Doc_V wrote:
BK, I like the idea of paypal and the rest.

As for thoughts, do you have any plans to spread the workload / responsibilities / back-end accessibility among members?

My only reservation is, long term, the continued dependence on a single individual to handle it all. If at some point down the line you either get tired, find a new job, or you're boss decides it's not longer worth it, etc., then we're right back to where we are now. Is there a future migration path if need be?

Well, for now I could start and add a few moderators, offering that job to those already doing it first.
As far as backend handling of the software, the main reason we should probably use the vBulletin is because it requires practically nothing to just run. All updates, security patches & other programming is part of their monthly subscription fee. The only backend work to do once the forum structure is established would be very simple through their WYSIWYG admin function. It's not much harder than making a fancy newsletter in MS Word.

If for any reason I drop out I'd be willing to hand things over to someone else.
In the case of me dropping off the planet my boss would also have the keys to hand it over if needed.
If the RSC becomes at least self supporting with free advertising for the store, he'd have no reason to just kill it.
If it's a money pit, I'm sure he'd be more than happy to let someone else take over.

We have 27 days from today to not only decide how to migrate, but actually do it.
I suggest we get the new place setup first, then ask the members if any of them are interested in helping.
There are a few of us willing to do some occasional management work & the beauty of the new system is that it really runs pretty much by itself.

Once we get a few admins lined up they would be able to hash out the dirty details in a private section, same as they do now.
I would imagine the majority of regular work would be skimming the posts for spam from new (fake) members.

BTW for anyone wondering, I'm not an administrator or moderator of the current RSC.
I just hate the idea of the place going away & I have the skills and resources at my disposal to keep it going.
There was discussion about continuing but little consensus so I pretty much just grabbed the wheel.

- Jeff

I agree. Lots of discussion but little actual decisions or actions. Thanks for stepping up. I vote that we move forward with Vbulletin. I think it will work great. I'd prefer going with their hosted cloud though. But if we start with your ISP and then decide to transition later, I think that VB has path for that. Not sure if there's a cost to transfer though.

There will be some transition pains, but we'll work through them. The big advantage with VB will be that more people can do stuff to help get the site set up functioning. Not just Gram.

I agree the cloud is definitely the way to go, at least to start.

I think one thing needs to be made clear:
Just because I'll be taking payment for the service up front does not mean I or my boss (Mike Duclos, by the way) will own the Roadstar Clinic.
Steve Gram will retain ownership of the domain and name for the 1st year as per his outlined conditions.

In other words, Steve will no longer be opening the store & turning on the lights, but he'll still have the master keys to the store/domain name of "roadstarclinic.com"
I'll just be managing the store, paying the bills, mowing the lawn & cleaning the toilets once in a while.

EXCELLENT! I'm all for it! Thanks again Jeff; way to grab the bull by the horns!

Just had a thought.

On the new site we'll have to figure out the controls for our current members when we all create our accounts on the new site. Typically you have it set so that new members go into a moderate group and have limited posting privileges until they make a certain number of posts. Like no posting pictures, signature pics, or hyperlinks. It's a spam prevention measure.

Of course this shouldn't apply to all of the existing members. So as we migrate over we'll probably have to manually put everyone into the user group that isn't moderated.

Jeff thanks for your time and diligence for this project. I support the direction that you have made to secure the revenue for your company to assist and for sure if you included the current moderators and the ability to “turn over” the keys for portability sake if needed then I think you should have all the support for the ad generation as well as the forum platform you have proposed. I like the idea of a storefront for the ability to “purchase support “ for the members and I have no issues with you handling the business side for the group. Thanks to everybody who has contributed and especially to Graham for the time and expense and for everything he has done to help make this clinic flourish. I look forward to our next chapter together

Tykes_Place wrote:
Just had a thought.

On the new site we'll have to figure out the controls for our current members when we all create our accounts on the new site. Typically you have it set so that new members go into a moderate group and have limited posting privileges until they make a certain number of posts. Like no posting pictures, signature pics, or hyperlinks. It's a spam prevention measure.

Of course this shouldn't apply to all of the existing members. So as we migrate over we'll probably have to manually put everyone into the user group that isn't moderated.

I agree 100%
IIRC the old YamahaMotorcycleForum required 50 posts before you could post pictures, get a custom avatar or post in the 'For Sale' section.
No reason we shouldn't have that as well for any new members.
They could still participate, but not just drop in with a bunch of classifieds and disappear the day it all sells.
Kind of a "Show us you're one of us".
Everyone here IS One Of Us already.

BubbaKahuna wrote:
Tykes_Place wrote:
Just had a thought.

On the new site we'll have to figure out the controls for our current members when we all create our accounts on the new site. Typically you have it set so that new members go into a moderate group and have limited posting privileges until they make a certain number of posts. Like no posting pictures, signature pics, or hyperlinks. It's a spam prevention measure.

Of course this shouldn't apply to all of the existing members. So as we migrate over we'll probably have to manually put everyone into the user group that isn't moderated.

I agree 100%
IIRC the old YamahaMotorcycleForum required 50 posts before you could post pictures, get a custom avatar or post in the 'For Sale' section.
No reason we shouldn't have that as well for any new members.
They could still participate, but not just drop in with a bunch of classifieds and disappear the day it all sells.
Kind of a "Show us you're one of us".
Everyone here IS One Of Us already. The only "Problem" I have , has been my "Problem" since I joined. Never got the picture posting down. Can something be done to make this a " Computer Illiterate " friendly feature ? Please

BubbaKahuna wrote:

IIRC the old YamahaMotorcycleForum required 50 posts before you could post pictures, get a custom avatar or post in the 'For Sale' section.
No reason we shouldn't have that as well for any new members.
They could still participate, but not just drop in with a bunch of classifieds and disappear the day it all sells.
Kind of a "Show us you're one of us".


I can see with the classifieds, but I don't agree with the pictures.

Often someone finds, and joins, this group when they have an issue with their bike.
Posting a picture often helps describe the issues.

Look at this or many other forums,
it is not uncommon for someone's first post to ask for help.
(I know I have done that on other forums, joined to ask a specific question.)

If they don't have enough interest to stick around, that is fine.
We still have one more answered question in the forum for future searchers to find.

I'm not a computer guy. I don't even have a dum phone.
But I'm in for $20.00 a year through Pay Pal