What is the job of the Administrator of TFP?

[Jon Scanlan]

What is the job of the Administrator of TFP?

Jim with some recent comments on TFP it reminded me of my days as President of the Auckland Master Flooring Contractors Assoc and I can see lots of similarities

Jim you are damed if you do and damed if you don't. Who would like to be in your position?
Let me take everyone back a bit from when I was the President of the NZ Flooring Contractors Assoc. I learned a lot about hidden agendas. I kinda look as The Floor Pro and you as the same in a way as when I was President. You have made a site, that is excellent, to bring flooring people from all over the world to talk about flooring but you are always going to get people with hidden agendas and motives to disrupt things.
Most of the people that went onto the Flooring Assoc. committee were there to put something back into the flooring game, much like most of the regular posters here. The Association was meant to be impartial. The idea of the assoc was to help its members BUT as soon as someone tried to help the members someone else would shoot it down. People approached me and moaned that the assoc was doing it all wrong. My answer was to get on the committee and sort it out. Never see them again. A couple of thing that might try to make sense of what I am trying to say.The members paid a cheaper fee for an inspection than the public, that was fair enough. However one of the sales guys (a sales guy job is to sell) for a large supplier suggested to give the member layers a discount on tools and glues etc, not carpet or vinyls, as a way of helping the members, and maybe attracting more members to the association. Good idea? they sell more product and the layers get a better price than the non member layers. Wrong? It got shot in the foot as it was then seen as the association was supporting one supplier over the others. When it was suggested that the other suppliers do the same the others said there wasn't enough margin to do that. This was the type of thing that put me into the situation why do I bother?
Remember all that stuff I wrote about if companies where to put money into Building Bridges not walls? If money was put in they would want a return for their expenses. That hidden agenda again. When we had a convention here the committee would try to sell the best spots at the show for a lot higher price than the ones around the corner to receive more monies to cover the costs of the show. Then once again the different suppliers would complain that one supplier was getting preferential treatment.
Another problem that would arise every now and again that would come back to me was that the suppliers never did anything for the layers. The suppliers would hire a function centre, get food, alcohol etc to promote a product and then nobody would turn up. A couple of weeks later the layers would say again nobody does anything for us. Now I would make every effort to attend these trade functions as a way of supporting the suppliers who take the trouble to have these functions. Its good to see old friends that you don't meet anymore.
Us flooring people are strange animals aren't we?

[TFP Admin]

I am sure there are some similarities, Jon. But there are also some marked differences. Usually the leaders of industry organizations are elected to their positions. I pretty much appointed myself. In the strictest sense, I s'pose you could consider TFP a dictatorship. But I am getting the staff to be more assertive - and many of the members aren't shy about it either.

My vision for The Floor Pro Community hasn't changed much at all from what it was 3 years ago. Or even further back than that when I tried to start a similar forum (FloorcoveringPROS.com is now just an ad site owned by a domain parking company). As was true for the original forum in 2003, it has been a struggle to develop a site recognized as one for ALL flooring professionals, not just for 1 or 2 segments of the industry. Because a great majority of the participants belong to just a few segments, there have been a few individuals that thought it was appropriate to promote anti-other industry segment mentality.

Dealing with the issues of seemingly competing organizations has been a real challenge. There are some who feel certain organizations don't deserve recognition, let alone an equal opportunity here. And because I happen to be a web designer that will do work for just about any paying customer, I have been accused of favoring my own customers on TFP - and a couple of people have personal or professional differences with them, so naturally, I am on their shit list too.

This is where I reiterate the purpose of TFP. It is a support site for all flooring professionals. Any pro, regardless of the segment of the industry they work in, whether it's sweeping the warehouse floor in Canada or the CEO of a multi-store, multi-billion dollar retailer in South America, to a burgeoning internet retailer in New York to the tail-off guy on the line of a hardwood manufacturer in China, is welcome here at The Floor Pro Community. No single member here will ever have the pull or the influence to quash that vision as long as I am alive.

It doesn't matter how much a pro knows or how much they don't know. They belong when they say they do. The internet is a great resource for information and education - of course, it's not hands-on, but it's as good as many other methods. My experience has been that a flooring professional is never too old or too new to learn something. I have witnessed first hand many long-time pros that have learned easier or more profitable ways to do their work.

