A new design
Why not a new design? Not that I have a problem with the current design, but whenever I visit a VB forum with this theme (Default I assume) I just get the vibe that its just someones hobby.
Do you have any goals for the forum? Where would you like to see it in a years time? Is there any competition to that goal? What are tey doing that you are not?
Also, you have the maximum amount of adsense units. You also have TLA ads. This in my opinion, on a new forum, makes it look cheap. Not that I have a problem with you making money from the forums. If your building something for the community, make it about the community.
(I hope that didn't come out wrong).