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<P>In view of the concerns recently expressed regarding the membership system,
we are embarking on a close review of the system and our options. </P>
<P>As has been mentioned, prior to purchasing the membership system ISOC
conducted extensive surveys and outreach among members and chapter delegates.
The resulting ‘draft’ RFP took that feedback into consideration and the
consequent final RFP was again reviewed by chapters and we received and
considered their input in proceeding thereafter. </P>
<P>When we looked at web-based systems at the time (late 2003), not one of them
offered all of what we were seeking and not one of them was international in
scope (even though we received bids from a number of different countries) – only
GO appeared interested and capable of becoming international. It was as a result
of these circumstances that we adopted the original goal of a phased
implementation of a membership system.</P>
<P>The initial release was planned to be the common foundation for a system and
it would, in future, be built upon to become more responsive and to be made more
international. We were aware that the system lacked functionality in some
critical areas – this was a natural outgrowth of the fact that no solution
offered all of what we were seeking. And we were thorough in looking - it should
be recalled that we asked chapters to float the RFP by their members and by
possible vendors and we also posted the RFP on our website. From this outreach
we received a good number of proposals to consider – indeed some of the bids
came from the chapters efforts to disseminate to potential vendors. Despite this
no web based system fully measured up to the requirements in the RFP. Their
shortcomings were largely centered on: </P>
<P>• The system not being international enough:</P>
<P>a. No international character sets</P>
<P>b. No currencies other than dollars</P>
<P>c. Only available in English</P>
<P>That process of a phased approach appeared to be working – chapters and
members have been making use of the GO system and were quite helpful in the
testing phase. But now that we are past testing and into production, these
criticisms have been raised again with the addition that evidently quite a
number of chapter administrators feel the system is too cumbersome, and so the
system will be reviewed as noted below. </P>
<P>It bears repeating - the system does work and it is delivering value to
chapters and members. Fifteen chapters have been using it. Keeping in mind that
there are many chapters who do not need or want such a system, and measured
against past experience, fifteen is an acceptable number at this point in time.
Moreover, 1155 new global members have joined ISOC using the web based
membership system since it was unveiled on October 12th of 2005. In that time 34
new sustaining members have also signed up and 52 people have used the system to
make individual donations totaling $12,050.</P>
<P>So, yes, the system is working albeit not perfectly - the goal has been to
improve it to meet our reqirements as such capabilities become available. This
is not news and chapters and members have been made aware of our plans on many
occasions. </P>
<P>However, it is clear the system has been poorly received by a number of
chapter delegates and administrators. The complaints vary in the description but
generally fall into the following:</P>
<P>1. The system is too cumbersome/complex:</P>
<P>a. Lack of simplified registration capability</P>
<P>2. The system is not international:</P>
<P>a. Cannot use international character sets</P>
<P>b. Cannot accept currencies other than dollars</P>
<P>c. Is only available in English</P>
<P>3. The system poses security/data privacy concerns</P>
<P>4. Lack of interface with local chapter systems</P>
<P>At this point we believe the best way forward is: </P>
<P>First, we will, as a prelude to kicking off Phase Two of the system, examine
all possible ways of improving the current system, especially as relates to #’s
1 through 4 above. We have developed considerable experience with the GO system
(yes, we too found it a bit complex but we believe it is a very good platform on
which to create an enduring and flexible membership system to serve our
community well into the future). We can, we believe, build on that experience
and investment to provide a valuable system to our chapters and members. But,
mindful that these criticisms are quite strong, we will take another step as
follows.</P>
<P>Second, and in parallel, we will examine the feasibility of executing our
