New A.M.A. Website
08-05-2018, 11:32 AM
#1
New A.M.A. Website
Has anyone tried the new website? I tried to pull up local events and it comes up blank every time, even for events listed in the magazine. Also tried to pull up the rules addendum's related to the Safety Code and nothing is available. I don't know why they changed it, it seemed to work great beforehand.
Any helpful feedback appreciated.
Any helpful feedback appreciated.
08-07-2018, 06:13 PM
#6
Something else you have to remember is that, regardless of how much testing goes on, there are always going to be situations that aren't thought of by the people doing the programming and testing.
08-08-2018, 04:45 AM
#7
Banned
I too am retired from IT. While I never worked web sites, I was part of an effort that stood up a new network consisting of over 100 servers, 5000 workstations and some 20,000 user accounts. All glitches were resolved in a matter of a few days.
My point is, expecting problems is one thing. Accepting them as business as usual is something else.
My last position was as QA in software development. A small team working on a proprietary software package on which lives literally relied on. Think we didn't test the 'H' out of it?
My point is, expecting problems is one thing. Accepting them as business as usual is something else.
My last position was as QA in software development. A small team working on a proprietary software package on which lives literally relied on. Think we didn't test the 'H' out of it?
08-08-2018, 06:45 AM
#10
It wasn't complicated before they "Improved" it. It seems that the delivery of quality service to the membership is a low priority anymore. I had 2 sanctioned events that I was the CD this year. The listings were in the wrong place, and they had jumbled the dates and details between both of the events. I placed over 5 phone calls trying to correct the situation and all I got was a lot of attitude from the staff. They have also messed up the details for another event run by someone else in my club as well, so it isn't just me. I truly believe that traditional modelers are low priority now, and it will remain that way from this point forward.
08-11-2018, 03:31 AM
#12
Banned
Finding someone who can wright the code and be the low bid for the contract at the same time. I don't know who does the AMA web site and I really don't care. But one thing you can be sure of in the IT industry is, you can spend a whole lot of money on a great deal of incompetence. Not saying all are incompetent. But for a truely professional web site that stands up on day one, you're going to pay for it. And I just do not see an organization with a couple of decades of declining revenue being willing to spend what it needs.
08-11-2018, 08:21 AM
#13
"About AMA" -> "Executive Council" -> "Executive Council Meetings" gives an error.
Testing the link that helps members know how their money is spent must not be a priority.
08-11-2018, 08:23 AM
#14
It wasn't complicated before they "Improved" it. It seems that the delivery of quality service to the membership is a low priority anymore. I had 2 sanctioned events that I was the CD this year. The listings were in the wrong place, and they had jumbled the dates and details between both of the events. I placed over 5 phone calls trying to correct the situation and all I got was a lot of attitude from the staff. They have also messed up the details for another event run by someone else in my club as well, so it isn't just me. I truly believe that traditional modelers are low priority now, and it will remain that way from this point forward.
08-11-2018, 08:25 AM
#15
Yeah right.
08-11-2018, 03:56 PM
#17
What we see are symptoms of leadership in that clearly doesn't hold people accountable for doing the job the members pay them to do, correctly, the first time. It's long past time to start firing some folks .. people who can't get newsletters out / posted on time. People who can't seem to get reports done on time. People like the one above that throw attitude at members.
And who's job is it to do that? Oh yeah, the ED. Someone who's paid by members and earning a top 1% salary in Muncie, and in the top 5% of salaries in the state.
And decision making? Who made the decision to roll this website, clearly without enough testing ... and do it days before the national aviation day in the middle of the flying season? This sort of major change to a fundamental communication tool should have waited until a slower time of the year. But noooooo.
This is what happens when you put a marketing guy in charge. Glossy photos were the clear priority, comprehensive testing was not. He prioritized looking good over function. Basic links don't work. I find it hard to believe there was any testing at all. Heck there's websites that will check your links for you. And what is really painful is to think of how much member's money was wasted on this failure.
You threw the quip about high standards. That's probably the most telling comment, for it illustrates just how little is expected of the staff for what they're paid. That's not the EC's money, it's the members money, and people are clearly being paid for work that's not getting done or getting done poorly. I never knew that working links was too much to expect.
As for what I could do, we can skip that for now. I can think of several E-7s that could do a better job managing a small staff like this - a staff that's really not doing anything complex ... that is unless walking and chewing gum is difficult. It's all about setting clear expectations, deadlines, and standards of performance and then holding people accountable.
Clearly that's not being done. And that's a failure of leadership.
p.s. The same links that were broken on day one are still broken today ... apparently there's no sense of urgency either.
Last edited by franklin_m; 08-12-2018 at 02:15 AM. Reason: Cleanup...
