new SSA web site

On Thursday, April 1, 2021 at 5:48:43 PM UTC-7, GeneReinecke wrote:
Wow. Are we all being overly cranky as an April Fool's day joke? Give the low-paid IT people a few days to get it right! This is not a Covid vaccine reservation site, an investment app or even OLC! Lighten up guys, give it a couple of days and everything will be all right!
Sheesh.

No Gene, its not about being overly cranky. I am an IT person, and I *have* been very lowly paid and/or a volunteer (hell, my day job is running IT for a non-profit right now).

There was no reason for the new site to be rolled out like this, NONE. All of the things they're working on could have been tested in-private and tuned/fixed, while the main website continued to exist and function just fine.

But the issue goes MUCH deeper than just how bumpy the rollout is. The organization of the new site bespeaks a lack of careful consideration of features and functionality, or of proper project management. It reeks of scope-creep, and of being driven by art/aesthetics instead of functionality, and of non-technical people in charge not knowing how to vet the technical workers or manage them effectively.

--Noel

On Thursday, April 1, 2021 at 9:02:47 PM UTC-4, noel.wade wrote:
On Thursday, April 1, 2021 at 5:48:43 PM UTC-7, GeneReinecke wrote:
Wow. Are we all being overly cranky as an April Fool's day joke? Give the low-paid IT people a few days to get it right! This is not a Covid vaccine reservation site, an investment app or even OLC! Lighten up guys, give it a couple of days and everything will be all right!
Sheesh.
No Gene, its not about being overly cranky. I am an IT person, and I *have* been very lowly paid and/or a volunteer (hell, my day job is running IT for a non-profit right now).

There was no reason for the new site to be rolled out like this, NONE. All of the things they're working on could have been tested in-private and tuned/fixed, while the main website continued to exist and function just fine..

But the issue goes MUCH deeper than just how bumpy the rollout is. The organization of the new site bespeaks a lack of careful consideration of features and functionality, or of proper project management. It reeks of scope-creep, and of being driven by art/aesthetics instead of functionality, and of non-technical people in charge not knowing how to vet the technical workers or manage them effectively.

--Noel
Can't find competitors list for Perry.

Gack, "frames" are back. I thought we got rid of them 20 years ago!
For example: go to: https://www.ssa.org/event/2021-region-2-north/
and then click on the "register here" link.
(it will ask you to login first, here your old login still works)

On Thursday, April 1, 2021 at 7:02:47 PM UTC-6, noel.wade wrote:
On Thursday, April 1, 2021 at 5:48:43 PM UTC-7, GeneReinecke wrote:
Wow. Are we all being overly cranky as an April Fool's day joke? Give the low-paid IT people a few days to get it right! This is not a Covid vaccine reservation site, an investment app or even OLC! Lighten up guys, give it a couple of days and everything will be all right!
Sheesh.
No Gene, its not about being overly cranky. I am an IT person, and I *have* been very lowly paid and/or a volunteer (hell, my day job is running IT for a non-profit right now).

There was no reason for the new site to be rolled out like this, NONE. All of the things they're working on could have been tested in-private and tuned/fixed, while the main website continued to exist and function just fine..

But the issue goes MUCH deeper than just how bumpy the rollout is. The organization of the new site bespeaks a lack of careful consideration of features and functionality, or of proper project management. It reeks of scope-creep, and of being driven by art/aesthetics instead of functionality, and of non-technical people in charge not knowing how to vet the technical workers or manage them effectively.

--Noel

On Thursday, April 1, 2021 at 7:02:47 PM UTC-6, noel.wade wrote:
On Thursday, April 1, 2021 at 5:48:43 PM UTC-7, GeneReinecke wrote:
Wow. Are we all being overly cranky as an April Fool's day joke? Give the low-paid IT people a few days to get it right! This is not a Covid vaccine reservation site, an investment app or even OLC! Lighten up guys, give it a couple of days and everything will be all right!
Sheesh.
No Gene, its not about being overly cranky. I am an IT person, and I *have* been very lowly paid and/or a volunteer (hell, my day job is running IT for a non-profit right now).

There was no reason for the new site to be rolled out like this, NONE. All of the things they're working on could have been tested in-private and tuned/fixed, while the main website continued to exist and function just fine..

But the issue goes MUCH deeper than just how bumpy the rollout is. The organization of the new site bespeaks a lack of careful consideration of features and functionality, or of proper project management. It reeks of scope-creep, and of being driven by art/aesthetics instead of functionality, and of non-technical people in charge not knowing how to vet the technical workers or manage them effectively.

