The listings found at QFLEA.com - The Virtual Flea Market represent more than just a list of sites in directory style. Behind each listing is one of our QFLEA members, who not only have listed their site at our flea market, but have also joined our QFLEA YahooGroup. Membership in the YahooGroup is a requirement, because QFLEA is more than a place to list a site. We are an online community that provides mutual support among the members. There are many members who truly appreciate the benefits of the QFLEA group and actively participate. There are many others who just lurk and learn from the messages, which is terrific. But then there are a few that I rarely, if ever, hear from. There are actually some members of QFLEA who have been members for years with whom I have never exchanged an e-mail. I am sure this would surprise most of my members given the many of the exchanges I have with so many of them.

Every so often, I go through the list of members who are part of QFLEA looking for signs of life ... any sign that they actually acknowledge they are part of our community. Most members show several signs of life, but occasionally, some members show none. The following is a list of what I consider to be signs of life. This is not intended to be an all-inclusive list, but it's pretty complete.

[1] Posting a message to the QFLEA YahooGroup.
[2] Listing their site in one of our YahooGroup databases.
[3] Applying for a free advertisment in our QFLEA Shopping News.
[4] Replying to an e-mail from me.
[5] Replying to one of our QFLEA polls or surveys.
[6] Providing any feedback when solicited.
[7] Participation in any of the free special promotions during the years.
[8] Participation in our FIND program.
[9] Participation in our critique program.
[10] Making an entry into our blog.
[11] Participation in our annual holiday promotion.
[12] Sending me an e-mail asking me a question or making a comment.
[13] Writing about QFLEA in their our blogs or on their websites.
[14] Posting about QFLEA in some other forum.

There are many in the QFLEA YahooGroup who have been in the group for years and have never even applied for a listing in one of our neighborhoods, let alone showing any of the signs of life listed above. I do occassionally post a simple question through the poll section of our YahooGroup just asking members if they wish to remain. Those who usually show signs of life anyway usually respond with a "yes". Those who did not show signs of life do not respond to the poll. It's those members who are usually removed, and quite frankly, once removed they wouldn't know the difference anyway.

I'm not looking for someone to have to be an active member. Not at all. But if in a period of years you haven't shown even ONE of the signs of life above, then I wonder why you'd want to be a part of our community in the first place.