Why is our Events calendar empty??

[ArmyVette]

Gang, we need to populate the Events calendar. Other than routine club meetings, the only "event" is the Ice Cream Cruise in June.

I've been directing some fellow Vette owners I'm trying to recruite to our site and one just called and asked "why doesn't your club do anything?" [:((] [:((]

Who do we need to energize to populate this calendar? [:-/]

[urtoslo]

We do a lot. Besides the meetings, we just had a Dart Night, Go-cart night, bowling night, VIR/NASA driving school, MWSCCS autox, and don't forget Aquia's sea food cruise. This month is a double autox in Baltimore with Bel Air Corvette Club, in addition to the Concours judges prep. Concours is the first weekend in May. The prez is lining up a shop night. Whew! If we're not doing enough, check out www.ernccc.org for more Corvette action...

Thanks for the plug on the ice cream cruise, BTW. AKA Tri-state Power cruise, it involves some of the best back country roads as well as super-highway scenery. Ever been to Sideling Gap? Bring your Vette, a full tank of gas, suntan lotion and you'll be set for some great ice cream! I'll have a flyer out for the April newsletter.

As for the rest of the calendar, all it takes is someone to step forward and say "I'll do a cruise to _______ in May or July or August". I understand Rallye still needs a couple of Rallye masters. This is an all volunteer organization. Ask not what it can do for you, ask what can you do for it! I've been having a blast since 1996....

Tell your pals that if they come, they'll probably not be able to make every single event we have.

[ArmyVette]

Andrej, you are absolutely right that we do all of the things you mentioned. I also mentioned those to the folks I'm asking to join us in the NVCC.

My point is that the Events calendar should reflect all of these events, activities, Dart socials, autocrosses, concours, etc., etc.

I don't think we should make people search through all of the forum threads to find the events and activities when we have such a nice Events calendar which is, by the way, on the site's homepage.

Just my $.02 worth.

[urtoslo]

If you have the time, I'm sure Brad would give you access to keep the calenday up to date. [:D]

[ArmyVette]

If that is necessary, make it so. Just so you know, the newsletter has a better listing than the website. Therefore, at least some of the information is already available to the club officers and, hopefully, the webmaster.

It's an embarrassment to me that people I'm trying to get to join us can't find simple information on our website. Personally speaking, it was the social events, not the racing, autoX, and concours, listed on the events calendar that enticed me to apply for membership here last year. These activities in the Events calendar were the first thing I noticed when I visited the website. These are the same types of folks I'm trying to recruit. They could care less about racing but would really enjoy the socializing.

Would appreciate any assistance you might be able to provide.

[urtoslo]

It's all a social event, whether you're at a meeting, cruise, dart night party, improptu brunch or autox. [B-)]

[Black396]

It's an embarrassment to me that people I'm trying to get to join us can't find simple information on our website. Personally speaking, it was the social events, not the racing, autoX, and concours, listed on the events calendar that enticed me to apply for membership here last year. These activities in the Events calendar were the first thing I noticed when I visited the website. These are the same types of folks I'm trying to recruit. They could care less about racing but would really enjoy the socializing.

Go Jeff, GO!

I was looking at the events calendar last week and noticed it was sparse. I also received an email from a club member since mine was the only email address he could find on the website (not forum). He was looking for information about the Capt Billy's Seafood Cruise.

I don't mind getting and answering emails like that but I did think it was strange that none of the current officers' email addresses were on the site.

Last year the event coordinator was normally the one that listed their event on the events calendar. In actuality, anyone can enter a new event in the calendar once they log on to the website.

[jbeaupre]

Don't forget if you need to point someone to our website the old fashioned NEWSLETTER that is available for download on the website has all kinds of event information for both not only NVCC but eastern region as well and other club events. Pages of stuff![:D]

[LilRedCorvette]

Alrighty, I just have to say something here, being the Social Director and all....[:-$]

I put up a post not long ago asking for people to volunteer their help in hosting cruises/events. Here's the link to refresh everyone's memory:

http://www.nvcorvetteclub.com/mvnforum/mvnforum/viewthread?thread=255#1308

I also requested this very same thing in the newsletter. So far...NO ONE has stepped forward to set up a cruise, other than Andrej and his Tri-State Ice Cream Cruise. So now you have your answer as to why the calendar is sparse: membership apathy.

