Folks, we're looking for two or more volunteers to take over the running of the IWAI web infrastructure and bring our websites forward. We also need someone to look after our walks website.
The workload is as large or as small as one wishes to make it. Enthusiasm is as important as skill-set. In addition to canvassing our existing web team, we're casting our net wider - that's how I was caught 6 years ago!

We need to invest more in our websites:
- The time has probably come to have some form of Content Management System in place to (a) reduce the load on individuals and (b) allow the content generators (e.g. members of the executive, committee chairs, advertising manager etc,) publish material directly on the web.
- We should possibly be facilitating desires for blog software and/or wikis etc.

I believe however that reasonably large decisions or steps like this need to be owned by a new team coming in to run the web infrastructure.

A combination of people and skillsets is required within the team including:

1) System Administration capabilities - to install and configure software, debug problems etc.
2) design flair to get a "nice" look and feel
3) Technical skills (currently its HTML with some PHP, MYSQL and a few cron scripts on Linux - shared hosting);
4) strong personal attributes - enthusiasm, self starter, ability to organise, delegate, cooperate with others, communicate, motivate;
5) we need a combination of "doers" and "thinkers";
6) of course it also helps at times to have a thick skin - there is always the odd hairy moment;
7) commitment to the organisation - the IWAI will face enough challenges in the next few years without having to deal with multiple changes of personnel on the web front.
8) an understanding of the association and empathy with is goals is also crucial.

The timing of this is driven by a number of factors:

- The "off season" is with us soon and there is plenty of time to have improvements in place for next Spring;
- We probably need to leave our hosts of the past 6 years (Hosting365/Register365) and move to something more reliable and performant in April next year or before if possible.
- After 6 years or so as IWAI webmaster, its time for me to make room for new ideas, aside from which, I have increasing work and family commitments and deteriorating eyesight!

I've always believed that webmasters, system administrators and the like should aim to make themselves redundant - accordingly our systems are well documented and up to date. The current webteam (listed at http://www.iwai.ie/copyright.html) is staying in place. On a personal note, I will be staying on as Dublin Branch webmaster (as long as they will have me).

What you will inherit is a busy site that we think serves its constituency very well. Over the course of a year, the number of visitors to the main site naturally varies, from 800 to 1,000 unique visitors per day, downloading from 2,500 to 4,500 pages of information each day. The other sites (branches, IWN, Walks etc.) when combined get another 1,200 visitors a day. Our listings of Chandlers, Rental Companies, Surveyors, Marinas, Insurers etc. deliver more than 120,000 referrals (or click-throughs) per annum to the local marine sector. This forum to which you contribute is a font of knowledge and not a little wit!

I would like to thank all of you who've assisted me over the past few years. In addition to the current webteam members, we owe a debt of gratitude to the original web team that put IWAI on the net back in 1999, including Ewan McDonnell, Brian J Goggin, David Algeo and of course Colin Becker.

So, if you've had notions of volunteering, making suggestions, getting stuck in etc. now is the time to come forward -
Volunteers, Suggestions etc. by email to: help @ iwai.ie
Michael



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/02/2010 16:32 by Moderator.