Final Website Suggestions
- Thread starter glaspie69
- Start date
overanalyzer
New member
looks great but not sure why we need a second set of forums?? I love the calendar feature and it is nice to have a pic section too!
glaspie69
Premium Member
Well the goal of the second set of forums is to some what wein our away from RC......I'm not sure how many of you have been experiencing the large amount of error messages lately but RC is currently getting slammed by more and more members. We figured we could do our part to lighten the load. That and we'd all like to see the site being used more, with everyone depending on RC the use of our site is pretty much non-exsistant, hopfully we can change that, the goal is to get new members to our club first, then get the new members involved in RC, not the other way around.
tibbs2
New member
This is great so far.
The main issue for me is keeping it updated or all the work is for nothing. It sounds like we have more recruits for updating it so hopefully this won't be an issue.
Maybe under Resources we could place the meeting minutes.
You could add any workshop pictures, walkthroughs and videos there too. It would be nice if we do any workshops or projects we could do a writeup /w pics and place them there.
A place to have a record of who has checked out what videos from our DVD collection might also be nice. I know that we have video of most/all of our past presentations.
Chris
The main issue for me is keeping it updated or all the work is for nothing. It sounds like we have more recruits for updating it so hopefully this won't be an issue.
Maybe under Resources we could place the meeting minutes.
You could add any workshop pictures, walkthroughs and videos there too. It would be nice if we do any workshops or projects we could do a writeup /w pics and place them there.
A place to have a record of who has checked out what videos from our DVD collection might also be nice. I know that we have video of most/all of our past presentations.
Chris
jbrunken
New member
I agree, hopefully the site will stay relatively updated now. The problem with the current site is that while it looks great, it is near impossible to update. You have to be a web developer or someone with decent HTML/Graphics skills to do it and even then it's a pain in the @#$.
The idea behind the new site is to sacrifice a bit of that "flair" for functionality. If you know how to post a message on Reef Central, you know everything you need to know in order to update the new site. For a group like this that is made up of people from varying professions (not just I.T. people) that is hugely important.
Now that the site is semi-public I would suggest that we move any discussions about what should be changed/added/removed from the new site to the forums on the new site. That way they won't get lost like so many of the important threads that end up scrolling off to oblivion here...
Anyway, lots of great suggestions! Keep them coming (in the new forums). I haven't seen anything yet that is outside the realm of possibility.
-JB
The idea behind the new site is to sacrifice a bit of that "flair" for functionality. If you know how to post a message on Reef Central, you know everything you need to know in order to update the new site. For a group like this that is made up of people from varying professions (not just I.T. people) that is hugely important.
Now that the site is semi-public I would suggest that we move any discussions about what should be changed/added/removed from the new site to the forums on the new site. That way they won't get lost like so many of the important threads that end up scrolling off to oblivion here...
Anyway, lots of great suggestions! Keep them coming (in the new forums). I haven't seen anything yet that is outside the realm of possibility.
-JB
I really like the new site. What I like more is the idea that we will be moving away from RC. I think that transition could be done in nearly a single move if we were to fill out the message board better. I hate to bring this up again, but the message board categories at Some other local site that offends glaspie69 to see. are just about exactly what I think we need. I am not suggesting using that site, far from it, I am suggesting copying the categories.
We need more than just a "general" category. We really need to break down the conversations so you can follow them by category. I am much more likely to be involved if I know I don't have to sift through 200 posts to find something on metal halide bulbs. I want to go to a category called "lighting" and look through a hand full of new posts.
Just my 2 cents. More, and more specific, categories on the new site and I'll spend more time on our site less on others.
We need more than just a "general" category. We really need to break down the conversations so you can follow them by category. I am much more likely to be involved if I know I don't have to sift through 200 posts to find something on metal halide bulbs. I want to go to a category called "lighting" and look through a hand full of new posts.
Just my 2 cents. More, and more specific, categories on the new site and I'll spend more time on our site less on others.
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One last comment on the new site. I am trying to setup an account to post to it. I don't see a link to setup a new account. I understand if new accounts are not allowed until the board finds a perminent domain name, but if it is something else, that could be a problem. Do you have to send in the membership form to get setup? If so, that will certainly keep the number of people on the board down. If that is in fact the case, I suggest changing that so new users can setup an account and begin posting immediatly, so they don't have to wait for membership to be granted.
glaspie69
Premium Member
To answer a few of your questions/concerns. There are several forums on the website, you must create a user name (the register button is in the top righthand corner). After registering, your membership will be verified by one of the officers, if your a current member of GIRS your username will be updated and you'll be able to see the member forums. On the subject of forums, our intentions are not to "copy" the forums of RC or any other site. We fill that RC is a great resource and hope people continue to use it. This website is set-up so our members can talk, list sale/trade items, and ask questions. If a question can not be answered then RC would be an option. This new site is a tool to help new members, possible members, and old members alike get better aqainted with each other. As a last note, I along with the rest of the club DO NOT appreciate the childish advertising of your website, I've noticed that the only times you tend to "have a helpful comment" is when you can feely criticize something our club is doing. I'd just like to ask you to stop. thanks Jason
To respond to a few of your answers:
1. Thank you for the clarification regarding the forums. Again, my two centes, if all a potential new member see is the general forum they may not stay long enough to investigate more. It is the quality of the message board that will pull new members into the group, not the group that will put people into the message board. I think to have a healthy message board you have to allow access to members and non-members alike.
2. As I understand your further explanation of the purpose of the message boards, it is "so our members can talk, list sale/trade items, and ask questions". So it is exclusive. Ok, fine, if that is the purpose. Do all the officers feel that way?
3. Regarding this comment "As a last note, I along with the rest of the club DO NOT appreciate the childish advertising of your website", the site I referenced is not my website. When I see things done well, I like to take advantage of them. There are several sites that have done this well, not just that one.
Furthermore, I have a hard time believing that every member of the club would like you to be their personal spokesperson, so please speak only for yourself, regardless of your position in the club.
As a general note to other members of the club, I hope all the rest of the members of the club are not as hostile as glaspie69 otherwise it will make no difference how great your site is (it IS great by the way), the club will never be great.
By the way, since my reference to that other site was SO offensive to you, I have removed it. glaspie69 can tell you how to create a great message board, he know so much he doesn't need to look around for good ideas.
xroads
New member
I think the general impression was that everytime you have posted in the "Greater Iowa Reef Society" forum, you have tried to steer people to your site. The other was the criticism of this that & the other about the new site. Considering it is not offically an open site yet, just being test driven by a few "members".
glaspie69
Premium Member
Well I can see this turned south,
A reply from your first statement: I would have to disagree, it's not the message board that attracts potential members it's the people in the club that attract potetial members to the boards
2. It's a club forum, for our club. And no it's not exclusive, if a member would rather post there for sale item in the general FS forum they can. We aren't trying to tell people where they can or cannot sell there items
3. Well I'm sure if you'd like to post a poll on RC reguarding how many members of the GIRS community appreciate another club trying to hijack there forum...please feel free
And for the rest.....Honestly get serious, hostile? I simply stated a fact, you have tried every way you can to promote your site on our board. It's not appreciated, I was not hostile and I wasn't offensive.
And one more time, it's NOT MY SITE. I thought you were hostile, all I was trying to do was offer helpful suggestions, that was the whole point of this post to start with. You are so stuck on the assumption that it is my website that you have overlooked the fact that I was trying to help. I do like the arrangement of the other message board, but it is not active enough to really be beneficial. Time has not allowed me to attend GIRS club events but I was truly trying to help improve things. I'm sorry I ever did.
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