BTW-the social calendar is not entirely empty, it shows the social events we just had, i.e., the brunch and dart night. I keep the events list updated as events come to my attention either via meetings or e-mails. And Andrej is right, meetings, concours, and autox are also social!

It's not up to the officers and council members to come up with, schedule, and run every event for the club. It takes the help of the membership as well. We (council) have some things in the
works, but we cannot do it all.

As far as why officer/council e-mails don't show up on the website and only on the forum, perhaps that's something that can be discussed with Brad (webmaster) either via e-mail or at the next meeting. I do know that most everyone's e-mails do show up on the forum (those who chose to display their e-mail addresses in their profile). Until that is resolved, please use and encourage others to use the forum to find contact information and keep up on the latest events of the club.

OK, just had to get that off my chest.
*steps off soapbox*

[bsneade]

I know that I never properly showed the current council how to add events, but any council member can add an event to the calendar.
Just log in to the site and go to the events page. There is an "Add Event" link just under the "Search Events" link.
If you are a council member and don't see this, just let me know webmaster (mailto:webmaster@nvcorvetteclub.com) and I'll make sure you have access.

[Black396]

Just so there aren't any misconceptions here... when I said EVENTS COORDINATOR in my previous post I did mean the person who was sitting up the event or activity, NOT the social chairperson.

...and as for

As far as why officer/council e-mails don't show up on the website and only on the forum, perhaps that's something that can be discussed with Brad (webmaster) either via e-mail or at the next meeting. I do know that most everyone's e-mails do show up on the forum (those who chose to display their e-mail addresses in their profile). Until that is resolved, please use and encourage others to use the forum to find contact information and keep up on the latest events of the club.


I'm not even going to get into that discussion. [:))]

Warning:The above comments were an attempt at humor and should be considered such and not meant to be inflammatory or disparaging to any person, group of persons or activity [:))] [:))] [:))]

[LilRedCorvette]

Just so there aren't any misconceptions here... when I said EVENTS COORDINATOR in my previous post I did mean the person who was sitting up the event or activity, NOT the social chairperson.

Mike, I knew that's what you meant. My comments were mostly in response to Jeff's post.

As far as adding events to the website home page, members should be reminded that if they want events posted they must let a council member or the webmaster know. My e-mail is lilredcorvette94@yahoo.com. Thank you.[:D]

[bsneade]

As far as why officer/council e-mails don't show up on the website and only on the forum, perhaps that's something that can be discussed with Brad (webmaster) either via e-mail or at the next meeting. I do know that most everyone's e-mails do show up on the forum (those who chose to display their e-mail addresses in their profile). Until that is resolved, please use and encourage others to use the forum to find contact information and keep up on the latest events of the club.


Currently the only emails that are exposed to the outside world is the webmaster account and anyone who chooses to do so in the forum. Last year we decided not to put personal emails on the site due to privacy and spam concerns.
We did however, set up a president@nvcorvetteclub.com as a trial for adding future emails (like social@nvcorvetteclub.com). The email would be passed on once the possition ownership had changed. The result of the trial was that the president email just generated a lot of spam and thats about it.

Laurie, if you want to try it again I'd be more then happy to..

[EbVette]

Refering to Laurie's link ....I posted on the same link about Capt Billy's Cruise and suggested somebody, the Event Coordinator, contact Aquia to get date and time nailed down, and then I posted again just last week about the cruise, even stated that we would meet in Sterling to go to the meeting place in Stafford, VA. Bob Compton posted about the cruise too.

We have a serious breakdown of communications and a lack of taking on total responsibility to make sure it gets done. Seems like we wait for somebody else to do it, thus it just doesnt get done. This person is called a RAMROD...I will explain further down this post about Ramrod...

