CorrBoard closes 30 November 2005!

[DazedOblivion]

I was very sad to read a message from Mark1 at the CorrBoard informing Corrs fans that he would be closing the CorrBoard!

I really thank Mark for what he has done for all of us. It is a great forum with some of the nicest people, and I hope that the phenomenon will continue at the successor website being worked on by TJ.

God bless the CorrBoard. Thank you for the great memories.

[Sabine]

I can only agree with what you said, Steve. It´s so sad, that the Corrboard closes, cause it´s such a great place for us Fans to meet. But I can really understand the reasons why Mark is doing this.

And as there will be another board, the Corr Club by TJ, the era will go on.

[SingleTunePoet]

The Corr Board provided us with sooooooo many lovely people, good info, great posts...it´s sad that it is closing now...I am pretty sure that for a whole lot of people it became daily routine to check the Corr Board...Mark did a wonderful job and I believe everyone is more than thankful for all that he did for his fellow Corrs fans.
But I am sure that TJ will follow Mark´s footsteps and be one great admin and make a wonderful place for the Corrs onine community!

[snookyjojo]

ohh....that's really sad to hear
I haven't been to the corrboard really often, but I remember that when I was there I always thought it's a nice place for corrs fans And do you remember the joke on Aüril 1st this year ?hahaha, I was sooooo shocked! hahahaha.
yeah yeah, only good memories to the Corrboard

[rfewrewr]

Oops! I knew about it just three minutes ago! Why Mr Mark want to close it?Anybody tell me, please? It's really great place!!! 30 ovember.....only few days more.....

[rfewrewr]

Here is what Mark wrote:

To my fellow Corrs fans,

It is with very mixed emotions that I am making this announcement. I am planning to close the CorrBoard for good at the end of this month, God be willing. I have very much I’d like to say with regard to this matter, but for now, I’ll just stick to the important points.

First of all, I want to thank “Galley”, the man who passed on the mantle of leadership to me back before there was a “CorrBoard”.

Second, since I did indeed receive the mantle of leadership from someone else, it is only fitting that I should attempt to pass it along to someone else. To do otherwise would be irresponsible and unfair. Fortunately, there is absolutely no difficulty in making the decision as to who is capable and deserving of this role: our good friend Trevor, whom we know as “TJ”. For the past seven years, TJ has been a trusted friend to me and to Corrs fans everywhere. He has not only gone out of his way to share with fellow Corrs fans, but he has demonstrated an unswerving integrity and honor in his duties as moderator here at the CorrBoard. Indeed, I could not imagine a person being better qualified to carry on as leader of this great community.

Fortunately for Corrs fans, TJ is pleased to accept this role, and has already begun deployment of a new website – “The Corrs Club” (http://www.TheCorrsClub.com). It is with profound gratitude to TJ that I ask all of you to support TJ in his efforts to relocate the CorrBoard community to The Corrs Club.

Third, I want to thank the wonderful Corrs fans who have made it such a pleasure to run the CorrBoard these past years. I often hesitate to make overgeneralizations, but I don’t think I’m going too far out on a limb to say that the Corrs have some of the nicest fans in the world. I have met many truly nice people from so many countries as a result of running this website. And I’m certain that you are the reason that Jim Corr chooses to post messages here; you are the nicest fans anywhere! I hope that I’ve done a respectable job maintaining this website for you. Indeed, it has been my pleasure.

Fourth, I want to thank Jim Corr for his personal recognition of the CorrBoard. It is not lost on me that the CorrBoard’s popularity is due in large part to Jim’s visits here. As a Corrs fan, I cannot say enough about how much I appreciate this honor. In a way, I feel like I might be betraying Jim by closing the CorrBoard. But I sincerely hope, from the bottom of my heart, that Jim will understand my decision (I’ll explain it a little more clearly below), and that he will always remember that he had – and will continue to have – a true supporter and ally of this great band we call “The Corrs”.

And that brings me to the Corrs themselves. What can I possibly say about this great band that hasn’t already been said before? The Corrs have been my favorite band for many years now, and they continue to stand in that role for me today. Beautiful melodies, flawless production, stunning musicianship, and of course – that incredible voice of Andrea Corr, who made me a Corrs fan from the first time I heard “Runaway”. There just is no other band in the whole world like the Corrs. Their music inspires. It lifts our spirits. It is a blessing to everyone who hears it! And it was a nearly inexhaustible source of inspiration to a 38 year old husband and father of two, who has spent countless hours maintaining a website dedicated to this amazing group of musicians. The Corrs have brought much joy to my life, and it has been an honor to help spread that joy to the lives of other people.

And that brings me to the “38 year old husband and father of two” part. The CorrBoard has indeed consumed a great deal of my personal time. And while I have truly enjoyed the experience, and received a great deal of satisfaction watching the success of the CorrBoard, the fact is – it’s been time that I’d perhaps have been wiser to have spent with my wife and children. For while I’ve received a great deal of personal satisfaction running the CorrBoard, the fact is – my wife and children haven’t received anything of value from it. And I just hope it’s not too late to right the wrong that I’ve done to them.

Don’t get me wrong – they have been nothing but supportive of my efforts. They have stood by me throughout the whole journey, and have enjoyed the Corrs’ music almost as much as I do. But at this point in my life, the situation begs the question – where is it all leading?