The best members are the ones who come here willing to learn and willing to share what they know. The worst members are the ones who think they know all the answers and you should heed their advice or else. Many of them think this or other websites owe them a huge debt of gratitude. Some think the rules don't apply to them.

I love my work here. I am so grateful to the members here for allowing me to keep doing what I can to make this site better. Sometimes I feel like I don't get enough feedback to know what everyone wants, but I try to figure it out by the tone you guys set here. I have tried a few things that didn't work out so well and others a lot of members seem to get a lot of benefit from.

It's not enough for me to just have a message board a lot of pros like to use. I'm sure many of you can see that it gets boring occasionally. What I really want is to have the kind of thing here that a great many pros see as improving their business and even making it more interesting. And yes, those benefits and features should be available to any flooring professional, any organization, any training school - I am NOT going to let this become the elitist club some people think it should be. You can't teach a student to learn and be better if you tell them they aren't welcome.

I should also address those who think this is all about the money. I've been accused of that too. I bust my ass here. I put in a lot of hours. I have spent a good deal of my own money. If anyone here feels that I shouldn't try to recoup some of those expenses and try to make a living from the work I do, then maybe they should try working for the same money I make.

At the same time I want to thank all the members here who have donated so generously to help me recover the expenses of this site and the time I put into it. Whether you have given $5.00 or 500.00 in the last 3 years, I appreciate very much every single donation.

Enough from me. I will try to have a tough skin and willing to accept the criticisms some of you may have. Your suggestions would be welcome too - tell me what I can do to make this site better for you.

Best R'gards,

Jim

[rgfloor]

Jon Scanlan said Jim with some recent comments on TFP it reminded me of my days as President of the Auckland Master Flooring Contractors Assoc and I can see lots of similarities

Thankfully they are very few, I don't recall any for the last mnth.

Jon Scanlan said Jim you are damed if you do and damed if you don't. Who would like to be in your position?

Right you are Jon, but that is the worldyou live in ifyou are the head of anything, your decisions will never be universally liked.

Jon Scanlan said This was the type of thing that put me into the situation why do I bother?

One needs to have determination and a very thick skin.

Jon Scanlan said Remember all that stuff I wrote about if companies where to put money into Building Bridges not walls? If money was put in they would want a return for their expenses. That hidden agenda again.

That is not unrealistic, it is called business 101! To stay in business you need a return on investment, ROI, any economics class will teach you that. Even a guy working for wages needs to understand that, he invests his time and gets his wage as a return. Absolutely nothing wrong with expecting a ROI. On the other hand altruism, generosity, and helping your fellow man are good things too. If we can we should, but it can not be forced.

Jon Scanlan said Another problem that would arise every now and again that would come back to me was that the suppliers never did anything for the layers.

Common complaint, but usually unfounded.

Jon Scanlan said Us flooring people are strange animals aren't we?

Absolutely.


Jim, keep up the good work, I think we are all standing behind your efforts. (Some further back than others)

[Lo Down]

rgfloor said Thankfully they are very few, I don't recall any for the last mnth. Right you are Jon, but that is the worldyou live in ifyou are the head of anything, your decisions will never be universally liked. One needs to have determination and a very thick skin. That is not unrealistic, it is called business 101! To stay in business you need a return on investment, ROI, any economics class will teach you that. Even a guy working for wages needs to understand that, he invests his time and gets his wage as a return. Absolutely nothing wrong with expecting a ROI. On the other hand altruism, generosity, and helping your fellow man are good things too. If we can we should, but it can not be forced. Common complaint, but usually unfounded. Absolutely. Jim, keep up the good work, I think we are all standing behind your efforts. (Some further back than others)

I hit the quote reply button so I could repeat what Roger said so well.
You are doing everything right T and have been extremely fair. No issues from me, so don't worry 'bout the complainers.... they is what they is.

[TFP Admin]

Thanks, Lo - and Roger.

Lo Down said No issues from me, so don't worry 'bout the complainers.... they is what they is.

But the complainers have a right to voice their opinions too. I've been made aware of inadequacies in the forum by those who have complained, so I certainly don't want to shut them up.

