[20697] in APO-L
Re: New APO.org website
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (John Grossi)
Wed Jul 14 12:47:40 1999
Date: Wed, 14 Jul 1999 16:33:30 +0100
Reply-To: John Grossi <jgrossi@BBNPLANET.COM>
From: John Grossi <jgrossi@BBNPLANET.COM>
To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
In-Reply-To: <19990714145338.26038.rocketmail@web129.yahoomail.com>
Derek--
If it's something that's happened at the Board
Level... which from Kim's message it's very clear it
is... your not going to see any changes for a long time
(at least by net standards) as the next board meeting is
in February...
(which is earliest time the board could get together to
change it's mind)
So let's hit a couple of high points...
A) This is a board level decision so the only folks that
can change it are the board. (and considering... it'll
take at least 2 board meetings to effect any change...
one to push it forward and space to research before a
vote, your better off getting out your legislative pen
for 2000) But remember several factors in trying to
push for a "fix".
a) we've got a contract, which has a term on it,
and may be costly to buy out.
b) the goal of the website is not a VPN and other
IT ways to share information across a distrbuted
organization.(though I would LOVE to see one)
B) We have to assume a couple of things about a board
decision
A) It was thuroughly researched before hand (as
if it wasn't I would expect those board members
I know to bounce it back)
B) The board heard the whole picture, which we
are not, and felt it was a good decision
C) Our concerns were not taken to be valid when
viewed as part of a greater whole.
D) The board controls the purse strings... and
they must have felt that the cost involved was
worth in regards to the benefits to achieving
their charge from the Convention.
C) I don't believe APO has any "official bid process"
in place, persay. So like whatever the board decides
goes... though I can very much see everyone's concerns
with this expenditure and also with the choice of this
specific company. Your best bet is to speak with the
board member in charge of that "area" and see.
D) Bitching on APO-L isn't going to do anything. I would
suggest that you speak directly with the Board Members
involved. If they are on APO-L I'm quite sure they are
NOT going to respond to a highly charged debate like this,
you WILL need to speak to them directly. And before you
do, have your arguements as to what needs to be done
prepared. Having met all of the "people involved"
directly I can say I'm sure they'll be more than happy
to discuss with and listen to you. They are good people
trying to do the best job that they know how...
now that's the situation...
so my advice to you is to find out how to make things
better... how to get the new information up... how to
ask for technical changes (for instance I can think
of at least three browser/JDK/OS combos that the Java
on page2 will cause a browser crash) as it's going to
be a while, if ever before you see this decision change.
So truthfully... asking for Fuzz's website back as our
National Page is like punching a bowl of jello. Fuzz did
a great job as National Webmaster, making his personal
links page our National Page. Unfortunately our home-
grown page which had a eye on accuracy and compatibility
has been replaced with something more suitable to the
corporate image we are trying to portray (look at the
fun and games section).
just some thoughts and advice...
-John Grossi
PS: I don't speak for anyone, Section 94, Region I,
Theta Zeta chapter, etc... I'm just a loud mouthed
alumni voicing my thoughts...
> Yeah, I figured that it was John Wetherington's
> baby,... probably didn't take a genius to figure that
> one out,...
>
> > Note: I do not speak for John Wetherington, nor the
> > Board.
> >
> > I was at the Board meeting last weekend and I will
> > share with you from John Wetherington's National
> Vice > President report:
> >
> > "Working with the National Executive Director we
> > initiated the approval process and design work to
> > upgrade the apo.org site.
>
> Ok, the graphics and look have been, "upgraded," but
> the content itself has been seriously, "downgraded."
>
> > The effort has not been without frustration and
> > controversy, but the current status is a
>
> Obviously.
>
> > big step in making this means of communication an
>
> A big step backwards maybe,... although the graphics
> do look good, it is very out-of-date.
>
> > integral part of the Fraternity's operations. The
> new > site now has current materials and can easily be
>
>
> Umm, no it doesn't.
>
> > updated and content expanded by the National office
>
>
> With the by-laws, pledge manual, and several other
> national documents in Adobe PDF format, it probably
> will be easier to update.
>
> > staff. We are still working with the Web Team
> members > to carry over some important functionality
> of the
>
> You are?
>
> > original site that we cannot add to the new site
> with
> > existing spending plans. The National Office staff
>
> Exactly how much are you spending on this site? With
> the talent base we have in APhiO, and the spirit of
> volunteerism that we have, I see no reason why we
> should have to spend anything on the actual web site
> design part. I can see spending money on the actual
> server itself, but we shouldn't have to resort to
> outside sources such as WOW! Marketing for the actual
> design.
>
> > is substantially ahead of their knowledge of Web
> > techonology and potential.
>
> If they are so well-versed on their knowledge of web
> technology, then why is the site so slow to access?
> 15-20 seconds access time is not too bad, but when
> that is 15-20 seconds on a 100 MBPS LAN, that
> translates into more than a minute for most people who
> use standard 28.8K or 56K modems. That does not
> demonstrate a well-versed web technology or design
> knowledge to me.
>
> > With the Board's approval of the budget, additionsl
> > features will be added this fall. "
> > 7/5/99
>
> Again, how much are we spending on this?
>
>
> ===
> _________________________________________________________
>
> Derek Cashman (cashman@yahoo.com)
> Graduate Student, Medicinal Chemistry
> MCV / VCU
> _________________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
>
