Morris Minor Owners Club

Yes, i noticed the site was down all yesterday. I think the club seriously needs to address this as they get 50% of new members via the website.

Didnt notice yesterday as wasnt online much, but second what you say CJ,
whilst fully aware that its run by volunteers to whom no blame is directed whatsoever - it really does need addressing.
I mean if the club wants to up the membership by £2 pa then why not a little more (or dip into the coffers) and have it run by a paid professional if it generates that many new memberships? Surely it would be a self funding thing after year 1.

Well some of the regulars are absent, and if the site stays as flakey as it has been for 10 days then that can only be a bad thing. One of the main reasons I joined the MMOC was the quality of this Forum, but it has been a disaster over the past week. Me thinks the provider needs a swift kick up the backside.

I talked to Jon about it at the AGM. He said he's having difficulty getting any answers out of the German provider as to what is going wrong with the server. The reason he chose that provider is they're the only one he could find who would provide enough bandwidth at a price the club is willing to pay.

Yes Alex he told me the same thing and said that as he now assists with the regalia (you probably noticed that) as well as a full time job, he is doing all he can with what little spare time he has.

I did a bit of 'backside kicking' yesterday - sent highly critical e-mail via sales rather than to support. I got a reply much faster than usual. I think I gave the person who answered the phone a bit of a hard time, which is probably unfair as he only takes the phone calls. We'll see if things improve .........

I mean if the club wants to up the membership by £2 pa then why not a little more (or dip into the coffers) and have it run by a paid professional if it generates that many new memberships? Surely it would be a self funding thing after year 1.[/quote]

Well said. I really feel for Jon. Whether or not the board is self financing it does need a paid professional to run things overseen by the Web editor.

Can judge tell whom to contact to get this discussed at National Committee level

If its a matter of cost, then I for one would be prepared to contribute a few pounds if it meant better club web provision.

CJ so would many no doubt, but thats not the point and defeats the object (this is not a rant or dig at anyone BTW)
There are board hosting companies out there who will no doubt host an as good as 100% uptime service with just a small payment for thier service to be ad free. Probably a fraction of the cost of dedicated hosting @ high bandwidth.
Unless someone comes out with the figures - what does it cost to host with the lately unreliable german host and whats the bandwidth and current size of the DB then its all conjecture.
Said it before, say it again THE CLUB (or comittee thereof) is underestimating the website as
a. source of revenue
b. source of increasing membership

If its a matter of cost, then I for one would be prepared to contribute a few pounds if it meant better club web provision

Only a matter of time at this rate before someone sets up a rival non club affiliated board which those knowledgeable regulars frequent instead. And when they do and when google does too and there will be the effective end of this board - not only as a club member add on or new member gainer, but as a platform for those who are passionate about the mogs, seeking advice to keep them going - isnt that the point of the club?

"nly a matter of time at this rate before someone sets up a rival non club affiliated board which those knowledgeable regulars frequent instead. "

Well now you mention it, you are all welcome to use the East Kent board when the National one is down. ;-) I did not set it up to compete with the National board, just originally for East Kent purposes.

http://www.armbell.com/forum/?mforum=morrisminoreast

Its currently very traffic light. Sadly, it does feature adverts but it was free.

[quote="Orkney"]Said it before, say it again THE CLUB (or comittee thereof) is underestimating the website as
a. source of revenue
b. source of increasing membership

[quote]

I for one have never underestimated the website Kevin.

I for one have never underestimated the website Kevin.

Know that and appreciate that Bill, your one of the few that dont need convincing

I know this will tread on some toes and likely hurt a few peoples feelings - but re-itterate its aimed at nobody whatsoever who gives who thier time for this, but...

The site needs a shake up - big time. Needs to be more dynamic, needs to be encouraging more people to join the club.
Websites work on popularity through whats called 'sticky' content i.e. you go back and theres something new to grab your attention/keep you interested/amuse you /annoy you/ the list goes on.
Nothing is truer of a message board !

And for one to be successful it needs to be not spontaneously broken when it feels like it.
End of the day someone pays the bill for hosting - someone chooses the hosting - so those that pay and allocate shoud be ensuring it doesnt do the dying fly every 5 minutes.

Whilst from previous threads, talking to club members who've never heard of or will ever look at the site because they just dont 'do the intrenet' etc, fact is and its a BIG FACT the internet and this board plays a very important part in the preservation of the minor - 1st port of call for a lot of people nowadays is the internet for specific information,
to the comittee as a whole have to say wake up and smell the roses, move with the times and put some investment where it counts if as your page header says your "Promoting the Preservation and Use of the Postwar Morris Minor" then do so by realising the importance of this !

At what point do the members get a say ? Bet 'The Club' wouldnt send out a print run of the mag if it wasnt readable? Or be expected to pay the printers bill.

Its all very serious really and unfortunately at that. Nobody is coming forward with the figures - dont know why? but would be interesting reading as to the stats & costs on the website and board as is - should be public knowledge really to club members.

say it again THE CLUB (or comittee thereof) is underestimating the website

Having spoken to plenty of people at the AGM - I rather disagree with that!

Just one of the many examples:
Many months of hard work have gone into delivering an online purchasing scheme for regalia - under pressure to do this ASAP from the committee...

Lots of other hard work has gone into the forthcoming restructuring of the website. This is essential to be able to maintain the site in future - the site grew from humble beginnings and continued to grow, but now is in a state that is nearly impossible to maintain properly.

I am also very frustrated by the frequent offline periods we've had with the current host. However the first avenue to try and sort this is not to go to another host - It is to deal with the current providers to get it fixed (Jon has been on their case a lot recently). Changing providers is not the first option but has been done in the past when needed. The problem is that if all you ever do is change provider, then you don't neccessarily get any improvement - sometimes it can be much worse.

As we now have only 1 web editor (there was a chance that we'd have two) I'm sure the club will be interested to know if anyone is offering regular time commitment to assist with the site maintenance and content. I don't have the ability or time at the moment but maybe others do, but didn't apply for the post last year.

The Hosting company have informed me that they have changed the memory in our server. As I know from bitter personal experience, memory problems can be a real b****r to diagnose. Things should be back to normal. If not, I'll soon notice!

And if any one has any articles/stories/features/restoration diaries/etc that they think would interest readers (or whatever you call internet visitors) I will happily receive them. they don't need to be formatted, (in fact I'd rather they weren't) just send text and pictures and I'll do the rest. If you have a story/ article but no pictures, I'm sure I can manage to find some if necessary. Don't worry if the subject has already been covered on the message board - there are people out there who never use it!

I agree whole heartedly Kevin, but as Ray has said, efforts are being made to further the effectiveness of the Website.
The problem as I see it is is the communication between the members of the club and those charged to run it in official capacities. If we as a club rely on voluntary efforts to run the essential day to day aspects of the club, then we cannot realistically expect the club to offer the same degree of accessability and level of communication that might be offered by professional organisations. This is by no means a criticism of the very good works and generosity of the volunteers, but there are only 24 hours in a day in which to balance personal,family and voluntary matters.
I think also that the club needs to raise more income, or re allocate existing levels of funds. The AGM indicated that the club lost £16,000 last year( if my memory serves me correctly), a staggering amount.
The Club admitted that it had decreased its advertising spending, a rather strange move for an organisation trying to recruit new members. However the increase in subscription to make next year a platform to expand the club might be seen as heading in the right direction.
The amount spent on this years National £8,000 was I believe covered by the takings from the event.
One alarming aspect of this years AGM was the attendance level, around 65, out of a potential 12,000 plus, and the low number of younger members present.
Still onwards and upwards