Author Topic: Organisers online  (Read 11495 times)

Martin

Organisers online
« on: 24 November, 2008, 09:12:47 pm »
q

hellymedic

  • Just do it!
Re: Organisers online
« Reply #1 on: 24 November, 2008, 09:18:45 pm »
Some older organisers have rudimentary computers at best and only dial-up interwebs.
The dependence on technology has caused the likes of Jim Swan to pack their bags...

robgul

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Re: Organisers online
« Reply #2 on: 24 November, 2008, 09:24:18 pm »
Some older organisers have rudimentary computers at best and only dial-up interwebs.
The dependence on technology has caused the likes of Jim Swan to pack their bags...

One can see the dilemma ... perhaps some sort of volunteer arrangement would work whereby someone who is computer savvy could do the techno stuff for a non-techie organiser?   

Within reason, I would be willing to undertake that sort of role.

It would be criminal if technology drove people away and events were lost   :(

Rob

Martin

Re: Organisers; Excel help
« Reply #3 on: 22 October, 2010, 03:45:48 pm »
Here's one reason I don't appear on here by name as I've just landed an IT job  :-[

does any one have a method for copying the online start sheet into Excel without getting those annoying new drop down insurance boxes appearing in the surname column? I'm desperately trying to get a start sheet for tomorrow and most of the riders appear to be called AUK v  ???

mattc

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Re: Organisers online
« Reply #4 on: 22 October, 2010, 03:54:44 pm »
I think the easiest way is to use the tiny-print link at the bottom: "Download to Excel" or similar.

This gives a mass of comma-separated text; copy that, then paste into Excel. (then do text->columns if you want, but you will at least have all the names by this stage!)

EDIT: Download Excel Start List gives you an excel file straight away.
Has never ridden RAAM
---------
No.11  Because of the great host of those who dislike the least appearance of "swank " when they travel the roads and lanes. - From Kuklos' 39 Articles

Martin

Re: Organisers online
« Reply #5 on: 22 October, 2010, 03:57:32 pm »
oh no; not the csv file :o

I thought we'd lost all that when we stopped having to add addresses to the brevet cards;

thanks I'll try it  :thumbsup:

Re: Organisers online
« Reply #6 on: 22 October, 2010, 10:34:42 pm »
Excel can read CSV files easily enough. I just double clicked one this afternoon et voila, open in Excel

Martin

Re: Organisers online
« Reply #7 on: 23 October, 2010, 01:44:15 am »
it was even easier than that  :-[ just click on the Excel file download and hey presto there it is all ready to go  :thumbsup:

Re: Organisers online
« Reply #8 on: 23 October, 2010, 11:02:29 am »
The biggest problem with the organisers' online pages is that the occasional user never finds all the functions, especially if they're not very computer literate to start with. I don't know whether it would be possible to redesign them to make them more intuitive (I'm not even sure what 'intuitive' might mean for a very occasional computer user).

mattc

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Re: Organisers online
« Reply #9 on: 23 October, 2010, 06:07:52 pm »
A rather different question for the YACF "OLs":
is there any reason we couldn't post the current entry list for an event (assuming we host our own web page)? Either jsut MemNos, or surnames as well?

Might save on some entry confirmations.


Ian: I think you're right. Just 9 months away from the thing and it's all greek again. The event "main edit page" is particularly non-intuitive, tho as you say it does everything you need. Difficult to fix: maybe a first-timers instruction video?!?

Mr Zoom: Glad you got there in time. Just like to point out my edit:

EDIT: Download Excel Start List gives you an excel file straight away.
   :smug:
Has never ridden RAAM
---------
No.11  Because of the great host of those who dislike the least appearance of "swank " when they travel the roads and lanes. - From Kuklos' 39 Articles

mikewigley

Re: Organisers online
« Reply #10 on: 24 October, 2010, 08:22:25 am »
A rather different question for the YACF "OLs":
is there any reason we couldn't post the current entry list for an event (assuming we host our own web page)? Either jsut MemNos, or surnames as well?