--Noel
Noel:
I think a number of us on this forum have done a good bit of volunteer work or low paid work for one of our hobbies or something we are passionate about. It is painful to watch others jump in and criticize from the sidelines. For example, One (non soaring) club I am a member of has over 100 members-only about 15 are active volunteers yet we get a surprising amount of critique from the other 85! Forgive me if I am not aware of your efforts to help the SSA but perhaps they could use your expertise, without the side potshots?
See you at cloudbase
Gene

Gene -

FWIW, I've done a bunch of volunteer work for soaring: Serving on the BoD and acting as Treasurer for multiple clubs in my area. Organizing and helping to run Cross-Country mentorship events (like the Ephrata "Dust Up") for several years. Acting as Contest Manager for our Regionals for several years. Acting as CD for a Nationals contest or two.

I'm also an IT professional who's been a web-developer for both for-profit and non-profit entities.

Volunteer labor is always in short supply and yes there is always a minority of folks who do a majority of the work. I get that.

I do not doubt that people had the best of intentions in their hearts. And I do not doubt that everyone involved sincerely wants a good outcome. I am sure they are nice individuals whom I'd love to chat or fly with.

But none of that excuses poor project management, which this website redesign is obviously guilty of. And well-meaning-but-poorly-executed help from volunteers is not as good as a smaller amount of well-executed volunteer or paid professional work.

In 20+ years of running IT for small businesses and non-profits, I cannot help but be frustrated by so many "rookie mistakes" and glaring problems (*after* setting the site "live" for the world to see). Not when there were better options available, and so many opportunities for engagement with the members who could've provided services or donations "in-kind". Its one thing if the SSA BoD reached out to the membership with a call for help, and then whittled it down to a key group of individuals as a focused committee (to keep the chaos in-check). But AFAIK this wasn't done. Some deal was put together without engaging the membership, and then this new site was sprung on us right at the start of Soaring and Contest season; with major disruptions (which Craig pointed out quite astutely).

There was absolutely no reason for it to happen this way. Its just terribly, terribly disappointing.

--Noel


On Friday, April 2, 2021 at 7:50:27 AM UTC-7, GeneReinecke wrote:
On Thursday, April 1, 2021 at 7:02:47 PM UTC-6, noel.wade wrote:

Funny, 5821 people were bit..chen about whether SSA should apologize to 2 1/2 women for overreacting to a silly dated ad and only 11 are acting like the 2 1/2 women because the SSA webmaster has Noel Wade in his gunsite.
Here's a tip...
Buy Micon....it will be up 30% in three months.

R

{ Micron...MU }

On Saturday, April 3, 2021 at 11:56:30 PM UTC-4, noel.wade wrote:
Gene -

FWIW, I've done a bunch of volunteer work for soaring: Serving on the BoD and acting as Treasurer for multiple clubs in my area. Organizing and helping to run Cross-Country mentorship events (like the Ephrata "Dust Up") for several years. Acting as Contest Manager for our Regionals for several years. Acting as CD for a Nationals contest or two.

I'm also an IT professional who's been a web-developer for both for-profit and non-profit entities.

Volunteer labor is always in short supply and yes there is always a minority of folks who do a majority of the work. I get that.

I do not doubt that people had the best of intentions in their hearts. And I do not doubt that everyone involved sincerely wants a good outcome. I am sure they are nice individuals whom I'd love to chat or fly with.

But none of that excuses poor project management, which this website redesign is obviously guilty of. And well-meaning-but-poorly-executed help from volunteers is not as good as a smaller amount of well-executed volunteer or paid professional work.

In 20+ years of running IT for small businesses and non-profits, I cannot help but be frustrated by so many "rookie mistakes" and glaring problems (*after* setting the site "live" for the world to see). Not when there were better options available, and so many opportunities for engagement with the members who could've provided services or donations "in-kind". Its one thing if the SSA BoD reached out to the membership with a call for help, and then whittled it down to a key group of individuals as a focused committee (to keep the chaos in-check). But AFAIK this wasn't done. Some deal was put together without engaging the membership, and then this new site was sprung on us right at the start of Soaring and Contest season; with major disruptions (which Craig pointed out quite astutely).

There was absolutely no reason for it to happen this way. Its just terribly, terribly disappointing.

--Noel
On Friday, April 2, 2021 at 7:50:27 AM UTC-7, GeneReinecke wrote:
On Thursday, April 1, 2021 at 7:02:47 PM UTC-6, noel.wade wrote:

First of all, thank you to the volunteers for their effort. We have to acknowledge that the website was not properly tested, and not ready to go live. SSA needs to seek professional IT help to make sure we are not dealing with a broken website for months.

Try this:
From the new SSA homepage, mouse over the "Membership" tab. This brings up three options and you want the "Members" Only Resources." Go down to "Member Services" and click on that. This will bring you to a page with "SSA Member Resources." Click on the "Log In" button. That brings you to a login page, for which you use your "old" login info. Login and you will be greeted by your name. Go to the "Home Page" and you will now be in the old SSA website links (the underlay to the new webpage) and will be able to find info you are familiar with across the board - the "old" racing menu, records, calendar, Johnson Report access, etc. As time goes on, the front page should eventually provide a smooth interface to all this.