking questions then the group slowly dies off or at least it
becomes a lot less active.

Just a thought.
Ted