I like your thinking.  I actually think it's the postal entries rather than the "OLs" who are more likely to wonder if their entry has been received.  After all, online entries will have received an acknowledgement email and even perhaps an e-Routesheet

What I don't know is whether some entrants would object to the whole wide world knowing that they are due to be away from home on a certain date for a long cycle ride.  Perhaps such a list of pre-ride entries would have to be password-protected

Martin

Re: Organisers online
« Reply #11 on: 24 October, 2010, 09:54:54 am »
what would be really nice from a GdS (and possibly RRTY) pov would be the ability to download finish lists as Excel (presumably they are held in that format somewhere) so I could collate all the eligible rides together and then go through and sort by AUK number or surname to see who had done 5  :thumbsup:

A rather different question for the YACF "OLs":
is there any reason we couldn't post the current entry list for an event (assuming we host our own web page)? Either jsut MemNos, or surnames as well?

there's one I can think of; some YACF's don't want their real names appearing here

Manotea

  • Where there is doubt...
Re: Organisers online
« Reply #12 on: 24 October, 2010, 12:05:57 pm »
there's one I can think of; some YACF's don't want their real names appearing here

The AUK website publishes the name of event finishers, SRs, etc.

No reason why it could not also publish GdS, RRTY, whatever.

No reason why organiser websites cannot publish lists of entrants.

The issue is of linking real names and forum IDs, here or elsewhere.

YACF is not an AUK resource and should not be treated as such.

YACF is YACF and AUK is AUK and ne'er the twain should meet.

There's no perfect way to police this though. Ultimately it's down to YACF posters and mods.

ISTM.

Martin

Re: Organisers online
« Reply #13 on: 24 October, 2010, 01:23:52 pm »
YACF is not an AUK resource and should not be treated as such.

YACF is YACF and AUK is AUK and ne'er the twain should meet.


I agree; YACF has (to its credit) become the accepted forum where AUK matters are discussed rather than the yahoo list, but it's still unknown to a large majority of AUK members.

There is no need for start lists to be available; you know straight away if your Paypal entry has gone though as both the rider and the organiser get an email (and the transaction is held in Paypal's website). For paper entries the cheque usually gets cashed within a week or so of receipt, and the rider just waits for the route sheet to arrive*. I think I can count on the fingers of one finger how many entries have got delayed or lost in the post in 5 years of organising.

* or not; Brian Mann sent me an entry along with a bundle of DIY entries and I overlooked it; he just got on the blower this week and I sorted it all out OK.

the biggest issue I face with online entry is the route sheet; I try to only have one copy in circulation so that I know that if it's wrong they are all wrong. But in my area the route sheet goes out of date on pretty much a weekly basis due to signposts breaking off (and even being officially removed), so despite what the organisers' guidelines says about Paypal entry, I'm going to start a contact list for online entrants and send all the route sheets out together both electronic and paper and putting them online much nearer the date of the event in future.

LittleWheelsandBig

  • Whimsy Rider
Re: Organisers online
« Reply #14 on: 24 October, 2010, 01:44:29 pm »
It is common practice for overseas 1000s and 1200s to have published entry lists. RUSA entry lists are regularly published, usually behind RUSA password access, I believe.
Wheel meet again, don't know where, don't know when...

Martin

Re: Organisers online
« Reply #15 on: 24 October, 2010, 01:55:34 pm »
online start sheets are available to organisers; however they also double (or even triple) up as finish lists and also as a database for creating labels. I've no idea if the technology is there to have publicly visible start lists on the AUK website prior to the event; but even if there was organisers are not obliged to add non- AUK members to it and I assume the AUK validators don't (many events just list the number of non member finishers)

Manotea

  • Where there is doubt...
Re: Organisers online
« Reply #16 on: 24 October, 2010, 02:30:22 pm »
A more general issue for online orgs is of (possibly inadvertantly) publishing email addresses.

ISTM good practice to mailout materials addressed to myself as primary recipient and others as bcc (blind carbon copy).

