Suggestions to fixing and organizing the 928oc site

hb4;12417 wrote: Not really. Tool loan is a real and unique benefit for members.

By the way, Resource Links and Service Producedures(sic) should be handled as a web page, not a forum item. The forum can simply have FAQs labeled 'Resource Links' and another labeled 'Service Procedures' with the links included; after all it's unlikely anyone would want to engage a discussion about them per se.

The entire content of the Tech Library forum is exclusive to members. That is why we have a designated forum for it. This way, we can manage who accesses its content based upon their user ID. Of course this isn't a forum in the traditional way that we are soliciting discussion. It's just an easy way for us to manage access. That is really all.

I guess what I meant was that there really isn't any other venue that supports and manages tool loan, so it's unique to the OC and a real benefit to its members. Let's promote it and make it easy to find/use.

Okay. Ed(OBehave) manages the tool loaner program. I will ask for his input about updating our tools and how he thinks we may be able to better promote it. Maybe, when we have a wider range of tools listed, a simple announcement could be included at the forum homepage to direct members to the updated tool list. Also, members should automatically see the notification for new posts to the Tech Library as new submissions are made.

pcar928fan;12409 wrote: Yes, I think we should have a big blue title like "Roadside assistance" or whatever that is "Tool Loaner Program" and then have each of the tools listed below when you click on that link... Does that make sense Brad?

Kiln_Red;12412 wrote: James and Brad,
I moved your posts here for discussion. I really don't have an opinion one way or the other. I think the current format for tools is easy to follow. Maybe we could improve on their presentation. I'll wait for Stan to weigh in as I assume he came up with the current format. I am happy to make any changes. There is no doubt that we need to update what tools are included though.

I did not create a new forum for the tools, as initially there was just one tool and the prior requests from members to not increase the number of forums, and perhaps to decrease the number.

My suggestions was to have a topic in the Technical Library for each tool, using the format of "$Tool - Fender Rolling Tool". As the forum is sorted by topic, this would keep all the tool topics at the top. The rest of the forum would then still contain the sorted technical topics.

I would suggest the members borrowing the tools could offer to write-up how to use them, perhaps as a thank you for having the tool to borrow. One way or the other, someone needs to volunteer, and as Ed is already handling the allocation and shipping process, perhaps someone else can offer to help him with the write-ups.

Changing the name from Technical Library to include a mention of the tools does make sense. Perhaps Technical and Tool Lending Library..... Just a thought.

Sounds good; thanks. Sorry for the rant. Keep up the good work. Looking forward to seeing the crimper in the Technical Library.

Kiln_Red;12418 wrote: The entire content of the Tech Library forum is exclusive to members. That is why we have a designated forum for it. This way, we can manage who accesses its content based upon their user ID. Of course this isn't a forum in the traditional way that we are soliciting discussion. It's just an easy way for us to manage access. That is really all.

Correct, it is easier to get a volunteer to handle a forum post, as they are familiar with the functions, rather than trying to find someone to who can update a web page properly.

Also, those topics are moderated, so posts to them should be allowed. There shouldn't be an posts to the Technical Library, except by a volunteer who is doing a specific write-up, etc.

I would not advocate having the topics of the $tools open to responses either, as eventually there would just be old conversations in there.

As Austin understands, we are using the forum software to allow more members to easily help maintain and improve the resources. I would expect at some point the website would be nothing but the forum.