Changing Plans For OSM, Looking for feedback

[Bob Brown]

I am going to type this briefly, otherwise I may never write it at all.


I am thinking about shutting down this forum. I have not been active here mush lately so I want to hear from those who are.

Reasons:
1. I have not been active here, and I'm not sure if it is thriving
2. The world has changed in 5 years
3. This forum is running on ancient software that is going to be hard to convert



Possibilities:
1. Moving OSMinistry over to another server and either trying to convert the forum to phpbb3 or just starting fresh.
2. Dumping the tech support area and starting up a new forum for church security at securechurch.info
3. Just letting the board keep going here until I can no longer host it on the outdated system. Perhaps even trim back some of the dead areas for now.



Better Possibilities:
1. I have started a Twitter account For church security. I would be interested in working with others to make it worthwhile http://twitter.com/securechurch
2. I can put some more on the securechurch.info blog but mainly as expounding on what cannot fit in 140 on Twitter
3. If anyone would be interested in a Church Security Wiki I would be willing to host it.


What has changed with me? I am busy as can be with all sorts of things. I am the Security Director (for what that title is worth) and IT Support at a 3500 person church with multiple campuses. I no longer have the free time I used to, and what I have I spend other places.
Additionally, forums have changed. I like the idea of a resource like this, but it is hard to get people to really connect into them anymore like they used to. Its more Blogs and Twitter forming loose communities.

I still talk to lots of churches in our area about what we do for church security, even if it is not as elaborate as others do. There needs to be a good place for people to get the plans for starting a new security team, and this old forum may not be the best way.

Any ideas? Let me know. I can tweet with you or chat in other places. Maybe even set up an audio discussion.
I have set this to email me when anyone replies. I'll try to keep GMail from filtering it like it has to so many of the new member requests.

[karatejake]

Church Security Forum

We host a church security forum that has been kinda dead for awhile in google groups. If you're looking to step away from hosting a group, we have one available that we're trying to build back up.

[JackWolfgang]

Bob--

Your ideas make sense, and they seem to align with the reasons that CWM merged with Geeks and God. I admit that my time has waned since I found OSM as well, and I haven't contributed it who knows how long....

[Rudy]

Bob,
I agree with what has been said already. Over the years, OSM has evolved from a project of developing Open Source stuff for churches to what it is today - promoting church security. The forum is dead, and I don't think there is much activity here. I think you do have a good amount of people here who are in two camps:

1) Church technology guys / developers (the Freely Project, for example).
2) Church security folks

I would consider myself to be more in the prior rather than the latter. The two camps are interchangeable, but I think now would be a good time to shut the forum down for the reasons that you mentioned. I agree also with Jack's analysis.

<opinion>
Although I'm not very involved with technology, I think your idea of having a wiki, or using the .info website would be better than Tweeting. While Twitter is growing by leaps and bounds right now, there's still a ton of people who don't use it. I just created my own account a couple weeks ago, but have only updated it once. I sort of still don't get it. What's the point? Why do people need to know what I'm doing at all hours of the day? Heck, I don't even text very much, and don't have a fancy iPhone or anything either.
</opinion>

On another level, I do think that there are some good people here on the forum that are involved on the technology side of things that would in one sense not have this as an avenue to talk through any longer. I personally would consider putting up a blog or Wiki for these folk. Although Geeks & God is a great resource for Christians in technology, it's mainly for web developers. I would like to see something for people with the same convictions for general technology.

I may not do "technology" in the formal church right now, per-se, but I think that my long-term goals match very closely with that of a church: doing "technology" for the non-profit organization, community development organization, and the church.

As I am getting ready to graduate from college, these ideas are beginning to be thought through more and more. Even though these forums are almost dead, I'd like to see a new avenue open up for these types of people.

[mmonroe]

Wow, it has been awhile since I was here. I miss the countless hours i've spent on here. Much has changed for me in 5 years as well.

My two cents:
Rebrand, Refocus.

I miss the community this was 4 years ago.