[C320-list] Mailing List or Forum

[Barry Parker]

The forum idea has merit.  It can bring the members to the same port of call for discussions and additional Assn business. It need not supplant email lists for important announcements and topics of mutual interest.  If you are willing to step-up, help build the forum and admin it, I suggest you a plan together and submit it to leadership for consideration.

Now, if you're ever on S.F. Bay, I for one would like to read about it! 

Barry Parker
Fogdog #224
Brisbane, CA

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 16, 2012, at 2:29 PM, "Simon Rock" <simonrock at gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks for all the feedback.

Allan, you are right, without people thinking about ways of improving
things, the association will never move forward.

The forum idea is just an alternative information delivery method, with many
upsides.
But of course, most older people are scared of changing (not you Col), I am
sure they fought against introducing emails!

I just get frustrated when you can see a better, faster, more efficient
system, that would improve a group you enjoy.

In response to a few of the comments (of which none really gave any
advantages of the email list)...

Having two systems - a forum and email list splits the usefulness. Yes, you
get the email straight away, but you can do the same with forums.
The big advantage with forums, the central storage of information and
ability for new members to search old information (so not asking the same
question again).

Issues about logging in to a forum are invalid. You have to login to get
your email, so it's the same.
As for not being able to find discussions. I have never heard of such
rubbish. With a proper search function, its easy.

Both email and forums require internet access, so with Tapatalk of something
similar, the forum access is faster than emails, and has all the extra
features of the forum system.

Yes, you can sort your emails (and I do), but it just puts them all in one
folder. I have no interest in sailing stories from SF Bay, and in a forum I
could just ignore this discussion, and just read those that interest me -
saving me time deleting those non relevant (to me) emails.

Several people commented on the personal level of emails..... No more so
than forums. It's the same information, just a different delivery method. If
the forum is not personal - blame the members.

Management of forums is simple (I am admin on several, and it really takes
SFA time).
And then you can allocate admins for certain topics (and these people are
normally very keen to help).



Simon Rock
Lake Macquarie NSW Australia

Cat375 #54 Rock The Boat
Cat375 #41 Rocket
Cat320 #1163 Rockstar

Experience The Whitsundays
www.cya.com.au
-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Jack Russ
Sent: Monday, 16 July 2012 11:49 PM
To: c320-list at catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Mailing List or Forum


