Proposed Business Resolutions and Bylaws changes: Difference between revisions

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'''ENDS DEVELOPMENT''' -- This is a World Café process for congregational engagement in developing Ends statements. It is based on a process from . "World Café" Conversations are an intentional way to create a living network of conversation around questions that matter. A Café Conversation is a creative process for leading collaborative dialogue, sharing knowledge and creating possibilities for action in groups of all sizes." -- ''Thanks to Helen Foss, First Unitarian Church, Wilmington, Delaware for this outline.''
== Comparison of services used by UUs ==


'''Café Conversations Design'''
=== [http://www.3ix.org/ 3ix] ===


''WELCOME & Background Information - 10 minutes'' -
'''Operating System''' - Linux
Brief explanation of Policy Governance;
Explanation of "Ends" and how draft ends were developed;
What we want to accomplish today & why your input matters.
''Invite Questions - 5 minutes''


TABLE CONVERSATIONS to anchor connection to the church
'''Features''' - cPanel with Fantastico and a long list of Open Source programs


Question 1. ''(4 minutes to write and 6 to share=10 minutes)'' -
'''Cost''' - 4 packages range from $12/yr. to $88/yr. ($73 additional for SSL & dedicated IP using their top 2 packages with Shell Access)
What is it that you love about your church?


Question 2. ''(staying at same table with time to reflect, then share=10 minutes}'' -
'''Reviews'''
What are the most important things that First Unitarian can do or be?
*From JoyceD 11/7/2007 - I've used it for 1 1/2 yrs. with several sites and few problems, though it doesn't have a toll free phone number for tech support & sometimes the LiveChat will put in a ticket for tech support via email, I usually get a satisfactory answer to questions within 12 hrs. I wouldn't recommend it if you need faster tech support. I notice that some accounts (on different 3ix computers) have more updated software than others. They also don't have automated bill paying using saved credit card information - they email their annual renewal bill, but they don't take down sites that are late and there's no late fee (up to 10 days or something like that). I see there's a dedicated hate group to them that primarily criticizes their "unlimited bandwidth" - I don't see how any server can truly offer bandwidth that is "unlimited" or space either, though many claim to. The cost per service is very good for those who would like to save money.


'''Reaction to Draft Ends Policies'''
'''Examples'''
*[http://www.jpdwr.org/ JPD Women & Religion] uses the Excite plan ($12/yr.)
*[http://www.uuallies.com/drupal UU Allies for Racial Equity] uses the Expert hosting plan (and pays a small amount extra for SSL and dedicated IP - for $128/yr.)
*[http://www.baltwashuus.org/ Baltimore Washington Unitarian Universalists] and [http://www.philwiluus.org/ Philadelphia Wilmington Unitarian Universalists] share the same service in different directories using the Extra Hosing Plan ($33/yr.)


Move to other tables for three rounds of table conversations:
=== [http://www.bluehost.com/ Blue Host] ===


''First round, focus on "mega" Ends statement - 10 minutes ''
'''Operating System''' - Linux


''Second round, focus on Policies 1,2,3 (then move) - 20 minutes''
'''Features''' - cPanel with Fantastico and a long list of Open Source programs - 1 package only, includes Shell Access


''Third round, focus on Policies 4,5,6 - 20 minutes''
'''Cost''' - $6.95/mo. if you sign up for 2 yrs. up front ($166.80/2 yrs. = $83.40/yr.)


For each round of table conversation, first reflect on the following two questions: 1) Does the ends statement support you in allowing the church to touch your life? 2) How does this match your vision of what we can be? Then discuss your responses with your group, writing the following on chart paper:  STRENGTHS: List key aspects  CONCERNS: Identify gaps. What is missing? (Depending on the size of the group, these charts can be hung for sharing at the end.)
'''Reviews'''
*From JoyceD 11/7/2007 - I have log-in capability on a site that uses it, but I haven't dealt with them directly. I see a lot of people think they're great, but I compared software versions and they're not up-to-date on everything. I believe it's their customer service that gets them top ratings, which includes 24X7 toll free phone support. I have also read some reviews from unsatisfied customers, though.


''DEBRIEF experience (possibly back in the original group, then together=15 minutes)'' --
'''Examples'''
What did you hear from others that surprised you?
*[http://www.jpduua.org/ Joseph Priestley District]
What did you find in common?
Does what you have talked and thought about today lead you to engage in the church differently?


''CLOSURE - 10 minutes'' --
=== [http://www.uuism.net/index.php UUism Networks] ===
Thank participants.
Reiterate next steps (taking all feedback into consideration and process planned for refining Ends draft)


---''A followup response''---
'''Operating System''' - Red Hat Linux Fedora Core 4


I use this process in my business all the time - have used it with groups of up to 2000. It has never failed me. It is important to have some music and to have flip chart paper for doodling. Four to a table works best if you can do it. I find the most powerful understandings come if you go back at least once - with the model suggested here I would go back at least twice to the "home table" so you can see what are common threads and interesting questions being asked. I also prefer - a preference thing for sure - to let the first conversation be very undirected - just explain policy governance, ends and let them talk about any reaction first - you get important and powerful stuff and people get to share any fears, resentments as well as hopes and dreams without too much structure. Then go to the more focused questions. Just my ideas - for what they are worth. But I agree it is a wonderful, energy giving, inclusive process.
'''Features''' - EnsimPro administrative panel - "comes with Web Site, Subdirectory Access (FTP), Shell Access (SSH) and Email Server Access (POP3)"
-- Carol Houseman, Houseman Consulting, ''www.housemanconsulting.com''
 
