Vote ! : Professionalizing the F16 website, URL

Dear participants,

Now that we did our first race together and have shown that we are more than just a hype , the time has come to make a few steps up the ladder.

I want to keep the very relaxed feel that the class has right now where the techies and recreational sailors meet and welcome onanother and have fun. Just like how the spi enthousiasts and the spi-less enthousiasts sailed and raced together at Spring Fever. I will take much care to keep this welcoming feel when making the chances.

First on my list is to transfer the free website to a more capable website.

First the why's :

-1- our data transfer rate limit is more and more encountered which causes the pageto be unavailable from time to time. This is not good PR

-2- I expect our pictures of the SF regatta very soon and because we have alot of other classes too I fear that our website will be offline in the first hour and stay that way for a while till the transfer rate drops. This is unacceptable in my eyes.

-3- The added functionality allows me to support the local class heads better with password accessible webpages. With respect to the participants : I want to work towards group purchases in order to make buying spis and such more inexpensive and optimized for our out of the mainstream lightweight boats. I want this to feature to be easily accessible BUT still very confidential and private. For this I need the extra functionality.

-4- I also want a search engine on the website to help navigating. I expect an increase in Tech pages. And a search engine is especially helpfull with these.

-5- I want to get rid of the advertisements on our page

-6- I want to able to remotely link to pictures on our webpage

Before the formum crashed I asked the participants to contribute what they feel is appropriete in order to support the class and allows us to do more in the future. I had put a vote on the forum as to who might be the best choice to act as our threasurer. Kirt Simmons was the clear winner of this poll. I will ask Kirt wether he is willing to take this up.

Sadly I, myself, have forgotten to ask Kirt at SF and to hand over my promised contribution of 25 USD.

However, I will put in my contribution , next to the contribution in time and effort, in the following way.

- Upgrading the website now (before the SF picture transfer rate boom) = cost USD 15,-

- paying the first month = USD 11,95

- Paying the remainder of the monthly fee when the budget is not sufficient.

- being able to have multiple sub domains on the website. This way the F16 class can support the US Taipan 4.9 webpage but keep it totally independent of the F16 class. I want to support the T4.9 one-design class in the US; next to my F16 project.

So the contribution is not compulsory and even non-paying members are still welcome to participate and vote on issues.

The deal that I'll make with the group is that WE, the class officials, have to earn your contribution. Earning it as we did but representing the group at SF. Remember the short course long course discussion at SF.

AND that YOU will reward us with your contribution when you feel that we are worthy of it.

I hope that we Kirt, John, Phil and myself have done enough the last year to earn you support for the coming year.

AND not to the vote.

I want to upgrade the account as soon as possible BUT I need a decision on the domainname / URL under which we be linked to the web.