Keep current format.
Jack Russ

> From: allan.field at verizon.net
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2012 06:38:08 -0400
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Mailing List or Forum
> 
> While I support the current format for the same reasons that have been 
> articulated so well in previous posts, I am absolutely thrilled that 
> Simon weighed in with his thoughts on this.  Your Board is always 
> seeking engagement from the membership on potentially better ways of 
> doing things and new concepts that keep the Association vibrant and 
> relevant.  Some of those ideas will stick, others won't but unless the 
> membership is engaged, we have no idea what resonates with and is
important to the membership.
> Keep 'em coming and thanks Simon!
> 
> Allan S. Field
> Sea Shadow - 808
> Columbia, MD
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Rick 
> Sulewski
> Sent: Monday, July 16, 2012 1:00 AM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Mailing List or Forum
> 
> Folks,
> Let' keep in mind KISS - Keep It Simple & Succinct!
> 
> The e-mail format provides rapid replies with many opportunities to 
> develop increased understanding with broadly informed input....and 
> eventually the posts end up on the website in the forum format after all,
correct?
> Rick
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Jeff 
> Hare
> Sent: Sunday, July 15, 2012 8:35 PM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Mailing List or Forum
> 
> Hi Simon,
> 
> This has come up several times in the past 10 years as an alternative.
> There are some great benefits of a forum.  In fact you can read all 
> these postings mirrored on our own c320-list google group forum!  They 
> are searchable but may require a google account to access.
> 
> Our website has a discussion forum system that we tried once but it 
> turned out that the answer rate was very poor for questions posted 
> there since you had to be logged in and have a website account to
participate.
> 
> Yahoo groups and google groups are options for main participation but 
> also require extra logins (not that this is a show stopper).  The 
> other problem there is that preserving our content is not guaranteed.  
> They can dump it or limit our history at any point.
> 
> One issue with forums that isn't always obvious is that we would rely 
> on people logging in and following the discussions to find and then 
> respond to the unanswered questions. That might take days for an 
> answer to come back for your question. On the other hand, if people 
> subscribed to the forum posts by email they would know someone asked a
question and could respond.
> 
> So either way, it comes back to email in order to have quick responses 
> which is the thing I personally find most valuable.
> 
> To help the email clutter problem, our list has is a special subject
header
> added to all messages from our list -->   [c320-list] 
> 
> With this, your email program can automatically move all incoming 
> messages from this list to a folder just for c320 list traffic that 
> you can read / search at your convenience without cluttering your inbox.
> 
> This is just my opinion and ultimately we will try to do what the 
> group wants so we appreciate hearing from members on this and any 
> other things people have in mind.
> 
> Cheers!
> Jeff Hare
> #809 Woodbine II
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Jul 15, 2012, at 6:03 PM, Jane & Ken <obuoy4848 at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> 
>> Speaking of no brainer, the e-mails from the 320 group average less 
>> than
> three per day. Granted, some days there are ten or more but some days
zero.
> Kinda averages out.  The days when several e-mails arrive it is due to 
> a question that folk have an opinion or useful information they wish to
share.
>> As stated, "the leadership will respond" and as Chris indicated, 
>> most
> sailing forum media are a bit less personal.       Ken, 
>> 
>> --- On Sun, 7/15/12, Simon Rock <simonrock at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> From: Simon Rock <simonrock at gmail.com>
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Mailing List or Forum
>> To: "'Chris Burti'" <clburti at gmail.com>
>> Cc: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>> Date: Sunday, July 15, 2012, 4:10 PM
>> 
>> 
>> There are some huge benefits:
>> 1. All information is kept together by topic 2. Information is 
>> easily searched (so the same questions are not asked) 3. It doesn't 
>> flood your email program 4. Easier to manage, you can rank replies, 
>> set notifications by topic 5. Use of public and member only areas - 
>> helps encourage people to join to read the members areas.
>> 
>> You are right, the leadership will respond. Hopefully they will 
>> examine the advantages and see it's a no-brainer.
>> 
>> Cheers
>> 
>> Simon Rock
>> 0428 175510
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Chris Burti [mailto:clburti at gmail.com]
>> Sent: Sunday, 15 July 2012 12:23 PM
>> To: Simon Rock
>> Subject: RE: [C320-list] Mailing List or Forum
>> 
>> The subject comes up, but there hasn't been the kind of demand to 
>> drive the need to make that move.
>> 
>> I don't know if we really would benefit. Personally, I have 
>> virtually deserted the sailing forums that I am subscribed to as it 
>> is a bit like subscribing to a digest format. It just seems less
personal to me.
>> 
>> Ultimately, our leadership will be responsive to the needs and 
>> wishes of our group.
>> Fair Winds,
>> Chris Burti
>> From: Simon Rock
>> Sent: 7/14/2012 7:35 PM
>> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
>> Subject: [C320-list] Mailing List or Forum Hi, Over the past few 
>> days the mailing list has been very busy.
>> On several other groups I use, once the mailing list got really 
>> busy, it became easier to move across to a forum only setup.
>> This had many advantages (easy to search, all info is grouped, 
>> accessible from computers, iPhones, iPads, Tablets, etc), and really 
>> no
> disadvantages.
>> With Apps like Tapatalk, people still have great access to the info 
>> from their mobile devices.
>> 
>> But it does mean people have to change the way they access the info. 
>> But we are all smart enough to handle this small change.
>> 
>> Is this something the association management have considered?
>> 
>> 
>> Simon Rock
>> Lake Macquarie NSW Australia
>> 
>> Cat375 #54 Rock The Boat
>> Cat375 #41 Rocket
>> Cat320 #1163 Rockstar
>> 
>> Experience The Whitsundays
>> www.cya.com.au
>> 
>