diff --git a/choam/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/choam/CHOAM.java b/choam/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/choam/CHOAM.java
index d534feb0a9..c3c2e1718d 100644
--- a/choam/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/choam/CHOAM.java
+++ b/choam/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/choam/CHOAM.java
@@ -1013,6 +1013,7 @@ public void awaitSynchronization() {
                 return;
             }
             roundScheduler.schedule(AWAIT_SYNC, () -> {
+                log.trace("Synchronization failed on: {}", params.member().getId());
                 synchronizationFailed();
             }, params.synchronizationCycles());
         }
@@ -1244,6 +1245,7 @@ private Formation() {
                 assembly = new GenesisAssembly(vc, comm, next.get().member, consumer);
                 nextViewId.set(params.genesisViewId());
             } else {
+                log.trace("No formation on: {}", params.member().getId());
                 assembly = null;
             }
         }
diff --git a/choam/src/test/resources/logback-test.xml b/choam/src/test/resources/logback-test.xml
index 847bad04d1..de375794ed 100644
--- a/choam/src/test/resources/logback-test.xml
+++ b/choam/src/test/resources/logback-test.xml
@@ -2,63 +2,34 @@
 <configuration>
 
     <!-- Stop output INFO at start -->
-    <statusListener class="ch.qos.logback.core.status.NopStatusListener" />
+    <statusListener class="ch.qos.logback.core.status.NopStatusListener"/>
 
     <appender name="STDOUT" class="ch.qos.logback.core.ConsoleAppender">
         <encoder>
             <Pattern>
-				%d{mm:ss.SSS} [%thread] %-5level %logger{0} -
-  %msg%n
-			</Pattern>
+                %d{mm:ss.SSS} [%thread] %-5level %logger{0}
+ - %msg%n
+            </Pattern>
         </encoder>
     </appender>
     <logger name="com.salesforce.apollo.stereotomy" level="warn" additivity="false">
-        <appender-ref ref="STDOUT" />
+        <appender-ref ref="STDOUT"/>
     </logger>
 
-    <logger name="com.salesforce.apollo.choam" level="info" additivity="false">
-        <appender-ref ref="STDOUT" />
-    </logger>
-    <logger name="com.salesforce.apollo.choam.CHOAM" level="warn" additivity="false">
-        <appender-ref ref="STDOUT" />
-    </logger>
-    <logger name="com.salesforce.apollo.choam.Session" level="info" additivity="false">
-        <appender-ref ref="STDOUT" />
-    </logger>
-    <logger name="com.salesforce.apollo.choam.ViewAssembly" level="info" additivity="false">
-        <appender-ref ref="STDOUT" />
-    </logger>
-    <logger name="com.salesforce.apollo.choam.Producer" level="info" additivity="false">
-        <appender-ref ref="STDOUT" />
-    </logger>
-    <logger name="com.salesforce.apollo.choam.support.TxDataSource" level="info" additivity="false">
-        <appender-ref ref="STDOUT" />
+    <logger name="com.salesforce.apollo.membership" level="warn" additivity="false">
+        <appender-ref ref="STDOUT"/>
     </logger>
 
-    <logger name="com.chiralbehaviors.tron" level="info" additivity="false">
-        <appender-ref ref="STDOUT" />
-    </logger>
-
-    <logger name="com.salesforce.apollo.ethereal" level="info" additivity="false">
-        <appender-ref ref="STDOUT" />
-    </logger>
-    <logger name="com.salesforce.apollo.ethereal.Adder" level="info" additivity="false">
-        <appender-ref ref="STDOUT" />
-    </logger>
-    <logger name="com.salesforce.apollo.ethereal.memberships" level="warn" additivity="false">
-        <appender-ref ref="STDOUT" />
-    </logger>
-
-    <logger name="com.salesforce.apollo.membership.messaging.rbc" level="warn" additivity="false">
-        <appender-ref ref="STDOUT" />
+    <logger name="com.salesforce.apollo.choam" level="info" additivity="false">
+        <appender-ref ref="STDOUT"/>
     </logger>
 
-    <logger name="com.salesforce.apollo.comm" level="warn" additivity="false">
-        <appender-ref ref="STDOUT" />
+    <logger name="com.chiralbehaviors.tron" level="info" additivity="false">
+        <appender-ref ref="STDOUT"/>
     </logger>
 
     <root level="info">
-        <appender-ref ref="STDOUT" />
+        <appender-ref ref="STDOUT"/>
     </root>
 
