[Webmaster_forum] RE: This date thing is now way out of control
WMMILLER@aol.com
WMMILLER@aol.com
Tue, 16 Aug 2005 00:29:16 EDT
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Susan, your input has been received and considered as all webmasters
thoughts are important to us to assure we improve the overall quality of the
websites. I wish to respond to your various points and will do so by inserting
comments within your original message.
USPS Webbers, Website Judges, ITCom, V/C Baldridge,
It seems to me that the USPS Web Awards have become more burdensome with
every year. Since Dave Schuppert and Jeff Wise have been so eloquent in
their own replies, I can only echo their statements and point out another
problem.
Indeed Dave and Jeff have made some valuable comments concerning the web
awards program. They have voiced similar comments in the past and they have
been taken seriously.
Bill Miller, Website Coordinator, ITCOM in explaining Rule #11 stated:
"If they [ie. any website] fall behind by 90 days from the date of the site
visit, no matter when in the year, the linkage between the subject website
and the USPS website listing of squadron and district websites may be
eliminated. Prior to such de-linkage, the website coordinator will contact
the ITCom contact that is listed on the squadron maintenance record to try
to resolve the situation without removal of the linkage. The no tolerance
situation concerns the websites qualification to be considered in the
current Webawards program."It is certainly an interesting concept -- SOMEONE
(an unknown BIG Brother or
BIG Sister) is constantly watching websites all year and if THEY decide a
website is not current, THEY will instigate the UNLINKING process to
National. While I certainly agree with the rules to keep ANY website
current, I'm not certain how an AWARD process evolved into the constant
PENALTY review system it appears to have become.
I have been following this procedure for the past year, since taking over
the job of website coordinator. The 90 day rule was initiated after we found
numerous website seriously out of date, some as many as two years. Bridge
members for 2002 were still shown as the present bridge, educational course
dates were years old and so forth. Rather than summarily de-link such websites
(remember the word may in my response), I have spent the past year trying to
get these problems resolved by contacting whom ever would respond. Some
squadron contacts were so old that I would get responses from members who had left
USPS telling me to stop bothering them. I have contacted District
Commanders to try to enlist their assistance in at least getting someone from the
affected squadron to respond to me so we could resolve the problems before
de-linking. Squadrons/Districts with active websites that are de-linked are
considered non conforming sites. Monthly, an automatic program reviews the list of
some 375 plus websites that are on the database to determine who are non
conforming. When I took over the program, we had 88 non conforming websites.
By working with those squadrons the list is now down to six and I hope two
will be resolved by months end. All squadrons that are conforming on September
1, 2005 will be eligible for evaluation for the web awards program for 2005.
The process and the awards program are only connected by the cutoff date.
The review process will continue to assure our basic requirements are being
met. Are they that onerous?
An organization clamoring for "More Members" -- and more involvement by
their current membership, Web Awards certainly haven't created an atmosphere
which supports volunteering either to administer a website or help with any
judging.
My experience does not support your contention that the web awards has not
created an atmosphere which supports volunteering with help for judging. Last
year we had 32 evaluators, this year it is 34 with about a third being first
time evaluators. While administering this program I've had the opportunity
of visiting 10 to 20 different websites weekly. In my humble estimation the
quality of the websites is vastly improved in the past year. My visits are
usually initiated by changed URL's which require re-linkage of the website to
the National Website list of squadrons. Questions concerning the
appropriateness of a website feature also results in a visit, and websites that have
satisfied the non conforming problems get a visit from me. In all cases (ALL)
the webmasters have been encouraged to strive to make their website something
they and their squadron members can be proud of, for others to visit. We
went from 320 qualifying websites last year to 357 this year, so the numbers do
not bear out your statement.
If websites are not up to date, the disqualification from the judging
process should be sufficient -- but to remove a Squadron or District from a
link to USPS seems to DEFEAT a further quote from Bill Miller: "The
squadron is the front line when it comes to enticing new people to join the
USPS." Unlinking a District or Squadron from USPS contradicts that quote.
My statement stands and is not in conflict. A good, current website will
entice new people to consider joining USPS, a site out of date with out of date
contacts doesn't help anyone. By unlinking, then working with the
webmasters we try to minimize those bad visitations by prospective new members.
If websites entice people to join, are we saying our websites are why our
membership isn't increasing and members are renewing? Don't people join or
stay with ANY organization because of the PEOPLE or things the group has to
offer? I know I didn't join because of a website! I do hope somehow we're
not turning into an organization which "polices or policies" itself out of
existence.
Your statement of why people join and stay with USPS or any organization is
correct. It's the people and what the organization has to offer. I didn't
join USPS because of a squadron website, we didn't have one when I joined.
