| March 24, 2004
To: USSVI Board of Directors
Re: Technology Plan for 2004
Executive Summary
Purpose: This document
will provide the Board with a high-level view of the plan I propose USSVI
undertake in 2004 and continue through 2005 and beyond as needed, to full
implementation.
Direction: USSVI should
take move quickly forward in two areas to take immediate advantage of available
technology. These areas are database technology and Internet technology.
Major Projects
- Database Architecture
- Rebuild our national
database: We’ve outgrown our database and its structure does not support
our current needs much less future requirements. It is essentially a spreadsheet
that has been migrated into an Access database. There are no constraints
(rules) in place to ensure data consistency and accuracy. It needs to be
completely re-engineered (we will be able to make use of 100% of our existing
data, and kudos to Fred for keeping it in good shape)
- One database available
anywhere: We need the ability to maintain the national database via
Internet (everything from creating records on new members to having a special
"dashboard" for base commanders to provide reporting and other
tools to help them do a better job). The end result is a single database
that is kept up to date in real time.
- Accommodate future needs:
A properly designed database will better support future needs such as enhanced
online voting.
- Web Architecture
- Support the bases and
reduce webmaster workload: Thanks to Sid Harrison, we have a national
website that we can be proud of. Where we fall quite short is in the area
of providing web space for our bases. I believe we need an "national
structure" that each and every base can take advantage of, that is,
while our web address is www.ussvi.org
we could have bases below that familiar web address which may look like
one of two possibilities:
- www.ussvi.org/bases/seattle/
for Seattle base as an example or,
- seattlebase.ussvi.org/
as another
- Real time accurate data
and web tools: Related to online database maintenance in the previous
section, we should be able to:
- Create new member records
on line
- Edit existing member records
on line
- Search the USSVI database
for shipmates by name, boat, etc. (gee, that sounds familiar)
- BCP (Base Commander’s Portal)
would give them handy tools
- Ability to mass-email messages
to base members
- Base Commander Reports:
membership trends/growth, dink list, newsletter labels, misc. stats of
interest with comparisons to regional and national data, all at their fingertips
- Spread the workload for
and make info more current: Portions of the website that are the most
tedious to maintain should be driven from a database that can be updated
online by appropriate people (a HUGE relief to Sid Harrison). Some
examples of data-driven information are:
- newly elected national officers
and appointed position updates
- newly elected regional/district
officer updates
- newly elected base officer
updates
- most of the POC broadcast
items could be driven from a database – treated like news items with "start"
and "end" publishing dates – another huge load off of Sid’s plate.
- Keep email and postal
addresses up to date: With the new database accommodating secure login
for all our members, they should have the ability to update their own data
on line (my experience in this area with SubmarineSailor.com and its 23,000
"members" is nearly perfect – no one has ever maliciously altered
another’s data and I’ve only had three bogus entries in five years). In
other words, this is very doable.
Summary
As you can see by the significance
of the above lists, we have been "missing out" on the benefits
of technology - benefits that will make us a stronger and more professional
and communicative organization. I’m truly excited about all the possibilities
and there are many more that will come to light after the basic and most
needed groundwork has be laid down. Gentlemen, the paybacks are simply
huge.
Respectfully submitted,
Don Gentry
Chief Technology Officer
ussvi-cto@submarinesailor.com
|