The new website - A failure or success.

Wasn't there a stipulation that images had to be taken in the previous month - whatever the weather? A sure way to cut down on contributions.

Wasn't there a stipulation that images had to be taken in the previous month - whatever the weather? A sure way to cut down on contributions.

Emmmmm. It was a monthly competition Paul.

Well yes Kieran, but it was also a themed competition. So then you had to take a photo of Galaxies In January, whatever the weather. One or the other stipulation is fine, but applying both cut down the number of contributions to the extent that they dried up allowing TPTB to quietly forget about the whole thing.

Then make it quarterly and open to any objects apart from clouds

John Murphy wrote:

Personally I think more has been lost than gained, and to this extent while the new site looks cooler, it is in no way better funtionally, it is worse. But hey I would like to know what the gains were, maybe I can use them to compensate for all the shortcomings.

Hi John,
thanks for your posts. The items added were (among other things):

1) An interactive Event Calendar for people to post when they had upcoming events, a section of which is fed from this on the homepage for quick-viewing.

2) A Classifieds section seperate from the forums for anyone to post items for sale in an environment that allowed image attachment and quick-search when requested. By request (I add forlornly), this was then later demolished.

3) The use of Joomla for CMS management by those who could, in real-time, update, add, or take away sections and modules on the site.

4) An Articles section that users could upload to in their own time their own penmanships.

5) a Blog feature for members to write an online diary of club events, musings, observing reports - anything at all.

NONE of the above were on the old site, and only through the move were achieved with this new site. It is not the Web Team's fault nor those of the Administration if users don't partake in their online astronomical community, especially since, through a vocal majority of those on these boards well over a year ago, wanted these additions implemented.

Accuse me of speaking my mind, but some of those that were staunch in wanting these new additions have since rebelled and wanted things changed back or removed.

And, for the record, nearly all the hard work of the 'Web Team' was Darragh, he gets the credit where credit's due in making sure these boards worked as best they could when the transition was made. It was no easy feat to achieve, and took many man hours of free time. Still, we do appreciate your feedback and suggestions

Seanie.

An excellent idea Kieran!