[MassChestnutOrchards] TACF Database Project - We Need Your Help!

Tue Dec 15 07:53:52 EST 2009

I would love to help, as I'm not working this winter and would be available on Tuesday mornings for conference/meeting calls.....Lois Melican

-----Original Message-----
From: Kendra Gurney <kendra at acf.org>
To: Don Richard <donrich at gsinet.net>; Ed Toth <petoth at juno.com>; Grace Knight <gsknight at tds.net>; James Powers <jamesp at gardeners.com>; Jeromy Gardner <jgardner at Bartlett.com>; 'Kendra Gurney' <kendra at acf.org>; Marshal Case <marshalc at acf.org>; Paul Schaberg <pschaberg at fs.fed.us>; Randy Knight <knightmd at tds.net>; Spencer Brookes <sbrookes at tds.net>; Todd Ross <alebrewernh at gmail.com>; Will Guinn <Will.Guinn at dred.state.nh.us>; masschestnutorchards at masschestnut.org; 'Marecic Chuck' <cmarecic at hotmail.com>; 'Willby Roger' <RWiredraw at aol.com>; josephdconwill at yahoo.com; gpwellesthurber at hotmail.com; 'Bob Frank' <marion40 at roadrunner.com>; 'Salmon-Hudson Salmon-Hudson' <loghouse at fairpoint.net>; 'Rea Glen' <glenrea42 at msn.com>; hmosher at tidewater.net; 'Leigh Henry' <hhleigh24 at roadrunner.com>; 'Alan Markert' <alan.markert at myfairpoint.net>; jlindsey at fairpoint.net; 'David Bingham' <dbbingham at sbcglobal.net>; 'Ellery 'Woods' Sinclair' <wml61 at comcast.net>; 'Garrett A. Smith' <roarpine at sbcglobal.net>; 'Gayle' <gayle7258gk at gmail.com>; 'Jack Ostroff' <ostroffjh at sbcglobal.net>; 'James Gage' <jameswgage at sbcglobal.net>; 'Jane L. Harris' <janelharris at sbcglobal.net>; 'Jennifer Allcock' <jallcock76 at comcast.net>; 'John P. Anderson Jr.' <johnanderson7440 at sbcglobal.net>; 'Kendra Gurney' <kendra at acf.org>; 'Micheal McGee' <mcgee.michael at hotmail.com>; 'Philip Arnold' <arnold_philip_dr at sbcglobal.net>; 'Robert Gregg' <drbob007 at att.net>; 'Will Kies' <wkies at stamfordmuseum.org>; 'William H. Moorhead III' <whmoorhead at optonline.net>; 'Janet and John Baker' <berryledges at optonline.net>; 'Susan J. Kelsey' <scottishthistle at juno.com>
Cc: Sara Fitzsimmons <sara at acf.org>; Bryan Burhans <bryan at acf.org>
Sent: Mon, Dec 14, 2009 4:45 pm
Subject: [MassChestnutOrchards] TACF Database Project - We Need Your Help!

Dear TACF Members –

TACF is embarking on the exciting task of developing an on-line database to house all of our science program data.  We have worked on this project in the past, however funding limitations have held back the potential of these projects.

We are currently undertaking a very structured approach to planning the database in hopes that we can identify all the data we need to track, who will be using it and how.  This more structured approach, being overseen by CT Chapter President Bill Adamsen, will arm TACF with the necessary information to raise the funds and put the project out properly for bid. 

To do this, though, there's A TON of planning to finish and we need your help! 

There are really two levels of assistance from chapter members that would add great value to our database team.  To see what is involved so far, please see the attached project charter.

PLANNING PHASE

In the planning phase, we could use a small contingent of chapter representatives (2-4) to make sure we are thinking about this in a way that will work for all users.  The planning phase began last week with a 2½ hour conference call, and we plan to continue with these kinds of weekly meetings, along with take-away assignments.  The planning phase will not be “easy” but the more people really thinking about how to best structure the database, the better.  Meetings are held on Tuesdays at 9:00 am and at this point we are meeting every Tuesday between now and the end of January, with the exception of Dec 29th.  We’d love to have your input if you have the time and interest.  

USER ACCEPTANCE TRAINING

If you are interested but can’t commit to the amount of time required for planning, we will also need members willing to test the system once we have a prototype.  If you are interested in helping with the testing phase, please let us know.  There will certainly be some bugs to work out at first, and the more users trying different things, the quicker we can identify and remedy problems.

Please let us know if you are interested in helping out with either (or both) of these phases of the database project.  It would be great to have a representative from each chapter involved in some way.  We contacted you because we thought you would be great candidates for assisting with this project, however if there are others in the organization you think we should reach out to, please forward this information along.  If you are really interested in becoming involved please let us know ASAP.  We would love to have some members participate in our Dec 22nd meeting (and beyond!).

Thanks!

Kendra and Sara

Kendra Gurney
The American Chestnut Foundation®
New England Regional Science Coordinator
USFS Northern Research Station
705 Spear Street
South Burlington, VT 05403
Tel: 802.951.6771 x1350 Fax: 802.951.6368
Cell: 802.999.8706
Kendra at acf.org or kgurney at uvm.edu

 Sara Fern Fitzsimmons
Northern Appalachian Regional Science Coordinator
The American Chestnut Foundation®
The Pennsylvania State University
206 Forest Resources Lab
University Park, PA 16802

e-mail: sara at acf.org
phone (office): 814-863-7192
phone (cell): 814-404-6013
fax: 814-863-3600

http://chestnut.cas.psu.edu
http://www.acf.org
http://www.patacf.org

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