I think it is a sad thing, most of the time, that the office in which I work has so few people who understand the internet, their computer, or even email. But what I think is more tragic than their missing knowledge is the fact that some are unwilling to learn anything new.
I will admit I have been frustrated at times working in an office where the difference between Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Word completely escapes a majority of the staff, but frustration aside, I would imagine that the organization in order to continue and grow would at least take the initiative to increase their skill set. I don't mean teach everyone html, or php, I mean on a more basic level such as explaining what a web browser is.
A lot of organizations want to take advantage of the internet for marketing and connecting to potential volunteers. A few love the idea on paper and like to report that this is how they plan on "expanding"; however, it's something they don't understand, and if no one on the staff does...Well...it looks good on a report.
Sometimes organizations over complicate the internet. They need to get permission from their parent Organization A, who believes a website from one of the children organizations will drive traffic away from their current website. It's a common mis-conception to believe something like this, but in the world of internet marketing and Search Engine Optimization it just isn't true. Other times parent Organization A needs to be in on the design, or requires this to be on the site or that to be on the site, which is fine, to a degree. When its not fine is when organizations don't understand one of the most basic rules of the universe, "if one thing is wanted, another is given up". So things might be asked to be done, when no one understands what limitation they've just imposed on themselves. Overall, if a potential volunteer can type the volunteer center's name in google, and not find them something is seriously wrong.
The part that I find really tragic is after "if its accomplished". As vista's we are suppose to make our projects self sustaining. Ways we could do that is : (1) secure funds (if our organization will let us) for our organization to pay someone to continue the work we've started; (2) Organize a group of volunteers (if our agency will let us) to continue our work; (3) give the agency the skills via training materials, videos, and documentation to do it themselves. So once the face book, website, or program has been in place, if an agency is unwilling (out of fear, or personal dislike, or belief), it will sit and gather dust--a wasted effort. How much money is being spent to encourage these organization to use these tools they don't even make an effort to understand? How much money is wasted once a person finally gets all the permissions and efforts to get them up and running, just to have them neglected and unused after they leave?
I imagine most organizations will say, well the VISTA didn't do a good enough job, so we need another one.
I can get nearly fully functional website solution up and running in nearly a day, that does not require anyone to know html to add additional pages, images, or movie content, for absolutely no money. With a little bit of money (and I mean nearly ~$4.00 a month or $120 every 3 years) that website could be made to sing, even bring money in and help pay for itself.
