Hi Bob
Please see comments below for a reply.
Bob Armstrong
Re: CFC Website Update 2009-09-14
Hi Eric:
Thanks for the update. It seems some IT members disagree that the CFC website cannot/should not go back on line now. They do not see Google as having any power to stop this. They seem to be saying that the site can have a simple notice for those getting the google virus warning, that the site is now clean, and we are just awaiting the google " bill of good health ", which takes them a bit of time to get to. Has the executive considered this option, and what is their response?
Bob, the Executive considers all options. I am following the advice of the IT specialists that the CFC pays for. Free advice is always available, but sometimes you get what you pay for regarding the quality of said advice.
As a further clarification on my personal opinion, I had reservations about the CFC Webzine, and CFC's ability to maintain it $ wise, and make it competitive. In the summer of 2007, the Grassroots' Campaign suggested as an alternate, an electronic newsletter to all members, something the CFC has now finally adopted. And my concern about the money set aside for Webzine development in the Lavin budget, was that the webzine is too expensive, and too labour intensive, for CFC to deliver a quality product. That was all about the Webzine. There was no discussion at the time in the AGM about a new CFC website to my recollection - I'll recheck the minutes.
I believe that the Grassroots coalition and myself created the idea of an electronic newsletter independently of each other. Be that as it may, check the budget published in GL 6 and that was presented to the 2009 AGM. The line item was for a one-time investment in a new web-zine and a new web-site.
But I have some misgivings if this is the time to spend $ 20,000 on a new website, when we for the first time in 5 years have a surplus. The CFC website, in the words of Governor Zeromskis, is nothing special, but it functions and provides basic members' services. I have no idea about your concern that it is difficult to maintain because it is unique to our past developer ( whom I assume was someone before Vincent Chow, since he seemed to develop the new Webzine, alongside the existing CFC website ). If it is indeed not maintainable and not upgradable, then I agree this is a serious problem.
Many years ago and in a different life, I worked in the Informatics field. Any programmer will tell you that working on software designed by someone else with no documentation is a challenge no matter how simple it looks. For someone to say different strikes me as irresponsible.
But what is the cost to be for a new site - Is Kevin in the ballpark with $ 20,000? Chris Mallon has offered to do it for $ 10,000. You have said there have been some volunteers to help with the virus attack problem. But are they willing to volunteer to develop a whole website? They may only be willing to be free consultants to a formal new website developer. I guess this item of cost really needs to be on the table, for the governors to discuss whether they will enter into a totally new website. And how are we to guarantee that this new website will not be equally impossible to maintain and upgrade without future developer contracts, because no one else will know how to do it?
EK Gillin will be submitting a proposal for a new website. I have invited IT specialists who support the CFC to also submit a proposal. The Executive has no hard numbers yet.
While I have not spoken to Kevin personally, the figure of the $20,000.00 for a new website is a number that Kevin pulled out of hat. In other words, he just made up a number. Now that the number is being repeated, people are believing it is true. If Mallon or any other IT specialist would like to create a new website for the CFC, those people have been in the position for some time to send a proposal to the CFC Executive. Again, here I invite them to send a proposal ASAP.
Bob, I am grateful that you are keeping vigilant on CFC matters.
Eric Van Dusen
CFC President
Eric Van Dusen
CFC Past-President 2010-2011