[Webmaster_forum] This web awards thing is now way out of control
jeff@wise-mail.com
jeff@wise-mail.com
Tue, 16 Aug 2005 08:20:18 -0400
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Bill's answer seems to clarify the root of the problem with the web =
awards.
Nowhere in his response is the concept of rewarding webmasters for their
volunteer hard work and dedication or encouraging people to become
webmasters. Rather, at least five times he uses the concept of =
conforming
versus non-conforming websites. As Susan indicated, we have apparently
progressed from an award program to a penalty program, from encouraging
squadrons and volunteer members to strong-arm enforcement of the =
IT-Com's
idea of what is a "proper" website--in Bill's words, "...continue to =
assure
our basic requirements are being met." =20
=20
Perhaps I was naive. I thought USPS's objective was to encourage =
members
and recruit new members, not to force our members and squadrons into
conforming to a set of standards established by the national IT police. =
No,
Bill, the basic requirements are not that onerous. In fact, I can't =
think
of one that I disagree with, and I don't even disagree with publishing
national objectives (note that I didn't use the word "standards").
Objectives serve as a guide to new webmasters as to what they should be
doing. However, threats of un-linking a squadron web site from the =
national
list, and "disqualifying non-conforming" sites from evaluation do =
nothing to
encourage members--rather they alienate webmasters, members, and =
squadrons.
I think that's what you're seeing, Bill, not a disagreement with the =
basic
idea of standards, rather a disagreement with the tactics being used to
enforce them. It's a question of management style, not intentions.
=20
Perhaps a few rhetorical questions can clarify the issues. =20
=20
What's better for USPS and a squadron; 1) An out-of-date squadron =
website
linked from national so that a potential new member can find out that a
local squadron exists, even if they have to scroll the calendar to find =
the
current month and the pictures of the bridge are out of date; or 2) A
squadron website that has been un-linked from national so that a =
potential
new member can't find it and joins some other club?
=20
Let's try another. What's better, a squadron with a webmaster who only =
has
time or motivation to update the site once every couple of months, or a
squadron with no webmaster at all (because the person who built the site =
got
tired of being hassled by national)?
=20
Finally, If our objective is to retain existing members and recruit new
members, What purpose does disconnecting a site or discouraging a =
webmaster
ever serve? =20
=20
The problem is bigger than just web sites and the IT committee. We've =
got
to figure out why some squadrons are consistently growing while others =
are
failing; why some squadrons have successful programs while nationally =
USPS
is slowly dying. I wonder if it has anything to do with management =
styles;
encouraging enthusiasm versus discouraging participation; enforcing
standards versus having fun.
=20
Jeff
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<DIV><SPAN class=3D864073410-16082005><FONT color=3D#000080 =
size=3D3>Bill's answer=20
seems to clarify the root of the problem with the web awards. =
Nowhere in=20
his response is the concept of rewarding webmasters for their volunteer =
hard=20
work and dedication or encouraging people to become webmasters. =
Rather, at=20
least five times he uses the concept of <U>conforming</U> versus=20
<U>non-conforming</U> websites. As Susan indicated, we have =
apparently=20
progressed from an <U>award </U>program to a <U>penalty</U> program, =
from=20
encouraging squadrons and volunteer members to strong-arm enforcement of =
the=20
IT-Com's idea of what is a "proper" website--in Bill's words, =
<STRONG><FONT=20
color=3D#000000 size=3D2>"...continue to assure <U>our</U> basic =
requirements=20
are being met." </FONT></STRONG></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D864073410-16082005><FONT color=3D#000080=20
size=3D3></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D864073410-16082005></SPAN><FONT size=3D3><FONT=20
color=3D#000080><SPAN class=3D864073410-16082005>Perhaps I was =
naive. I=20
thought USPS's objective was to encourage members and recruit new =
members, not=20
to force our members and squadrons into conforming to a set of standards =
established by the national IT police. </SPAN><SPAN=20
class=3D864073410-16082005>No, Bill, the basic requirements are not that =
onerous. In fact, I can't think of one that I disagree with, and I =
don't=20
even disagree with publishing national objectives (note that I didn't =
use the=20
word "standards"). Objectives serve as a guide to new webmasters =
as to=20
what they should be doing. However, threats =
of un-linking a=20
squadron web site from the national list, and=20
"disqualifying non-conforming" sites from evaluation do =
nothing to=20
encourage members--rather they alienate webmasters, members, and=20
squadrons. I think that's what you're seeing, Bill, not a =
disagreement=20
with the basic idea of standards, rather a disagreement with the tactics =
being=20
used to enforce them. It's a question of management style, not=20
intentions.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3><FONT color=3D#000080><SPAN=20
class=3D864073410-16082005></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3><FONT color=3D#000080><SPAN =
class=3D864073410-16082005>Perhaps a=20
few rhetorical questions can clarify the=20
issues. </SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3><FONT color=3D#000080><SPAN=20
class=3D864073410-16082005></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3><FONT color=3D#000080><SPAN =
class=3D864073410-16082005>What's=20
better for USPS and a squadron; </SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT =
size=3D3><FONT=20
color=3D#000080><SPAN class=3D864073410-16082005>1) An out-of-date =
squadron website=20
linked from national so that a potential new member can find out that a =
local=20
squadron exists, even if they have to scroll the calendar to find =
the=20
current month and the pictures of the bridge are out of date; or=20
</SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT size=3D3><FONT color=3D#000080><SPAN=20
class=3D864073410-16082005>2) A squadron website that has been un-linked =
from=20
national so that a potential new member can't find it and joins some =
other=20
club?</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3><FONT color=3D#000080><SPAN=20
class=3D864073410-16082005></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3><FONT color=3D#000080><SPAN =
class=3D864073410-16082005>Let's try=20
another. What's better, a squadron with a webmaster who only has =
time or=20
motivation to update the site once every couple of months, or a squadron =
with no=20
webmaster at all (because the person who built the site got tired of =
being=20
hassled by national)?</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3><FONT color=3D#000080><SPAN=20
class=3D864073410-16082005></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3><FONT color=3D#000080><SPAN =
class=3D864073410-16082005>Finally, If=20
our objective is to retain existing members and recruit new members, =
What=20
purpose does disconnecting a site or discouraging a webmaster ever =
serve? =20
</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3><FONT color=3D#000080><SPAN=20
class=3D864073410-16082005></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3><FONT color=3D#000080><SPAN =
class=3D864073410-16082005>The problem=20
is bigger than just web sites and the IT committee. We've got to =
figure=20
out why some squadrons are consistently growing while others are =
failing; why=20
some squadrons have successful programs while nationally USPS is slowly=20
dying. I wonder if it has anything to do with management styles;=20
encouraging enthusiasm versus discouraging participation; enforcing =
standards=20
versus having fun.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3><FONT color=3D#000080><SPAN=20
class=3D864073410-16082005></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3><FONT color=3D#000080><SPAN=20
class=3D864073410-16082005>Jeff</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3><FONT color=3D#000080><SPAN=20
class=3D864073410-16082005></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
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<DIV><FONT size=3D3><FONT color=3D#000080><SPAN=20
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<DIV><FONT size=3D3><FONT color=3D#000080><SPAN=20
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<DIV><FONT size=3D3><FONT color=3D#000080><SPAN=20
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