I find this interesting, sad, and funny...
...all at the same time...
Please note that while I rarely post on this website anymore (perhaps twice a year) - I rarely miss a day when I don't check in and I had to chime in.
Some may recall at the end of 2011, a big push to update the roster was conducted by yours truly, through a club survey. At the same time, members were asked to vote on their preference as to the type of VCCC newsletter would be provided. The update/survey was done by US Mail, E-mail, and postings to this website. It was hugely successful.
Here's some stats:
There were 124 responses.
Of those, there were only 2 members that did not show an E-mail contact. Only 1 did not show a phone contact - (generally, people included both cell phone and land line contacts). I believe the membership was satisfied that no contact information would be sold or given to outside entities.
84 members voted to receive a printed newsletter, 40 voted to receive electronic newsletters.
Now, along with the newly acquired - up to date membership information, I devised a system whereby a member's contact information was updated virtually automatically. A minor tweak in the website would be required, and accessible by the membership in the "apply to the VCCC" area of the website. The system was cloud-based, and monitored/maintained by four club administrators, those being the President, Vice-President, Membership Coordinator, and Treasurer. All that was required (and could easily be done at the same time one paid their club dues), was to update any changed information. Any one of the four administrators could update the information immediately. In essence, there would never be a need to "update" the roster, as this would be done continually.
The same cloud-based system could be accessed to print mailing labels for either the newsletter, or for correspondence concerning club business and the individual member, or if a general US mailing was required. It also gave administrators instant access for phone or E-mail conversation should that ever be required. Also, if a member chose to not be on the club roster should one be printed - they did not have to appear on it.
It was a good system (if I may say so).....
but,
other "Powers that Be" decided it was too much work to maintain even though I offered my complete attention to it (being Vice-President), and the system (already devised and operating) was never put to use.
Other decisions were made considering club operation and Newsletter handling and within weeks I made my exit from the club.
I bring all this up only because I know a lot of work is ahead for those "creating" a current club roster knowing that doing so now would not be necessary. You have my sympathy.
Rick
