So,
Here we all are. First of all congrats and bravo to the guys for getting this place up and running and making a very brave decision and standing by your principles. That is something which should be commended and not forgotten.
As we can start things afresh I think Towers Street should be built on the principles of community, plus-ing and fun! In light of that, I think as a community we should come together to decide how we can stop what has happened over the past few days and years happening again. That should be our number one aim for the time being. Not that I dont trust the people currently putting things in place but the community should be protected years down the line otherwise the topics, pictures, memories are all lost onto another site. So I think a serious discussion needs to be head about how we can resolve that problem.
As I have mentioned in another topic funding will be our first and the most major obstacle, having one single investor means for want of a better phrase its "their name on the deeds" and as we have seen it can cause massive problems. How can we solve this as a group?
A form of governance should be put in place to issues do not become a massive problem, I think perhaps a site council of 5 people should oversee all aspects of the site. Only the 5 people unanimously can have elect a person to replace one of them. This could perhaps be made up of "Forum Admin", "Site Admin", "Members Rep", "Technical Admin" and "Financial Admin".
How people get the initial roles could be debated but perhaps between us select the best possible candidates but allow those 4 roles to be re-assessed at all times. The members rep we could allow anyone to put themselves forward and then be voted for by members of the site.
These 5 people could then select teams to work beneath them on different areas of the site such as forum moderating, photography, video taking, sorting meets, using the social networks, gaining new members, working on the website, news editor, website editor. All sorts!
But again this works on the basis that there is not one person who has the power to pull of the plug or cause problems because no matter how much we think there wont be a problem in the future we just do not know.
My next issue would be what everyone wants the site to be?
A place to arrange to meet and visit theme parks and other attractions around the world and engage in discussion online?
All of the above with a website provided for everyone to look at?
All of the above and a way to create a great social experience for all who are interested?
None of the above?
Perhaps we could create a mission statement and let it be the purpose of the site forever more?
I think copying the same old forum as TTF, ATA, TN and going from their is old hat. There is the creative minds here to add to the best parts and make it even better!
I having a section dedicated to the community is something that was missing, to arrange gaming nights, the infamous radio, discuss how to get new members, competitions, discuss the initial TS meet dates, arrange events throughout the year etc
A forum just for "mini meets" (and accompanying archive) in which if you post an event it is open to all members which can improve inclusion. These smaller threads away from the main events throughout the year could be given a set structure to improve ease of use and perhaps be set out in a way that even new members can find a way to get in touch with someone on a mini meet and arrange to meet them.
We could do with forums dedicated too the forum/website/overall site discussion which could be used for ideas and groups of people working on ways to improve the website/experience/meets etc. Again pointing back for ways to constantly improve things and move forward.
Something from the old site that should definitely come back is the meet up archive and release of dates in the close season. Whos going lists/How to meet up/Basic Itinerary and then the sharing of stories/photos/videos after the fact was one of the best parts of the site and should become an annual and well organised thing.
As i rambled on at TT10 social media/networking should be paramount for a site like ours to share news, point people towards the forum, interact with the general public, explain the website to newcomers and help to get more people onto meetups. This should tie in with a strategy over facebook/twitter/youtube within a brand by which we define ourselves (clarified in a mission statement) This is something that just happened on Towers Times but now we have a chance to do things better!
We all want different things from a website and a community like this, but they are just my thoughts an they will be different to everyone else. I'm interested to hear other peoples thoughts on this and their own ideas?
Vis Unita Fortior
8)
Here we all are. First of all congrats and bravo to the guys for getting this place up and running and making a very brave decision and standing by your principles. That is something which should be commended and not forgotten.
As we can start things afresh I think Towers Street should be built on the principles of community, plus-ing and fun! In light of that, I think as a community we should come together to decide how we can stop what has happened over the past few days and years happening again. That should be our number one aim for the time being. Not that I dont trust the people currently putting things in place but the community should be protected years down the line otherwise the topics, pictures, memories are all lost onto another site. So I think a serious discussion needs to be head about how we can resolve that problem.
As I have mentioned in another topic funding will be our first and the most major obstacle, having one single investor means for want of a better phrase its "their name on the deeds" and as we have seen it can cause massive problems. How can we solve this as a group?
A form of governance should be put in place to issues do not become a massive problem, I think perhaps a site council of 5 people should oversee all aspects of the site. Only the 5 people unanimously can have elect a person to replace one of them. This could perhaps be made up of "Forum Admin", "Site Admin", "Members Rep", "Technical Admin" and "Financial Admin".
How people get the initial roles could be debated but perhaps between us select the best possible candidates but allow those 4 roles to be re-assessed at all times. The members rep we could allow anyone to put themselves forward and then be voted for by members of the site.
These 5 people could then select teams to work beneath them on different areas of the site such as forum moderating, photography, video taking, sorting meets, using the social networks, gaining new members, working on the website, news editor, website editor. All sorts!
But again this works on the basis that there is not one person who has the power to pull of the plug or cause problems because no matter how much we think there wont be a problem in the future we just do not know.
My next issue would be what everyone wants the site to be?
A place to arrange to meet and visit theme parks and other attractions around the world and engage in discussion online?
All of the above with a website provided for everyone to look at?
All of the above and a way to create a great social experience for all who are interested?
None of the above?
Perhaps we could create a mission statement and let it be the purpose of the site forever more?
I think copying the same old forum as TTF, ATA, TN and going from their is old hat. There is the creative minds here to add to the best parts and make it even better!
I having a section dedicated to the community is something that was missing, to arrange gaming nights, the infamous radio, discuss how to get new members, competitions, discuss the initial TS meet dates, arrange events throughout the year etc
A forum just for "mini meets" (and accompanying archive) in which if you post an event it is open to all members which can improve inclusion. These smaller threads away from the main events throughout the year could be given a set structure to improve ease of use and perhaps be set out in a way that even new members can find a way to get in touch with someone on a mini meet and arrange to meet them.
We could do with forums dedicated too the forum/website/overall site discussion which could be used for ideas and groups of people working on ways to improve the website/experience/meets etc. Again pointing back for ways to constantly improve things and move forward.
Something from the old site that should definitely come back is the meet up archive and release of dates in the close season. Whos going lists/How to meet up/Basic Itinerary and then the sharing of stories/photos/videos after the fact was one of the best parts of the site and should become an annual and well organised thing.
As i rambled on at TT10 social media/networking should be paramount for a site like ours to share news, point people towards the forum, interact with the general public, explain the website to newcomers and help to get more people onto meetups. This should tie in with a strategy over facebook/twitter/youtube within a brand by which we define ourselves (clarified in a mission statement) This is something that just happened on Towers Times but now we have a chance to do things better!
We all want different things from a website and a community like this, but they are just my thoughts an they will be different to everyone else. I'm interested to hear other peoples thoughts on this and their own ideas?
Vis Unita Fortior
8)
