25 replies to this topic

[Prof. Chauncey Clemenceau]

 

Members of the Hogwarts Online Community,

 

I write to you for the final time as it is time to say goodbye. As a new calendar year begins, so too a new age on HO.

 

Since the founding of HO on July 26, 2005 I have had a strong group of supporters that have helped to make this community what it has been and what it is today. I am grateful for those many friendships I have cultivated throughout the years. HO gave me my start, HO gave me a place to be and has been part of my life for more than half of it. For quite sometime, I have been absent from HO and that has always bothered me. For a site and community to truly thrive, it must have a strong, benevolent owner that can provide support and direction. That support and direction has been missing on HO for a number of years, even though it has had many dedicated and competent governors.

 

While January 12, 2019 marks my final day of ownership for HO, today marks a new beginning for HO. After today, HO will be owned by Giselle D'Lisle. The writer behind Giselle has been a longtime member of HO and a dear friend of mine. He has been a member of HO since 2005. The writer behind Giselle will be the new individual to give HO that support and direction that it needs. He is perfectly suited for this role because not only can he lead HO in a new direction, he can do so knowing well the roots of where we came from!

 

My advice for both the new owner and the governors board is to always remember that first and foremost this is a community centered around a love of the Harry Potter series. Community, being the most important part of it. 

 

With that said, I truly wish this community all of the best!

[Prof. Sorcha Logan]

Joe,

I know I already told you privately how thankful and grateful I am for the time, dedication, money, expertise, etc. that you have put into HO for the last 14 years... but I need to say it again. Thank you. It has been an honor to lead with you on the governor's board for the last 10 years, and to be a member of your fantastic site for the last 13 years. HO has brought many memorable friendships and experiences to the lives of people all over the world and it will continue to do so under our new owner. That being said, your place in this community will remain the same... and though you are leaving, it is with absolute certainty that I know a piece of you will be retained here in the passion we all feel for the HP series and for RP.

 

I wish you all the best in your personal life and know we will keep in touch.

 

Much love,

Stephanie

[Prof. Caleb Rothwell]

Thanks for everything you did for the site. HO has always felt warm and welcoming to me, you will be missed.

I wish you the best of luck in your personal life. 

[Giselle DLisle]

C,

 

It goes without saying that I am humbled beyond words that you asked me to take up this gargantuan responsibility. I joined Hogwarts Online when I was just 10 years old, breaking the rules to do so, even. From that time forward you have been a mentor, friend, and confidant. For those things and for the dedication you have shown to Hogwarts Online, I will always be grateful.

 

You built a community that has spanned a decade. It cannot be overstated how much you have helped people with the simple act of making a home for those who may not have always felt at home in the real world. Hogwarts Online has been through many difficult times but it has always been a safe haven and refuge. It has brought together some of the best of friends, some of whom have since moved on from the site. It brought me my best friend.

 

I hope that the members will put the same faith and trust and me to lead Hogwarts Online the way Chauncey has for the last 13 years. In honor and recognition of his tremendous service to us all, the Governors and I have agreed to grant him a lifetime appointment to the Governor's Board, should he ever wish to pop in and check on us.

 

I hope that all of the members will join me in sincerely thanking Chauncey for all he has done for us.

 

G

[Prof. Britney Bryne]

Dear C,

Thank you for everything you have done for us. I joined HO when you first opened it and it has been a big part of my life. I truly respect you and what you have created. HO has been a second home to many of us and we will never forget you for this gift you have given us. I wish you the best today and always. Please remember that we are here for you and if you ever need anything you know how to find us

Love,
V

[Prof. Elizabeth Lapointebete]

Thank you so much for all that you have done to the site, Prof. CC!! You made HO, a home to many people worldwide. All the best for your personal life! You will be deeply missed...

[Brian Paker]

Thank you for everything you did on the site. You made a home for us, created a strong community and helped all of us finding a lot of friends. You will be missed, C! I wish you all the best in your personal life.

Edited by Brian Paker, 12 January 2019 - 04:01 PM.

[Asahi Montgomery]

Thank you for founding Hogwarts Online. Thank you for making a home for all of us here. Thank you so much for everything you've done for the site! Best of luck to you, Sir!  

[Waverly Grey]

Thank you for everything you've done for the site over the years, and founding it back in the day! HO has always been amazing at bringing people together, and means so much to every single member, past and present. Everyone has a story. You will be missed dearly. Best of luck with you future endeavors! 