The truth is, I don’t have a good answer. I don’t know where it’s all leading. I don’t know what possible benefit it can ever have for my family. It’s the proverbial “dangling carrot”, and I’ve been chasing it for myself, trying to fool myself into believing I'm doing it on their behalf. The irony is - they don't want it. All they really want is me.

So what prompted all this? Well, six years ago, when I first created the CorrBoard (the website you see today), I honestly wasn’t the same person I am today. (I can see a few of you shaking your heads, saying that it’s nothing to be proud of. It’s okay – no hard feelings, hehe.) Six years ago, I thought I could make the world a better place by running the CorrBoard in a dignified, Godly way. I knew I wasn’t exactly standing out on the street, preaching the Word of God to people, but I rationalized that I could make a difference in my own way (in my own defense, that’s just where I was in my own walk with God at that time - rationalizing and compromising). But now, six years later, I’m beginning to see that I’m not making the kind of difference I should or could be making. And as time has gone on, I’ve begun to realize that I’m not making a positive difference of any lasting or, more to the point, eternal value to anyone. And when you combine that with the fact that my own family isn’t getting any benefits from it… well, it’s enough to make to make a person really stop and think.

Interestingly enough, I’ve been thinking about this for quite some time. It really has nothing to do with the recent technical problems that CorrBoard has been having with the hosting company. But is it just a coincidence that these technical problems came during the midst of my dilemma? The skeptics would say – yes, it was just a coincidence. But from my point of view, there is very little doubt in my mind that as I’ve been asking my God “what should I do?”, these technical problems are a not-so-subtle way of letting me know that I’m on the right track.

I guess what I’m really trying to say is – the CorrBoard seems to be of little benefit to my family or my God.

Don’t get me wrong – this is in no way a criticism of being a Corrs fan. Just so there is no ambiguity here – I love the Corrs. I really do. They are the best band in the world. But you know what? They’re just a band. They’re not God. They know that already, but sometimes I wonder if I know that. I mean - they’re a beautiful blessing in my life, but they’re not supposed to be the center of it. And the way I’ve been conducting myself over the past few years, you’d never know it.

If it seems like all of this is leading up to some kind of “holier-than-thou” proclamation of judgment of other people – it’s not supposed to be. I’m no one’s judge, and I can’t begin to tell other people how to live their lives or what’s right for them. I can only do my best with my own life, with what I know. And what I know is this: the almighty God of heaven and earth, the God of the Bible, loves me so much that He sent His Son to die for all the mistakes I’ve made, so that I can have a real relationship with Him. And as time goes on, as that relationship continues to grow day by day, I’m just learning that the CorrBoard can’t compete with Jesus. He’s the center of my life – not the CorrBoard. And when people look at me – when my family looks at me – I’m happy if they think of Jesus, but I’m not happy if they think of me as the dad who splits his free time between his family and the CorrBoard.

But please don’t think I’m using my family as an excuse. My children have no idea that any of this dilemma is taking place. And my wife has made it quite clear that she loves me and will support me, no matter what I decide. But you know what? That’s all the more reason to put them first.

In closing, I’d just like to apologize to anybody that I’ve frustrated or offended with the way I’ve run the CorrBoard over the years. It’s a tough balancing act sometimes, but that’s no excuse for being unkind to people. If you’re one of those people, please feel free to let me know, and please know that I ask your forgiveness.

May God bless us all, and may the Corrs continue to be the greatest band in the world.

Peace everyone.

Mark

I see......Thank you for providing corr Board, Mr Mark !!

[DazedOblivion]

The Corr Club (successor to the CorrBoard) is beginning to come together. Here is the link:

thecorrs.gofortli.com/cb/mb.php

It has a VERY familiar look.

[corrguy]

Jim Corr has just posted on the Corrboard thanking Mark.

"Mark, I would just like to say on behalf of myself and the girls, a huge thank you for everything. This site has been a great source of information not just for our fans but for us as well. You will be missed. We wish you and your family the very very best, take care,

Thank you,

Jim and sisters... "

[Sabine]

corrguy said:

Jim Corr has just posted on the Corrboard thanking Mark.

"Mark, I would just like to say on behalf of myself and the girls, a huge thank you for everything. This site has been a great source of information not just for our fans but for us as well. You will be missed. We wish you and your family the very very best, take care,

Thank you,

Jim and sisters... "

Hey, that´s exactly what I wanted to write in this post. It´s just so sad that the board is closing, I can only repeat it.
Hopefully the Corrs will post on the new site as well. I will be there, that´s for sure.

[DazedOblivion]

Thanks CorrGuy and Sabine! You both beat me to this story which shows us what a class act the Corrs are:

Thank you Mark...
27-Nov-2005 19:42:20

Mark, I would just like to say on behalf of myself and the girls, a huge thank you for everything. This site has been a great source of information not just for our fans but for us as well. You will be missed. We wish you and your family the very very best, take care,

Thank you,

Jim and sisters...

Jim Corr


I think that's a really kind thing of the Corrs to do for a fansite. Very sad... it's hard not see this the end of an era. I like the fact that Jim says that our posts were in fact read by the band. That kind of makes me feel good, knowing that they might have read some of the good things that I said about them.