WORKLOAD |
| The energy put into this project since it began in 1996 by
all who have made some contribution to it's success, probably totals 9,000 - 10,000
man-hours. This does NOT include countless hours devoted to the searching for alumni
by a multitude of 'searchers' [nor does it give any indication of the financial costs to
them for their effort - which was great, and appreciated]. The peak period of expansion of the site was in 1999-2001. At that time it was a 16/365 job, but one of great joys for everyone - excitement was everywhere. Since then the input of memorabilia and or processing of new alumni to the lists has steadily and drastically slowed to just a small fraction of what it was. Why is not really understood. If there is a special project going on though then the workload will increase during that project -- like now when I am reviewing the entire site to reduce or eliminate those areas where there are 'risks', or preparing this announcement. However, the total collective work load today under routine conditions between the 2 personnel working on the site is probably 20-25 man-hours per month -- and the lists are being refined to reduce that by about 5 - 10 percent. Only a very small amount of the total effort is devoted now to the addition of new memorabilia. The balance of the effort involves processing new alumni onto the lists, or making other changes to them, or updating the data base, or e-mail communications with alumni and non-alumni about Yohi matters, or administration of the site with respect to taxes and subscriptions and payment of this ........ Work on the CD is NOT included in the above estimates. That is an entirely separate issue at this time, but the total effort probably is 2 hours per CD produced -- mainly because I do NOT 'copy' them -- everything is 'burned' special, and then I keep detailed records which involves a lot of administrative tasks [including tax documentation] and travel and ...... Much to our dismay, most of the e-mail traffic received has to do with the MSTS section of the web site and comes from non-Yohi'ers. That section has become very popular world wide. Actually, it has more impact on the work load than pure Yohi matters at the moment. Somehow we need to stimulate the alumni to dig into those footlockers and haul out the Yohi memorabilia and send it in....... The steady decline of interest by alumni in expanding the site is of concern, but no direct provable cause or solution is at hand. It is felt the 'workload' for the future can be influenced one way or another by stimulation actions generated by a NEW TEAM with new ideas ........ It would be the call of the NEW TEAM to make those decisions and produce the inducement to the alumni. Much is possible. Here is a rule of thumb that you might find useful - from the first time a single photograph / 1 page of a document is mentioned as being available someplace in the world that might be used on the site to the time when it is in fact installed there and released for viewing, will take 2 hours of your time. |