rally app

[PGlaves]

Rightly or wrongly a few electrons are a lot cheaper than paper and ink. I do distinctly remember when the BMW MOA Board refused to allow a volunteer to build and host a web site for the club because "half the members" don't even have computer or internet.

 

[visian]

Rightly or wrongly a few electrons are a lot cheaper than paper and ink. I do distinctly remember when the BMW MOA Board refused to allow a volunteer to build and host a web site for the club because "half the members" don't even have computer or internet.

This was me, asking for a budget because volunteers were doing the site using our own money and equipment. I was asking for money to buy an SSL, this was after I read off the credit card numbers of the BoD who had registered for the rally using our web site. (Joe Senner and Ted Verrill may have made similar requests when our website first started).

And at the same presentation to the BoD I held up one of the industry’s first smart phones (Sony-Ericsson P910a) and said “this is the future, we need to be here.”

I also talked about emerging technologies like the cloud and digital workflows for producing print and interactive content.

I finally gave up on these ideas in 2012 and we STILL don’t have a full-service mobile app. The one everyone is talking about here is a 3rd party platform that we are paying to use, which is why we’re having to register (again).

 

[gregfeeler]

Sure wish we could return to the Rally Book/Guide product. Last year in Redmond, the APP failed to perform satisfactory.
Staff had to print out daily seminar and the schedule in general.
As many paying attendees didn't own the best smart phone, or any device, for the necessary information.
When it did work, it wasen't bad.
But it was no old school Rally Manual with a map, allowing ease of use, that you could write in.

I have to agree with you about the functionality and practicality of the traditional hardcopy Rally Program. Unfortunately, they got really expensive to print and thus costing the rally thousands of dollars. You had to print "enough" for the high estimated attendance, and many people never used them and you'd find them in trashcans by the hundreds. Having said that, I agree that there should be a rally app solution that doesn't require an account creation to use.

 

[omega man]

Having said that, I agree that there should be a rally app solution that doesn't require an account creation to use.

Is it really an account? Any (new) software I’m aware of needs certain information to establish a user otherwise there won’t be way to make a connection needed for interaction such as a search and some degree of user security.
OM

 

[gregfeeler]

Is it really an account? Any (new) software I’m aware of needs certain information to establish a user otherwise there won’t be way to make a connection needed for interaction such as a search and some degree of user security.
OM

If you have to register your name, etc., I'd call that an account creation. I think an app would would best that did not include a rally registration option or other interactive features, but just allowed access to an electronic version of the old printed manual. My instinct is that trading the functions in the current app which do require an account for personalization for a dead simple install and info access would make more people happier over all. As Jimmy Buffett says, "I don't need that much complication in my life."

 

[omega man]

If you have to register your name, etc., I'd call that an account creation. I think an app would would best that did not include a rally registration option or other interactive features, but just allowed access to an electronic version of the old printed manual. My instinct is that trading the functions in the current app which do require an account for personalization for a dead simple install and info access would make more people happier over all. As Jimmy Buffett says, "I don't need that much complication in my life."

I guess a way around it would be to put one of those “turn-page”, like the digital ON, where a provided link would show what would be the rally flyer for viewing although it would have no interaction.
OM

 

[zer0netgain]

You could make a PDF version that people could opt to print if they wish.

 

[gregfeeler]

I guess a way around it would be to put one of those “turn-page”, like the digital ON, where a provided link would show what would be the rally flyer for viewing although it would have no interaction.
OM

Possibly so. I think that because so much functionality is available we think we default to using it for even the simplest needs. After all, if the point is to eliminate the costs of hardcopy Rally Program how much more is really needed? It might be a good idea to have a rally survey that askes - among other things - what people want in a rally app. The MOA has a long and glorious tradition of NOT asking questions of the membership.

 

[visian]

The MOA has a long and glorious tradition of NOT asking questions of the membership.

That’s how we wind up with one app for Anonymous Book, another app for our rally, a third app for navigating, a fourth app to connect with members near you, another app to have a community discussion…

 

[mikegalbicka]

There's a (separate) app for that!

 

[bdiver]

It would be nice if the app for last year worked for this year. Just change the seminars n stuff. I had a terrible time with that app and I think the last day finally got it working. To much frustration and it sounds like this year many are having the same issues. Also,it is hard to look at the seminar schedule on a phone when you want to see 2 different seminars at the same time but one is offered on another day and time. Flipping back and forth on a paper copy is hard enough. On the phone........ Remember most members eye site is not getting better...... The PDF idea is great if they can send it out NOW so I could print it before I make the trek. Come on MOA, there are a lot of great suggestions from folks here.