-</configuration>
\ No newline at end of file
+</configuration>
diff --git a/ethereal/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/ethereal/Ethereal.java b/ethereal/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/ethereal/Ethereal.java
index 4ba911cb09..e086a3cc5e 100644
--- a/ethereal/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/ethereal/Ethereal.java
+++ b/ethereal/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/ethereal/Ethereal.java
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ public void run() {
     private static final Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(Ethereal.class);
 
     public static ThreadPoolExecutor consumer(String label) {
-        return new ThreadPoolExecutor(1, 1, 1, TimeUnit.NANOSECONDS, new PriorityBlockingQueue<>(),
+        return new ThreadPoolExecutor(1, 1, 1, TimeUnit.SECONDS, new PriorityBlockingQueue<>(),
                                       Thread.ofVirtual().name("Ethereal Consumer[" + label + "]").factory(),
                                       (r, t) -> log.trace("Shutdown, cannot consume unit", t));
     }
diff --git a/fireflies/src/test/resources/logback-test.xml b/fireflies/src/test/resources/logback-test.xml
index f865df222d..4791e0131b 100644
--- a/fireflies/src/test/resources/logback-test.xml
+++ b/fireflies/src/test/resources/logback-test.xml
@@ -6,9 +6,7 @@
 
     <appender name="STDOUT" class="ch.qos.logback.core.ConsoleAppender">
         <encoder>
-            <Pattern>
-                - %msg%n
-            </Pattern>
+            <Pattern>- %msg%n</Pattern>
         </encoder>
     </appender>
 
@@ -28,7 +26,7 @@
 
     <logger name="com.salesforce.apollo.fireflies" level="info" additivity="false">
         <appender-ref ref="STDOUT" />
-        <appender-ref ref="FILE" />
+<!--        <appender-ref ref="FILE" />-->
     </logger>
 
     <logger name="com.salesforce.apollo.members" level="info" additivity="false">
@@ -51,4 +49,4 @@
         <appender-ref ref="STDOUT" />
     </root>
 
-</configuration>
\ No newline at end of file
+</configuration>
diff --git a/memberships/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/membership/Ring.java b/memberships/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/membership/Ring.java
index 862dd4acde..310ed6bed2 100644
--- a/memberships/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/membership/Ring.java
+++ b/memberships/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/membership/Ring.java
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ public Digest hash(T m) {
     }
 
     public T insert(T m) {
-        LoggerFactory.getLogger(getClass()).trace("Adding: {} to ring: {}", m, index);
+        LoggerFactory.getLogger(getClass()).trace("Adding: {} to ring: {}", m.getId(), index);
         return ring.put(hash(m), m);
     }
 
diff --git a/memberships/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/membership/messaging/rbc/ReliableBroadcaster.java b/memberships/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/membership/messaging/rbc/ReliableBroadcaster.java
index d3d653fad5..64cecc5a4c 100644
--- a/memberships/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/membership/messaging/rbc/ReliableBroadcaster.java
+++ b/memberships/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/membership/messaging/rbc/ReliableBroadcaster.java
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ public void start(Duration duration) {
         var initialDelay = Entropy.nextBitsStreamLong(duration.toMillis());
         log.info("Starting Reliable Broadcaster[{}] for {}", context.getId(), member.getId());
         comm.register(context.getId(), new Service());
-        var scheduler = Executors.newScheduledThreadPool(1, Thread.ofVirtual().factory());
+        var scheduler = Executors.newScheduledThreadPool(2, Thread.ofVirtual().factory());
         scheduler.schedule(() -> oneRound(duration, scheduler), initialDelay, TimeUnit.MILLISECONDS);
     }
 
