[Webmaster_forum] RE: This web awards thing is now way out of control
Susan Darcy
Susan@darcy-systems.com
Tue, 16 Aug 2005 09:31:37 -0400
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
------=_NextPart_000_00D5_01C5A245.55C871D0
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Jeff,
=20
Thank you for expressing the bigger picture so succinctly. I am =
constantly
amazed when I view other USPS websites to find so many VACANT positions =
on
their Bridge, ExCom and committees - you've hit the mark with your =
question
why are some gaining while others are closing their doors.
=20
Is it as simple as the management styles you mention? "Encouraging
enthusiasm versus discouraging participation; enforcing standards versus
having fun"? I certainly believe it is. As you said: "The problem =
is
bigger than just web sites and the IT committee. =20
=20
Be the BEST in USPS!
Susan
P/D/C Susan L. Darcy, JN
USPS - District 2
Berkshire Sail & Power Squadron
Susan@darcy-systems.com
http://www.usps.org/localusps/d2
-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff-Wise [mailto:Jeff-Wise@comcast.net] On Behalf Of
Jeff@USPS-Atlanta.org
Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2005 8:20 AM
To: webmaster_forum@usps.org
Cc: itcom@usps.org; robertb@wilsonwarehouse.com; ubillosp@earthlink.net;
dwsmark@ameritech.net; emarshburn@greenvillenc.com; =
Susan@darcy-systems.com
Subject: This web awards thing is now way out of control
=20
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
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
------=_NextPart_000_00D5_01C5A245.55C871D0
Content-Type: text/html;
charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
<META HTTP-EQUIV=3D"Content-Type" CONTENT=3D"text/html; =
charset=3Dus-ascii">
<meta name=3DGenerator content=3D"Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)">
<title>Message</title>
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p
{margin-right:0in;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
span.EmailStyle18
{font-family:Arial;
color:black;
font-weight:normal;
font-style:normal;
text-decoration:none none;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
</head>
<body lang=3DEN-US link=3Dblue vlink=3Dpurple id=3D"role_body" =
bottomMargin=3D7
leftmargin=3D7 topmargin=3D7 rightMargin=3D7>
<div class=3DSection1>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Jeff,</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Thank you for expressing the =
bigger
picture so succinctly. I am constantly amazed when I view other =
USPS websites
to find so many VACANT positions on their Bridge, ExCom and committees =
–
you’ve hit the mark with your question why are some gaining while =
others
are closing their doors.</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Is it as simple as the management =
styles
you mention? </span></font><font face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:
Arial'> “Encouraging enthusiasm versus discouraging =
participation;
enforcing standards versus having fun”? I
certainly believe it is. As you said: “The problem is =
bigger
than just web sites and the IT committee. </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font></p>
<div>
<div>
<p style=3D'margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Be the BEST in =
USPS!<br>
<br>
Susan<br>
<br>
P/D/C Susan L. Darcy, JN<br>
USPS - District 2<br>
</span></font><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:black'>Berkshire</span></font><font size=3D2
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'> Sail & Power Squadron<br>
Susan@darcy-systems.com<br>
<a =
href=3D"http://www.usps.org/localusps/d2">http://www.usps.org/localusps/d=
2</a><br>
<br>
</span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DTahoma><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma'>-----Original Message-----<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>From:</span></b> Jeff-Wise
[mailto:Jeff-Wise@comcast.net] <b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>On =
Behalf Of </span></b>Jeff@USPS-Atlanta.org<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> </span></font><font =
size=3D2 face=3DTahoma><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>Tuesday, August
16, 2005</span></font><font size=3D2 face=3DTahoma><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma'> </span></font><font size=3D2 face=3DTahoma><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>8:20 =
AM</span></font><font size=3D2
face=3DTahoma><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'><br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> =
webmaster_forum@usps.org<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Cc:</span></b> itcom@usps.org;
robertb@wilsonwarehouse.com; ubillosp@earthlink.net; =
dwsmark@ameritech.net;
emarshburn@greenvillenc.com; Susan@darcy-systems.com<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> This web awards =
thing is
now way out of control</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>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 <u>conforming</u> versus <u>non-conforming</u>
websites. As Susan indicated, we have apparently progressed from =
an <u>award
</u>program to a <u>penalty</u> 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, =
</span></font><strong><b><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>"...continue to assure <u>our</u> basic =
requirements are
being met." </span></font></b></strong></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>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.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Perhaps a few rhetorical questions =
can
clarify the issues. </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>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?</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>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)?</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>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? </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>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.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Jeff</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>
------=_NextPart_000_00D5_01C5A245.55C871D0--