30 November 2012 Assembly Meeting

Hello all,

As Executive Secretary, I'm initiating an Assembly meeting for everyone here. From what I've taken of past meetings, they were held in the skype chat room. Because of timezones this can't happen due to what needs to be discussed. So I'm holding the meeting here so everyone can pitch in their opinions.

We're all noticing what's happening to the Union, the forums. I like to call it the same level of what happened to the AFDES, the union I started with deathtopumpkins and patricius maximus on SimTropolis. Just like how AFDES free fell into disinterest and utter abandonment, the USNW is steadily spiraling down the same path, though not as drastically. Though the USNW has hope, there's still a handful of us who are willing to stick with it and continue the community, but even then the lack of posts is eye opening. If we don't act on it soon, and as much as we can, the USNW might not recover. So, with that I'm starting the November 30th International Assembly meeting of all nations.

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Topic's to discuss:

Changing the Union Name
Changing the Forum Theme
Creating a New World Map
Upping Public Relations/Recruitment

Well, for the public relations, I know one thing...

I'm gonna be there to add my slice, all though not with a country...yet

I don't really agree with a name change, but I guess we'll discuss it in the meeting. Chip is making a new map, though.

Guys, this IS the meeting. "Because of timezones this can't happen due to what needs to be discussed. So I'm holding the meeting here so everyone can pitch in their opinions." This topic's the meeting this time.

The name change is a bit over the top and unneeded, especially if it'll cost us to change the domain name. I'm open to changing the look of the forums to give it a "fresh coat of paint". Something sleek and enticing to post in. Changing the world map would be a huge undertaking. We'd need to make a whole new map, claim our nation's lands again and draw borders, and restructure our histories to account for the new landmasses. If it were to happen, we'd all need to be in support of it or else it might be a big enough change to make some members want to leave. And of course public relations is easy. I just asked an old friend on ST if he was interested. ST seems to be the biggest source of "fresh meat".

Lol, fresh meet. Yeah we could try some advertising over there. I say leave the design stuff to Jon. He's absolutely amazing at this kind of stuff.

I would be okay with a new map, I guess. But I definitely think it needs to be more than just a majority vote before this happens.

It's a whole new world! A brand new place to start over. Let's redraw those borders, renew our lands, and share with you this whole new world at last! _{totally made that up}

I'm the guy who'd love to make a new world. Possibly go more alien with the landmasses than Earth. Chip would be an amazing help with it.

More landmass is a good idea! Well, I'll leave this to you guys now. Good luck!

Okay. We've lost Jack. Well.

What do the rest of us want to do with this union? Although this is Chip's website, he deserves a big say.

I'm just gonna put this out there. New planet?

I still say recruit people from ST, a change in map and a new planet would only be good as a drastic action. if recruitment fails then we can remake the world, also I should say here again, if you treat recruitments as students like how you lot taught me when I first came here, they would stay, like me Carl and other members I forgot but a lot still, had learnt a lot from each other and we're still here ain't we x3

Well, we just got a new member right, so we won't give up the fight... "I wouldn't count us out just yet."

And why is Jack on leave? He should be on the registered members group xD

Alright then how about messing with the forum's look?

Hmmm, actually, I didn't see any changes, though a slight background change is noted xD

Oh yeah has the forum background always been dark? Huh. But no we haven't decided on changing it yet.

LOL I knew what the original background was... it was something with squares on the top quickly fading to a dark blue plain colour

I think a little tweaking is necessary

I'd personally like some sleek eye catching colors. Makes you want to be here and think it's really cool. The current color scheme's more of a calming with the white and faded blue.

I also love the inverted look where there's a black background with white text in the forums.

MikeVM wrote:
I also love the inverted look where there's a black background with white text in the forums.

I don't like white text over black background, as this further blurs my eyes. Also, some of the forum colours would become less obvious. I think staying with a white background with black text is better

Oh, that was me. I do stuff like that occasionally as part of my general managing of the forums. I was frankly tired of that background that I made and had on here before so I replaced it with a darker subtle stripes pattern. I think it helps to add a bit more color and tie the grey in other parts of the site in a bit more. What do you guys think

This is what it was before:



That was repeated across the top with a field of just the darker blue below it.

ArrowHead wrote:

MikeVM wrote:
I also love the inverted look where there's a black background with white text in the forums.

I don't like white text over black background, as this further blurs my eyes. Also, some of the forum colours would become less obvious. I think staying with a white background with black text is better

This is the problem with having the main content of a website on a dark background, it can impact readability for some people. I also think dark on light looks more professional. This is also generally the reason for subdued colors. One color that looks good with blues is orange, and that pops a bit more. Maybe we can look at tying in a bit of orange?

Honestly I like the blue and dark grey.

OOH I FREAKING LOVE ORANGE!

*ahem*... I can see how the white text could be difficult at times. I just remember seeing it once or twice before and i loved it, but never really spent every day looking at it. And I do like the new background image change Jon. Quite better.

I agree, we shouldn't be going for eye-catchy because a lot of times bright stuff is tacky looking. The number one rule of web design is always dark over light because it increases the readability as well as the professionalism of the site. You'll be hard pressed to find any major website with light of dark. I agree with Jon, I really like the blues and grays because they look very professional, elegant, and modern. Jon has done an amazing job with the site and I think it does nothing but get better with him having the reigns.

Name change, all I can say for that is you do not realize how much that would change and how difficult a transition in name change is. I think Jon and I are the only ones left who will remember that, and I won't speak for him, but a change in the name of the union is a HUGE undertaking and, in my opinion, is something that is unnecessary.

New world. Absolutely not. I will not support any change in the map, and especially one that leans toward a more alien type world. There are people here who have put hundreds of hours into this map and a change in it is unnecessary and would be disrespectful to Marsh, myself, and all the others who have contributed to the map we currently have.

Public relations definitively needs an overhaul and that needs to begin with the office of First Minister which has been pretty much vacant for months now. According to the wording of the Charter and from the interpretation of the person that wrote it the First Minister is responsible for foreign relations which would include public relations, now that also does include the rest of the cabinet especially the Chancellor who is the technical figurehead of the union.

I say all of this because we really need to be treading lightly with all of these major changes because of how much work they involve, an outrageous amount for no apparent reason. We don't want to get into something that will involved every member of this union and cause them more trouble than is necessary.

Chip

ditto ^

We do need to fill the office of First Minister, it has been vacant for far too long.

As far as modifications to the site go the only thing I'd ever support is moving away from forumotion and getting our own custom PHPBB or SMF install which would allow much greater freedom and let us customize the forums more to our specific needs. This is what AIN did. This, however, is something that would take a lot of work and help from everyone (including monetary input from somewhere). I just don't have the time right now to even consider doing this, and I don't think such major changes are advisable right now with the fragile state of affairs.

I have a PayPal and I'd be willing to contribute toward that as long as I'm not the only one paying for it, everyone will have to contribute. However, I agree will Jon that things are too fragile and our focus should be on other things besides embarking on the long and tedious task of upgrading the forums to our own PHPBB or SMF.

I had some funds in a paypal, buuut that wen't to my GF. I have a bit of cash but no bank account. Dammit world give me a job already.

After that thought out response to all topics from the webmaster, there's really not much more sense in discussing them anymore. lol No theme tinkering unless its done by Jon or Chip. No name change, no world map change, and some effort into public outreach.