DeoWeb Heading

[Paul + Linda Labelle]

Hi Gerry and All,

In spite of being 'retired' (yes Paul I am one of those "older" parishioners; - but no offense taken) I am just now getting around to replying to your question about the future of the DeoWeb. It also gives me the advantage of reviewing all the fine comments that have been made on the subject thus far. Also, just so everyone knows, Gerry and I have spoken about this before ( but more about that when I answer your other email about introductions).

 

I like to break things down so:

 

Monthly Fee:

 

I do not think this would spell the end of DeoWeb but it might put it into shock! As has been pointed out there are many small parishes, and parishes that live like many of us (from payday to payday) that simply couldn't afford it. There are probably also many who "wouldn't" afford it simply because they presently don't think it is worth it. More importantly, I think, is the point that; you cannot give something to someone for three years for free and then tell them that they now have to pay for it, especially since there was no mention of that possibility at the beginning (at least I don't think there was). You would at least have to give the option of being removed from DeoWeb but then what do you do with the parishes that want to stay on but really cannot afford it?

 

So what to do? I would suggest "Value Added". Other things be added to DeoWeb. Things that we can't do now with the current system that would increase the useability of DeoWeb that parishes could sign onto for a fee. Value Added. I don't know what those things could be, or even if they exist, but I am sure with a little brain storming (maybe with some of our younger parishioners along with us older folks) we could come up with some.

 

Scaling Back DeoWeb:

 

I don't know how you do that but maybe some brain storming about what does and doesn't work might come up with something. If there are thing that everybody thinks are of no value and they would save money by all means lets do it!

 

I would prefer to give it a little more time. Let things go on as they are. At the same time I would suggest a pilot project. Maybe with just a few parishes. Parishes that would be willing to sign on for the pilot. We blitz them. More training sessions. Newsletter sign-up campaigns. Advertisng campaigns. Promote the original idea that DeoWeb is not about a gatekeeper or a funnel where everything comes through but people from all organizations in the parish do input. This would require pastors, and/or parish staff, that are willing to reliquish control, but that too is for further discussion.

 

Just some ideas.

 

Regards to All,

Paul Labelle (p.d.)

[Patrick McColman]

Hi Gerry Patrick McColman perhaps it is time too give the people of the parishes an accounting of financial spending and sort of cost total for the past 3 years and what are we looking at for future costs. Please don't say the parishes are not paying  because we are . The Bishop is not using his personnel finance . As a grown church family we should now know what Mom and Pop are costing for the program. Sure it is great to have people move to operate this and people dependant on the outcome . Perhaps this now time look at at our store front operating in an unbiased way and decide, are put money into an empty hole with no return thank you Patrick McColman Immaculate Heart of Mary Church Gore Bay.

[gkirk]

Paul, you are on the mark when you suggest a "value added approach".
Here is one possible scenario:

1) All parishes continue to use the current DeoWeb system without any
additional cost.

2) Beginning in the fall, the Diocese offers expanded technical
support to parishes. There will most likely be a new tech on staff,
through an internship program. His role will be to provide user
support to DeoWeb as well as tech support at the Diocesan office. His
role could be expanded to parishes that want someone on call.

Right now, Laurie and I end up doing some of that as part of our work,
most of it around fixing email problems. This person could provide
support for all software and hardware used at parishes, and then look
at ways to improve use of technology in the parishes... things like
training, new tools, and processes. He could even travel to parishes
to install stuff, perhaps.

We just rolled out a new email system, which dramatically reduces
spam. There are a host of other features in this system we haven't
touched yet, that could be introduced.

Those are some thoughts.

In my discussions with other dioceses, there is agreement that it
makes sense to have some kind of ongoing but affordable fee. I think
the main thing here is to find something that seems fair and provides
good value for money.

Please note again that these are my thoughts, not those of the Bishop.
I am sharing my ideas with you, ideas to try and make DeoWeb
sustainable and used more.

The pilot project idea has been proposed for a couple of years now,
but there hasn't support for it from administration. My argument is
that our resources are limited, and we need a "success story" so
people can actually see what the real impact of online communications
in a parish community can be. We need lots of stories of real people
connecting with each other, like my example of finding help for my
family with newborn twins.

Paul, you suggest a marketing campaign, focusing on things like a
newsletter sign-up. Gee, are you sure you didn't read my last annual
proposal? Yes, getting a lot more sign-ups is key and not so hard to
do, with a little bit of effort. Again, not much support for that at
this point.

My ideas aside, what I will do in a day or so is summarize all of the
good ideas, suggestions and feedback you have all given as part of the
assessment of where DeoWeb should be headed. I will make one more
posting before that, though, on some ideas that have been growing like
a little seed inside my head. I want to hear what you think about
them.