[Prof. Emerald Taverne]

Thank you for everything that you did in creating a welcoming community and a home for us best of luck to you. You will be missed ❤️

[Shawn Rose]

Dear Chauncey,

 

Thank you sincerely.. From the bottom of my heart. 4 years ago, I made a decision to create an account on a website out of pure curiosity. If you had told me that four years later, I'd still be here talking to some of the greatest people I've ever met, I would have called ya crazy.. But sure enough, here I am. You have created an atmosphere that is warm, accepting, and loving. You've created a place of refuge when the troubles of real life are just a little too much. You've created an escape from reality when people may feel like there is no way out. You've created a society that is welcome to people of all ages, race, sexual orientation, gender.. essentially, a place for anyone, and for that I am truly grateful.

 

I never knew just how special HO would become to me, but in such a short amount of time, I've created lasting friendships, characters that I'll never ever forget, and bonds with other writers that will never be broken. HO has always been a second home to me, even from the beginning. I have complete trust in the wonderful job that I know Giselle will do and I'm very excited to see where HO will go in the future. Community has been the center of HO's focus, in my eyes, and I believe it will continue to be. From interactions on the website to conversations through Facebook to voice sessions in Discord, this place is full of nothing but love. Love, that you facilitated when you sat down and drew up this wonderful creation. 

 

Again, thank you for everything you have done. I wish you nothing but the uttermost success in every endeavor you encounter in your future.

 

With love,

 

- Chris

[Annabeth Kane]

Thanks for being such an inspiration for me. you are truly amazing. You have created more then just a roleplaying site for Harry Potter fan. You have created a family, that will help each other think and thine and HO will truly miss you and we are truly greatful that you created such a family. I truly love the friends and family that I've made this past four year, and that down to you, thank you so much.

Edited by Annabeth Kane, 12 January 2019 - 04:37 PM.

[Healer Elisabeth Matheson]

Dear Joe/C,

 

What a ride it has been! It is hard to believe that we have reached this point, it feels that just yesterday, I was sick at home while in my second or third year of college and wanted to write and was like, "what's this place" and took the dive into HO. My writing and characters have evolved here, as has a friendship. I feel like I grew up here. I've told you this, but this place has in times helped pull me out of the deepest darkest places I have ever been and in others allowed me to simply have fun.

 

As Sorcha already said, it has been home. And sometimes, we go away for a time. I am sad to return as you leave, but happy that your life is full and wonderful. I do hope that you will come to visit. That perhaps a HOlidays or anniversary might catch your eye down the road. The memories will always be there. Of fun times, of actually getting to sit down for lunch with you and Mel and Alanna Forrester at Harry Potter World (well, Hard Rock Cafe, but on a trip to Harry Potter World!) shortly after it opened, of people who are no longer with us.

 

I am thankful for you, for this place, and for the time spent. 

 

"The ones who love us never truly leave us" - Albus Dumbledore. 

 

I know it's a quote about death in the books, but in my years of travelling, in these last few years where I've been fortunate enough to work in a few different places, to be a part of a service corps organization, I feel like that quote is also intended to remind us that sometimes, our lives mean we drift apart a bit. We move on into different circles and different paths. But we are not fully gone from one another. 

 

Be well, friend.

 

Rachel

[Eryka van der Zwan]

Dearest Professor Clemenceau,

 

When I happened upon Hogwarts, I was most impressed with the idea and concept of a digital world of Harry Potter.  Where I read about the adventures of other witches in wizards in JK Rowling's Wizarding World.  After two years of reading, I took the plunge you were so kind to encourage.  While I will never be a wonderful writer, I more than enjoy the place that you and your friends came up with over fourteen years ago.  As time has passed and I have had to battle my way back through the complex non magical world someone asked me, Why?  Why fight so hard for something like this. 

 

If they had to ask, they would never know.  If they knew, they would never ask.

 

This place you created with your friends. This place that you worked tirelessly, lovingly with your colleagues and friends is a world beyond the reach of non magical folk.  It reaches out to all of us.  It touches a variety of feelings with in each and everyone that visits this site and stays to become a member.  It is a world started by J.K. Rowling but it was the invitation by you to come and wander through the pages of the magical world created here.... 

 

/tries to gather the feelings and emotions

 

It is a site, where you can reach forward to visit and be with new people, new characters and try new experiences.

It is a wonderful place, where you can look back, and find the ones in your memories and place them loving them in a world where they can still breathe and grow. 

It is a haven, where regardless of who you are and the restrictions you find in the non magical, you can reach inside and find that magical spark and believe in the impossible as you do it.

It is the home, where you come to spend time with otherrs that you have grown to love, and appreciate the variety of individuals who work, create and romp through a door way... you, Professor Clemenceau, have opened.

