Re: National's Web Site
(no name) ((no email))
Sun, 14 Jul 1996 02:10:44 -0500
Ed Holm illustrated what good would come from electronic versions of BSA
publications on the World Wide Web (WWW):
>What we have achieved is reduced paper costs and reduced >frustration from
employees because now they just start their >web browser, do a couple of
searches and they have instant >access to the info. No waiting on the
telephone, leaving voice >mail messages, etc. Something changes, you update
the web >page, send an e-mail and within 1 minute, all concerned know
>about the new or changed information. I don't have to issue >200 memos and
waste the money to print and distribute them >to let everyone know about
changes not to mention it can >possibly be out of date before the next memo
hits.
This would be such a SUPER idea if:
* Every District professional has access to a PC or Mac.
Right now, many Councils have a time getting them access to their own leased
automobile and gas and oil to keep it running!
* Every Council has someone that can take many of the documents from their
Council's repository of forms and information and transform them to
web-content versions. I've used Adobe Acrobat, and while it's a dream, its
just not all there *yet*
* When information is released from the National or Regional Offices to the
local Council, how is that new information released to the rest of the field
that does NOT have computer access?? Do we depend upon the professional
staffs to print and distribute "paper versions", or do Councils invest more
funding to create their own servers to "re-distribute" information to the
volunteers and members in the field?
* Most importantly, when I call up the Council's server (or National's
server) and want to know, for instance, "the numbers" for my District (the
statistical stuff we get presently in paper form), will I have to enter in a
password and basically
be a "BBS user" or will I be able to see and compare how my
District did as compared to other Districts my size all over the
Southern Region (and indeed, the nation)??
While I grant you that not many volunteers would want this kind of
information, those things can be VERY IMPORTANT to the District/Council
Commissioners and their staffs as well as the VP/VC for
Membership/Relationships in the District/Council!
But will we see those things??? Big ol' NOT!! Many Councils don't presently
like to have the PAPER versions of those stats
floating around, and now we're talking electronic versions??
It's all great in the concept, but rather a very bitter pill to swallow down
in the implementation!
Settummanque!
>In the same sense, I believe the Council Offices are serving our needs in
>similar ways. Even if every publication was available on-line, they are
>still needed for all the other services they provide. And they could cut
>paper and printing costs, avoid volunteer frustration when they don't have
>time to look the info up for you, etc. Imagine, national or local council
>needs to issue a quick policy change. They could update that web page, send
>an e-mail and today 5-10% of the Scouting movement would have the update
>within minutes.
>
>On Tue, 9 Jul 1996, Settummanque, the blackeagle (MAJ) Mike L. Walton wrote:
>>Represenative booklet is through the Council Service Center, you
>>are going to go in and maybe someone will hand you a copy. If you
>>can "get it from the Internet", why have a local Council office?
>
>I think National just needs time to find what direction they want to go with
>the Web and then we should see some pretty good stuff.
>
>YIS,
>Ev Holm
>eholm@lpi.reno.nv.us
>
>
(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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anytime!
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