Anyone consider one of these? They're rather easy to use, accounts are free, and it would make organization a lot easier...

http://chatango.com/

We'd be able to tell eachother when we've posted in RPs as well as have casual conversations...

If built into the forum like at the bottom or to the side, I can see do able.

Again, I'd like to bring up with idea.

I've noticed how much more active forums are with chatango boxes, so this might help a bit.