What do you think of a members page?

[mattadams]

I was thinking of perhaps setting up something where members could submit a page with info about themselves and their truck, and a few pictures of themselves or their truck.
This wouldn't be like a gallery, where you could just add however many images you want, but each user could write up their own little "profile" with personal info, truck info, and then choose maybe 5 pictures or so and submit it and it could be set up as a seperate page.
So whats your thoughts? Good? Bad?

[Walking Eagle]

I like the idea. One question, how is it accessed it? I've seen it done in different ways. Either by clicking on the members name, which I like. I've also see it accessed, where each member posts a separate topic about themselves in a specific forum set up just for member pictures and write up.

[mattadams]

What I was thinking of doing was we could actually set it up like a seperate webpage, like for example rmftc.com/walkingeagle.html
If people can submit a "page" in HTML or even Word or notepad or something, and I can convert it pretty easily to a website and get it set up, then maybe we can have one specific page that is kind of a "table of contents" to other members pages... it might take a little setup time, but I think it'd be cool and would really promote the "community" feel, if you get to know people better :).

[Walking Eagle]

Doing it that way, would people be able to update pictures and information? Something I was planning doing for myself sometime in the near future was to set up a photo album at imagestation.com or webshots.com, and have a link in my signature.

[mattadams]

people wouldn't be able to update it themselves, but they could send it to me and I could update it pretty quick... Like I mentioned, unlike the galleries I don't necessarily want a page that has a picture of the truck from every little angle, and every little mod on the truck, just some info about yourself, about your truck, maybe how you came to know the rest of the club, and a few pictures of the truck...

[Walking Eagle]

That sounds good. I know with my gallery over at FTW, I got carried away with pictures. I think I have around 200 over there.

Then if people still want more pictures, they can easily set up a link to a photo album at one of the free sites.

[mattadams]

yeah thats my thought...

[mattadams]

any more input? Would people be interested in this?

[CWOUSCG]

Great idea Matt!!

It seems to me that this site must me costing you an arm and a leg. I for one would be willing to help out with a little contribution if you would tell me how to get the funds to you.

[mattadams]

While it isn't cheap, I think I will be able to make up most of the costs with the nametag/lanyard and sticker sales, and maybe shirt sales once some other things are figured out... so at this time, donations aren't really being accepted or anything, but thanks for the offer. I would rather have you and everyone else "donate" by spreading the word about the club, and being as active as possible.

[MMPC]

I like the idea a lot, but you might find yourself being quickly inundated with "can you change my page again" requests. If that's okay with you, then go for it. Otherwise, is there another software-based way to set this up that's more easily changed by the user themselves?

[Walking Eagle]

As said above I like the member's page, but the point I was trying to get across was better explained by Chris. I'm just worried, as more people join, there will be more requests for changes to their pages, especially after events when everyone will want to add the latest pictures.

[mattadams]

yeah, you may have a point. Unfortunately I couldn't really find a "shortcut" for this... i found some software that would work as a gallery, where users could upload their own photos, but it has limits, like they have to create a seperate sign-on, its tough to impose image limits, and its not quite what I"m invisioning... but still looking into the possibilities. Honestly, the amount of time it would take to set up these galleries and occasionally modify photos, even if the site does grow... maybe by then I could have something else figured out LOL.
But keep the suggestions coming in, I'm open :).

[Walking Eagle]

I finally figured out the BBCode I was doing wrong last night, but one thing members can do as an example is what I did in my signature. Link to one of the many free photo albums available on the internet. I set up one at Image Station (http://www.imagestation.com).

[mattadams]

While that is an option, I want something that can be set up with RMFTC logos and so forth, like I mentioned above, something where people can put in a few paragraphs about themselves in addition to their truck information, for that community feel and all. Perhaps it could be the 5 or so photos of the truck and in the "page" we could put a link ot an imagestation site, etc. where people can put all their photos, yada yada...

[Tray]

How about alotting a special place to have people FTP their page. Just set up rules on how a person needs to name their files etc..., and then with a basic link, they can change their own by replacing the file when needed. This would save on admin overhead.

[mattadams]

Yeah but thats assuming people know HTML and FTP, LOL.
One thing that you guys are forgetting is that I am used to having to manage the forums that have 100,000 members, and helping manage the thousands of galleries... since that workload has been removed, I've literally got extra time and it is no bother at all for me to do this for the members. Even doing occaional picture changes and so forth would only take a minute or two per time.

[Tray]

OK then Mr. Free Time. Sounds good to me. And yes, I forget that posting on the forums does not mean you are a programmer, or even know html.

[mattadams]

well everyone get started on writing your profiles! I'm working on mine :).