Sorry to interrupt

I'm sorry to clog up your airwaves with more on this (minor) debate, but actually Jaime, I do get it. Fully. I understand your frustration, but you don't seem to understand ours. I wrote at some length a few weeks ago on the subject of on-line ordering, so have to assume that you've read that post. However, in a bid to make things just a little clearer.....

There are just six people running Fanderson, in our spare time, when our day jobs are over. Six people to administer the membership database of over 1500 members, to process membership applications and renewals, and look after the bank accounts, to collect mail from the PO Box, to mail out the membership packages to new members, to plan and manage production of our range of merchandise, then mail out hundreds of packages each month, and manage the finances, to answer all the mail and e-mail that drops through our postboxes, to interview guests and write articles for FAB, to collect the news, to edit the magazine and then mail some 1500+ FAB packages, to liaise with merchandise licensees and video companies, to maintain contact with our guests, and to maintain our web presence. In between all that (and I'm sure I'm missed loads off) we try to stage a convention every couple of years too. Luckily, we all have families that share, or at least understand, our enthusiasm for the Anderson productions.

Now, don't think that any of us went into this with our eyes closed, or that we're making ourselves out to be martyrs. It's just so frustrating that one or two people spout off on this group (and others) yet never offer any tangible help. Witness the reaction from "Marty Hopkirk" when I challenged him about the UFO soundtrack a few weeks back. He immediately unsubscribed from the list, probably because he was unable to substantiate his boasts and offer the club any real help.

Twelve years ago I thought the service members were being offered was crap, and I knew I could do better. But I didn't just fire up the PC and whinge about it (I don't actually think the internet was around then!) - I offered my help to make it better. The high membership numbers, and more importantly renewing members, would indicate that people do like what we are now doing (though don't believe for a minute that this is all down to me).

I have explained our current situation, yet still people are unwilling to read what I'm saying. Perhaps someone would like to actually offer us some real help, rather than the usual hypothetical "it's all so easy" comments? Remember, the six of us running the club are fans just like you, the only difference is that we did something constructive when we saw something we didn't like.

So, someone out there must have experience of setting up an on-line shop, rather than just sitting there using them. We're a club, so cannot pay a consultant to design it all for us, but someone on this list must have the expertise to help us set up the facility, including cross-referencing to the club database to check membership validity. Don't keep it to yourself, let me know what you can do, offering examples of where your work is up and running. With that expertise working with us, we can try to make things even better. After all, it is so easy.....

Nick Williams, Fanderson secretary and treasurer


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Nick,

I've read what you've posted and man to I actually HEAR what your
saying. I'm not sure what a bloke from the colonies can do to help, but
anything I can do I will. I'm a guy who runs an IT department for an
American Telecommunications company and I have lots of web experience,
but I don't mind stuffing envelopes either. Anything you need done as
far as a body goes, I'll be willing to help!!!!


Jim Durdan

Now the light goes on!... Nick; you weren't replying to me but I feel the
need to chime in here since I participated in giving you a but of a rough
time earlier as well. I agree with Jaime on his first point, the quality
of the Fanderson products has never been in question. While purists and
others will sometime quibble about subtleties of content (me included);
nobody has ever suggested that Fanderson produced anything but the best and
most wide variety of G.Anderson fan merchandise currently available,
products which have obviously been created with the heart of a true fan and
plenty of talent.

On His other points!!! it's now clear that you do indeed understand what
we are saying about online purchasing. I think the confusion is in the
wording of one of your previous statements, something along the lines that
the Fanderson Board 'decided' not to go that route at this time. That is
what threw us into such a frenzy. It would have alleviated much of the
confusion and conflict if you had simply stated that the resource just
wasn't available to you. Lack of resources... I think we can all relate to
that. That kind of statement is far more likely to generate volunteers
than the previous.

I'd like to help you myself but I lack the skills to create a secure web
site at all, I'd be pleased to be able to help you in any other way I could
though. I do hear you about not just sitting around grousing but instead
doing something. I do something where I can, for what it's worth I saw a
need in the San Diego Astronomy Association and did not just whine about
it. I volunteered, did things and got stuff done, because I could and it
was a good cause. I have now been nominated as the site director for our
10 acre observatory facility, an elected volunteer position where I can and
will do something, work very hard and whine to myself when things don't get
done. So at least we have one more thing in common besides GA, I'm not
just a whiner, I'm a do'er too. Have you considered polling your
membership for volunteers. That is one thing that the SDAA has done quite
successfully and the use of their Yahoo Group to do much of it has made
volunteers at least ten times easier to obtain, I do speak from experience.

If and when the SDAA gets itself online with secure membership and ordering
I am sure I will be able to offer our efforts to you as an example (perhaps
a codebase) toward your site. I realize that the offer of vaporware is not
particularly useful to you but I assure you it's sincere in it's intent,
from one do'er with a lack of resources to another.

S