There was no cover up. It was discussed and hashed out at length by previous BoDs and was in the works before even I got elected to the Board. It was a difficult time and difficult, hard decision to make. And it is what is is / was.

TFG membership is (should be) more than just paying dues and showing up at events, although that is what most members do. Many previous BoD members and committee volunteers and project leads and TF journal authors give untold hours to keep things moving, sacrificing family time, business time, etc to make it all go.

As to the forum, well. Blame some of this on shortsighted or nonexistent planning and adaptation for social media, forums, Etc. It's been an issue for along time (like many things any volunteer / non profit organization deals with...).