[at-l] ATC

[optimyst at gmail.com (Richard C Evans)]

Let's have this discussion after the unveiling of the new ATC website.
 It should be a much more dynamic site than what we are used to.  I
don't feel it is appropriate to say more than that. (using the
rationale of "wait until Christmas morning to open your presents.") 
Suffice it to say that I believe we have world class skills on staff
with our new director of communications coming from AOL.  I expect
Marty Bartels to become a true superstar of ATC.

Happy trails,

Solar Bear

On 5/28/05, Jim Bullard <jbullar1@twcny.rr.com> wrote:
> At 01:23 PM 5/28/2005 -0400, you wrote:
> >with respect to getting the memberships opinion and direction, there is no
> >excuse in not doing so with today's technology. It cannot be that
> >difficult to solicit the input via the Internet. Heck, the ATC should
> >provide the tool, resources to promote this list. I'm sure some of there
> >guys and gals are on it or "listen" to it.  Being an old technical person,
> >its easy to come up with 17,000 reasons why technically it could not be
> >done, but being the old technical person, I know it can be extremely easy
> >to find a simple effective solution.  Sure there are issues of
> >"counterfeit" responses, etc., but if I can bank on-line safely, then I
> >sure should be able to enter my preferences to something on-line securely too.
> 
> I explored getting some mail list set up on ADK's server to enhance
> communications within the various committees. The problem I ran into was
> that they had no in-house system administration. They contract it out on a
> fee for service basis so adding mail list would add to their cost. I also
> explored setting up mail lists through Yahoo with me as moderator but got
> only 2 positive responses to invitations to join the list so I gave it up.
> 
> Does ATC have someone already on staff with the skills to deal with
> installing mail list software and maintaining it? Does any one here have
> the time and expertise to volunteer to do it? Perhaps Ryan could chime in
> here (if he's not too modest) and enlighten us on the cost in time and
> money to run a list such as AT-L. We all appreciate what he does for us but
> I doubt many of us have a clue as to what it takes to do it.
> 
> >Maybe we should start requesting the ATC develop this form of member input
> >so it would be  easy for the member's opinions to be heard.   I know that
> >makes it harder for the board not to be responsive to the members and it
> >takes away what they (board) might feel is an ability to act
> >"independently" of the membership, as well in some cases when they might
> >have to go with an approach they themselves would not prefer. I know these
> >are leadership positions, but they are not dictatorial potions the board has.
> 
> When what you are doing isn't working in terms of attracting the numbers of
> members your organization needs, it is time to try something different.
> Change is sometimes necessary even if it is a bit hard to swallow.
> Apparently enough people who wrote in (they did outline the changes in ATN
> and ask for input) or showed up for the meetings thought the change was the
> best way to go. That ATC did not do what you wanted (i.e. they didn't
> listen to you over all others) is not proof that they weren't listening.
> Given the problems that ATC has, perhaps a significant portion of the
> membership hasn't been listening to ATC. When you join an organization you
> do so because you share its goals. When you feel that the organization is
> making a mistake, by all means speak out but remember that the goals do not
> go away and in abandoning the organization, you also abandon those goals.
> 
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