I'm not so sure about the ning option now that I have fiddled wth it a little. I set up a dummy called "Parkinson's Collaboration" as a test. Try it out if you wish at www.parkinsonscollaboration.ning.com - the first problem is that the name is too long. But the more serious one is being dependent on the "ning.com" domain. It makes me feel constrained knowing that Big Pharma could get rid of me simply by buying up ning. OK, so I'm paranoid.

It is still pretty slick but it is kind of "one size fits none" once I get into it. I think I can copy some of their approach and do better.

So, how about this. I have my website (www.parkinsonsonline.org) through Siteground. (It doesn't necessarily have to be through my site nor Siteground, it is just that those are what I am famliar with).

Siteground will let me host multiple blogs for starters. So anyone who does not have their own could be on WordPress in ten minutes. Mine is at http://parkinsonsonline.org/blog1/

Siteground will also let me have a forum structure similar to vBulletin. I have one at http://www.parkinsonsonline.org/forum1/

There is a hidden wiki at http://www.parkinsonsonline.org/Park...itle=Main_Page

In short, there are a lot more possible options.