Bob Armstrong
09-15-2009, 01:59 AM
Here is an important post from the CFC President on ChessTalk, that I think also should be on this CFC members' CFC Chess Forum:
September 15, 2009, 01:12 AM
Eric Van Dusen
CFC Website Update 2009-09-14
Greetings CFC members and governors,
I will try to explain matters pertaining to the web site as has been explained to me by our contractor, EKG.
As many of you know the CFC website was hacked and became infected. Our contractor for office services, EKG stepped in and began almost at once to work on the problem. What many people do not know (I certainly did not) is that Google scans sites and when they become infected, Google tags the site so that web browsers will be sent an error message.
The site has been cleaned up by EKG and their IT specialists are in contact with Google to rescan the site and give it a clean bill of health, that is, its seal of approval. However like any huge company, it takes time for them to deal with any requests for help. It reminds one of the government. For those naysayers, Google is that powerful and until they get around to it, their inaction keeps our site from operating.
As for the site itself, it was developed by the previous office staff and typical of most software developers, it was made in such a way to make it difficult for anyone except for the creator to maintain and upgrade the site. That is how software specialists keep the revenues flowing with follow-on maintenance contracts. The fact is the budget presented at this year's CFC AGM set aside money to develop a new web site as well as a web magazine. The attendees of the meeting including Bob Armstrong were not too happy about what they perceived as putting good money after bad regarding the web site and the e-magazine.
The web site is like a piece of factory machinery or an automobile. One can keep spending money to repair it but at some point, one has to make a calculation on what is more economical: Repairs or replacement. That is what I meant that the CFC Executive is considering the option of a new site. This means that the CFC Executive unfortunately are still dealing with transitional costs that were part of David Lavin's tenure as president.
If some of you sharp IT specialists would like to make a proposal on a new web site and volunteer your time in creating a website and give all the intellectual property rights to the CFC, please send you proposals to my email account: president@chess.ca
As some of you know, the Stratford festival is presenting Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. All I can say to my new best friend, Kevin is, "Et tu Brute'. I was hoping our honeymoon would have lasted a little longer.
I acknowledge that people are impatient and want the situation solved yesterday. Until I get the use of a TARDIS, I am requesting some understanding and patience on your part. To all of those kibitzers, I would respectfully remind you that it is always easier to play someone else's pieces than your own.
In closing, a few people have volunteered to help the CFC with its web site, and I would very much like to thank them for their interest.
Eric Van Dusen
CFC President
And here is my reply:
September 15, 2009, 01:50 AM
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?
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.
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. 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?
Food for thought.
Thanks for dialoguing on it with everyone.
Bob
What do members want??
Bob
September 15, 2009, 01:12 AM
Eric Van Dusen
CFC Website Update 2009-09-14
Greetings CFC members and governors,
I will try to explain matters pertaining to the web site as has been explained to me by our contractor, EKG.
As many of you know the CFC website was hacked and became infected. Our contractor for office services, EKG stepped in and began almost at once to work on the problem. What many people do not know (I certainly did not) is that Google scans sites and when they become infected, Google tags the site so that web browsers will be sent an error message.
The site has been cleaned up by EKG and their IT specialists are in contact with Google to rescan the site and give it a clean bill of health, that is, its seal of approval. However like any huge company, it takes time for them to deal with any requests for help. It reminds one of the government. For those naysayers, Google is that powerful and until they get around to it, their inaction keeps our site from operating.
As for the site itself, it was developed by the previous office staff and typical of most software developers, it was made in such a way to make it difficult for anyone except for the creator to maintain and upgrade the site. That is how software specialists keep the revenues flowing with follow-on maintenance contracts. The fact is the budget presented at this year's CFC AGM set aside money to develop a new web site as well as a web magazine. The attendees of the meeting including Bob Armstrong were not too happy about what they perceived as putting good money after bad regarding the web site and the e-magazine.
The web site is like a piece of factory machinery or an automobile. One can keep spending money to repair it but at some point, one has to make a calculation on what is more economical: Repairs or replacement. That is what I meant that the CFC Executive is considering the option of a new site. This means that the CFC Executive unfortunately are still dealing with transitional costs that were part of David Lavin's tenure as president.
If some of you sharp IT specialists would like to make a proposal on a new web site and volunteer your time in creating a website and give all the intellectual property rights to the CFC, please send you proposals to my email account: president@chess.ca
As some of you know, the Stratford festival is presenting Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. All I can say to my new best friend, Kevin is, "Et tu Brute'. I was hoping our honeymoon would have lasted a little longer.
I acknowledge that people are impatient and want the situation solved yesterday. Until I get the use of a TARDIS, I am requesting some understanding and patience on your part. To all of those kibitzers, I would respectfully remind you that it is always easier to play someone else's pieces than your own.
In closing, a few people have volunteered to help the CFC with its web site, and I would very much like to thank them for their interest.
Eric Van Dusen
CFC President
And here is my reply:
September 15, 2009, 01:50 AM
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?
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.
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. 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?
Food for thought.
Thanks for dialoguing on it with everyone.
Bob
What do members want??
Bob