21 replies to this topic

[littlen]

The NANFA website is a great site, and contains a lot of good information. I personally would like to see more frequent updates or additions. Whether additional Fish In Focus articles are added, or to have a constantly updated "news feed" on the home page. Much like we're doing on the NANFA Facebook page, relevant native fish articles, journals/scientific findings, and news can be linked on said news feed. It seems like there hasn't been much going on-on the website, rather folks are using it as a portal to get to the forum.

As we all know, the forum is possibly the best source for native fish information on the internet but not everyone is interested in joining. Perhaps some sort of a daily/weekly/monthly digest can be composed and added to part of the website so that folks who wish to browse NANFA.org can read some of the same information in a condensed format.

I remember when I first came across the website several years ago. I read nearly everything that was on there before moving on to the forum. I know folks still contribute to the website and are working hard on it so my criticism is not meant to offend--but there has been some stagnation (aka, not much has been added over the last few years). I still think that there is a good deal of valuable info on the site, but there could be a lot more. There was some discussion to renew interest in having people write new F.I.F. articles and I think that is in the works. Most of the blame probably comes from people (like me) who want to see more, but do little to contribute. Furthermore, it is likely that those who handle putting up new info are shorthanded and there are a lack of volunteers. I'm happy to contribute and have some ideas and personal/professional info to share.

Hopefully I have not offended anyone past or present who has worked diligently to create such a great resource.

Just my two cents. Thanks for listening.

[mattknepley]

I second Nick's assessment. He very tactfully said what I couldn't manage to put into words when I was looking at this last night. I characterize my approach to the website similarly to Nick's; it's what brought me into NANFA, I thoroughly and voraciously devoured it before finally overcoming my self-consciousness and becoming an active part of the forum. I too would like to see the website grow, and like Nick will throw my hat into the ring as a contributor, if asked. (Just don't expect any technical help from me, I'm useless there.)

[Isaac Szabo]

I think a regular stream of new content would go a long way toward creating a reason to visit the website on a regular basis. It would also give a much better impression of NANFA as an active organization that potential new members would like to be a part of. A couple of other similar websites/forums that I visit (http://www.wetpixel.com/ and http://www.herpsofarkansas.com/) integrate things like news stories, recent forum posts, recent photos, and recent social media content on their homepages. The great thing is that NANFA members are already regularly generating all of these things. We have content from the forum, photo gallery, journal, facebook, and youtube to choose from. Most of these could probably be set up to update automatically so that it doesn't take too much work to manage. The homepage could be a central hub that connects all the various arms of NANFA activity.

[littlen]

What about the addition of a "Like" button, similar to what is on Facebook? That way when a post is made, FISHGUY123:"Do you like my new 55?" You could "Like" it without having to necessarily add a post. Or, if you wish to agree with a previous post/answer, FISHGUY123: "How many Bluegill can I put in my 55?" AQUABOY987: "You could probably get away with 4-6".....you could simply "LIKE" AQUABOY's post rather than having to add another comment saying the same thing.

[Aquastudent]

I didn't want to make a new thread for this and figured this was the best place to post.

 

I noticed a few typo's on one of the pages I was exploring.

 

http://nanfa.org/bcccollecting.shtml

 

"shore" and "techniques" have letters switched on the page.

[Michael Wolfe]

Thanks... that's all on me... my spelling is atroshis 

 

But now it is fixed!

[Josh Blaylock]

I was looking at our main webpage today.  I feel like it's time we look at a redesign.  We have a LOT of great information, but I feel like it's hard to find.  The main page doesn't leave you coming back for more.   Just look at the 'What's New" section, old info.

 

I'd like to held.  I'm not just throwing out my comments without helping in the action.  I'd like to see something like this - http://www.americanrivers.org

 

I'm not sure what we need to do, how we do, but I'd like to hear from more members about how we can make that main page updated, easier to view, and bring new/more information to the front.

[mattknepley]

I'm with you, Josh.

The American Rivers site is great, but if we couldn't pull off something quite so interactive, perhaps a site like this- http://carnivorousplants.org/-provides an example of a happy medium for us. Not a ton of bells and whistles, but plenty of info and pretty easy to find. Like ours, that site is a labor of love. Their web ring is a really neat idea. Could we make something like that happen for NANFA? Start small and secure, so to speak, with any of our trusted vendors who may be interested and some other professional sites our some of our long-term members might be associated with, and then maybe work into including individual members' personal sites? Maybe even include groups NANFA is associated with; CFI, Chuck's FL killi group, etc. The busted links are a pain, but still, it's a neat idea. Honestly, fish have always been my first love, but I do like native plants (especially carnivores) too, and have spent more time on that site (ICPS's)than ours lately.

Our webpage is still serving one of its purposes quite well. Through it NANFA has picked up a few active members the past year or two, and awareness/recruitment is obviously key for us.

I'm nearly useless in the tech department, but I am willing to author stuff, gather materials, cheer-lead, what not.

[Matt DeLaVega]

This has been in the works to some extent. The biggest problem is simply that I somehow ended up as chair of the tech committee. I am in no way qualified. I just got my first smart phone 3 weeks ago. I have no comprehension of any of it and do not have a clue how to proceed when I do not understand any of the lingo. Honestly I should have brought this up myself sooner for the benefit of the organization, but I am simply in way over my head. What to do next I am not sure, but we really should get someone more qualified than I in place to facilitate this. At first I thought I could handle it, all I had to do was keep things moving forward right? That is not as easy as it sounds when people are speaking Greek.

 

 So put this lack of moving forward on me, and please, anyone who could pull this off well let me know.

[Michael Wolfe]

Don't let Matt go all humble on you... but do jump in and help him.

 

We have a member, Andrew Kennedy, that has been trying to work on this, but is pretty much a one man show.  As always, what NANFA needs if folks that are willing to jump in and take action.  Josh and Matt, y'all are both interested in making improvements and we could certainly use your help.

[mattknepley]

What is available to do that I would be qualified for? DLV just got a smart phone; mine still flips and I don't even know how to check my voicemail...

If we want content created that we can plug in I can probably help, depending on the topic. How would I go about submitting it?

That'd probably be my, and most members, strong suits. But the tech stuff? We'd be sending the AC via smoke signals if I were in charge, so please don't misconstrue my comments as criticism, 'cuz they ain't.