The ONB website is hosted at hostingplex.com and is physically located in Toronto. It is maintained by me, David Fellows. It is backed-up by virtue of the fact that pages are first created or stored on my computer and then uploaded. My computer has a complete copy of the pages on the public site with a couple of exceptions. It is backed up daily. My copy of the site is kept in a form that permits retrieving earlier versions of pages that have been updated.
Each of the three clubs has access to a subdirectory in which they maintain their own club pages. I keep an eye open for copyright violations, illegal content and space use. Other than that the clubs are responsible for their own content, format, and backup.
I am currrently purchasing the web services directly. The expenses are approximately $25.00 for domain name registration and approximately $120 (depending on the CAD/USD exchange rate) for hosting services per year. This is still the cheapest package I can find. The increase in price from last year is due to an increase in services and space available to us. Space is essential limtless.
There is, of course, a person cost. I devote perhaps 25 hours a year to updating, creating new pages, and fixing up other people's submissions.
I set up a discussion list for the COC organizing committee. This has been administered by David Ross.
As sugggested lat year I have set up a "junk box" web page with links to assorted files I have been sent. Most data items have been stored as zip archives.
The hosting service had more technical difficulties this year. However, the staff there were much more reponsive than last year. The difficulties were resolved fairly promptly. The service has been good enough that it isn't worth the hassle to me to move the site somewhere else.
I have put up a number of pages on request.
There is a problem with timeliness of web postings. Sometimes it is my fault, other times it is the submitter's. I can only post what I know about.
Possible new services would include setting up a list server to send mail to all ONB members. A list server could also be set up for each club. The problem with these servers is the administrative work to keep the lists synchronized with the ONB membership database.
There are services available that provide online registration and payment for events. ONB might consider using one for its events.
I have looked briefly at automating the event calendar so that organizers can update it themselves.
I am prepared to continue as webmaster for another year.
David Fellows, Webmaster
November 09, 2007