Welcome to the New Vacuumland!!!!

[gottahaveahoove]

Great Job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's great to see something fresh and new. A lot of talking, planning, and work went into this, and it shows. Good Luck, everyone.
Now, EVERYBODY....indulge your passion for vacuums.
John.

 

[earthling177]

Another idea for resurrected threads is to present them with some indicator in the index page that will alert users that the thread has more than one extended intermission and when the user opens the thread the text is sectioned every time there is an intermission.

For example, thread starts on Jan 15th, has a bunch of posts until April, then users resurrect it in June, October and December, so the when users view the thread there'll be 4 sections separated by some graphic that clearly tells users that one is responding to an extended thread and some of the original posters may or may not be around to respond to you (users that have quit the website, for example, or who have not been around much).

The graphic(s) could be a heavy line, or a slight change in background color, or any other interesting design that clearly separates each set of posts from the more and most recent section(s).

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

So we can now revive old threads? Will there be a separate membership fee for the membership and the web site and being a member of the VCCC will no longer grant access to the premium features of the web site? How much will the fee be for the web site versus the VCCC... I'm a little curious about why vacuumland is separating from the club....

Is there a thread somewhere that spells all of this out and explains all the changes?

I think it looks great, but it will take a little getting used to since I've been so familair with the old Vacuumland for so long. I know it was a lot of work... I do love the new color vacuums on the home page rather than the old silhouettes... very cool!

One thing I don't like is that we will be forced to pay for a premium membership to discuss off topic things... I didn't like when it happened on automatic washer either, but I got used to it just like everyone else and I will here too.... I'm probably the only person that bothers and truthfully I don't usually discuss those types of things here anyway ) This place is about vacuums and that is why I come here and keeping it about those will hopefully eliminate a lot of drama.

You're doing an awesome job, Robert.... I was shocked when I checked Vacuumland and saw how different it was, the wow factor is definitely there!

 

[petek]

Here it is Bobby



http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?20190_62~1

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

I found it.... yay ) You know what.... I think I'll become a member just to support you! When it was tied in with the club, it wasn't worth it because I can never attend a convention due to pets (hiring someone to come feed 1 cat and 60 vacuums would be really expensive!) and having 2 jobs.... but really 12 bucks a year isn't bad... I spent more than that on bottled water in a week LOL

I'm thrilled that we will now actually care a little bit about spelling and quality of posts and I do hope that some of the former ostracized members will feel like returning.... I miss many of them and have long hoped that everyone could just bury the hachet and become friends again!

This is a good thing )

 

[pdub]

Thanks Robert

for all your hard work. The site looks great.

Patrick

 

[countryguy]

I asked this in the other thread relating to the recent changes but got no response so I'll try again here

So if vacuumland and the VCCC are now 2 separate entities, how does communication within the VCCC continue? By using the vacuumland website? Is there still a $35 membership fee for that group? What benefits does the fee provide, other than the convention? From my point of view, it provides no benefit to me whatsoever since it does not have its own website.  I will just continue to be a paying member of vacuumland. Am I understanding this correctly?


 


Gary <span style="text-decoration: underline;">
</span>

 

[vinvac]

Gary,

I can answer that question. The VCCC really is not going to change at all. Dues will be lowered at this years convention. Rather than use Vacuumland as our communication tool we will use email to share information about Conventions and hopefully renew an interest in folks to share information through the newsletter.

Many of the new members to Vacuumland did not see a reason if they were not attending conventions to join the club because the only benefit for them was Vacuumland. On the same token, those who joined the club felt they were paying for others to have a free website. Had we made Vacuumland a place for only paid VCCC members our numbers would have dropped drastically.

Robert and Fred along with a few board members spent much time putting out fires on the old version of Vacuumland. Robert did not want to become an employee of the VCCC.

We may at a later date create a webpage for the VCCC to share club information along with the newsletter. This would be a much simpler website that requires much less work. It would not be a forum based site as Vacuumland.

This move will strengthen Vacuumland and will also strengthen the VCCC.

 

[countryguy]

Thanks for the reply Morgan.  So based on what you said, for me personally there is absolutely no value for belonging and paying a membership fee to the VCCC any more.  Maybe I am still missing something but I don't see how this move will strengthen the VCCC?  I can get all information I need and want to share from vacuumland.  Why would I want to continue to be a member of the VCCC? 


 


Gary

 

[unimatic1140]

Here's a good reason...

Gary because if you can you should come to a VCCC convention. They are so much fun and while having internet friends is good, having these friends as analog friends are even better. I've loved every convention I've ever been to and I've made some wonderful friends. That's what the VCCC is all about, it was a club that was created long before the internet ever was heard of and it thrived then.

Everyone needs to understand the VCCC was not a website, it is a whole lot more than that, it is real people meeting meeting real people in person.

 

[vinvac]

Gary,

That is your choice, if you don't feel you would ever attend a convention that may be the best move for you. However, many of us will still want to get together at least once a year to rekindle friendships, share vacuums, get the chance to see many vacuums and operate them in person. There are still many advantages!

Personally, I look forward to each and every convention. The history this group has collected over time has made it a wonderful place. So many vacuums that I have never heard of or seen for that matter appear at conventions. Alex Tabor has much information to share.

The younger members of our group have the opportunity first hand to operate vacuums they would not have experienced unless they come to a convention. Most of the time our conventions feature members collections and we actually go to their home....it doesn't get any better than that. Portland was a prime example for me last year. One of our strongest and most supportive Board Members, David Olsen had the opportunity to open his home up so we could see his collection. It was amazing.

