I'm new here so I don't know if you've got your chat room sorted out yet - but if not here's something which might be of use.
There is a place called talkcity.com (sorry, I don't know how to create a clickable link). It is a realtime chat community (if I understand the term correctly). The connection is a bit volotile unless you download their program 'TCPirch'. At Talkcity (TC) registration is free and anyone can create their own chat room! If you create a room you can choose whether or not to have it appear in the main directory, it can be totally private if you want it to be - only people who know the name of the room can get in
If you havn't got a chatroom sorted out yet, why not have a look?
How about posting a thread on Chatroom topics - if there is a topic you wish to discuss, let us all know what it is and when you will be in chatroom - 'Upcoming Events' sort of thing.
Just a thought
[This message has been edited by Caradoc (edited June 27, 1999).]