Re: National's Web Site
(no name) ((no email))
Sun, 14 Jul 1996 01:55:58 -0500
Chris Marsey wrote:
>My concern is in the $40,000 and what they've got from it or >are going to
get. The U.S. Scouting Service Project, of which >I started nearly 2 years
ago, requires a $2200 computer outfit >(includes ISDN router, etc..) and
about a $400/mo worth of >telco and ISP connection. One year of being
on-line would >equal about $7000. Additional years, $4800.
So with a five-year investment, it comes out to something
around $30K, right? (I'm rounding off stuff...it's late here in the central
US and Jessi lost her calculator off of her computer again! *grinning*)
So, the group that the BSA hired took us all for $10K, or we can include
this in the costs of the "page development" over the next five years. I
felt it was a little excessive until you stated what your costs were to run
the USSSP.
>Would we be volunteers and help National (I can't speak for >the others)? I
say Yes! For 40K, I could get it all set up and >fly to Texas once a month
for coordination, if necessary, for a >couple years!
The only thing, Chris, that would be a problem is with a group of volunteers
doing it is that *now* National would be "beholding" to you all, and that
can be a wee bit sticky. There were, I understand, a LOT of volunteers and
a few senior Scouts that volunteered to "create and maintain a BSA web
site". There was also an Explorer Post chartered to AT&T in
New Jersey somewheres with the purpose of "BSA Web Page
creation and maintenance", which I thought was a SUPER idea
(any time I can get Exploring in the forefront, I'll do it!)
Please understand National's decision not to return your calls as both
unprofessional and with purpose. Unprofessional, because ANYONE that leaves
a message should at least have the courtesy of a return call, even if it
isn't what they wanted to hear. With purpose, because if someone did return
your call, then that *could* signal the start of a contractual agreement,
which the BSA did NOT want to do then.
>I don't mean to brag, but on the other hand do, that we get in >excess of
70,000 page hits per month (100,000+ counting gifs, >etc..) and growing and
our equipment is nowhere near any >bandwidth limitations. And that's not
even counting FTP >load.
You have every right to be proud, Chris...you and the entire US Scouting
Service Project team (which keeps growing by the
quarter!!). For those that haven't been to the site, please take a
look....it is very visual, very entertaining, and updated constantly!! (and
no, as far as I can see, I do NOT have stuff there and I'm not a member of
the team).
>You think maybe they would have called us first before an >outside firm.
As members, I think we'd kind of be on the >inside?
Exactly what I've been "preaching to the choir" about, Chris.
I don't think that National is going to bend until the number of
"volunteer/member" sites totally overwhelm and out-hit the BSA's official
site. Then, and only then, will they reconsider their purchase of marketing
tools and come to us in the field with some recommendations...and we will be
ready for them!!
> It appears this is a SunOS 4.1 system that is aliasing for >multiple
domains, meaning the BSA does not have their own >computer but is having
their site hosted by this company on >their computer.
I believe that this is the current arrangement, but when the BSA is
confident that "this will pan out", part of the price includes equipment and
maintenance so that the National Office can house their own server and
provide work on it from their own location.
Still, I agree with many that the BSA kinda over-shot their costs...but give
them time, and perhaps something better than we thought would come from it
will spring forth.
Settummanque!
(MAJ) Mike L. Walton (Settummanque, the blackeagle) (
co-Owner, Blackeagle Services of Kentucky (502.826.7046) __)_
174 Chapelwood Drive, Henderson, Kentucky 42420-5036 | ** |]
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