[Businessmtg] Web Site Report

[Steve Rankin]

Thanks Lora!

I agree that having a greeter instruction manual for first-time greeters is
helpful. We have had detailed Greeter Instructions at ASP for 20+ years.
There is greeter instruction page on the original ASP website on my server,
a very similar greeter instruction page on the HTML 2006-2014 website, and
another very similar greeter instruction page on the WordPress site dated
Jan 2015. While there are some technical differences between each of those 3
greeter instruction pages, the core of the process and policies reflected in
that process are consistent. The technical details that differed between
those greeter instructions were ASP used different servers and mailing list
software over the years. But the core process and policies outlined in those
instructions remained constant.  

Then last year, that changed. 

The issues with the "Greeter Training Document" are . . . but first, I'd
like everyone to understand that I like the IDEA behind this document. Plus,
I think this particular document is well done and quite professional.
However, it is flawed in my opinion, mostly for reasons that parallel the
flaws in the 2015-2017 website. 


A. It was created behind closed doors with no knowledge of either the
membership or the leadership of ASP. 

B. It created a new greeter process using 7 greeters instead of 2. 
Yes, I know that there were occasions when we had more than 2 greeters, but
that was only about 10% of the time since 1996 through 2015. Then, suddenly
in June 2017 we jumped to 7 greeters along with a pseudo-official document
was created that formalized a 7-greeter process. This effectively changed
ASP policy without going through the group conscience process. Actually, not
even any mention of it in ASP. 

C. My experience with the 5-7 greeters we've had in late 2016 - current is
that it creates as many problems as it solves, and perhaps more problems.
I'll speak to that issue later.

D. A great deal of the unofficial Greeter Training Document deals with
training the new greeter how to use RoundCube email. While I understand that
some greeters may prefer to have a separate email account for the greeter
email, or may prefer the anonymity that ASP-based email provides, it is
quite unnecessary. So, I don't understand why this became a requirement of
the job.  FWIW, I've been using the same email address since 1995 for
everything. Not just my personal email, but all ASP service as well as
several other organizations that I serve in leadership roles. My email
software handles all of my filtering and sorting. 

Which gets me to ASP-based email.

In recent years, I've developed a distaste for ASP-based email, especially
ASP email that uses the title of the member instead of their name. I've seen
too much evidence of some members wearing their email as if it was a badge
of authority. Please note that this does not seem to be the problem with the
greeters, but there are other ASP-email-related issues with the greeters.
But, this is another issue for another day in ASP. 

As for the greeters? We've had the greeters at asp-afg.org email address for
years. Actually, we had greeters at serenitysys.com for the greeters before I
turned ASP over to the members. However, that email address merely allowed
us to post an email address on the website without using personal email
addresses. The server simply distributed incoming greeter mail to the
individual greeter's email addresses. They used their own after that. 

Imagine a newbie that reached out to ASP and was contacted by a greeter.
Isn't it entirely possible that this new member may want to contact that
greeter later (say after she's rotated) or maybe the new member would
especially like to read the shares of the greeter that met them at the door
of ASP. But who is that? While we only have 1 Lora in ASP today, we do have
7 Laura's, 3 Denise's, 3 Lisa's and 6 Cathy's. 



As for page 14?  All that Arlene does on page 14 is to point out how SHE
prefers to redirect her greeter email to her regular email, and how doing so
results in faster response to the prospective member. I don't understand why
that is a problem. 



-----Original Message-----
From: Businessmtg
[mailto:businessmtg-bounces+steve=serenitysys.com at asp-afg.org] On Behalf Of
Lora C.
Sent: Friday, January 19, 2018 6:31 AM
To: Steve - SC
Cc: ASP Business
Subject: [Businessmtg] Web Site Report

Thank you, Steve, for you report on the Web Site updates and changes.

I appreciate all the time and effort that has gone into maintaining and
improving the web page. Thank you also, to Adrienne, Arlene and Donna for
their contributions.

Having been an ASP greeter several times in the past, I think that the
Greeter Instruction Manual for first time greeters is very helpful.  It
really does spell out the "how to's".  I am not sure that the added portion
on page
14 is necessary.  I think it is best to keep the greeter communications
separate from my general ASP email is important (if I am understanding
correctly).  My humble opinion is to eliminate that page.

I really like the flow of the new page on ASP for prospective members.
It really does answer a lot of questions upfront for interested individuals.
Very helpful.

I have looked at most of our ASP website and I support the latest version.

Thank you for all your work to keep us up and running.

Gratefully,
Lora

_______________________________________________
The ASP Instruction page is http://asp-afg.org/members/asp-instructions/

The ASP web site for ASP members is http://www.asp-afg.org/Members/

For assistance with other ASP issues, contact Jerry the List Administrator,
at  la at asp-afg.org

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