I don´t want to minimise these problems, but I honestly think that the location etc. of the server is really the least of the worries. Providing Committees get into the habit of using the www.icom.org/committeename/ rather than that of their current and perhaps temporary host web server there´s no problem is changing from one location to another without this being apparent to users including Committee members other than those actually maintaining the Committee´s site. Patrick ======================= On Wed, 25 Apr 2001, Nancy Hushion wrote: > Dear Roger and Jean-Marcel > > I am collapsing my responses on this issue into a single message, perhaps > to save us all time and to respond quickly so a meeting in Barcelona may be > set up as soon as possible, if desired. > > The question of Committee web sites is a long standing issue which ICOM > does not seem to be able to resolve - yet. At the Advisory meeting in > 1999, a strong wish was expressed by the meeting that ICOM itself host (but > NOT develop or integrate) the various web sites. The Secretary General > said ICOM was too short staffed but he would look into it, and report to > the next meeting (as noted in the amended Minutes). However, at the 2000 > Advisory there was still no report, although the Secretary General again > said he would look into it. I am therefore concerned by Jean-Marcel's > comment that the Secretary General recently told him he was going to look > into this. Surely there should also be some consultation with Cary Karp, > ICOM's IT specialist. > > For INTERCOM (and perhaps others) the problem is not lack of skills. The > issue (and INTERCOM is facing it right now as we try to get our site on > line) is that we must select a web-hosting service somewhere (in the > absence of ICOM doing anything) and, for practical reasons, this typically > turns out to be in the Committee president's own country. But presidents, > and therefore countries, change. Similar complication with International > Committee bank accounts - but that is another issue. > > Either ICOM will host its Committees sites - or it will not - for whatever > reason. Please stop 'looking into it' and make a decision!! > > I am very interested in INTERCOM attending a meeting in Barcelona if it > addresses - and resolves - the issue of hosting - but not if it is about > skills development and technicalities. > > Nancy Hushion > Chair, INTERCOM > 489 King Street West, Suite 303 > Toronto, Ontario M5V 1K4 > Canada > > Tel. 1 416 351 0216 > Fax 1 416 351 0217 > EMail [log in to unmask] > > > At 11:20 AM 4/25/01 +1200, Roger Smith wrote: > >thinking that we are, has brought us to where we have already been. In order > >to go somewhere else, we must think in a different way. --Albert Einstein > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >-------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >Marie-Françoise, > > > >Thankyou for conveying Jean-Marcel Humbert's thought on the future of ICOM's > >websites. Whilst appreciating that not every committee has been able to > >establish a web presence or in some cases produce a 'sophisticated' site, I > >believe that the proposal to "integrate the web sites of all the committees > >on the ICOM web" runs contrary to the dynamic nature and philosophy of the > >Web as a medium. > > > >There are two issues to be addressed and neither relates to a centralised > >control ( which I suspect, based on recent ICOM initiatives, is what is > >meant by the phrase "integrate the web sites") . > > > >The first is assistance for those who have not got the facilities nor skills > >to produce a web site. The second is the issue of content management and > >the ability to provide self-moderated sites so that designated web > >communicators can regularly update material and ensure relevance. > > > >The first could easily be achieved by making available publishing software > > sponsorship support opportunity here!) and providing online tutorials. > >There are some VERY simple and effective packages available and our aim > >should be to de-mystify the 'techno-babble' that surrounds IT enterprises! > > > >The second could also be achieved by providing instruction on issues such as > >content management, writing for the web etc. Providing communicators and > >not technicians provide this advice you should be on the right track. > > > >The STRENGTH of ICOM can always been the individual identity of its > >committee and interest group structures, supporting an overall presence. I > >actually LIKE visiting the various sites, both good and bad, as each impart > >a different perspective. > > > >As an ICOM member of long standing and a champion of web freedom I would be > >absolutely opposed to any course of action that attempted to negate this > >individuality through a centalised control mechanism, for one thing the > >history of ICOM has clearly shown that it is it satellite operations that > >are nimble and able to capitalise on the immediacy of communication. This > >could not be said for the centre of the organisation (and this statement is > >NOT an indictment of our hardworking staff in Paris) > > > >As a professional web manager at a university and successful web publisher > >in my own right, I remain concerned that the only strategy ICOM seems to be > >able to come up with to share the communication abilities of the Web is to > >talk about centralising! > > > >If you truly want a DYNAMIC ( in all senses of the word) web then you > >empower ICOM committee members by giving them the tools to do the job, at > >their own workplace and in their own time. If only 18% of national > >committees and 54% of international committees have operative sites then > >surely the answer is to provide instruction to nominated representatives and > >maintain an online teaching presence for this purpose. Provide them with > >templates, images, logos by all means but DON'T attempt to stifle their > >individualism or amalgamate everything into an amorphous mass > > > >Roger Smith > >Former Chair of ICOM MPR and ICOM New Zealand > >Manager - Web Centre Auckland University of Technology > >Founder and Publisher of Global Museum > > > > > >----- Original Message ----- > >From: "DELVAL Marie-Françoise" <[log in to unmask]> > >To: <[log in to unmask]> > >Sent: Monday, 23 April 2001 3:59 > >Subject: ICOM Committees and Internet - Barcelona > > > > > > > Jean-Marcel Humbert > > > Président d'AVICOM > > > e-mail : [log in to unmask] > > > > > > Letter directed to all the presidents of the national, international and > > > > > > local committees. > > > > > > Lettre destinée à tous les présidents des comités nationaux, > > > internationaux et régionaux. > > > > > > ___________________________________ > > > > > > > > > Madam President, Mister President, dear Colleague, > > > > > > Web sites are currently on the increase within the ICOM. However, all > > > the committees do not dispose of any yet : at the moment, only 19 > > > national committees out of 105, and 15 out of 28 international > > > committees have their own web site. Also, a lack of financial and > > > technical knowledge means are one of the reasons why part of them are > > > not brought up to date. > > > > > > Following the remarks I was told about it, I met Manus brinkman who > > > confirmed that he would think of the possibilities to realize and to > > > integrate the web sites of all the committees on the ICOM web. He also > > > agreed that AVICOM should organize a round table event on the subject > > > during the meeting in Barcelona. > > > The matter would particularly deal with the evaluation of your > > > considerations, the definition of the contents regarding these web > > > sites, and also the technical side of the production. > > > > > > In order to help us to prepare the round table, a date will be soon > > > decided, I would be grateful if you let me know your wishes and > > > suggestions regarding the web site of your committee. Besides, in case > > > your cares and suggestions in this field should be particularly strong, > > > you are kindly invited to participate in the round table as a speaker ; > > > if so, thank you to let me know as soon as possible. On the contrary, > > > you will of course have the opportunity to attend the meeting that will > > > be opened to all the members of the congess. > > > > > > Looking forward to your reply and the pleasure to meet you in Barcelona. > > > > > > Sincerely yours, > > > > > > Jean-Marcel Humbert > > > Président d'AVICOM > > > e-mail : [log in to unmask] > > > >- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > > > >Change ICOM-L subscription options, unsubscribe, and search the > >archives at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/icom-l.html > > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > > Change ICOM-L subscription options, unsubscribe, and search the > archives at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/icom-l.html > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Change ICOM-L subscription options, unsubscribe, and search the archives at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/icom-l.html