Tractor club website ?

Our club is discussing a website. I'm in favor of one, but lack info to make rational arguments to those who can't see any benefit.
What benefits does your website offer members?
Annual cost?
Time commitment to maintain?

Other issues you wish to share?

I help run a web site and Problem Page for Ford and Fordson tractors. www.forsontractorpages.nl
The advantages are mainly for people who need information, who want to chat about their tractors and implements much as occurs here on YT.
It does take a lot of time if you are committed to it. I find that I can spend four or five hours a day answering queries and keeping the site safe by deleting the "Funnies" who try and get on to post sales of "naughty Russian ladies" and other distractions.

We also have a "Stories" page, a Wiki, which any member could post stories of their tractors or repairs and modifications. This became a problem when it got hit by outside sources who changed the wording in stories and articles much as happens on "Wikipedia". In the end we had to pass word protect that page.

All in all I enjoy it and have made close friends all over the world who we visit and spend time with as well as chat on line. I have been doing it with my co-workers for over 15 years now and look forward to doing it for many more years yet.

Make sure you have a method of checking who is joining your site, we have four moderators who keep a regular check on people who want to join and who check that they are genuine tractor or machinery owners.

Brian

Sounds like he is running something more than a web site. Now a question for you is do you put on a show or swap meet or something like that? If you do then its primary function would be giving the information on what you are doing and how to contact the club. Something like including meeting times and places if would be thinking might get new members that way, would also let curent members know when and where meetings are at. But NO one but the operator of the site could put anything on it. If no show or other function that depends on the public then not worth it.