Summary

The goal of this project is to review and rebuild the FFII membership management system, which has been based on a database system called "aktiv".

Aktiv had the useful properties of organising members into work groups, with attached mailing lists, a model that has proven very successful, with over 400 mailing lists created.

However, in trying to combine membership management with activity management, aktiv has not provided the tools needed to properly manage our members.

Today, the question of work groups is handled by this web site (action.ffii.org). The MM work group is looking at a new model for managing membership requests and data.

Requirements

These are our main requirements:

1. Online request process, using web forms, which results in a page that can be printed and faxed, or emailed, depending on whether member is already known to the board or not.
2. Option for supporters/members to immediately pay contributions/donations quickly and easily from main screen.
3. Routing of new members to appropriate national chapters if needed.
4. Collection of some bio information to allow board to make decision on membership for unknown individuals.
5. Verification of email address for new registrations.
6. Ability to manage own profile online.

General Proposal

The general proposal is to have a two-step process by which we collect supporters first, and then allow supporters to become members. The online processes would work as follows:

1. Registration - an individual registers, chooses a login id, provides an email address. The email address is verified, then the individual can manage their profile as defined below.
2. Profile management - a registered invididual can edit their details (defined below), can subscribe/unsubscribe to principal mailing lists, can join a national chapter, can make a payment.

3. Request membership - a registered individual can request membership, which gives access to other email lists & resources. Must provide more details, including reason for wanting to join; confirm they have read the statutes. A confirmation page is shown, the user prints this and signs it and faxes or posts it to the FFII together with proof of payment. For individuals already known to the FFII, this step can be done less formally.

4. Administration tools - allowing FFII administrators and board to view and update the status of registered individuals.

The offline processes would work as follows:

1. When new membership request is received (online), an email is sent to the board list, where any of the board can use the admin tool to confirm the membership. Normally the board should wait for the paper to arrive; this needs some well-defined individual to be responsible for receiving the membership forms, filing them, and telling the board.
2. The treasurer can use the administration tool to see what members have not paid their fees.
3. Bulk email can be sent to members either for normal reasons, or to remind them to pay.

Personal Details

We allow a registered individual to provide these details:

• - Last name, First, middle names (required) - Email address, which is verified (required) - Postal address - Telephone numbers - Short bio - Nationality - Represents a company? (name, number of employees)

Password Management

We need the usual security on password management; i.e. the ability for an individual to request a new password sent to their validated email address.