Are Forums What We Need?

[smanderson16]

I am building a website for an association that wants a good way for members to commicate with each other and share information quickly and efficiently. It would not be open to the general public, only for members.

Is a forum the way to go? Most forums I have used seem to be developed with the casual user in mind. It is very important that these users stay in touch regularly. This association needs a tool that facilitates interaction, notifies users of posts, etc.

I think forums are the answer but I am not familiar with all my options. There seem to be tons of forum utilities to choose from. What are the best ones and are forums really the way to go?

[JPnyc]

Probably the best and close to the only option. Blogs wouldn't do it as well. We think the best is vbulletin (obviously, since we use it) but a quick search will bring back a hundred of em.

[MstrBob]

Perhaps you should investigate a mailing list as well? There are a number of different software solutions already available that allow restricted access to the mailing list, archive emails, ect. If you want people to quickly communicate, it would probably work.