I have requested several times to post standard events be added to the calander, for example, the Skyline Cruise, Carlisle, Seafood Cruise, Ocean City, Corvette Cruise at Joes Pizza, Purcerville Cruise, and Sterling Car show. Never have my requests been added, and these are ones every club attends. For those who remember, last summer I wrote a rather strong email regarding the club and participating at events as a club.

Not complaining, but I think by now the club would catch on...do we have an Event Coordinator? Is the Social Coordinator the same? I am all confused....think we need an Event Coordinator that can approach people to help plan the events, its obvious people will not step up.

It seems the events I mentioned above should almost be automatically added each year, just the dates change and a link should be added for additional information.

Now as far as a person stepping up to coordinate the event with the club....let's refer to that person as the "RAMROD" Clubs refer to the RAMROD as the person who steps up and coordinates an event from planning everying. Where people will meet, signing people up, organizing the caravan, talking with the event planners and passing the information to the people who signed up to go to the event, just making sure the club is represented and the people who attend can depend on a single source to get and provide event information.

What is lacking is that RAMROD coordinator. People don't step up because they don't know how to RAMROD an event.

Then, how many post photos, do reviews of the event, or even at general meetings time should be set aside so people can talk about their experiences. Sorry for being so long, but I see why the club is confused,,,is the Social coordinator the same as the Event coordinator and what is expected.

Like every business organization, each council position should have a job description written so people are clear what the position entails. We have no job description for any council member. Again we really need to get back to basics, and I think you will see more participation.

Finally, regarding last week's Capt Billy's, I did post about the event etc. and did state I had to work, but things changed, and did manage to go on the cruise. But if I did work, Ron was at McDonalds and would have waited for any NVCC people to show up, but nobody did.


Sorry for being long, but as many know, this stuff trips my cord, simply because it just a matter of initiative and follow through.

[Black396]

[RANT ON]
I wasn't going to go there, but I guess I have to....

1. There is NO reason why the emails of the officers are not on the website somewhere. (my opinion) If they don't want their personal email addresses out then a number of Hotmail accounts can easily be created.

2. As far as removing email addresses last year... My email address is still listed on the autocross page which hasn't been updated since sometime early last year.

The ONLY reason I brought this up in the first place was because the person who emailed me told me that he had searched the website for an email address and mine (in the autocross page) was the only one he could find.

I don't think I need to go in to the differences between the forum and the website. We can't expect prospective members and new visistors to know about the forum or to think of it as a place to find something that should be right up front on the site.

Collin, if it wasn't for your posts here on the forum I would have not had ANY idea of what was going on. I tried to answer the emailer's questions to the best of my ability based on the information you had provided. I did give him Laurie's email and CC'ed her on my response to him.

I really don't see any of us (Collin, Jeff, Laurie or myself) disagreeing on the concept here.

Jeff is saying WE need to get events posted on the events calendar.

Collin is saying WE need to get people involved, and get events organized.

Laurie is BEGGING for people to step up and organize events.

I am AGREEING with all of you. My point is that information needs to be presented in a timely, organized, efficent manner, otherwise it is only data and is worthless except for using up hard drive space.
[/RANT OFF]

Okay, now I'll step down of the soapbox. Sorry [b-(]

[LilRedCorvette]

OK folks, some clarification here.

An EVENT COORDINATOR is NOT the same as the SOCIAL CHAIRPERSON. ANYONE in the club may coordinate events. It is then up to that person to forward any and all details about it to the social chairperson, who will then post it to the website, forum, newsletter, and announce it at GBMs and council meetings.

I repeat: the SOCIAL CHAIRPERSON does not and cannot plan every event!

Collin: yes, you did post about the Aquia Creek cruise. If you had wanted to make this a club event, you could have named yourself the coordinator of that event, lined up a time and place to meet (you did this part), posted it to the events list on the website home page (as I remember, you, too, are a council member and have the capability to add any event to the calendar), and then let me, the social chair, know.

"Secondly, I have requested several time to post standard events be added to the calander, for example, the Skyline Cruise, Carlisle, Seafood Cruise, Ocean City, Corvette Cruise at Joes Pizza, Purcerville Cruise, and Sterling Car show. Never have my requests been added, and these are ones every club attends."

