The Big Picture

I hope not to open a can of worms or anything but....

Firstly, the development of the website is a good idea in itself if it improves the user interface. However, the question I will pose is:
"Apart from the boards, where do we as a group of astronomers see ourselves going?". Note, I'm not asking "Where does IFAS see itself going" as that sort of lays it unfairly at the feet of the committee etc. Rather, apart from yapping to each other here every evening, what else do we see ourselves doing that the use of a website would help?
WHen I read the IFAS "Aim" as per the constitution, it states:

The aim of the Federation shall be to promote the interests and development of amateur astronomical societies in Ireland.

However, it's for the people involved in IFAS, i.e. you and me, to see how that happens. Perhaps if a list of specific goals or targets were identified, we would be able to more clearly identify what the "aim" is :

Once this was more clearly identified, then it would feed through into how we operate and eventually into the website structure. If we know what the aim is, by what means do we intend getting there?.

Apologies for interrupting with all this "big picture" sort of stuff...however, feel free to comment/post ideas/discuss.
...perhaps it might be best to move this to a seperate thread??

This could turn out to be really usefull or just go round in circles ... lets see what happenes!

What I will say is that I am pushing a head with the website now because if we wait for everyone in a group this big to agree nothing will ever happen! However, it is one of my key aims to keept the technical aspects of this site as extendable as possible so that new ideas etc can always be added to the site as they get dremt up and as things evolve and change.

P.S. I split this off from the technical thread.

OK, Bart.
And yes, keep going with what you're doing. As you said, this could be a useful discussion or a complete waste of bandwidth! Hopefully not the latter!
Cheers,

I think we can avoid going around in circles by simply sticking to the IFAS aim which is simple and straightforward.

Of course, translating the aim into a plan is somewhat more complex - and the provision of website, whilst important, is only a part of that plan.

I agree with Michael that a fundamental revision of the plan that supports the aim is a good idea - but that would take some co-ordination by the committee (co-ordination, not doing it as Michael says).

In the meantime this drive to change the website should bear the IFAS aim in mind as well as, of course, addressing the technical stuff that goes along with website construction and management.

Bart - I totally agree with you about pushing ahead. Sometimes you just have to forge ahead regardless of other issues otherwise nothing will get done. There's no doubt in my mind that whatever you come up with will be an improvement (on an already good website) and that's to be commended. And I think most folks would be supportive of your technical decsions, mostly because, like me, they haven't a clue what you're talking about

We should also realise that the website improvement is just another staging post on the way to the enlightenment that is Zen

Perhaps after this project is complete (or even before) the IFAS committee can discuss the more fundamental issue of how better to achieve the IFAS aim and to construct a five year plan. This would include further website development, continuing maintenance etc as core items. But it should also include a bunch more stuff - public outreach, affiliated club/society development and support, advertising, joint ventures, events etc etc.

As ever, €0.02 worth...

Dave