But with the growth of the Internet and the increased importance of having
websites, it is another media approach to getting our organization recognized.
Please read my article in the June 2005 Ensign for more on this point. The
website is just one and in many cases the first exposure a person has to USPS
and we need to make it effective.
It's an interesting conundrum -- as Peter Ubillos stated -- there definitely
are some National websites that are out of date and with broken links or
with WebMasters who are unable or unwilling to update them.
I certainly cannot disagree with the above statement. I believe that V/C
Ernest G. Marshburn, SN has recognized this problem and is initiating some
steps to resolve it this year.
I sure hope I've fixed the broken ones on my two National sites, my one
District site, and my nine Squadron sites!!!
(Peter -- let me know if their still broken! -- Thanks! ;^) )
Be the BEST in USPS!
Susan, once again, thanks for writing. By communicating we can all do a
better job.
Bill Miller, Website coordinator, USPS
Susan
P/D/C Susan L. Darcy, JN
USPS - District 2
Berkshire Sail & Power Squadron
7 Hutchinson Lane
Lenox, MA 01240-2217
413-637-2275
Susan@darcy-systems.com
http://www.usps.org/localusps/d2
_______________________________________________
Webmaster_Forum mailing list
Webmaster_Forum@usps.org
http://www.usps.org/mailman/listinfo/webmaster_forum
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<DIV><STRONG>Susan, your input has been received and considered as all=20
webmasters thoughts are important to us to assure we improve the overall qua=
lity=20
of the websites. I wish to respond to your various points and will do=20=
so=20
by inserting comments within your original message.</STRONG></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><=
FONT=20
style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=3DArial color=3D#000000 size=
=3D2>USPS=20
Webbers, Website Judges, ITCom, V/C Baldridge,<BR><BR>It seems to me that=20=
the=20
USPS Web Awards have become more burdensome with<BR>every year. Sinc=
e=20
Dave Schuppert and Jeff Wise have been so eloquent in<BR>their own replies=
, I=20
can only echo their statements and point out=20
another<BR>problem.<BR></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV><STRONG>Indeed Dave and Jeff have made some valuable comments concernin=
g=20
the web awards program. They have voiced similar comments in the past=20=
and=20
they have been taken seriously. </STRONG></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><=
FONT=20
style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=3DArial color=3D#000000 size=
=3D2><BR>Bill=20
Miller, Website Coordinator, ITCOM in explaining Rule #11 stated:<BR><BR>"=
If=20
they [ie. any website] fall behind by 90 days from the date of the=20
site<BR>visit, no matter when in the year, the linkage between the subject=
=20
website<BR>and the USPS website listing of squadron and district websites=20=
may=20
be<BR>eliminated. Prior to such de-linkage, the website coordinator=20=
will=20
contact<BR>the ITCom contact that is listed on the squadron maintenance re=
cord=20
to try<BR>to resolve the situation without removal of the linkage. T=
he=20
no tolerance<BR>situation concerns the websites qualification to be consid=
ered=20
in the<BR>current Webawards program."</FONT><FONT=20
style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=3DArial color=3D#000000 size=
=3D2>It is=20
certainly an interesting concept -- SOMEONE (an unknown BIG Brother or<BR>=
BIG=20
Sister) is constantly watching websites all year and if THEY decide=20
a<BR>website is not current, THEY will instigate the UNLINKING process=20
to<BR>National. While I certainly agree with the rules to keep ANY=20
website<BR>current, I'm not certain how an AWARD process evolved into the=20
constant<BR>PENALTY review system it appears to have become.<BR></BLOCKQUO=
TE>
<DIV><STRONG>I have been following this procedure for the past year, since=20
taking over the job of website coordinator. The 90 day rule was initia=
ted=20
after we found numerous website seriously out of date, some as many as two=20
years. Bridge members for 2002 were still shown as the present bridge,=
=20
educational course dates were years old and so forth. Rather than=20
summarily de-link such websites (remember the word <U>may</U> in my response=
), I=20
have spent the past year trying to get these problems resolved by contacting=
=20
whom ever would respond. Some squadron contacts were so old that I wou=
ld=20
get responses from members who had left USPS telling me to stop bothering=20
them. I have contacted District Commanders to try to enlist their=20
assistance in at least getting someone from the affected squadron to respond=
to=20
me so we could resolve the problems before de-linking. Squadrons/Distr=
icts=20
with active websites that are de-linked are considered non conforming=20
sites. Monthly, an automatic program reviews the list of some 375 plus=
=20
websites that are on the database to determine who are non conforming. =
=20
When I took over the program, we had 88 non conforming websites. By=20
working with those squadrons the list is now down to six and I hope two will=
be=20
resolved by months end. All squadrons that are conforming on September=
1,=20
