SC RCSC Website Upgrade

Being that no one appeared to know anything about this subject I looked into it myself. The last update was 9/2024 stating that our IN-HOUSE IT team gave the site a fresh new look.

What happened to the $300,000 paid to the professional website folks RCSC hired to complete this project? It was supposed to be done in June of 2024, then for whatever reason was pushed off to September of 2024. Here's the link to that piece of info: Our RCSC Website Just Got an Upgrade! Explore the New Features – Recreation Centers of Sun City AZ

Here we are a year later with no update and what has been done with the $300,000.

Now I don't even think I am just paying the bills. (Apologies if it has been completed and I missed the announcement.)

 

It's my understanding that the "upgrade" was done by RCSC Staff while at the same time a contract was issued for an outside firm to do a full upgrade.

I do believe that the full upgrade is currently bring beta tested.

I have no idea when it will be released since the promise date seems to keep on moving, but I suspect we'll be seeing it soon?

 

Yeah, that was the story a year ago. A year to beta test. Would love to know who was hired at 300k for this.

My friend just gave up on trying to do anything on the site and just lets one of his golf partners make all the reservations. He did fine until June 2024 when our IT got involved.

 

Thx for the update. So this is for the infrastructure enhancement. What about the $300k already spent on the website developer? They are two separate animals.

AI Generated
RCSC's IT infrastructure project timeline involves several ongoing and completed initiatives. Here's a breakdown of the information available:
Recent Infrastructure Improvements

• SDWAN Networking: RCSC has been updating facilities to utilize SDWAN networking services. The South Pro-Shop and Mountain View Rec Center were recently updated.
• Fiber Optic Installation: RCSC negotiated with Cox to install fiber to all recreation centers and golf courses. The estimated completion time for this installation was September 2024.
• WIFI Environment and Cabling:
  • WIFI cabling was completed at Lakeview in November 2023, and Cox installed the server room connection. Lakeview was intended as a test environment for the rest of the RCSC facilities.
  • The WIFI environment is being updated across RCSC facilities, including Bell, Sundial, and the softball field clubhouse.
  • Rewiring projects were completed at Oakmont and Bell in March 2024.
• Server Room Upgrade: A new server room was completed in April 2023, with new HP servers, storage devices, and a new TEG server installed. The installation of new fiber cabling and networking equipment was completed at Lakeview during this time as well.
• Telephone System Update: RCSC is transitioning from multiple outdated telephone systems to a new integrated system.
• Access Control and Camera Systems: These systems were upgraded at Oakmont and the Softball Complex in 2024. In 2025, the old token system will be replaced with smart HID cards for facility access.

Ongoing Initiatives

• Website Redesign: RCSC's website received a redesign in September 2024, with the in-house team working to improve user experience. Further improvements and a new website are anticipated in the future.
• IT Manager Transition: In June 2024, the IT department was undergoing a leadership transition due to the manager's retirement.
• Guest Pass/Online Comment System Kiosks: Installation of kiosks was completed at Fairway, Bell, and Cardholder Services in June 2024.
• Customer Engagement Platform: The platform was implemented to improve member communication and feedback and is slated for further improvements in 2025.
• Paperless Initiative and Web Portal Enhancement: The push for a paperless environment and enabling more transactions through the web portal is continuing into 2025, allowing members to conduct RCSC business remotely.
• Long-Range Planning: The Long Range Planning Committee is researching potential vendors for a Master Plan being developed in 2025.

General Information

• The IT team handles a steady number of service requests, typically closing them within one day.
• RCSC has invested significantly in capital projects, with a $6.7 million budget in 2024 and $6.2 million planned for 2025.
• RCSC has a Technology Committee that reviews and makes recommendations regarding technology needs, including access control, software upgrades, and future business solutions. They were actively seeking new members with IT skills in August 2024.

 

The problem has been a long-standing one and it still affects us and the release of our new web site. Years back, the RCSC made a decision to address tee time booking challenges. Golfers used to have to show up early in the morning to draw chits or cards to determine their placement for the best tee times in the coming days. Technology had long by-passed us regarding tee times and the new GM decided to fix the problem.

The challenge was the RCSC scheduled 5somes, virtually no one else did that. Apparently there was only one piece of software built for that purpose; TEG (i think is the acronym). That system has been in place for years now and has solved our 5some issue (even though the PGA recommends we don't allow them), but the software has proven to be a bugger integrating across all our other platforms.

To realize how dumb that is, golf generates a little over 7 million dollars in a 26 million dollar organization (yearly on both counts). It is and has been the tail wagging the dog. The word is it is still causing us issues as they try and launch a new website.

If nothing else, it's proof positive, poorly made decisions can impact us for years and years. It was great we fixed the 5some booking problem, it's proven to be a disaster as the RCSC tries to evolve. Let me be clear, it's not the folks trying to fix the mess, look to the folks who created it.

 

Off topic! Hijacking thread! Who was talking about golf?? Golf is one miniscule part of the website, but you like to blame everything on golf. The title of the thread is SC RCSC Website Upgrade. So we gave some unknown company 300k for nothing in June of 2024???? Where is it? Did we get a refund?

