At best, this represents gross carelessness. At worst, it is a resume revision event.
LoTW cost AR a million dollars, is supposed to be a Flagship Product and with the Membership database, is one of our two most important databases. Yet, it is a constant source of complaints from Members (yes, with a Capital "M") and easily is one of the primary complaints we can expect to receive at club meetings and hamfests.
Just yesterday, I had to assist a Life Member in his efforts to obtain a renewal certificate. That should not have been necessary, but it was.
In January David and I confirmed that there was NO off-site backup of the LoTW database and there was no plan for one. It took the combined efforts of a number of us to change that act of addled judgment. Even then it took 8 months to actually achieve an actual off-site backup of LoTW — 8 MONTHS. The Alcan Highway was built in 6 months.
It should come as no shock that the dissatisfaction LoTW engenders adversely affects fundraising.
Either we should get serious about the maintenance of LoTW and a badly needed upgrade to its interface, or we should farm it out to competent subcontractors to maintain and improve. If we continue on this path, one day LoTW is likely to be the dog that gives us rabies.
73
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John Robert Stratton
N5AUS
West Gulf
Division
Vice Director
West Gulf Division
Legislative Action
Chair
Office telephone: 512-445-6262
Cell:
512-426-2028
PO Box 2232
Austin, Texas 78768-2232
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