Doug Oliver started the 16ga Society in 2004; I joined that same year as soon as I was aware of it; I'm member #47. Doug was a fellow Kansan and he and I had numerous conversations early on. I volunteered to help and he said he's keep than in mind, but he really wanted it to be his baby and keep it a one-man show. Since Doug's passing a person who goes by s_long (listed as member #3; the first two are Doug himself) who I understand is a good friend of Doug's and the family has been keeping it going, such as it is.
Some folks there are frustrated about the way it's being run currently and there seems to be a push by some current members to expand the administration; a couple of them have been pretty vocal about it. As is typical, the loudest complainers want someone else to do something about it. It was suggested that a complainer start his/her own site if they are so dissatisfied but of course no one is willing to put in the time, effort and money to do that.
I have no inside info but I expect that it is the way it is because that's the way Doug wanted it. Frankly I find the site to be rather unwelcoming to some of us early members; in looking at the membership rolls I see only one or possibly two members who joined earlier than I who even post there anymore. I do check in regularly but rarely post; most of those are ignored, and if I'm honest I don't care much for most of the current posts.
Sites seem to come and go unless there's a strong organization (like this one
) behind them. Sorry of this sounds petty but knowing Doug's vision for the 16ga Society and the site, it might be best to just let it fade away. JMHO.
My hat with the original society logo...