'''Cost''' - "$48 per year for 25 MB with free setup" (according to site 11/7/2007)
 
'''Reviews'''
*From JoyceD 11/7/2007 - I've used it for ~8 yrs. & it has improved over time. I've only used it for services that our UU host, Jim Hermann, has offered free. THANKS, JIM! He serves over 100 UU congregations and organizations.
*From BruceC 2007/11/7 - I've used this service for many years.  Our main pages are still hosted on a local community based service for non-profit pages.  But they don't offer server programs so I have been migrating more and more to uuism.  First was our domain name, then email lists, then the forums and now we are rebuilding our site in Joomla.  (UUism doesn't currently offer Joomla via Ensim, but it was not difficult to install.)  Ensim doesn't always keep all software up to the most current, but most of it is especially if there are security concerns.  Site availability has been much better than 99%. Response to emailed questions is usually within a couple of hours.
 
'''Examples'''
*[http://www.rec-room.org/ REC-Room]
*[http://www.uuism.net/uuwiki/ UU Wiki] - this site
 
=== [http://simple.be/hosting/ ===
 
'''Operating System''' - Windows, Linux
 
'''Features''' - Web hosting (Apache, PHP, CGI, and Perl), Secure POP / IMAP / SMTP email service, Secure shell (SSH) & secure copy (SCP), Databases (MySQL & PostgreSQL), Anti-spam service, Snapshot backups, Debian GNU/Linux
 
'''Cost''' - 6 packages from $14/month (for 80 MB storage and 3 email aliases) up.
 
'''Reviews'''
*From PatRodgers 2007/11/08 - Brett Hamilton has hosted our www.mpuuc.org website for almost 4 years. He walked me through the WinSCP setup and quickly handles changes in the forwarding of our email aliases.  Readily available via email or phone.
 
'''Examples'''
*[http://www.mpuuc.org/]

Revision as of 15:32, 23 August 2007

Comparison of services used by UUs

3ix

Operating System - Linux

Features - cPanel with Fantastico and a long list of Open Source programs

Cost - 4 packages range from $12/yr. to $88/yr. ($73 additional for SSL & dedicated IP using their top 2 packages with Shell Access)

Reviews

  • From JoyceD 11/7/2007 - I've used it for 1 1/2 yrs. with several sites and few problems, though it doesn't have a toll free phone number for tech support & sometimes the LiveChat will put in a ticket for tech support via email, I usually get a satisfactory answer to questions within 12 hrs. I wouldn't recommend it if you need faster tech support. I notice that some accounts (on different 3ix computers) have more updated software than others. They also don't have automated bill paying using saved credit card information - they email their annual renewal bill, but they don't take down sites that are late and there's no late fee (up to 10 days or something like that). I see there's a dedicated hate group to them that primarily criticizes their "unlimited bandwidth" - I don't see how any server can truly offer bandwidth that is "unlimited" or space either, though many claim to. The cost per service is very good for those who would like to save money.

Examples

Blue Host

Operating System - Linux

Features - cPanel with Fantastico and a long list of Open Source programs - 1 package only, includes Shell Access

Cost - $6.95/mo. if you sign up for 2 yrs. up front ($166.80/2 yrs. = $83.40/yr.)

Reviews

  • From JoyceD 11/7/2007 - I have log-in capability on a site that uses it, but I haven't dealt with them directly. I see a lot of people think they're great, but I compared software versions and they're not up-to-date on everything. I believe it's their customer service that gets them top ratings, which includes 24X7 toll free phone support. I have also read some reviews from unsatisfied customers, though.

Examples

UUism Networks

Operating System - Red Hat Linux Fedora Core 4

Features - EnsimPro administrative panel - "comes with Web Site, Subdirectory Access (FTP), Shell Access (SSH) and Email Server Access (POP3)"

Cost - "$48 per year for 25 MB with free setup" (according to site 11/7/2007)

Reviews

  • From JoyceD 11/7/2007 - I've used it for ~8 yrs. & it has improved over time. I've only used it for services that our UU host, Jim Hermann, has offered free. THANKS, JIM! He serves over 100 UU congregations and organizations.
  • From BruceC 2007/11/7 - I've used this service for many years. Our main pages are still hosted on a local community based service for non-profit pages. But they don't offer server programs so I have been migrating more and more to uuism. First was our domain name, then email lists, then the forums and now we are rebuilding our site in Joomla. (UUism doesn't currently offer Joomla via Ensim, but it was not difficult to install.) Ensim doesn't always keep all software up to the most current, but most of it is especially if there are security concerns. Site availability has been much better than 99%. Response to emailed questions is usually within a couple of hours.

Examples

[http://simple.be/hosting/

Operating System - Windows, Linux

Features - Web hosting (Apache, PHP, CGI, and Perl), Secure POP / IMAP / SMTP email service, Secure shell (SSH) & secure copy (SCP), Databases (MySQL & PostgreSQL), Anti-spam service, Snapshot backups, Debian GNU/Linux

Cost - 6 packages from $14/month (for 80 MB storage and 3 email aliases) up.

Reviews

  • From PatRodgers 2007/11/08 - Brett Hamilton has hosted our www.mpuuc.org website for almost 4 years. He walked me through the WinSCP setup and quickly handles changes in the forwarding of our email aliases. Readily available via email or phone.

Examples

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