As you've no doubt heard by now, we'll begin charging for The Motley Fool's award-winning discussion boards beginning on Feb. 14. (If you haven't heard, you can read all about it in Tom and David Gardner's Letter to the Community.)

We believe the Fool Community is far and away the best on the Internet. This week's contest will help demonstrate why. We're asking you to show us the discussion board post that has been the most valuable or most meaningful to you. Your entry will not only keep you in the running for the $500 grand prize, but also provide some recognition to the tireless Fools in our community who create so much value for all of us.

Your entry should contain a link to the post and an explanation why the post meant so much to you. If you wish, you may include some quotes from the post.

And that's it, really... it's pretty simple. The posts can be on any subject: investing, finances, health, emotional support, education, bellybutton lint collecting, whatever. The winner of this week's contest will receive a free year of Fool Community membership (on top of any years they're already signed up for), as well as 10 Fool Contest Points, which count toward the $500 grand prize mentioned above. (An explanation of the points system -- which rewards first through tenth place, is available on the Official Standings page.)

Here's the summary:

  1. Tell us which post was the most valuable or meaningful to you, and why.
  2. Provide a link to the post, and quote parts of it if you need to.
  3. Post your entry on the Fool Contests board by noon on Thursday, February 7.
  4. Try not to exceed 500 words.
  5. The official contest rules, as provided by our crack legal team (headquartered in a small one-room shack on the banks of Raccoon Bayou in Cut Off, Louisiana), are here.

Good luck!