original Phase Two against the option of doing a ‘new build’ of a system. </P>
<P></P>
<P>Finally, to assure EU privacy rights, we have an informal relationship with a
Canadian company, Dispute Resolution Services LP, which affords us the ability
to have a neutral third party resolve any issue regarding complaints about the
handling of such privacy issues. This company is an online dispute resolution
firm recognized by EU regulators as a ‘safe harbor’ for such complaints. </P>
<P>As we begin these two parallel efforts we will of course first discuss with
chapters ways they can be involved. Just as chapters were involved before, they
will be again and the first order of business will be to determine how best and
most effectively to achieve that. </P>
<P>Best regards,</P></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>David McAuley</DIV>
<DIV align=left>Membership Director</DIV>
<DIV align=left>Internet Society</DIV>
<DIV align=left>703-326-9880, ext 104</DIV>
<DIV align=left>703-963-5887 (mobile)</DIV>
<DIV align=left><A href="mailto:mcauley@isoc.org">mcauley@isoc.org</A></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left><FONT
face=Tahoma size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>
chapter-delegates-bounces@elists.isoc.org
[mailto:chapter-delegates-bounces@elists.isoc.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Michael
Burks<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, February 07, 2006 1:08 PM<BR><B>To:</B> Tricia
Drakes<BR><B>Cc:</B> chapter-delegates@elists.isoc.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re:
[Chapter-delegates] Membership System<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>Whatever is
done,<BR><BR>we need to make sure it is accessible to people with
disabilties. The current system has been analyzed and is not too
bad. It would be a good idea to keep it
accessible.<BR><BR>Sincerely,<BR><BR>Mike Burks<BR><BR>
<DIV><SPAN class=gmail_quote>On 2/7/06, <B class=gmail_sendername>Tricia
Drakes</B> <<A
href="mailto:tricia.drakes@parvil.demon.co.uk">tricia.drakes@parvil.demon.co.uk</A>>
wrote:</SPAN>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=gmail_quote
style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(204,204,204) 1px solid">Rosa<BR><BR>Although
I am sure that there may be many good reasons for not so doing, do<BR>you
think that the Board and Membership Committee should also in
parallel<BR>consider a possible replacement of the existing system.
<BR><BR>It may be that this option would provide a less expensive
alternative rather<BR>than the cost of upgrading the present system, and
might also provide the<BR>required functionality, ease of use etc. plus a
much lower level of "ongoing <BR>maintenance" cost and effort.<BR><BR>With
many good wishes.<BR><BR>Tricia<BR>+44 7768 517567<BR><BR>-----Original
Message-----<BR>From: <A
href="mailto:chapter-delegates-bounces@elists.isoc.org">chapter-delegates-bounces@elists.isoc.org
</A><BR>[mailto:<A
href="mailto:chapter-delegates-bounces@elists.isoc.org">chapter-delegates-bounces@elists.isoc.org</A>]
On Behalf Of Rosa Delgado<BR><BR>Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2006 2:26
PM<BR>To: <A
href="mailto:chapter-delegates@elists.isoc.org">chapter-delegates@elists.isoc.org</A><BR>Subject:
[Chapter-delegates] Membership System<BR><BR>This is to inform that I have
summarized the concerns that chapters are<BR>having with the current
membership system to the board, thanks for your <BR>inputs. However, the
main point I am asking is that in order to help<BR>prioritize the main
topics to be considered for the upgrading of the system<BR>I am suggesting
to the board, to set-up a Membership Committee consisting of <BR>ISOC staff
and chapter reps that should give serious analysis to the<BR>enhancement of
the system as a phased implementation needs to be explored.<BR><BR>Chapters
will have a more active participation in the development of the
<BR>system.<BR><BR>More news
soon<BR><BR>Rosa<BR><BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>Chapter-delegates
mailing list<BR><A
href="mailto:Chapter-delegates@elists.isoc.org">Chapter-delegates@elists.isoc.org
</A><BR><A
href="http://elists.isoc.org/mailman/listinfo/chapter-delegates">http://elists.isoc.org/mailman/listinfo/chapter-delegates</A><BR><BR><BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>Chapter-delegates
mailing list <BR><A
href="mailto:Chapter-delegates@elists.isoc.org">Chapter-delegates@elists.isoc.org</A><BR><A
href="http://elists.isoc.org/mailman/listinfo/chapter-delegates">http://elists.isoc.org/mailman/listinfo/chapter-delegates
</A><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>