Many times we visit such wonderful places as Hoover, Kirby and Electrolux. I think at one time in our history we have even visited the Rainbow plant....Alex correct me if I am wrong.

The convention held in Texas was also a highlight for me. Barb did a wonderful job and it gave me the opportunity to visit her state.

Rather than look at this as the glass less than half full, I am looking at it as overflowing!

Morgan

[this post was last edited: 4/4/2013-09:40]

 

[unimatic1140]

One more thing I'd like to add...

<span style="font-size: large;">This is not the VCCC...</span>

 


<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;">This however is the VCCC...</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;">
</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;">

</span></p>

 

[countryguy]

Robert,


 


I understand what you are saying however it is not as easy for all of us to attend a convention due to either the expense, travel distance, time required, etc.  In many cases due to distance it is not possible to drive.  The cost of airfare from Canada to the USA is ridiculously high compared to what it costs to fly within the USA from point to point.  By the time you add on hotel, meals, etc. it becomes an expensive convention.  For people outside N. America, it is even more expensive and time consuming.  Thus attending a convention is just not always possible.  If not attending a convention, then I really do not see a reason any more for being a paid member of the VCCC. 


 


Gary

 

[countryguy]

Morgan,


 


So far the only reason you are justifying paying the VCCC membership fee is to be able to attend the convention.   I don't see any other benefit.  So why not increase the convention fee by the amount of the VCCC membership fee and get rid of the membership fee?  That way a person can be a VCCC member without incurring a cost for a convention which will never be attended?


 


Gary

 

[caligula]

Thank you Morgan.

Somebody really rattled my cage yesterday, and my imagination ran riot, but understand loud and clear, I love the changes. And one minor correction, it's Taber, not tabor. E is English, O is Russian! But yes, the club has been to many wonderful places like the Fox theater, and of course our birthplace The Hoover Historical Center.

I'm pleased to learn that you'll be running the club till 2014, my fear was that your term was up at this years convention. I see great things in our future, and my only complaint, it you can call it that, it to have to post time after time how John Lucia and I met, and I'm sure the members are tired of reading it. But if that could be out there, I could direct new members to that page. Needless to say, I want to share all the paperwork I bring back from Indiana. If you can put our Historian, and our newsletter editor in touch with me I can share my stuff with them via email.

Thanks for calming me down yesterday, I don't want to go through that again.

Alex Taber.

 

[beko1987]

Its like walking into

My favourite pub after a refit! Looks good, off to have a click around!

 

[electrolux137]

"The Prodigal Son Returns"

<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva; font-size: x-small;">
May I add my kudos to those that others have expressed -- the web site revamp is lovely and fun. I particularly like the "Mad Men" aesthetics of the navigation buttons. Very clean and retro looking. </span>

<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva; font-size: x-small;">Here's to fresh new start for us all. </span>

 

[andy]

Hey Robert and Fred,

I haven't had time to fully explore everything, but I LOVE the new site. Thank you so much for all you guys do!

 

[suckolux]

Still enjoying the update, visit much more often. Great job Robert.

 

[portable]

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: medium;">Yep, it sure looks spiffy, Mr. Seger.</span>


<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: medium;"> </span>


<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: medium;">Robert, I hope you will continue with the scanning you are doing in Automatic Ephemera. Some of the items you have posted are BEAUTIFUL, and the quality is superb. Well worth the little bit of money being collected to do this arduous task.</span>


<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: medium;"> </span>


<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: medium;">Alex....I also have trouble, after 30 years, of remembering that your last name is ER not OR. I don't know why my mind cannot absorb that...JAL</span>

 

[caligula]

Hi John

You can call me alex Taber or Tabor, just don't call me late for dinner! Seriously I'm not worried about, or as Billy Lipman used to say, "I'm not mad!"

Alex.

 

[vacuumman206]

Robert, just want to say you have done an excellent job creating a very nice site for the VCCC. I was really hoping to join the VCCC this year and go to the convention, but it is a little far for me and the date clashes with work. But I will be saving up my money for membership next year and a ticket to the convention! Anyway, if you could, would it be possible to have the threads organized in each category by date?

 

[KirbysNphones]

So this answers how I got the free 45 days! Thanks! Also I want to add that if you haven't already, could someone fix the photo upload so I can post decent sized pics and not have to make them horrid quality for them to be accepted?

I understand that pics take up a lot of space, and you obviously don't want people posting HUGE ones on here and wasting server space, but also making the size requirement too low is kind of bad too. I sometimes don't have time to fire up my editing software and cut a pic down for a quick post, and just want to post and go. A limit of 1-1.5 meg sounds reasonable, but I don't know what your space limits are, capacities etc, so maybe it's too much?

Just some advice, and thanks again for the 45 days, AND for making an awesome site!
Will

 

[vacuumman206]

I recant what I said after just reading vacuumland is no longer operated by the vccc, but a wonderful job and endless effort on your part to make the site enjoyable anyway!

 

[odle53]

Thank you

The site looks great. And yes, I will be renewing the upgraded membership once the 45 days are up.

 

[jmurray01]

I haven't logged in for weeks and got a shock when I did just now!

I think VL looks much better now and hope to get the internet back on at home ASAP so I can fully enjoy the new and improved Vacuum Land.

 

[electroluxkirby]

Great Job!

It looks absolutely fabulous!