dedmiston
Coast to Coast
Administrator
Joined: 01/26/2004
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Good Sam RV Club Member
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Hello Members,
Major changes are afoot and I'd like to give you all the info that I have. I'll tell you all I know, and I'll be vague where I'm unsure about the details.
It's no secret that this forum has been more or less on life support for years. The platform and software are outdated and the individuals with the expertise and authority to make any changes or improvements left us years ago.
That's about to change.
Good Sam / Camping World have made a big investment in time and resources to create a new home for us. I've seen demos and I'm excited by the modernization and "fixes" that we'll see soon.
When?
Here's where I'm vague, and that's because I'm not the one doing the work. I don't know precisely when the new forum will come online, but it could be as early as tomorrow.
UPDATE: The target date for the new site is this Wednesday, November 15.
Where?
(Can you tell I'm starting with the topics I don't know the ansewrs to?)
The new site will have a different URL and I don't know what it is. I've seen demos of the test environment, but I don't have a link to the live site.
Yes, that's lame. But fear not. The URLs that we're currently using to access this site will automatically redirect to the new site. This means there's nothing you need to do for now. Once the site is live, you'll be redirected to the new site and you can update your bookmarks/links at that time.
UPDATE: Here's a link to the new site: https://Community.GoodSam.com
What about my account?
The following info will be migrated:
- Your User Login Credentials
- Your User Profile
- All of your Posts and Replies
IMPORTANT: The first time you log in to the new site after Wednesday, please use the RV.NET Users button to access your account.
Can I still use THIS site?
Nope. Once they throw the switch, this site will be no more.
What about our precious data?
That's the best news of all. All of our data from this site will be migrated to the new site. There will be a loss of about a day though, because anything posted to this site while the data migration is in progress could possibly be lost (maximum of one day's posts).
The great news is that the new site will have ALL of our data, including the posts that have been invisible to us for years because the site's Search has been busted. The data was always there, but we couldn't see it using our own Search. (Google was helpful, but even Google searches weren't perfect.)
How about photos?
The new site will have native photo hosting, so we won't need to upload our pics to third-party sites like Imgur anymore.
Will it be organized the same?
No. Or not exactly. The new site will be organized into sub-forums and topics like this one, but they won't be identical to this site's categories. The layout will be flexible though, so the designers can make changes based on our feedback.
How do I get help?
If you get stuck, please email [email protected] for assistance.
What if I hate it?
Managing change and expectations can be difficult and I have no doubt that a small percentage of our membership won't be satisfied with this move. I hope this won't be true, but I fear that it will. Hopefully most of you will embrace the improvements and be flexible as the new site evolves.
Please add your comments and feedback to this thread and I'll address as many of your concerns as I can.
Otherwise, I'll see you on the other side.
UPDATE: See THIS POST for important login instructions.
* This post was
last
edited 11/15/23 08:42am by dedmiston *
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2014 RAM 3500 Diesel 4x4 Dually long bed. AISIN trans & 4.10 rear. B&W RVK3600 hitch • 2015 Crossroads Elevation Homestead Toy Hauler ("The Taj Mahauler") • Hooligan #3
Toys:
- 18 Can Am Maverick x3
- 05 Yamaha WR450
- 07 Honda CRF250X
- 05 Honda CRF230
- 06 Honda CRF230
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dedmiston
Coast to Coast
Administrator
Joined: 01/26/2004
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Good Sam RV Club Member
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PLEASE SEE THE UPDATES ABOVE. I filled in some of the blanks about the info I didn't have yet.
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Naio
Snug as a bug in a rug
Senior Member
Joined: 03/04/2014
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Thank you so much, dedmiston and other admins!
3/4 timing in a DIY van conversion. Backroads, mountains, boondocking, sometimes big cities for a change of pace.
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dedmiston
Coast to Coast
Administrator
Joined: 01/26/2004
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Good Sam RV Club Member
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Naio wrote:Thank you so much, dedmiston and other admins!
Thanks Naio. Hopefully you love the format of the new site.
