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« on: February 16, 2019, 06:23:38 AM »
There are a few things I would like to clarify about the new process for Meet Requests. This is no different than when we took the printed membership form online - the new member still had to fill out all the information, just as before, but instead of folding it up, sticking it in an envelope, and mailing it out - they just hit "Send" and it was done. The big difference was all the manual-intensive labor behind the scenes to get that New Member added to the rolls, the forum, and keep track of their points, etc. Instead of days, or weeks, it was instant. We even have Word merge to pull the new member's information directly from the database and print all the new member letters - automatically, along with their mailing label. All that remains is to place the letter and the Handbook in the envelope, make sure the right label goes on the right envelope, stick a stamp on it and mail it. I haven't figured out a way to automate that part....yet.
This is no different. Instead of hand-writing, or typing in the form, then scanning it and emailing, you just fill it out online and click "Send". Once again, the difference is in how it is handled on the back end. It still goes to the appropriate District Director for that show, that District Director still has to approve the meet request, we still have to contact the Show Secretary, and if all that goes well, the meet still has to be listed on the website. None of that changes, except that it all happens within a matter of seconds. The only delay will be in waiting for the human interaction - the DD's approval, and the Show Secretary's acceptance. Once those two things are done, the listing on the website will also be automatic.
The work of a Meet Coordinator has been in those behind the scenes steps - coordinating with the DD, and the Show Secretary, listing the meet on the forum, and then following up after the meet for the meet report. Since that whole process will be automated, there is no need for a Meet Coordinator.
Temple volunteered, back in 2016, to help with meet coordination. It was right after she stepped up that our website and forum crashed. And it was only a few months later I had the first brain surgery. If it had not been for Temple's assistance during that time, I hate to think what would have happened. But she did, and it was very much appreciated.
My goal, from the very beginning, has to been to automate as much of the back room processing as possible to make the Secretary's job as simple as possible. The automation of the new member application was only one step in that process, automating the meet reports is also on the horizon, following the completion of the meet request process. One of the reasons I needed to get back involved in the meet request process immediately, before the first phase roll out of this project, was because I have not been involved in it since Temple took it over 3 years ago. I needed to make sure this project covered all the bases and the only way I can assure this Board, and this Club, of that is to make sure I was familiar with the whole process again. Remember - I've had brain surgery since Temple took it over, and this old gal's memory ain't what it used to be.
In less than 2 years I will be gone from this position (please hold your applause), and one of my goals over this remaining time in my term is to make sure the next Secretary has as much documentation, and assistance as needed for an easy, smooth transition. To that end, one of the other things I am doing is writing a detailed process documentation manual that will describe how everything works, what the next steps are and how to perform the processes involved. I did not have that when I came on board, so I can fully appreciate just how important that will be to my successor.
Now, for what happened last night. First, I have to take meds promptly at 8PM every night - I can fudge it by a few minutes, but not much longer. And I'm usually in bed by 8:30. I read on my Kindle, in bed, for a while before the pills take over and I drift off. Last night, I was reading, in bed, when I saw an email come across about the first post on the forum. After reading it, I called Jean. Jean took necessary steps and I am thankful she did.
Folks, we just can't have that kind of bashing here - it's not good for the Club, it's not good for the breed, it's not good for the sport..and it dang sure ain't good for my heart. I'm sorry Temple is taking this so personally, but there is still no reason to start bashing DDs, me, and whoever else gets caught in the middle on the forum. This project has been on the back burner for a while, and certain recent events forced it to the forefront - there is not, was not, and has never been, any "collusion" or underhandedness about it all...ever. Temple's assistance has been much appreciated, but it is just no longer needed. It really is just that plain and simple.
And, let me address one other statement that was made. Neither I, nor any of the other Admins on this forum - and all the Board members are Admins - have access to your private pms - in any way, shape, or form. Back in early 2016, or 2015, I posted a warning about responding to email notifications of "You've got a new message on the forum" through your email. Don't just click Reply in your email, because a copy of it goes to the sender of the email - which is info@ameraucanabreedersclub.org. So, when you click on "Reply" in your email account, guess who gets a copy? This has only happened twice in the 4 years I have served in this role and the first was so long ago, I had completely forgotten about it. Then it happened again just recently in a private communication between two forum members. I forwarded the reply I received at info@ameraucanabreedersclub.org on to the intended recipient, but they took that as some sign that I have access to and am spying on everyone's private messages. I have neither the time, the energy, nor the inclination to do so. And, as a retiree of the banking industry (I retired from the Systems Project group at Wachovia Bank Corp HQ), I value private communications as something sacrosanct.
I hope we can get past all this needless hullabaloo and get back to focusing on what we're here for - the birds, the Ameraucanas, the sport we all love so much.
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