 

The explanation is not off topic, rather directly affects the conversation about the website.
Several years ago, an off the shelf software was purchased for use by the RCSC golfing community. This was the only software that allowed scheduling of fivesomes (5 somes) electronically over the internet. It is still the only software available to allow this kind of activity. The integration of this old software with the newer platforms is what is causing the delay. The need to build gateways between the new and the old takes a great deal more than just another plug and play tool. Hope this helps.

 

Wow!
The new website is still being developed, i explained why it was an issue, and why it is still an issue. There's been challenges with the existing golf platform integrating with the new software.
DUH!

 

I just don't pay much attention to you. Saw the word gold and I was done, however I stand by my comment that golf is only one tiny part of the site. They could complete whatever it has taken them 18 months to do and fix the golf piece later. Done all the time. DUH

Banner had piecemeal rollouts all the time and they were 40 times larger and more sophisticated then RCSC.

 

Although the game of golf may be a lesser equation, the website needs to integrate the old with the new. The data in the old system is crucial to golf, as well as paying assessments online and voting online. So, the time needs to be spent to integrate the complete package over to the new platform.

 

Total e Integrated out of Ontario, Canada.

The problem you're not hearing much about is the fact that TEG has upgraded their software and is no longer compatible to be used to vote for our Board of Directors, which means the RCSC is looking for another outside firm who can manage our online voting for new Directors, which I'm sure ain't gonna be cheap!

And when you consider that at last years election, there were only 1,214 voters and out of that 1,214, 115 were actual walk-ins on Election Day meaning only 1,099 Members voted using the online Portal!

First of all, that is and EXTREMLY poor showing, especially if you're one who complains about our Board. But secondly, assuming that a new software or outside vendor must be purchased, or contracted, how much is each vote going to cost?

Once you start a new system for voting, whoever or however it's decided to be accomplished, EVERY Member of the Community is required to be notified. The cost of mailings alone, even if they're just some sort of Post Card @ $0.61 cents a piece is over $18,000 dollars for 30,000 Members, but only 1,214 of which actually vote!

Not a very cost effective way to spend our money!

 

Carol I have a degree in computer programming. I installed and set up a program in the at home department of Sun Health to an already existing system. Whoever is feeding you that info is not being honest or they are stalling for time, or looking for more money.

 

Then you should be well aware that various software programs have some proprietary software features with their own language, which causes integration problems as not everything works with, or transitions back and forth. The upgrades to the current TEG software, currently used for golf, assessments and voting, has not been receiving the upgrades performed by the company. Since those upgrades are not included in the transition of data between the systems, the software needs additional bridging programs to make it compatible. The writing of the software is a technical challenge but takes time. There has been tremendous progress made, but integration of such significant software issues has been a challenge.

 

And that's why you have to tweak the registry and make it work. Have you ever added a new program to an old PC at home? Or do you just throw your PC away. So unless RCSC has an MS Dos system which was discontinued around 1995 and replaced with Windows 95 I can see where there would be a problem. Far be it from me to contradict you tho.

 

Yes, there exists some old DOS standalone portals that require new rework to integrate with the new system. The cost of purchasing a new system that has the capability to schedule 5 somes, fivesomes, is not there, as there is no other solution that affords this service on any platform. The old DOS, LINUX and other significant outdated technologies are still in use in some parts of the current system. Rather than seek and pay for a newer version of what’s in place, the last update was done with a lot of work around software. That software, in my opinion, should have been significantly upgraded from what was used. Instead, the data was transferred from one old system to another old system, making any new upgrades to any system software darned near impossible. Hence, the need to write another program for such a transition. Writing and authoring code in multiple languages to work on various platforms is tedious and complex. In other words, it takes time.

 

By the way, I have theoretically thrown away a brand new computer due to issues. Language differences and software problems have made me abandon a brand new Apple desktop sitting on my desk. So I fully comprehend the need to have computer compatibility with each device and it’s language.

 

What would expect. It was an apple. Apple and Windows don't play well together. And why toss a brand new computer? Maybe the computer club would have liked to have it or some kid who couldn't afford one? Sun City West computer club took all my old laptops for parts.

 

I purchased the Apple computer with the goal of learning the language and skills needed to utilize both systems. Something called a stroke to my left temporal lobe caused some problems with memory and retention. Otherwise, I would feel confident there would not have been any problems.
I didn’t throw it away. I said it’s sitting on my desk. I dust it off regularly.
Just as having a perfectly good computer sitting on one’s desk needs to be maintained and updated, the systems at the RCSC also needed updating. The system was not receiving updates to the peripheral system, making it difficult to update to today’s standard. Takes time write code around antique software.

 

Last response on this because it's silly. Windows has auto updates and new versions that should have been updated by the IT dept. If they did not do that it's on them and those that hired them.

 

Thank you for your last response. The software is beyond a windows update. It’s a wholly owned new application being added and implemented to the current system. For a better version of what is currently being implemented, go to the communication committee site on the RCSC web page and there are regular discussions and updates posted. Director Nettesheim and the committee members have given a great deal of time and effort to build and bring this to fruition. Please feel free to read the committee reports and learn what is being done to make this work.