Not too long ago I received a complaint that I was giving special consideration to "the in crowd" so to speak. Some even think I won't read their PMs unless they check the Read Receipt box. I read every message sent to me by a member or guest, whether it's a PM or email. And I will always reply when a question has been asked.

This forum section and this topic can be replied to by unregistered visitors, so you don't even have to be a member to have a voice here. That may be inviting trouble from any chronic malcontent, but those kind of people tend to be the ones Jon referred to with their own agendas and get their kicks by disrupting the flow of good information and resources. It was a decision I made early on to allow guests to post in certain forums, especially the one that was meant for voicing problems or complaints with using the site.

Keep the comments coming.

Jim

[Nick Arrera]

I only have one complaint . NO AUDIO . I have to read every post .

Other then that you have done a great job along with staff and members making this a top of the line site .

[cproader]

TFP Admin said Keep the comments coming. Jim

................ ....

[rgfloor]

Nick Arrera said I only have one complaint . NO AUDIO . I have to read every post . Other then that you have done a great job along with staff and members making this a top of the line site .

Nick, a great idea!!

How about a RSS feed with audio and video!!

Then I could sit in my easy chair and put it on my 42 inch flat screen and relax.

Listen up now T!! We wants what we wants. (does that make me a malcontent?)

[rusty baker]

I'm still trying to come to grips with belonging to a group that would have me as a member.

[TFP Admin]

Nick Arrera said Other then that you have done a great job along with staff...

Yeah, I figgered you'd say something like that - Mr. Staff Member.

cproader said ................ ....

rgfloor said Nick, a great idea!! How about a RSS feed with audio and video!! Then I could sit in my easy chair and put it on my 42 inch flat screen and relax. Listen up now T!! We wants what we wants. (does that make me a malcontent?)

My suggestion is to ask your friends and relatives to take turns reading the site out loud for you. Oh, and that 42-incher is prob'ly really bad for your eyes. Better send it to me to give it a thorough inspection. I'll send it back if it checks out okay. See how I look after you guys?

rusty baker said I'm still trying to come to grips with belonging to a group that would have me as a member.

But if I didn't allow you to join here, you wouldn't be able to lead the #%^& list.

[Barry Carlton]

I lurk on the 3 other floorboards, and my observation is that this one has the most participation, and, contrary to some other opinions, the majority of subjects is flooring related.

So, I think that alone speaks for the success of the site and the vision that created it!!!!

b

[Lo Down]

TFP Admin said Thanks, Lo - and Roger. But the complainers have a right to voice their opinions too. I've been made aware of inadequacies in the forum by those who have complained, so I certainly don't want to shut them up. Not too long ago I received a complaint that I was giving special consideration to "the in crowd" so to speak. Some even think I won't read their PMs unless they check the Read Receipt box. I read every message sent to me by a member or guest, whether it's a PM or email. And I will always reply when a question has been asked. This forum section and this topic can be replied to by unregistered visitors, so you don't even have to be a member to have a voice here. That may be inviting trouble from any chronic malcontent, but those kind of people tend to be the ones Jon referred to with their own agendas and get their kicks by disrupting the flow of good information and resources. It was a decision I made early on to allow guests to post in certain forums, especially the one that was meant for voicing problems or complaints with using the site. Keep the comments coming. Jim

No, I didn't mean it that way. What I mean by complainers is the whiners that whine for the sake of attention. You have always listened and reacted to real complaints.

rusty baker said I'm still trying to come to grips with belonging to a group that would have me as a member.

These guys are good Rusty, and if they knew that I sometimes used only one nail per piece of doorway tack strip and don't always seal the seam in the back of the closet, they wouldn't have me as a member Rusty............ so keep some stuff to yourself and they'll still accept ya. Worked fer me so far anyways. shhhhh! what they don't know won't hurt em.

barrycarlton said I lurk on the 3 other floorboards, and my observation is that this one has the most participation, and, contrary to some other opinions, the majority of subjects is flooring related. So, I think that alone speaks for the success of the site and the vision that created it!!!! b

Megadittos Barry. I just lurk at a couple places once in a while and post there when I see someone that needs a in the butt .....but that's not where I go for info either.

[DJ]

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