what are the advantages/disadvantages that any of you have found for having a private moderators forum?

Hi Linda!

I think the moderator's forum is a great tool: when your moderators are spread out over the country/world, it's like a "staff meeting". You can share information with eachother, discuss policy, etc... If you're worried about it being a forum for moderators to bash members, just make them very aware that the point of the forum is for organization & forum management purposes - not as a stress-relief tool...