2005 will be eligible for evaluation for the web awards program for 2005.&nb=
sp;=20
The process and the awards program are <U>only</U> connected by the cutoff=20
date. The review process will continue to assure our basic=20
requirements are being met. Are they that onerous? </STRONG></DIV=
>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>An organization clamoring for "More Members" -- and more involvement=20
by<BR>their current membership, Web Awards certainly haven't created an=20
atmosphere<BR>which supports volunteering either to administer a website or=20=
help=20
with any<BR>judging. <BR></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>My experience does not support your contention that the web awa=
rds=20
has not created an atmosphere which supports volunteering with help for=20
judging. Last year we had 32 evaluators, this year it is 34 with about=
a=20
third being first time evaluators. While administering this program=20
I've had the opportunity of visiting 10 to 20 different websites=20
weekly. In my humble estimation the quality of the websites is vastly=20
improved in the past year. My visits are usually initiated by changed=20
URL's which require re-linkage of the website to the National Website list o=
f=20
squadrons. Questions concerning the appropriateness of a website featu=
re=20
also results in a visit, and websites that have satisfied the non conforming=
=20
problems get a visit from me. In all cases (ALL) the webmasters have b=
een=20
encouraged to strive to make their website something they and their squadron=
=20
members can be proud of, for others to visit. We went from 320 qualify=
ing=20
websites last year to 357 this year, so the numbers do not bear out your=20
statement. </STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><BR>If websites are not up to date, the disqualification from the=20
judging<BR>process should be sufficient -- but to remove a Squadron or Distr=
ict=20
from a<BR>link to USPS seems to DEFEAT a further quote from Bill Miller:&nbs=
p;=20
"The<BR>squadron is the front line when it comes to enticing new people to j=
oin=20
the<BR>USPS." Unlinking a District or Squadron from USPS contrad=
icts=20
that quote.<BR></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>My statement stands and is not in conflict. A good, curre=
nt=20
website will entice new people to consider joining USPS, a site out of date=20=
with=20
out of date contacts doesn't help anyone. By unlinking, then working w=
ith=20
the webmasters we try to minimize those bad visitations by prospective new=20
members.</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><BR>If websites entice people to join, are we saying our websites are w=
hy=20
our<BR>membership isn't increasing and members are renewing? Don't peo=
ple=20
join or<BR>stay with ANY organization because of the PEOPLE or things the gr=
oup=20
has to<BR>offer? I know I didn't join because of a website!  =
; I=20
do hope somehow we're<BR>not turning into an organization which "polices or=20
policies" itself out of<BR>existence. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>Your statement of why people join and stay with USPS or any=20
organization is correct. It's the people and what the organization has=
to=20
offer. I didn't join USPS because of a squadron website, we didn't hav=
e=20
one when I joined. But with the growth of the Internet and the increas=
ed=20
importance of having websites, it is another media approach to getting our=20
organization recognized. Please read my article in the June 2005 Ensig=
n=20
for more on this point. The website is just one and in many cases the=20
first exposure a person has to USPS and we need to make it=20
effective.</STRONG><BR><BR>It's an interesting conundrum -- as Peter Ubillos=
=20
stated -- there definitely<BR>are some National websites that are out of dat=
e=20
and with broken links or<BR>with WebMasters who are unable or unwilling to=20
update them. <BR></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>I certainly cannot disagree with the above statement. I=20
believe that V/C Ernest G. Marshburn, SN has recognized this problem and is=20
initiating some steps to resolve it this year.</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><BR>I sure hope I've fixed the broken ones on my two National sites, my=
=20
one<BR>District site, and my nine Squadron sites!!! <BR><BR>(Pet=
er=20
-- let me know if their still broken! -- Thanks! ;^) ) <BR><BR>Be the=20=
BEST=20
in USPS!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>Susan, once again, thanks for writing. By communicating w=
e=20
can all do a better job.</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>Bill Miller, Website coordinator, USPS</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><BR><BR>Susan<BR><BR>P/D/C Susan L. Darcy, JN<BR>USPS - District=20
2<BR>Berkshire Sail & Power Squadron<BR>7 Hutchinson Lane<BR>Lenox, MA=20
01240-2217<BR>413-637-2275<BR>Susan@darcy-systems.com<BR>http://www.usps.org=
/localusps/d2<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>___________________________________=
____________<BR>Webmaster_Forum=20
mailing=20
list<BR>Webmaster_Forum@usps.org<BR>http://www.usps.org/mailman/listinfo/web=
master_forum<BR></DIV></FONT>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>
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