 

I read a T-shirt once, "You can't keep a good wizard down."  I thought of you.  

 

To take paper and pen, and create, maintain and find the right people to help you make a magical world, that welcomes all those who make it past the barrier....  you kind Sir are the maker of the Exlir of Life.  It is with deepest and heartiest of feelings that I, Thank You, for giving your time and self to a world I cherish.

 

 

"I wish you the very best in your adventures away from Hogwarts, Sir.  It is my fondest hope that on occassion, you will find the time back and see how much joy and happiness you bring to all those that make it here. " her voice was soft warned of pent up feelings she wrangled hold of.

 

"Dank Je Wel, Dear Professor Clemenceau." the petite witch looked up at the rather dashingly dressed man who had aged like the finest of wines over the past decade.  "After all..." she searched for the right words from someplace she had been.  Forgetting she was covered in glitter and trying to fix dinner when she heard the announcement.  "It was you who told me that regardless of how old you feel, or are, this is a magical world where we see past that."  the witch pulled the crumpled lacey hankerchief to her eyes once again.  If she knew what today was she would have worn a more enduring brand of mascara and such.  She looked up with what she hoped was not a tear stained face.  "Mahalo" she said her soft voice looking for something to hold her together.  "Aloha" she smiled as she watched  and read knowing he had put this world in the care of people he trusted.

[Niko Kobayashi]

aww You will be missed!!! Thank you so much for creating a home away from home in the rp world for me. Even with my inactivity I always tend to come back here. That makes a site so great. No other site can do that for me. *hugs!!!* 

[Alden Song]

Dear C,

I honestly still remember that time when I first found out about this site years ago. Delighted. Excited. I was online everyday to see if my charrie had been sorted, waiting for class enrollment with anticipation, RPing with awesome people (though some are not around anymore, some are still here which is awesome!). HO is the best HP site, ever! I've said this before, but I really was leaving for years and when my Potternerd coming back, HO was the only place I think about, because it really feels like going back home, after living in the university's dorm for four years, so here I am and have never been happier to decide to come back. I want to thank you so much for making this site, for allowing me to have this amazing experience and to give me a chance to do something I probably couldn't do in real life.

You'll always be missed!

[Angela Marlowe]

Dear C,

 

Well, this definitely is sad. Though I never got to rp with you or see your rps, as I am fairly new to the site, as many have already said, this site has always felt like home, so welcoming and so warm. Your letters provided comfort too, even if they were scheduled and I can only be thankful for everything you gave for this site, and for caring for it and for us enough to find it someone else to lead. That's a true leader and love for a community. You'll be missed but you'll always have a spot in our hearts and this site, that's for sure! Best luck on everything you do!

 

And G,

 

Good luck and thank you for taking such responsibility! May we stay strong and united! 

 

 

Love,

Naomi

[Lorenne Sequinn]

Oh Chauncey, you will be greatly missed Thanks for creating the site and letting the magic continue throughout these years! This is the first ever rp site I’ve been at when I started about 7 years ago (0.0), and it brought me so much including many friendships here!! Thank you for that :’) I will miss your face , and your ‘magical’ moments here although you weren’t always around (but were you).

Thank you again.

~Viv

[Cassandra Vandale]

C, 

 

There is not much more to add than what everyone has already said. You have truly created a wonderful world for all of us, and have been able to connect people who would have otherwise never talked had it not been for our love of HP. Thank you for serving as such an integral part of this site. You truly have been a pillar and someone who has not received the appreciation they deserve from working behind the scenes.Thank you, thank you, thank you.  In 2006 I had stumbled upon HO and there I formed many friends, some who are sadly no longer with us. Despite the ups and downs the site has gone through and having left for many years, the site still called to me. I am so happy I made the decision (out of nostalgia) to come back a little over a year ago and instead of feeling like a "noob" or outsider I was welcomed with open arms. I have formed new friendships and strengthened old. Thank you for providing a second home for many of us and an outlet from our real life craziness. I wish you only the very best. 

 

With much love and gratitude, 

 

Stephanie

Edited by Cassandra Krum, 12 January 2019 - 09:08 PM.

[Minerva Mikkelson]

C, I never knew you personally, but appreciate you so much! HO is a place that I, and all members can call home. It's as good as it can get, since we can't ever attend Hogwarts ourselves. You made the place come even more alive to me than anything. While I have been part of the site for almost 8 years now, it has been an amazing 8 years and many more to come for me. I am sad to see you go, but excited to see where this site goes from here.

Minnie's writer