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View Full Version : Ag. Item # 6 – New CFC Website Update



Bob Armstrong
04-08-2010, 08:34 AM
In this thread, Eric will advise what is currently being done towards issuing a Request for Proposals, and any other relevant information on the proposed new website. Anyone can respond.

Paul Leblanc
04-08-2010, 01:12 PM
The Chess Foundation has maintained $10,000 in readily available cash at the request of the Executive to fund the website project. I don't have any indication yet of what the cost will be. This money is part of the building sale proceeds given to the Foundation in trust.

Bob Armstrong
04-08-2010, 01:17 PM
Hi Paul:

Nice to see you at the meeting. Thanks for the update. Perhaps soon Eric will attend and advise us where the project is at currently.

Don't forget to " sign in " Paul - Ag. Item # 1. Thanks.

Bob

Christopher Mallon
04-08-2010, 09:52 PM
There is absolutely no reason the website should cost more than $10,000. Depending on the requirements it could be significantly less.

Is there any reason we've been waiting months just to find out what the requirements are? It should really take four people meeting for just a few hours to figure them out.

Fred McKim
04-09-2010, 11:52 AM
Is there any background to this available ?

Bob Armstrong
04-09-2010, 12:09 PM
Hi Fred:

In the absence of Eric, who knows all about this, I will try to answer:

1. the current CFC website is old style, and was severely hacked , and put on Google's warning list. The volunteer information technology specialist who is working with Eric on this ( at last I heard ) told me that this old site is particularly vulnerable to hacking. The new sites have much better protection.

2. I have been told by those in website design that our current website, in terms of appearance, is long outdated. It does not give a professional image any longer of the CFC.

3. New websites come with many new advanced features not on our current old website.

4. There is some debate about what a new updated website should cost. I have been told by website specialists that it could range from under $ 10,000 to over $ 20,000 for CFC to get what it actually needs.

Hope this helps, and some of our more techie governors may want to speak to this, and correct any of my errors.

Bob

Patrick McDonald
04-09-2010, 05:29 PM
I find it deeply disturbing that we are "Waiting" for someone to join online, who has stated his lack of internet connectivity, for an update as to what the requirements for our website might be ...

Does anyone else find this ironic and disturbing?

Christopher Mallon
04-09-2010, 06:25 PM
From my experience as President, at least 80% of business was conducted online/by email. So if the President has virtually no online access, he can't exactly be putting too much time into the CFC can he?

Seriously though, Patrick and I and toss in one or two others for extra points of view could come up with a complete list of requirements in about 2-3 hours at a coffee shop. It shouldn't be a big job, but it's taking longer than the actual website development will!!!

Bill Evans
04-09-2010, 07:29 PM
I would also like to see the "requirements" for the new website.

Does Eric not have internet accessibility or is his laptop out of commission or what?

Bill Evans

Paul Leblanc
04-09-2010, 07:41 PM
Stijn De Kerpel was the one who e-mailed me on September 22nd 2009 and asked me to have cash ready at short notice, so perhaps he is running with the website project.

Stijn De Kerpel
04-10-2010, 10:49 AM
Hi Paul,

No I have not been running the website project at all - I am in contact with the CFC Office. I don't know much, but I can tell you that Eric was working with some CFC members on a statement of work as it relates to the website.

Sorry I can't provide more details on this issue.

Valer Eugen Demian
04-12-2010, 07:29 PM
... is very disappointing. A while ago I suggested on this forum that CFC approaches for bids a certain company from Vancouver. This was because I had and still have great things to say about it from personal experience. I was hoping this would generate some action and CFC would pursue this more aggresively (anywhere in Canada, not only Vancouver).

Having a decent web presence is of utmost importance in today's reality. Also $10,000 should be in excess for having any decent company design a modern CFC website. Why this aspect is dragging on it is not very clear to me.

When are we going to see some action happening?

Christopher Mallon
04-12-2010, 07:36 PM
As a guess I would say whenever the next Exec gets elected.

Egidijus Zeromskis
04-12-2010, 07:40 PM
When are we going to see some action happening?

When the president would have stamina for a whole year.

The website without chess - is not a chess website.

If the front page shows old (2007-2008) champions, to the outside people it means that the CFC is not functioning and probably is dead.

Eric Van Dusen
04-12-2010, 11:29 PM
Hi Egis,

As I stated before, the whole procedure I had envisioned for the solicitation of the website re-design was too cumbersome and impractical.

Please send me said Vancouver company. I am also pursuing to other parties that may be interested in working on the website.

I am certainly disappointed with myself for letting down the CFC.

Christopher Mallon
04-12-2010, 11:59 PM
There's nothing wrong with doing it through a RFP process, but it shouldn't require extensive amounts of consultation to come up with the RFP.

I'd offer to do it myself except that my company might have some interest in actually bidding on it, which would probably be a conflict of interest. But you can look at the original proposal from late 2006/early 2007 for a good starting point for any new site.

Michael von Keitz
04-13-2010, 12:19 AM
Okay, so this issue seems to lie squarely in the incoming executive's court now. Eric, I, for one, certainly do not expect you to pursue it any further at this point. As Chris has stated, our website requirements can be hashed out over a cup of coffee between himself, Patrick, and perhaps a few others. I would encourage this dialogue to happen, so as to give the incoming governors a starting point in the new term.

Paul Leblanc
04-13-2010, 02:59 AM
I see the website as one of the five core functions of the CFC:

1. Oversee national championships
2. Provide ratings
3. Produce a bulletin
4. Represent Canada to FIDE; and
5. Maintain a good website.

That's it, nothing fancy but concrete objectives and fully achievable within a balanced budget.

Egidijus Zeromskis
04-13-2010, 02:30 PM
I see the website as one of the ... core functions of the CFC:

6. Promote National teams

Paul Leblanc
04-13-2010, 03:34 PM
Yes, I would re-word item 4 to include that. Thanks.

Valer Eugen Demian
04-14-2010, 01:31 PM
I recommend the following:
http://www.dpgassociates.com/

The contact person is Dawayne Wurz with email address:
ceo at dpgassociates dot com

Bob Armstrong
04-14-2010, 06:16 PM
Some background given was:

1. the current CFC website is old style, and was severely hacked , and put on Google's warning list. The volunteer information technology specialist who is working with Eric on this ( at least, at the time of last update ) advised that this old site is particularly vulnerable to hacking. The new sites have much better protection.

2. The CFC has been advised by those in website design that our current website, in terms of appearance, is long outdated. It does not give a professional image any longer of the CFC.

3. New websites come with many new advanced features not on our current old website.

4. There is some debate about what a new updated website should cost. One website specialists said that it could range from under $ 10,000 to over $ 20,000 for CFC to get what it actually needs.

Eric stated:

" The whole procedure I had envisioned for the solicitation of the website re-design was too cumbersome and impractical.

I am also pursuing to other parties that may be interested in working on the website.

I am certainly disappointed with myself for letting down the CFC."

Is this summary generally satisfactory?

Bob