Once again, if you're a council member, you have the ability to post these.

"It seems the events I mentioned about should almost be automatically added each year, just the dates change and a link should be added for additional information....Then, how many post photos, do reviews of the event, or even at general meetings time should be set aside so people can talk about their experiences...Like every business organization, each council position should have a job description written so people are clear what the position entails."

Now those aren't bad ideas...

Hope this clears things up.

[LilRedCorvette]

1. There is NO reason why the emails of the officers are not on the website somewhere. (my opinion) If they don't want their personal email addresses out then a number of Hotmail accounts can easily be created.

Agreed. I set up a yahoo account that is just for my NVCC business.

2. As far as removing email addresses last year... My email address is still listed on the autocross page which hasn't been updated since sometime early last year.

I agree, this needs to be updated. Brad?

I don't think I need to go in to the differences between the forum and the website. We can't expect prospective members and new visistors to know about the forum or to think of it as a place to find something that should be right up front on the site.

Exactly the reason why I want this website to be totally revamped.

Collin, if it wasn't for your posts here on the forum I would have not had ANY idea of what was going on. I tried to answer the emailer's questions to the best of my ability based on the information you had provided. I did give him Laurie's email and CC'ed her on my response to him.

I responded to that e-mailer's questions. I only wish that people used the forum more until we can get this website straightened out.

[LilRedCorvette]

Currently the only emails that are exposed to the outside world is the webmaster account and anyone who chooses to do so in the forum. Last year we decided not to put personal emails on the site due to privacy and spam concerns.
We did however, set up a president@nvcorvetteclub.com as a trial for adding future emails (like social@nvcorvetteclub.com). The email would be passed on once the possition ownership had changed. The result of the trial was that the president email just generated a lot of spam and thats about it.

Laurie, if you want to try it again I'd be more then happy to..

Nah, I already have my yahoo account for club stuff and it is working quite well. I should also point out that the ONLINE and PRINTED newletter has ALL the officer/council names AND e-mail addresses, so anyone who wants to can see them!

[Black396]

I don't think I need to go in to the differences between the forum and the website. We can't expect prospective members and new visistors to know about the forum or to think of it as a place to find something that should be right up front on the site.

Exactly the reason why I want this website to be totally revamped.

Collin, if it wasn't for your posts here on the forum I would have not had ANY idea of what was going on. I tried to answer the emailer's questions to the best of my ability based on the information you had provided. I did give him Laurie's email and CC'ed her on my response to him.

I responded to that e-mailer's questions. I only wish that people used the forum more until we can get this website straightened out.

You go girl! [;)] [=D>] [=D>] [=D>]

I've heard people at the council meetings talk about not wanting to have their email public. So before anyone says anything about that or the suggestion to get Hotmail accounts....

let me say that I just found the email addresses AND the phone numbers of all the officers on the public portion of the website. It wasn't obvious and it did take a little looking but it wasn't hard (5 minutes).

[EbVette]

I certainly would post the events, if I could LOG ON TO THE SITE... you see, I have asked Brad several time to fix my login, I simply CANNOT log on to the site, for some reason my logon DOES NOT WORK ...

Remember last summer all the photos that were being posted on the site after an event,,,,THAT WAS ME. I spent HOURS posting photos for the club, only to have ALL of them go away.

I just gave up on the websit...to me its not user friendly to do anything. If I need something done, I keep mailing it to Brad until it gets done and Brad is pretty good getting the job done.

Since Brad upgraded the site I have been unable to login the site, and have request many times for this to be fixed.

I know you did not know this Laurie, but I do know I can post and have done so in the past...but can't now.[:((]

[LilRedCorvette]

I certainly would post the events, if I could LOG ON TO THE SITE... you see, I have asked Brad several time to fix my login, I simply CANNOT log on to the site, for some reason my logon DOES NOT WORK ...

Remember last summer all the photos that were being posted on the site after an event,,,,THAT WAS ME. I spent HOURS posting photos for the club, only to have ALL of them go away.