Peace,
Gerry

[Paul + Linda Labelle]

Hi Gerry,
I think your summary idea is great because right now I have a "gazillion"
emails (like everbody else I'm sure) all over the place. To have it in one
would be great. Then I could actually print it out!

Maybe after that we could look at that meeting with Father Brian you talked
about way back? Perhaps you could set up a web conference meeting/call for
those on the deoweb group list that can't get to the meeting?

Looking forward to your seed sprouts.

Regards,
Paul

[Gerry Kirk]

Hot off the presses. This is *exactly* what I sent on to Fr. Brian
Dixon, David Sirois (the diocesan finance guys) and Laurie Gagnon, my
faithful DeoWeb Communications team member. You deserve nothing less.
(grin) The thoughts, opinions and desires expressed on the mailing
list represent a committed, faithful group that I am honoured to
dialogue with, and my only regret is that I hadn't done so sooner.

If you haven't been contacted by Fr. Brian yet, I don't think you
will be, although I could be mistaken. I expect a conference call
with Fr. Brian and David very shortly to look at next steps.

A conference call is an interesting idea. Paul, you are a smart guy.
What do you propose we do here?

I also posted a copy of this document online. It doesn't seem to
print out very well, unfortunately. You can find it as a page on the
discussion group web site. By the way, anyone can create a page if
they want to create something more accessible for ideas and discussion.

[nanbaye]

Tried to open file.  Told could damage my system and not to run. Gerry what are you doing to us old people? (Just kidding)   Carol Baye    -------Original Message-------

____________________________________________________________   Regards,   Gerry Kirk General Manager Faith Online   www.deoweb.com - communications know-how + appropriate technology for the gospel www.faithonline.com - simple and easy to use church web sites gerrykirk.wordpress.com - insights on church and technology       ____________________________________________________________   No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.463 / Virus Database: 269.5.9/773 - Release Date: 4/22/2007 8:18 PM

[Gerry Kirk]

It is a PDF document, safer than opening a chocolate bar in a room full of diabetics. Windows is paranoid by default, and why shouldn't it be given its record on security? (wink).

The *safest* route is to view the page on the discussion group site. It's exactly the same content as in the attached file, only not so useful for printing. Here is the link, which I neglected to include the first time - I can't blame old age but I can blame my 3 kids under the age of 3 (wink):

http://groups.google.com/group/deoweb-users/web/summary-of-discussion-on-future-of-deoweb

[Paul + Linda Labelle]

Hi Gerry,
I don't know if everybody is on Skype or if you could set up one of your
conference call on-line maybe? Then, once we all get a chance to read your
discussion paper (something I haven't done yet) we could hold an on line
discussion about it. At least those who would be interested.

Paul
----- Original Message -----

From: "Gerry Kirk" <ge...@faithonline.com>
To: <deoweb...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 12:02 PM
Subject: [deoweb-users] Summary of discussions so far

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Gerry]

I think we're in the minority, Paul as Skype users. I know the diocese
has a cheap conference call plan. Perhaps we could use that if they
were willing.

- Gerry

On Apr 30, 11:11 am, "Paul + Linda Labelle" <label...@vianet.ca>
wrote:

> >www.deoweb.com- communications know-how + appropriate technology for
> > the gospel
> >www.faithonline.com- simple and easy to use church web sites

[WBarbeau]

Gerry: you might want to look at Paltalk I have used it for years

[Gerry Kirk]

We could try an online text-based chat. Might be an interesting experiment, as opposed to using voice. That might be more feasible too, depending on the number of people involved in the discussion.

- Gerry

--
Make a small loan, Make a big difference - Kiva.org
Want more of me? read my blog: http://gerrykirk.wordpress.com
follow me at http://twitter.com/gerrykirk

[nanbaye]

Gerry: Your best idea yet! An on line chat would be very useful as we would be able to get immediate feedback and assistance.    -------Original Message-------

No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition.

Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: 269.6.2/782 - Release Date: 5/1/2007 2:10 AM

[Gerry Kirk]

Ah, very kind, but actually the idea is yours. I was referring to an online chat session for our group to have more discussion, but you have a good idea as well.

Has anyone noticed that there is a Support message window on every page of the system? On parish web sites, it's down the right column. On the diocesan site, it's on the left side.

Basically, anyone coming to the site can type in a message which is sent to support (currently me only) to respond to. It's a live chat with someone for assistance.

The drawback to this tool is only one person can be on the support side. I would like to try something that allows others to do so as well, so that way if you get stuck working on something some evening, there might be someone online you can pose a question to.

Is anyone willing to be involved in providing support while they are online? If so, I'll find a tool that will work. One option is a chat room that anyone can enter, and certain people would be noted as key people for helping. For example, I use a chat room for Plone, the key technology in DeoWeb. It's a place where anyone can ask questions about Plone, and just hang out in general. You can find the chat room for Plone here - http://plone.org/support/chat.

Cheers,

Gerry