I also think the map is of great importance. I've had several requests already, in the little time I am registered on it, and I still stay in touch with the people that contacted me. The map is a fantastic interface for anyone. Please don't dispose of it! Regards, Jan. <div class="gmail_quote">On Sat, Oct 17, 2009 at 6:40 PM, jean7491 <<a href="mailto:jean7491@free.fr">jean7491@free.fr</a>> wrote: <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"> <div bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000"> Hi, The Ubuntu community of users that help each other on a voluntary basis is one of our trumps and the support points map is the best implementation of this idea of mutual help. The availability of a local help is is one of our best arguments to convince beginners. I don't have the technical knowledge to explain/argue how to do, but we should maintain a kind of support points network, where beginners can find help when needed. Forums and online documentation are difficult for these beginners. It should not be a one man task, but a team work of several people. The number of support points is less important than the accuracy of the regularly updated list and the reactivity of the volunteers. The removal of the current map without replacement could give a wrong idea of the willingness of the Ubuntu-be community to fullfill its goals and two track policy as defined on the web-site. Additionally it seems high time to think about a real life meeting about the future and organization of the team. <div> Jean </div> Pierre Buyle a écrit : <blockquote type="cite"> <pre>Hi, regarding the support point map. The current site is a dead end. I develop it almost alone from scratch in PHP4 using CodeIgniter (a PHP framework). It has not been touched for more than a year. Mainly because I don't have enough time to work on it. The idea floating in my head for more than a year is to leverage Drupal and Launchpad. Using Drupal means that a lot a "base features" such has user registration, login, etc. has not to be re-done. And Launchpad is already integrated in Drupal for user registration, login and group membership. But even for that, I don't have enough time at hand. My proposition is the remove the current map website. The database can be kept and exported to a more useful format (CSV, vCard, etc.) and handled by a few responsible people (we don't want to make it public since it contains private information). On Thu, Oct 15, 2009 at 9:04 AM, <a href="mailto:kenneth.westelinck@pandora.be" target="_blank">kenneth.westelinck@pandora.be</a> <a href="mailto:kenneth.westelinck@telenet.be" target="_blank"><kenneth.westelinck@telenet.be></a> wrote: </pre> <blockquote type="cite"> <blockquote type="cite"> <pre>As already stated, we need to update the support map as the lack of reaction by support points gives a negative image of ubuntu community. </pre> </blockquote> <pre>I guess the support points are a real PITA. The problem is that everybody on this list very much enjoys using Ubuntu and _try_ to be a support point (I guess this includes myself). Maybe we need some kind of renewal system for support points, like the membership for Ubuntu-BE. The other week I received a mail that my membership was about to expire and I needed to renew my membership. This system might work for support points as well. And if all else fails, users can still visit this mailing list and various forums if they encounter any problems. </pre> </blockquote> </blockquote> </div> -- ubuntu-be mailing list / mailto:<a href="mailto:ubuntu-be@lists.ubuntu.com">ubuntu-be@lists.ubuntu.com</a> Modify settings or unsubscribe at: <a href="https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-be" target="_blank">https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-be</a> </blockquote></div> -- Microsoft programs are like Englishmen. They only speak Microsoft.