I just gave up on the websit...to me its not user friendly to do anything. If I need something done, I keep mailing it to Brad until it gets done and Brad is pretty good getting the job done.

Since Brad upgraded the site I have been unable to login the site, and have request many times for this to be fixed.

I know you did not know this Laurie, but I do know I can post and have done so in the past...but can't now.[:((]


This is exactly why I'm trying to get myself, prez, Brad, and my husband Todd (another techno-comp nerd) together so we CAN make it more user-friendly.

Until then, we've just gotta do the best we can with what we've got.[>:D<]

[EbVette]

Laurie,

Post looks good, could you add the link to Skyline Page, also please have people email me at
o2bquik@erols.com

This link is my low speed spam infested mail box, so I don't mind if its given out...just make sure people start the subject line of the email with NVCC...that way I sort the junk from the gems.

Its so frustrating, just trying to run the concours and not having the needed tools.

Also, with regard to the event page...think we should post we need a ramrod or event coordianated for events that are posted but nobody has stepped forward to coordinate....I think it should be noted on that page....or if the event is added it should show the name up front of the coordinator.

Finally,

I will put together a list of events that I know are happening with dates and links to be posted on the event page. Since I don not have access, I will post this list in this formum CORVETTE GENERAL and ask you to go in and add them.

Then Jim can pick them up for the newsletter.

Finally...we should have another catagory to this forum called, EVENT REVIEW...so people going to events both club and non club can post a review....

THANKS...

[LilRedCorvette]

Laurie,

Post looks good, could you add the link to Skyline Page, also please have people email me at
o2bquik@erols.com

I can certainly do that.

This link is my low speed spam infested mail box, so I don't mind if its given out...just make sure people start the subject line of the email with NVCC...that way I sort the junk from the gems.

There won't be room in the e-mail line for that, I can put that under "directions". Also, people should be using the "register for this event" function on the website.

Also, with regard to the event page...think we should post we need a ramrod or event coordianated for events that are posted but nobody has stepped forward to coordinate....I think it should be noted on that page...Finally...we should have another catagory to this forum called, EVENT REVIEW...so people going to events both club and non club can post a review....


Not bad ideas to discuss at the next meeting.

....or if the event is added it should show the name up front of the coordinator.

When clicking on the event, the coordinator's name, as well as all event details comes up, that's sufficient IMO.

I will put together a list of events that I know are happening with dates and links to be posted on the event page. Since I don not have access, I will post this list in this formum CORVETTE GENERAL and ask you to go in and add them.

I can do that.

[bsneade]

We should continue site upgrade comments / grips to the proper forum:
here (http://www.nvcorvetteclub.com/mvnforum/mvnforum/viewthread?thread=306)

let me say that I just found the email addresses AND the phone numbers of all the officers on the public portion of the website. It wasn't obvious and it did take a little looking but it wasn't hard (5 minutes).

Please let me know where they are so they can be removed.

[Black396]

bsneade said:

Please let me know where they are so they can be removed.


jbeaupre said:

Don't forget if you need to point someone to our website the old fashioned NEWSLETTER that is available for download on the website has all kinds of ... information.

...and you don't have to be logged in to get to them.

[bsneade]

Yes that is true. I don't think thats too much of an issue though, as the news letter is public anyways. Also, as clever as they are, I don't think that spam bots are smart enough to parse pdf docs yet.

[Black396]

It was the privacy part that I was addressing. Again, my opinion, but having my email address out and available is one thing. Having my phone number publicly available is another.

[bsneade]

It was the privacy part that I was addressing. Again, my opinion, but having my email address out and available is one thing. Having my phone number publicly available is another.

Is that something we need to address with the newsletter then?

[Black396]

Is that something we need to address with the newsletter then?

I would say so. If we can be sure that everyone knows how to log into the website. As you know phone numbers can be readily accessed from the members search feature if members can log in.

The only time that I've had problems logging in is when I forgot that the site password is case sensitive. Also, if people are still using their initial password, they have to realize the there are two dashes ( - ) in it.