Posted by Bob Read on August 30, 1999 at 01:35:51 in 208.142.225.36:
In Reply to: Whats In a Name? posted by Bob Read on August 29, 1999 at 19:52:17:
If the idea of some sort of a name for our group finds acceptance then I think that possibly the most important subject relating to it should be addressed. What I was proposing was not an organization that exists separately or independently from this website. This website IS the organization. We already have leadership in the form of our webmaster Sean. We have a forum of communication in our Message Board. We have educational and informational resources in the form of tutorials, articles, book reviews, etc.
Really the primary thing we lack is a name.
We have a location but not a name. To create a separate organization I believe could possibly eventually become a source of conflict between
the organization and control of the website. I believe that the control of this website should ALWAYS remain in Sean's control (Its his). Anyone has always been free to create their own Titanic website and many have. However few have been as succesful as this one thanks mainly to the direction given it by Sean. If this website and the members who frequent it want to organize under a name then I personally suggest that Sean be made president for as long as he should care to serve in that capacity. As president there would be no change in his authority or responsibilities unless he would care to delegate any. Since this is his website he would have the final say on its operation. This way the organization IS the website only now it has a name other than its URL.
If auxiliary officers were ever needed or desired to support Sean in the administration of the site
he could propose such. My purpose in writing this is to head off the notion that I am proposing an organization that would eventually control this website. Nothing could be further from the truth.
In fact I think safeguards should be put in place to make sure that never happens.
I know we are all busy including Sean and don't need somebody else dreaming up projects or new responsibilities for us. In nominating Sean to serve as President of a yet unnamed organization of this website I am merely suggesting that we put a name to the function he already serves, nothing more. As president, he could decide that the organization should be formed, how it should be named, how one becomes a formal member etc.
At this point I am merely making proposals. If
they aren't popular we'll just go on as we have before which is ok.
For now I propose that Sean Winterberg be named
President of our yet unformed and unnamed organization by acclamation. If dissenting votes are not registered forthwith then "So let it be written. So let it be done".
Having the formal title of President of this organization, Sean, it is your ultimate decision whether the organization of this website will be formed and whether it will be named. If you ultimately decide against it then the idea is dropped and you revert from President to Webmaster.
Regards,
Bob Read
: Jerry Davidson and James Pepper sparked an idea that I have never seen discussed here before. Often the members here need information from outside sources or we seek to influence model companies, H&W, museums, aftermarket manufacturers, etc. How do we now do that?
: Well, somebody knows a guy who knows a guy and we try to do things by proxy. Why is that? I think one of the primary reasons is that we are nobody. I don't mean that as a put down. What I mean is that I find myself referring to the association of members who frequent this site as "a group of modelers who discuss things related to the Titanic on an internet website".
: Not very compact or impressive is it? What if I said
: I was a member of TMI (Titanic Modelers International)?
: The name says it all and it sounds more official. When you are trying to talk to bureaucratic types at the institutions mentioned above it couldn't hurt to have a name and perhaps officers. The last thing I'm advocating is some kind of stodgy bureaucracy of our own. I'm just wondering if something like an official organization with a name (I just made the other one up) might advance some of our causes and make getting answers to some questions easier. My hope is that this
: post will perhaps spark some discussion, debate and other ideas.
: Regards,
: Bob Read