08-12-2018, 09:52 AM
#18
Banned
If what we're seeing is an example of their attention of "how hard you think you test," I'd sure hate to see anything less. I can't think of any website I've been to lately that has as many errors. Even small businesses. Who in the world approved this to go live?
"About AMA" -> "Executive Council" -> "Executive Council Meetings" gives an error.
Testing the link that helps members know how their money is spent must not be a priority.
"About AMA" -> "Executive Council" -> "Executive Council Meetings" gives an error.
Testing the link that helps members know how their money is spent must not be a priority.
Ditto!
When I was doing QA we put in 10 plus the man hours into testing as the developers did in writing the stuff. I don't care how small the change or what you think it might affect. Each and every button, menu, feature, etc. of the entire program was tested. Anything less could cost someone their life.
08-12-2018, 09:57 AM
#19
Banned
..............................................
What we see are symptoms of leadership in that clearly doesn't hold people accountable for doing the job the members pay them to do, correctly, the first time. It's long past time to start firing some folks .. people who can't get newsletters out / posted on time. People who can't seem to get reports done on time. People like the one above that throw attitude at members.
.................................................. ...
08-12-2018, 03:08 PM
#20
And club search shows over 5000 clubs? I don't think so. Spot check of the pages in the 100+ range shows many with zero members. Looks like someone is counting clubs that no longer exist.
Just tried to search by state, Alabama, got "The website encountered an unexpected error" hard crash.
No data, page not found, clearly bad data, and "unexpected errors" .... how much members' money was wasted on this?
Just tried to search by state, Alabama, got "The website encountered an unexpected error" hard crash.
No data, page not found, clearly bad data, and "unexpected errors" .... how much members' money was wasted on this?
08-13-2018, 04:56 AM
#21
Banned
And club search shows over 5000 clubs? I don't think so. Spot check of the pages in the 100+ range shows many with zero members. Looks like someone is counting clubs that no longer exist.
Just tried to search by state, Alabama, got "The website encountered an unexpected error" hard crash.
No data, page not found, clearly bad data, and "unexpected errors" .... how much members' money was wasted on this?
Just tried to search by state, Alabama, got "The website encountered an unexpected error" hard crash.
No data, page not found, clearly bad data, and "unexpected errors" .... how much members' money was wasted on this?
08-13-2018, 05:23 AM
#22
I've been in it for more than 50 years because I'm a modeler as well. Problem is, the AMA has made membership in their little organization mandatory for most clubs. So, if you want to fly, you have to join them. As such, there is a reasonable expectation of at least a minimum performance on their part. I don't think they are meeting that requirement.
08-13-2018, 06:27 AM
#23
Banned
I just did a casual perusal of the new web site. Going to my local District web site I find the last "District" update to be a couple of years old. HQ updates are there but nothing from whomever is in charge of the district.
I also found a number of links to club sites broken. Granted, this may not be the fault of the new site but, for this many to be broken I suspect at least some are due to the new site. Way too many regardless. Local club is listed in the wrong city and their URL is up for sale for over $3000. Hmmmm? Guess I might have to physically check them out after all.
Curiously the web site for one district fails to even come up. And what does appear leads me to suspect they don't even have the correct page format loaded for it. Just making guesses here because I don't have access to the actual code to look. But there are indeed a lot of things wrong. And anyone who thinks this is normal and acceptable for a new web site have standards that simply would not make it in my world.
I also found a number of links to club sites broken. Granted, this may not be the fault of the new site but, for this many to be broken I suspect at least some are due to the new site. Way too many regardless. Local club is listed in the wrong city and their URL is up for sale for over $3000. Hmmmm? Guess I might have to physically check them out after all.
Curiously the web site for one district fails to even come up. And what does appear leads me to suspect they don't even have the correct page format loaded for it. Just making guesses here because I don't have access to the actual code to look. But there are indeed a lot of things wrong. And anyone who thinks this is normal and acceptable for a new web site have standards that simply would not make it in my world.
08-13-2018, 04:52 PM
#24
Part of this comes back to the general membership. If the general membership won't demand Muncie be held accountable, why should Muncie hold those not doing their jobs accountable. To me, as an outsider looking in, I see a general attitude of "It's not my problem, let those that have the authority deal with the issues". I personally won't join the AMA due to this lack of accountability as I don't like getting nothing for my hard earned cash. While I am building aircraft, I can always go to the FAA and get my Part 107, or whatever that number is, and be legally able to fly
08-14-2018, 03:12 AM
#25
Banned
Part of this comes back to the general membership. If the general membership won't demand Muncie be held accountable, why should Muncie hold those not doing their jobs accountable. To me, as an outsider looking in, I see a general attitude of "It's not my problem, let those that have the authority deal with the issues". I personally won't join the AMA due to this lack of accountability as I don't like getting nothing for my hard earned cash. While I am building aircraft, I can always go to the FAA and get my Part 107, or whatever that number is, and be legally able to fly