Martin

Re: Organisers online
« Reply #17 on: 24 October, 2010, 02:43:37 pm »
I'm still waiting for online non-member entry; these are to me the people we should be catching as many seasoned AUK's (but decreasing each year) seem to prefer filling out forms and using cheques. The general public must find it a PITA.

almost all my DNS yesterday were non AUK, AUK get I assume zip from these riders (not even the ones who have paid the £2 day insurance), unless the cost of the brevet card includes a levy?

mattc

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Re: Organisers online
« Reply #18 on: 24 October, 2010, 04:21:41 pm »
I'm still waiting for online non-member entry; these are to me the people we should be catching as many seasoned AUK's (but decreasing each year) seem to prefer filling out forms and using cheques. The general public must find it a PITA.

almost all my DNS yesterday were non AUK, AUK get I assume zip from these riders (not even the ones who have paid the £2 day insurance), unless the cost of the brevet card includes a levy?
Overnight rain in 2009 turned my first event into a massive money-spinner due to DNSs  :o. But I've always assumed the Brevet Card prices includes a tiny profit for AUK.

If I've understood the combination of your two paragraphs, it seems like online non-member entry may never happen, as AUK will gain nothing from it!
Has never ridden RAAM
---------
No.11  Because of the great host of those who dislike the least appearance of "swank " when they travel the roads and lanes. - From Kuklos' 39 Articles

Manotea

  • Where there is doubt...
Re: Organisers online
« Reply #19 on: 24 October, 2010, 05:45:08 pm »
If I've understood the combination of your two paragraphs, it seems like online non-member entry may never happen, as AUK will gain nothing from it!

If non members enter but don't turn up then there is no immediate financial benefit to AUK. Then again, AUK is hardly a profit driven operation and I shudder to think what AUK's 'profit per validated brevet' is!

However, if there is online entry then (ISTM) non AUK members are more likely to enter before the event, i.e., not as an EOL, there will be more non members riding overall and who knows, they may even turn into members, all of which will contribute towards AUK's coffers. Online entry for non members will also make life easier for online organisers. All told, onliine entry for non members would seem to benefit everybody.

mattc

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Re: Organisers online
« Reply #20 on: 24 October, 2010, 05:51:28 pm »
Then again, AUK is hardly a profit driven operation and I shudder to think what AUK's net 'profit per validated brevet' is!
The point is that the marginal profit-per-validation is a lot bigger than marginal profit-per-DNS. And a large element of AUK revenue is validation. I think - I never pay attention to accounts stuff, 'sall dead borin, innit?


(but otherwise I agree with your points)
Has never ridden RAAM
---------
No.11  Because of the great host of those who dislike the least appearance of "swank " when they travel the roads and lanes. - From Kuklos' 39 Articles

Manotea

  • Where there is doubt...
Re: Organisers online
« Reply #21 on: 24 October, 2010, 05:58:32 pm »
Thinking of discussions you've had with other long distance organisations which shall remain nameless, it could be argued that restricting online entry to members, i.e., regarding online entry as a membership benefit, would provide an inducement to join AUK. ISTM that restricting online entry to members, i.e., making it harder for non-members to participate, is a good way of disincentivising non members from participating at all.

mattc

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Re: Organisers online
« Reply #22 on: 24 October, 2010, 06:03:07 pm »
Thinking of discussions you've had with other long distance organisations which shall remain nameless, ...
The difference is that 'they' would try to stop us having this debate in the first place!  :facepalm:
Has never ridden RAAM
---------
No.11  Because of the great host of those who dislike the least appearance of "swank " when they travel the roads and lanes. - From Kuklos' 39 Articles

Re: Organisers online
« Reply #23 on: 24 October, 2010, 09:01:39 pm »
My own online entry forms for my calendar events do allow non-members to enter.

Grandad

  • Once upon a time
Re: Organisers online
« Reply #24 on: 24 October, 2010, 09:18:31 pm »
Quote
I'm going to start a contact list for online entrants and send all the route sheets out together both electronic and paper and putting them online much nearer the date of the event in future.

I did this for a 250 rider Sportive where all entries were by post and the form asked for an e-mail address.

It was well worth the extra work involved. Using bcc is essential.