 

[dougbakke]

It would be nice if the app for last year worked for this year. Just change the seminars n stuff. I had a terrible time with that app and I think the last day finally got it working. To much frustration and it sounds like this year many are having the same issues. Also,it is hard to look at the seminar schedule on a phone when you want to see 2 different seminars at the same time but one is offered on another day and time. Flipping back and forth on a paper copy is hard enough. On the phone........ Remember most members eye site is not getting better...... The PDF idea is great if they can send it out NOW so I could print it before I make the trek. Come on MOA, there are a lot of great suggestions from folks here.

Two docs attached - one highlights the seminars offered on multiple days, second is full seminar listing in descending order. PDF and printable. It's current as of today.

 

[visian]

It would be nice if the app for last year worked for this year. Just change the seminars n stuff.

I could be wrong but I think last year’s app was another 3rd-party effort. It didn’t work very well, imo (Adam Chandler, you never did accept by connection request, is it my breath?), and the graphics were cheesy.

This year’s effort is nicer, at least it recognized me by auto-filling my name when I started creating my account.

Since not much is yet populated in the app it’s hard to judge if it will work any better, but at least so far it looks a little better!

It would be cool if we made the investment in our own app, and maintain/upgrade it over time vs. have multiple apps from multiple 3rd parties.

 

[gregfeeler]

That’s how we wind up with one app for Anonymous Book, another app for our rally, a third app for navigating, a fourth app to connect with members near you, another app to have a community discussion…

Ian,
I've been telling you for years that all this Internet stuff is just a fad and it's just not worth the time and effort to support it!!

 

[gregfeeler]

Two docs attached - one highlights the seminars offered on multiple days, second is full seminar listing in descending order. PDF and printable. It's current as of today.

Thanks, Doug, for being responsive to this discussion and member feedback. However, the next step is to capture this lesson and set a policy or practice to proactively post such documents on the rally web page every year. The is nothing about the rally schedule that is confidential so why shouldn't it be available to anyone who want's to download it? For all we know, some curious people might read it and decide to attended after all.

 

[dougbakke]

It’s available on the rally page for all to view under seminars. I just took that data and put it into the format to address the specific member request. I’m checking to see if something can be put together for a self service printable version closer to rally once the schedule is firmed up but give enough time for travelers to print before launching to rally.

Here’s direct link to the Airtable.

Airtable | Everyone's app platform

Airtable is a low-code platform for building collaborative apps. Customize your workflow, collaborate, and achieve ambitious outcomes. Get started for free.

airtable.com

 

[GTRider]

You could make a PDF version that people could opt to print if they wish.

As you see from the discussion following your post, German over-engineering is present and active in the organization. I join you in wishing for a simple daily PDF that could be downloaded from the MOA website. Or just emailed to every member, so they can see what they are missing.

I’m a retired tech guy and after having to give network connection and access to a dishwasher, refrigerator, two garage door openers, and the yard sprinkler clock in my new home just so they could all become fully functional, I’ve had my fill of the “internet of things” and organizations that insist info or communication for short-term projects or activities has to be done via an app. Keep the comm channels simple and perform them well, and a daily PDF would do that.
IMHO, of course.

Best,
DeVern

 

[PGlaves]

For the 932nd time, "Ain't technology wonderful">

 

[zer0netgain]

Two docs attached - one highlights the seminars offered on multiple days, second is full seminar listing in descending order. PDF and printable. It's current as of today.

Thanks for these. I’m debating volunteering, but I want to identify things I want to do so I don’t end up conflicting…for this, seeing it all on a page is a lot easier than messing with the app.

 

[kbasa]

As you see from the discussion following your post, German over-engineering is present and active in the organization. I join you in wishing for a simple daily PDF that could be downloaded from the MOA website. Or just emailed to every member, so they can see what they are missing.

I’m a retired tech guy and after having to give network connection and access to a dishwasher, refrigerator, two garage door openers, and the yard sprinkler clock in my new home just so they could all become fully functional, I’ve had my fill of the “internet of things” and organizations that insist info or communication for short-term projects or activities has to be done via an app. Keep the comm channels simple and perform them well, and a daily PDF would do that.
IMHO, of course.

Best,
DeVern

You'd hate my house. I have 50 clients on my LAN.