Nick: let me object - seems far too costly. There are other solutions which should be considered... Being familiar with content and customer relationship management (CRM) tools I would suggest , that if it is possible, that some other options be considered instead of MemberClicks. From what I've seen of it with the demo username/password you posted - it seems not as feature rich as other tools which have been specifically developed from the bottom up for NGOs & non-profits. In a way, supporting an open source solution used by NGOs, i think would be preferable. My recommendation would be - CiviCRM as the platform. A hosted solution, like CivicSpace labs - would be 1/2 of what memberclicks costs. That's considerable . I know my collegue Evan here in Canada would agree with me that when a FOSS solution is available, one that is mature enough for are needs - we should try to support it. So, if there's time - I would ask you and/or the LAC secretaratait to consider CiviCRM. I can setup a test site, if it would he helpful. Refs: CIVCRM - http://civicrm.org/ CivicSpace labs - http://www.civicspacelabs.com/ [hosted solution] Regards Robert On 8-Feb-07, at 7:51 AM, Nick Ashton-Hart wrote:
Dear Committee:
I provide below the request for funding for the MemberClicks service by the LAC Secretariat.
The process requires my acknowledgment of the receipt of the request, which has been sent; since the regional secretariat has made the request, the request would now go to a funding decision from ICANN.
It would seem to me that the need for a database for members is something the entire community needs. This tool is English-only, which is a drawback, but after looking I have found that all the MMSes (Membership Management Systems) which are to be easily found are also English only.
I have made the point to the staff that what ICANN needs in the fullness of time is a database which would hold records of all constituencies, not just one, and that we should look at a procurement process that identifies a good solution, and part of what should be considered is a multi-lingual solution.
However, that would take some time and with memberclicks, we would have something much better than we have now, which is a static web page with out-of-date information and a bunch of Excel spreadsheets which get mailed around periodically. The cost of the system is also very reasonable (about US$100 per month), and extracting the data and migrating it at some later point to another system would be a simple process.
ACTION POINT:
Does anyone on the committee OBJECT to our using MemberClicks as the membership database at least for the medium term for the community as a whole? And, if there is an objection, could you please tell us all what the nature of the objection is?
If no objections are received in, say, the next week, I will assume we're to go ahead.
If there are comments or questions from other regions, by all means register them.
For those wishing to look further, please see www.memberclicks.com.
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Carlton A Samuels < carlton.samuels@uwimona.edu.jm> Date: 07-Feb-2007 23:37 Subject: Application for Funding - Membersclick To: nashton@spamcop.net
Nick:
I have attached the paperwork for the funding request for Membersclick. Your usual advice and consent requested.
Cheers.
Carlton
Carlton A. Samuels
CIO & University Director of IT
c/o MITS, The UWI at Mona
5 Gibraltar Camp Way, Kgn 7
Mobile: (876) 818-1799
Work: (876) 927-2148
-- -- Regards,
Nick Ashton-Hart PO Box 32160 London N4 2XY United Kingdom UK Tel: +44 (20) 8800-1011 USA Tel: +1 (202) 657-5460 Fax: +44 (20) 7681-3135 mobile: +44 (7774) 932798 Win IM: ashtonhart@hotmail.com / AIM/iSight: nashtonhart@mac.com / Skype: nashtonhart Online Bio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashtonhart <Procedure for Allocation of Funds to At Large Community Activities - Membersclick.doc> _______________________________________________ ALAC mailing list ALAC@atlarge-lists.icann.org http://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/alac_atlarge- lists.icann.org _______________________________________________ NA-ALS mailing list NA-ALS@atlarge-lists.icann.org http://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/na-als_atlarge- lists.icann.org