Don't know if anyone's ever suggested this, but...

[Rhumba]

As far as security goes, how about one member holds a hard master list of our addresses and phone numbers. Then if any one of us is in need, we call the master list holder and give him or her our screen name and password for verification. He then looks to see if we are a contributor to the RAN list and then gives the caller our info?

Or is this too complicated?

Sounds like it

Whaddya think?

[CarolynS]

As long as we keep the 'printed' information relatively vague, it should be safe.
Here's one:
In the 5 years I was on the list in the guide, we had ONE couple call. They were having trouble with their engine and needed somewhere to work on it. They came by, were fixed in about 2 hours(VW's are as tough and dependable as XS's)we all had some burgers on the grill and they were on their way. It was great to spend some time with them and I'll never forget it! I still feel good about helping them to this day. They had VT plates and the odds of them coming back to rip us off was pretty slim. They sent a note later thanking us. When my husband passed away, I gave up the VW's, but I still have that memory. Life is tough, and we don't have much to make a mark. They were listed in the guide as well, so we were able to check them out before they got to the house(this was before the whole forum thing).
If someone calls because they are in need or just to visit, the odds of them being up to shenanigans is slim. Most people that would use the resource would be listed AS a resource as well, I've found.

[madmax-im]

RAN List

I mistakenly called this Rider Area Network when I should have said Rider Assistance Network.I dont want to be a complete copy cat to what the other forums are doing but I am gonna ask those Moderators how they deal with the issue of protecting personal information...The ST-Owners forum has their RAN list as a link on their home page and it can be printed out from the 'puter.I know this has prove to be a valuable resource and well worth pursuing here as well.

[madmax-im]

RAN list suggestions

In looking at the other sites RAN list..this is what I've come up with...the list is accessed thru the User's CP and then a box is checked if one wishes to be added to it.One is asked Country,State(US) and City/Town and a contact phone #.Nothing more specific.Also as to abbreviating terms...not necessary..each member briefly lists what svcs they can provide and its all printed on one line ...from your name to location/contact#/and svcs offered.
I asked abt how one can protect their personal info...mainly the response was there are more effective ways to steal personal info..as the RAN list is not asking for your SS# or DL# etc...
So then the question of how one would protect their home address from the riffraff arises.If you think abt it...when someone in "need" calls a RAN list member...that member should not provide any info abt their address.The list member if going to their aid can quickly assess the situation and also ask the individual to clearly identify themselves as a legitimate forum member.So that seems to be it...as with anything a little common sense will save the day
I really like this idea and would want to be a part of it...if it indeed is created...we need more opinions and perhaps apoll or vote to have this included into our forums features

[CarolynS]

Wonderful

Great ideas Madmax-im.
Hopefully, this will be a great resource for the members here!
I just got home but I am working on ideas to make it easy and useful.

[madmax-im]

Thanks

I hope this takes off see my thread on Membership ID cards...BTW Carolyn...my name is Ben

[CarolynS]

Then Ben it is...

Truck driver, huh? Me too although now retired.
I'll check out the membership cards(great idea). Thanks for the support. However, I still haven't seen an Administrator or Moderator comment on this. I am waiting for their input.
We'll see.

[madmax-im]

a small truck ...

Autoparts dist. so its a job that cant be exported outta here like my last one that was in electronics manufacturing!I actually have a degree in Education and am retired from teaching the Deaf...also have a background in law enforcement before I lost my hearing..LOL

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Carolyn,

I've seen this thread, and have been watching the responses. I think it also sounds like a good idea. IT's just the implementation that may be difficult?

Believe it or not, "WE" are still working on the Upgrade to the site. The BetaSite thread wasn't just a tease!

I've sent a PM to the IT guy that's doing the prep work and will be doing the upgrading process hopefully in the next month. He'll let me know IF the RAN list checkbox is doable with the updated version of the vBulletin software and such, but he's quite busy with a bunch of the other stuff needed just to get the new version/site to work properly!

I was thinking along the same lines as Randy about either using a Spreadsheet or TABLE layout. The problem with having just a file is having people have direct Editting access to it to be able to add their info, or delete it, and the chance for either mistakes or mischief being done causing the whole thing to get deleted or damaged, etc.!

So....IF it can be incorporated into the User Control Panel, that would be good, but if not, then not sure about how to have/do it in the present FORUM format?

As for the membership cards??? This site is a loose collection/association of folks, not a true formal bike club. Folks who have wanted to support the site and be a part of the membership have gotten the XS-XJ Owner's Assoc. Patches to wear and show. As has been stated, registering with the site is a simple matter of a valid email address, but can be Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo, etc. vs. their own ISP. So not too sure about security in having a card would provide??
T.C.

