Announcement: the restructured VAOnline.org

[Randy McCall]

The economy is forcing many major companies to restructure in order to survive in some form... seems we have to follow the trend.

After discussions with VAOnline's BoD, some of our interested network members, and other organizations, we've made changes at VAOnline which I hope will allow us to continue -- in a much more limited way -- in operation.

As mentioned previously, I personally can no long devote the time and money required to keep VAOnline operating as it has been.  We hope that between reducing services and costs, we can keep the essentials of VAOnline in operation.

The restructuring includes the following:

We've dropped expensive online services, the size of our site, and the amount of online traffic our site can handle.  This greatly reduces our monthly web-hosting costs.

We will greatly reduce services we've been providing free-of-charge to our network members, many of which were extremely time consuming or added to our expenses.  (Note that the following applies only to direct services which require man-hours of work.  The listservs will continue in operation. If network members wish to make use of the listservs to make announcements, to share information, request information, etc., they should feel free). Changes include the following:

 

• We will no longer maintain an independent database of victim services

 

• We will no long post news items on our blog, or via Twitter.

 

• We will no longer make long-distance calls using landline telephones, or use surface mail.  All functions will take place via e- mail or other free Internet communications services.  This includes make use of free Skype-to-Skype VOIP  calls.

 

• Certain under-used sections/directories of the website will be eliminated to save space, thus costs and research time.  These sections are yet to be selected.

 

• We will no longer conduct concerted, independent research on online services and document links to be added to our directories. Organizations and agencies can request to be added to our directory, or have materials added.  Information submitted to us directly, or received through other networks or contacts, will be posted on the VAOnline.org site as time and volunteer services permit.

 

• We will no longer provide daily or weekly e-mail updates on new links, new online documents, or announcements of conferences and events for professionals. 

Instead, a monthly update of major news and announcements will be e-mailed to both our professional networks and the public listserv once-per-month, normally near month end.

Again, network members should feel free to use the listservs to make announcements, ask for information, etc.

 

• More use of VAOnline.org's Facebook page will be made;  due to the ease of posting links and discussions, some important links/announcements may be posted on a daily/instant basis.

 

• Finally, we will continue to post helpdesk request from crime victims as they come in.

The need for donations continues;  all of the above only reduces our costs. It doesn't eliminate them.  Donations of any denomination will be greatly appreciated.  See our donations page at: http://www.vaonline.org/memberships.html

In discussing these changes, several organizations asked if there was any other way we could continue to provide the services we have been.  After discussion, our Board decided the only way this could be done -- if there was even enough interest -- was by charging yearly membership fee, or fees (for differing levels of membership/services).

Alternatively, as I have mentioned before, I am hoping my private consulting venture will be successful enough to allow me to personally support VAOnline.  This could include collecting online information for individuals or organizations who wished to contract for such services.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, I look forward to hearing them.  You can reply on the listserv, or contact me at: in...@vaonline.org, or at:  con...@rmccallonline.com

Randy McCall

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Victim Assistance Online

in...@vaonline.org

http://www.vaonline.org/

http://vaonlinefusion.blogspot.com/

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