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ public void stop() {
         if (!started.compareAndSet(true, false)) {
             return;
         }
-        log.info("Stopping Reliable Broadcaster[{}] for {}", context.getId(), member.getId());
+        log.info("Stopping Reliable Broadcaster[{}] on: {}", context.getId(), member.getId());
         buffer.clear();
         gossiper.reset();
         comm.deregister(context.getId());
@@ -214,14 +214,14 @@ private Reconcile gossipRound(ReliableBroadcast link, int ring) {
         if (!started.get()) {
             return null;
         }
-        log.trace("rbc gossiping[{}] from {} with {} on {}", buffer.round(), member.getId(), link.getMember().getId(),
-                  ring);
+        log.trace("rbc gossiping[{}] with: {} ring: {} on: {}", buffer.round(), member.getId(), link.getMember().getId(),
+                  ring, member.getId());
         try {
             return link.gossip(
             MessageBff.newBuilder().setRing(ring).setDigests(buffer.forReconcilliation().toBff()).build());
         } catch (Throwable e) {
-            log.trace("rbc gossiping[{}] failed from {} with {} on {}", buffer.round(), member.getId(),
-                      link.getMember().getId(), ring, e);
+            log.trace("rbc gossiping[{}] failed with: {} ring: {} on: {}", buffer.round(), link.getMember().getId(),
+                      ring, member.getId(), e);
             return null;
         }
     }
@@ -229,10 +229,10 @@ private Reconcile gossipRound(ReliableBroadcast link, int ring) {
     private void handle(Optional<Reconcile> result,
                         RingCommunications.Destination<Member, ReliableBroadcast> destination, Duration duration,
                         ScheduledExecutorService scheduler, Timer.Context timer) {
-        if (result.isEmpty()) {
-            return;
-        }
         try {
+            if (result.isEmpty()) {
+                return;
+            }
             Reconcile gossip = result.get();
             buffer.receive(gossip.getUpdatesList());
             destination.link()
diff --git a/memberships/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/ring/RingCommunications.java b/memberships/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/ring/RingCommunications.java
index 807f6f9f33..2509f5d0ca 100644
--- a/memberships/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/ring/RingCommunications.java
+++ b/memberships/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/ring/RingCommunications.java
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ private <Q> void execute(BiFunction<Comm, Integer, Q> round, SyncHandler<T, Q, C
             Q result = null;
             try {
                 result = round.apply(destination.link, destination.ring);
-            } catch (StatusRuntimeException e) {
+            } catch (Throwable e) {
                 log.trace("error applying round to: %s", destination.member.getId(), e);
             }
             handler.handle(Optional.ofNullable(result), destination);
diff --git a/memberships/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/ring/RingIterator.java b/memberships/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/ring/RingIterator.java
index 5cb7719e94..70da6e844c 100644
--- a/memberships/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/ring/RingIterator.java
+++ b/memberships/src/main/java/com/salesforce/apollo/ring/RingIterator.java
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ private <Q> void internalIterate(Digest digest, Runnable onMajority, BiFunction<
             Q result = null;
             try {
                 result = round.apply(link, next.ring());
-            } catch (StatusRuntimeException e) {
+            } catch (Throwable e) {
                 log.trace("Exception in round for: {} on: {} iteration: {} from: {} on: {}", digest, context.getId(),
                           iteration(), link.getMember() == null ? null : link.getMember().getId(), member.getId());
             }
diff --git a/memberships/src/test/resources/logback-test.xml b/memberships/src/test/resources/logback-test.xml
index dfac015277..95e670a71a 100644
--- a/memberships/src/test/resources/logback-test.xml
+++ b/memberships/src/test/resources/logback-test.xml
@@ -1,31 +1,25 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
 <configuration>
 
-	<!-- Stop output INFO at start -->
-	<statusListener class="ch.qos.logback.core.status.NopStatusListener" />
+    <!-- Stop output INFO at start -->
+    <statusListener class="ch.qos.logback.core.status.NopStatusListener"/>
 
-	<appender name="STDOUT" class="ch.qos.logback.core.ConsoleAppender">
-		<encoder>
-			<Pattern>
-                %d{mm:ss.SSS} [%thread] %-5level %logger{0} -
-  %msg%n
+    <appender name="STDOUT" class="ch.qos.logback.core.ConsoleAppender">
+        <encoder>
+            <Pattern>
+                %d{mm:ss.SSS} [%thread] %-5level %logger{0}
+- %msg%n
             </Pattern>
-		</encoder>
-	</appender>
-	<root level="warn">
-		<appender-ref ref="STDOUT" />
-	</root>
-	<logger name="com.salesforce.apollo.stereotomy" level="warn" additivity="false">
-		<appender-ref ref="STDOUT" />
-	</logger>
-	<logger name="com.salesforce.apollo.membership.messaging.rbc" level="warn" additivity="false">
-		<appender-ref ref="STDOUT" />
-	</logger>
-	<logger name="com.salesforce.apollo.membership.messaging.rbc.comms" level="warn" additivity="false">
-		<appender-ref ref="STDOUT" />
-	</logger>
-	<logger name="com.salesforce.apollo.comm" level="warn" additivity="false">
-		<appender-ref ref="STDOUT" />
-	</logger>
+        </encoder>
+    </appender>
+    <root level="info">
+        <appender-ref ref="STDOUT"/>
+    </root>
+    <logger name="com.salesforce.apollo.stereotomy" level="warn" additivity="false">
+        <appender-ref ref="STDOUT"/>
+    </logger>
+    <logger name="com.salesforce.apollo.comm" level="warn" additivity="false">
+        <appender-ref ref="STDOUT"/>
+    </logger>
 
 </configuration>