[dale_1]

verification

If you remember it was a little difficult in the very beginning of this site to add a member's bike picture.

The yahoo group that preceded the current version was an open arrangement and it was well moderated.

In the spirit of both sites......

Add in some local moderation and we might have, say a moderator assigned to each state and then for us big states two or four etc etc. The "holder" of "The List" if you will.

Our Meeting of the Minds has gone swimmingly two years in a row and I see many more to come. So working on that success I see folks such as John and Kat doing a great deal in keeping things tight.

Security is easier when you tend to have a good track record. I believe I have almost everyone from the MOM cell phone numbers..... That in itself is a big step. Start small and grow from there???

[madmax-im]

Well to a limited extent TC already started a "list"of sorts when he posted the PA/NY riders thread...while the info provided isnt totally specific to a RAN list...ppl nontheless have been adding their info to the thread....
As to the idea of Membership cards...in my mind it matters not that this isn't a formal m/c club...it seems formal enuf to me...and as to it being loosely knit...well maybe this will help in making this group a tighter knit community.At the XSEast rally it appeared to me that this was a very tightly knit group,but not so much that it could'nt welcome new faces...in fact I felt accepted from the get go....even with my Honda ST1100

[madmax-im]

Originally posted by TopCatGr58






So....IF it can be incorporated into the User Control Panel, that would be good, but if not, then not sure about how to have/do it in the present FORUM format?


T.C.

TC thats the way its done at ST-Owners.com thru the user CP...

[planedick]

My experience

I have noticed that anyone traveling to another area just needs to say something here and everyone in that area chimes in and wants to meet and maybe host a BBQ or at least a meeting. I also notice that phone numbers usually follow that notice. Is the list really necessary? Joining the AMA and having MO-TOW is very effective plus the AMA gets you discounts at so many places....

[madmax-im]

nah it aint necessary but it is a valuable resource..although what you've said is also true abt just letting ppl know you are going their way...either wayyou're pretty well covered and thats the intention

[CarolynS]

It's only an idea...

The other XS site will be up as soon as the generous people building it have time and it may already have something along this line included in it. We already have a way of communicating with each other privately and exchanging information, but I made the suggestion for when you take off for a 'local' ride(like we do here in New England)and the next thing you know, your somewhere near the Canadian border on a Sunday afternoon. You didn't happen to bring your laptop with you(and where would you get a signal?), but you have your GPS. Disaster strikes!(Manshack is a good example on his "Pie Run")and you don't have towing on your insurance policy and only $20 in your pocket for gas home, the sky is beginning to threaten, and it will be dark in a couple of hours. While digging out your tools, you find a copy of the list you made out 3 weeks ago for your last major daytrip, towns and phones. You type a couple of towns into your GPS(or if your a lame-o like I am, you grab your map!)and discover that there is another XSive, one town over who has T/T, T/A, G/S, O/A and C/C(truck/trailer, tools/avail, garage/space, overnite/accom and best of all, coffee/conversation). You call, they answer, and within 30 minutes your salvation has arrived and is helping you load the bike up!
We all know it happens. All of us at the very least have a cell phone especially when we go riding. The list is for the 'IF'. If you were going to be in the neighborhood and wanted to meet someone, you would've PM'd them beforehand. If the phone rings out of the blue(during dinner, that's always the way...)and it's an XSive you don't know, they probably need help. Judging by the nature of this site and the wonderful people on it...Let's say the same thing happens and Manshack(I hope you don't mind being my example)posts that same thread without the good outcome. I know for a fact there will be a group of you that says,"I wish I would've known he needed help, I could've been there in 10 minutes!".
The member locator is a start for sure. It was one of the first things I looked at when I found all of you, and I added myself right away. That information cannot be tampered with as it is locked down. It's basic info. Take the locator and add a space for the information of services we have and would be willing to offer to our info. With a little foresight of the daytripper, they could access the locator for their projected route area and PM those people with services to offer along the way for their info beforehand. If that person is not available or not interested or suspicious, they could ignore the PM or if interested and available, could arrange to meet up somewhere along the daytrippers ride, and to give a call when they get close. This way, the locator retains it's original function; those of us that are willing or able to help out in a crisis could list ourselves without bothering anyone else; it would be less work on the poor, kind soul who so lovingly maintains this site for all of us to benefit from; and none of us would be volunteering information that could potentially hurt us. I mean, if we put up our phone numbers, what's to say some Rat Fink telemarketer wouldn't copy if for their own use and drive us all crazy!!
I told you all I was working on some ideas. Is this feasible, we shall see. Now that the suggestion has been made, and there is interest, we'll see what the new site holds for us. Which, last time I checked it, was looking pretty cool!! Great job!!