There's nothing to stop interested members in sharing email addresses and signing up for ICQ or Instant Messenger. But speaking for myself, personally I already receive over a 100 emails a day as it is and I am just simply not available to engage in chat rooms at random due to other commitments (of course you can always check out). Like many board members here, I check the forum at various times during the day and respond as quickly as I can (assuming of course it is an area I am knowledgeable about). If it was a real serious problem, you should be heading to the ER anyway. I am happy to correspond with people personally and give them my phone number if they wish to talk.

Chiming in with Mark, Brian's rewards are going to be the treasures he is putting in the storehouse in heaven for the good works that he (and his wife) have been doing. He really needs our help to keep this unique forum going. In addition to personal donations, regular corporate donations would help help to stabilize things a bit. Talk to your human resources people.