I had a nice phone converstation with Sam Kittle yesterday about making the database a little more useful. You're right, the current database captures a lot of data including empty weight, and it wouldn't be too difficult to add a field for "brakes."

Sam's concern was that it wasn't very easy to contact a Q builder that showed up on the Member Map. That's a valid point, and it would also be nice to be able to see and filter all of the other data collected to help us all compare apples to apples a bit better.

My concern is, as always, SPAM. The website gets nearly 4000 visitors per month, a lot of those visitors go to the Member Map. How do I make it easy to contact fellow builders/flyers, while making it difficult for SPAMMERS to flood all of your inboxes with Viagra ads?

My initial thought is to have 2 versions of the Member Map. One version that the public sees, and another version that is only visible to QBA members.

The public version would be similar to what is available now. You can see where people are, but there is no additional info, and no contact info.

The "Members Only" version would provide the contact info for anyone on the map, as well as show all of the "extra" information collected in the database. (In a filterable table below the map.) You would need to be a current paid member, and logged-in to see it.

The problem with THAT is that although interest in the designs is increasing, and FREE registrations on the site are going up, paid QBA membership numbers are starting to dwindle. Would this be a significant enough benefit to encourage membership renewal? What do you think would add value to your QBA membership? Do you honestly feel you're getting $20 worth of value from your QBA membership? What can I do to improve?

Once you've asked those questions, turn it around and ask yourself: If I were the QBA Editor what would I do differently? (an how much effort would that require?) If I were the QBA Editor, what would keep ME motivated to continue? More money? More article submissions? More community involvement? Ideally, the Quickie Builders Association would benefit everyone. (Including your humble Editor.) ;-)

I'm open to any feedback you all have. (Good or Bad.) I'm a big boy, I can take it, I just want some help figuring out how to proceed with QBA and keeping it vibrant and active.

Thanks all,
Dan Yager
QBA Editor
www.quickheads.com