[ALAC] Application for Funding - Memberclicks - from the LAC Region

[Robert Guerra]

Nick:

let me object - seems far too costly. There are other solutions which  
should be considered...

Being familiar with content and customer relationship management  
(CRM) tools  I would suggest , that if it is possible, that some  
other options be considered instead of MemberClicks.

 From what I've seen of it with the demo username/password you posted  
- it seems not as feature rich as other tools which have been  
specifically developed from the bottom up for NGOs & non-profits. In  
a way, supporting an  open source solution used by NGOs, i think  
would be preferable.

My recommendation would be - CiviCRM as the platform. A hosted  
solution, like CivicSpace labs - would be 1/2 of what memberclicks  
costs. That's considerable . I know my collegue Evan here in Canada  
would agree with me that when a FOSS solution is available, one that  
is mature enough for are needs - we should try to support it.

So, if there's time - I would ask you and/or the LAC secretaratait to  
consider CiviCRM. I can setup a test site, if it would he helpful.

Refs:

CIVCRM - http://civicrm.org/
CivicSpace labs -  http://www.civicspacelabs.com/ [hosted solution]

Regards

Robert



On 8-Feb-07, at 7:51 AM, Nick Ashton-Hart wrote:

> Dear Committee:
>
> I provide below the request for funding for the MemberClicks  
> service by the LAC Secretariat.
>
> The process requires my acknowledgment of the receipt of the  
> request, which has been sent; since the regional secretariat has  
> made the request, the request would now go to a funding decision  
> from ICANN.
>
> It would seem to me that the need for a database for members is  
> something the entire community needs. This tool is English-only,  
> which is a drawback, but after looking I have found that all the  
> MMSes (Membership Management Systems) which are to be easily found  
> are also English only.
>
> I have made the point to the staff that what ICANN needs in the  
> fullness of time is a database which would hold records of all  
> constituencies, not just one, and that we should look at a  
> procurement process that identifies a good solution, and part of  
> what should be considered is a multi-lingual solution.
>
> However, that would take some time and with memberclicks, we would  
> have something much better than we have now, which is a static web  
> page with out-of-date information and a bunch of Excel spreadsheets  
> which get mailed around periodically. The cost of the system is  
> also very reasonable (about US$100 per month), and extracting the  
> data and migrating it at some later point to another system would  
> be a simple process.
>
> ACTION POINT:
>
> Does anyone on the committee OBJECT to our using MemberClicks as  
> the membership database at least for the medium term for the  
> community as a whole? And, if there is an objection, could you  
> please tell us all what the nature of the objection is?
>
> If no objections are received in, say, the next week, I will assume  
> we're to go ahead.
>
> If there are comments or questions from other regions, by all means  
> register them.
>
> For those wishing to look further, please see www.memberclicks.com.
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Carlton A Samuels < carlton.samuels at uwimona.edu.jm>
> Date: 07-Feb-2007 23:37
> Subject: Application for Funding - Membersclick
> To: nashton at spamcop.net
>
> Nick:
>
> I have attached the paperwork for the funding request for  
> Membersclick.  Your usual advice and consent requested.
>
>
> Cheers.
>
> Carlton
>
>
> Carlton A. Samuels
>
> CIO & University Director of IT
>
> c/o MITS, The UWI at Mona
>
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>
> Mobile: (876) 818-1799
>
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>
>
>
> -- 
> -- 
> Regards,
>
> Nick Ashton-Hart
> PO Box 32160
> London N4 2XY
> United Kingdom
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> <Procedure for Allocation of Funds to At Large Community Activities  
> - Membersclick.doc>
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