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dedmiston
Coast to Coast
Administrator
Joined: 01/26/2004
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Good Sam RV Club Member
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I guess I'll have more thoughts and share them as they come to mind. (If you can't tell, I'm still digesting this myself...)
I've been in contact with our site sponsors for the 18 years that I've been a Moderator and now the one year I've been the Administrator. And I couldn't even guess at the number of times we've been told "we're revamping the site and you're gonna love it". As long as I can remember, it's always just been talk. But now it looks like a certainty and I'm finally excited about it.
I won't be too excited until I've seen it for myself and know that it's going to be workable for us, but this is the first time I've had even a molecule of optimism about a new version of RV.NET.
I've worked in Tech most of my life, and some of those years also included Sales. I never stayed in Sales though, because I'm a lousy liar. I succeeded though in the cases where I sincerely believed in the product or service that I was selling.
With that in mind, I can't "sell" our new site yet, but I'd like to make a few requests of you members:
- If you like the new site, please help us all "sell" it. Tell your friends if you love it (or in fairness, tell them if you hate it too). Hopefully it's the former though, and I'm hoping we can count on your word of mouth to help build the new site. It's no secret that membership here at RV.NET has dwindled over the years and crashed during the pandemic. I'm hoping that the new site will be a positive change for all of us and hoping that we can count on you to help us organically grow the new site.
- I'd also like to ask you all to help us build the new site into what WE want it to be. The site can only be as good as its members and participation. To be blunt though, a lot of the old timers here can be pretty crusty and not very welcoming. Nothing squelches a new member's zeal faster than having an old timer tell them "That's been asked a million times before" or "Just use the search". As tempting as that is, we all need to suppress those urges and be on our best behavior. This is the time to bend over backwards to be warm and welcoming. Good Sam is investing their resources to give us a better framework, but the site can only thrive if WE making it a friendly community where people feel free and invited to participate and grow with the rest of us.
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magnusfide
On the Road Again and Again and Again...
Senior Member
Joined: 10/30/2009
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Dedmiston: Please know we do appreciate all of the hard work the admins and staff are doing to keep this online community in place. I only have one suggestion for when they throw the switch. They should put in place a re-direct page with the new website listed on it for those who do not see this announcement in time. I hope to see everyone on the other side. ![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/biggrin.gif "biggrin")
"The only time you should fear cast iron is if your wife is fixin' to hit you with it."-Kent Rollins
First law of science: don't spit into the wind.
Magnus
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opnspaces
San Diego Ca
Senior Member
Joined: 12/22/2004
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I for one am looking forward to it.
2001 Suburban 4x4. 6.0L, 4.10 3/4 ton
2005 Jayco Jay Flight 27BH
1986 Coleman Columbia Popup.
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dedmiston
Coast to Coast
Administrator
Joined: 01/26/2004
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Good Sam RV Club Member
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magnusfide wrote:Dedmiston: Please know we do appreciate all of the hard work the admins and staff are doing to keep this online community in place. I only have one suggestion for when they throw the switch. They should put in place a re-direct page with the new website listed on it for those who do not see this announcement in time. I hope to see everyone on the other side.
Absolutely yes. And that's exactly how they tell me it will work on Wednesday and beyond. Anyone who tries to visit the current site will be redirected to the new Good Sam Community.
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hotjag1
Lake Chelan, Wa/Lake Havasu, Az.
Senior Member
Joined: 07/14/2002
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So glad to see this. Thank-you! I'm not sure what native photo hosting is though. Is that similar to FB click and share to a post?
hotjag1
2003 40' Allegro Bus, 3 slides, 400hp 8.9 liter ISL Cummins
2000 24' Dynamax Isata
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dedmiston
Coast to Coast
Administrator
Joined: 01/26/2004
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Good Sam RV Club Member
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hotjag1 wrote:So glad to see this. Thank-you! I'm not sure what native photo hosting is though. Is that similar to FB click and share to a post?
Exactly. I don't know if you post many pictures here, but it can be pretty painful sometimes. FB's photo hosting is so much simpler. The new community site will work more like FB.
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