Howdy folks, While it may be a while in coming (the process to change takes a long time) we're making a major upgrade to FRISCrg this year. This upgrade will be the biggest change to our site since the move from Discuss to vBulletin softare. While it is a tremendous amount of work, I think it will be worth every minute. Here is what you can look for: 1. A major facelift for the FRISCrg opening page. A sample of a draft new home page for FRISCrg is attached below. 2. Videos, viewable by downloading or streaming which show how to use FRISCrg forum features. 3. Four primary areas: historical information, modeling information, the Interchange (like we have today), and Blogs. 4. Blogs dedicated to specific topics, easily accessible. One of the first blogs will be the 2011 Frisco Convention hosted by the Springfield crew. You'll be able to check the convention blog to see what is happening on the convention front all during the year. Other blog topics might be a specific region or division where there is a lot of activity or interest, for example, a blog dedicated to the Western Division. For more about blogs, check this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog. Be thinking about how you could use a Frisco.org blog to enhance your Frisco experience. 5. User selectable graphic themes, e.g., steam, freight, passenger. (See sample color scheme for steam below which will be in black, white, gold and red). 6. Easier access to historical information. 7. Redesigned modeling forum with alignment to prototype (historical) information. 8. Plus all the items you love, e.g., latest album, random photos. 9. Better security against spammers and system hackers. 10. Facebook and social network integration. 11. RSS feed capability to get updates of your favorite topics and threads via a RSS feed reader or email. 10. Moderators focused on specific topics to help members looking for information. 11. Easy access from cellphones like BlackBerry / Android / iPhone / Nokia via Tapatalk. 11. Lots more... When this conversion takes place, FRISCrg will plan to be offline for one night. We'll announce the date long in advance of the event and keep you updated about progress. Thanks for your continued support of FRISCrg. Best regards, Mike Corley and the Frisco.org crew p.s. An FMIG sage once told me that we shouldn't fix something that isn't broken. Frisco.org isn't broken, so we're not removing any capability you have now, just adding more to extend our community.
HI.. It all sound good but with the Blogs, will I be able to blog the building of my layout even though it's a freelanced type layout running Frisco locos and rolling stock. Stuart Mitchell
Wow, Mike, it looks like you are going to make a great site superendous (if that isn't a real word, it should be). Seriously, though, I appreciate all the work you do on this site, and I know others do too. Terry
Looking forward to the blogs. I hope many of us will use it. I think it will be interesting to hear what others who cherish the Frisco are doing to keep the memory alive.
"Lookin' good, Mr. Kotter!" Mike, your words are too true. Don't fix something that's broken, but IMO, keep improving something that's already great. I'm looking forward to the new look! Best Regards,
Mike, We really appreciate your past efforts on the website and look forward to all the new stuff. Many thanks.
To those questions about blogs: We members of Trainboard.com have the capability of blogging on our site, and it is used to an extent. The only requirement is that it's rail-related. There have been blogs about layout building to railfan reports, and currently we also have one on an N scale Trainboard gondola that is currently on tour on various members' N scale layouts (mine included). Personally, I think you'll like the blog option. As to whether or not there will be a rule that it must be strictly Frisco or Frisco-related- well, that's for Mike to decide upon. (My opinion- keep it as Frisco as possible). I think the changes coming will be exciting ones. I am aware that the only people who really like change are babies with dirty diapers, but I feel what is being done will be widely appreciated.
Sounds great. One suggestion. It would be nice to be able to get back to the home page, not just auto set to the Library.
Another idea: It would be nice if we had a series of threads: Modeling of the week Model of the month Model of the year Frisco shot of the week Frisco shot of the month Frisco shot of the year It would be nice to see since many of us model and many are into railroad history. Having threads that continually keep the membership moving tend to spark interest and will draw more folks in. Just an idea... Manny
Manny - Good ideas! A modification would be to post three of each of these once per quarter in The Meteor. Ken
Wow...sounds really awesome Mike! Thank you for all of your effort with these improvements. As everyone has voiced, this is a great site, simply becoming greater! Looking forward, with great anticipation and excitement - Bob Lenexa
Among the improvements, Friscomike lists: "6. Easier access to historical information. "7. Redesigned modeling forum with alignment to prototype (historical) information." I would suggest creating a section with standalone tables for various topics. For instance, one example is a table of the E-7/8 passenger locomotives with their numbers and horse names. Of course, taking convenient formats into consideration, the table could include build date, builder serial number, retirement date and so on. Is there a way to incorporate standalone tables? Could there be a page with links to these in the server? Tables do exist now, but they are part of thread posts so their current formatting frequently does not readily lead to getting specific questions answered. Another suggestion for the new website is to have a link to a FAFQ (Frequently-asked Frisco Questions) section. There already is a link to FAQ (FA{P}Q - Frequently Asked {Procedural} Questions) about how to operate the various software features, but that is not what I am talking about. FAFQ might also be called "Things you had better know if you are on Frisco.org..." I would suggest a few questions most people ought to know about the Frisco with a two or three-sentence answer that possibly could include links to other material in Frisco.org, for example, to tables in the collection I mention above. One such question might be "What was the Leaky Roof Line?" Another might be "Who was B. F. Yoakum?" Other candidates for such questions belong on another thread if anyone considers this idea worth pursuit. 2 for the price of $0.02!
Definitely an intriguing suggestion! My employer maintains a "Insurance Jargon and Nomenclature" FAQ on our intranet sites; often times we get new employees who are brand-new to our company and insurance, and we tend to forget that they're not up-to-speed on much of the terminology that's bantered about daily. The FAQ provides a safe, discreet place for them to study up on the basics. Mike: if we go with something like this, I'd be happy to moderate/maintain. Best Regards,
