Paddleducks....

[Eddy Matthews]

I've been thinking about this long and hard over the last few weeks, and I'm afraid the time has come to step down from Paddleducks...

I started this website approximately 6 years ago, and since then I've lost my Mum and Dad, and now my wife. Sadly it's all just become too much, and I need to devote my time to my daughters.

So I need someone who is prepared to take over the running of the website on a permanent basis. I would be around for a while to help and offer any advice etc, but I would slowly step away over the coming months...

If no-one is forthcoming, the site is all paid for until the beginning of 2012, so it would tick over until our hosts pulled the plug when the fees were due.

This is not a decision where I will change my mind in the weeks/months ahead, so the ball is in your court if you wish Paddleducks to continue.

Regards
Eddy

[scotfriend]

Dear Eddy,

many thanks for you hard work over the last 6 Years, you have done so much for us we can't give it back to you.

I hope there will be someone who continues what you have build up, it would be sad if we lose this site.


Best regards Hans Juergen Freund.

[derekwarner_decoy]

Message deleted by dw......apologies to any concerned - Derek

[Eddy Matthews]

Well sadly the response to my request for someone to take over Paddleducks has been totally underwhelming! So unless someone is prepared to jump in, the site will continue until the begining of next year and will then close when our hosts pull the plug.

I could rant and rave to try and get someone to step up to the mark, but frankly I have far more important things to deal with right now!

I have to say that I'm very disappointed, but my daughters have to come first!

Eddy

[steamboatmodel]

You are right Eddy your daughter do have to come first.
I think the main problem with someone taking over was listed in your reply to Derek's deleted post. If I remember you stated that the annual cost for running the site was around 300 Pd's, which most of the time you had been covering half because donations didn't cover costs.
Regards,
Gerald.

[Harold H. Duncan]

That's 83 pence a day for the full fees to run the site

I understand Eddy's reasons and fully support him in what he's doing.

kiwi

[derekwarner_decoy]

Gerald - the reason for my deletion of my posting was that I had breached the accepted rule in that I posted a copy PM response without any form of approval - I have personally apologised for this via a PM

For those regular PD members.... the understanding of the idea in the actual yearly running costs was not new.......it has been documented on a number of occasions in round about terms

1.0 the funding may be one issue....& as crazy as it sounds...we have 1056 members & so if each member donated just 1/2 a pound each PA the funds would cover the operating costs
2.0 the capability from an IT perspective may be a second hurdle
3.0 having sufficient time per day....per week...per month...to do justice to the WEB site & the members in a manner that we have become accustom to....could also be an issue................Derek

[PeeWee]

Hi All,

I think there are 2 fundamental questions here

1. How much do the members wish for this site to continue in the great tradition and high standards Eddie has set?

2. why cant a number of members take over instead of just one?  we already have moderators etc. and the load could be spread. 

We have all supported Eddie and now its time for a number of members to step up if the site is to continue.  Hosting options etc can all be looked into in the time left till the site paid date expires.

[scotfriend]

Hi PeeWee,

i agree with you, it should be possible to rune the site by a group of members. The problem for me is, i think it needs native English speaking people to do it. So my support will be more on the financial side, lets say 25£ PA.

Regards Hans

[neil howard-pritchard]

i am sorry, but i can't offer any assistance as i am totally computer illiterate.
took me 3 hours on the phone to Dell in India the other day just to download my new windows 7 programne.
i am afraid that if i were let loose on the site, you would be without one sooner than i could spit.
neil.

[Eddy Matthews]

To answer PeeWee's questions....

#1. I cannot answer, thats up to our members to decide. But I would dearly love to see the site continue as I've put many thousands of hours into it over the years. And as my wife Roz knew how much I enjoyed my modelling, it would be a fitting memory to her to see it continue and grow.

#2. More than one person could take things over. It would just need careful handling, so that we didn't end up with two people both trying to do the same software update for example!

To Answer Derek's questions....

#1. There will only ever be a small proportion of the membership that would be prepared to pay for its upkeep. In general over the last 3 years we've probably managed to get about half the costs from our members.

#2. The site will require someone who has good computer skills. No programming abilities are needed, though they can be a GREAT help at times! So you can do as I did and learn as you go.... Some knowledge of HTML and PHP programming can be picked up if your prepared to work at it.

#3. Daily maintenance, ie approving or deleting new membership requests and checking for spam or inappropriate posts can be done in about 10-15 minutes per day. Software updates can take anything from a couple of minutes to a few days depending on their complexity.

And finally...

The site costs will often be considerably less than the amount stated - Domain name fees are only payable every two years for example.

The main thing is that the site requires someone with common sense, someone who can spend a small amount of time EVERY day to sort registrations etc, and someone who is well organised - Especially when it comes to software updates! It's very easy to screw things up if you aren't careful, so an up to date backup of everything is essential BEFORE attempting to make any changes.

Eddy

[Eddy Matthews]

Good news guys....

The website will be taken over by PeeWee (Ian Peacock) and kiwi (Harry Duncan).

They will both have a fairly steep learning curve while they get to grips with everything, so if there are any little hiccups along the way please bear with them!

Jim Beattie, and Talisman will continue in their current roles for now - So hopefully they will handle any new registrations while Ian and Harry familiarise themselves with everything. And I'll be there as backup if there is a major problem.

So I hope you'll all give Ian and Harry all the support they need!

Regards
Eddy

[Talisman]

Hi All,

Well done and thank you Ian & Harry.
Good to know the site is in safe hands for the future.
Regards,
Kim

[derekwarner_decoy]

Well PD's....thank you to both Kiwi & PeeWe and congratulations ....Derek  ......

[old man]

Phew thank you guys I really thought Paddleducks might be going under. Now this great site will continue, and once again Thank you Eddie for every thing.

           Old Man