Adopt an orphan

I just took IHOP under my wing...

To be fair the original maintainer should be given a reasonable amount of time to respond to an email regarding his/her files (say 2 weeks). At that time the file should be made available for someone else to maintain it. Whether it be an update or complete fresh file would be up to the new maintainer. Sometimes it is easier to start fresh.

While we are on the subject, we should start getting rid of some duplicate files and individual files since the info is in larger files.

There are a few that no one maintains.

@pwohlrab - good idea.

@pwohlrab - good idea

I have emailed the maintainers of "Ohio Wineries & Vineyards" and he told me that I can take over the file, but I am not sure what to do next. After I updated the file I sent email to POI Factory site to see about taking over the file but my email may have gotten lost in the mix. I was hoping to take over the file; not add another file and leave the old one still never updated. Any help or pointer would be great (I am sure I will need help to get it right).

@pmhennessey

I switched "Ohio Wineries & Vineyards" over to you and added a note about the change.

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/1905

Thanks for taking this over

Jonathan (aka JM)

Thank you for your quick reply. This is why I love this site.

I have to agree with this as well. This brings me to a question, would I be able to temporarily give up my files for adoption? I have to go on "vacation" for a few months early next year and may not have access to the Internet during this time. I'd still be interested in maintaining when I get back.

I can think of a couple ways to handle this.

The best would seem to be a "temporary adoption" as you suggest. This way, they'd be up-to-date when you return.

Another option would be to add a note to the POI File page and hold off on updates while you're away. I could do something like temporarily reassign them to the "poi factory" user account so you don't get mail messages while you're away.

Some combination of the two approaches could work if we don't find temporary takers for all of the files.

Jonathan

I would think that it would be easier to just leave them be. It probably will depend on how many changes you get and would need to make. I would suggest a note on the file download that any changes will be handled when you return would suffice.

Of adoption candidates? The files that no one is listed as maintainer?

Thanks

What I would do is look through the files you use to see if any are lacking updates and then see if the submitter/maintainer is still active on the site. If they're not active or have no contact tab, then consider that file abandoned. There are probably a lot of abandoned files, but if no one uses them they don't need maintaining.

I'd be fine with temporary adoption if I'm not able to access the web, otherwise I'd have no trouble keeping them up to date. Only time will tell. I can also wait to update once I get back, as it will be fairly easy to make any necessary changes.

If I happen to drop off for some time it isn't because I lost interest in keeping them updated, but rather I am unable to do so and will continue upon my return. I just wanted to make sure you know I'm not abandoning the files.

Just before leaving I will make a note on the page, and to send the updates to me anyway just in case I can make them.

Some seem like they may have taken a respite while a few seem like they'd given up on. I'll try to contact them and go from there.

Best to contact the current maintainer first, if you don't hear back contact JM to have it switched over to you. I know it has been mentioned a few times regarding an "abandoned POI" list for people to adopt.

As the maintainer of Famous Gravesites & Criminal points of interest.Famous Gravesites & Criminal points of interest site I am now giving up the Famous Gravesites up and concentrating on criminal points in history.
At the present time my crime file is at 441 places and growing so anyone who wants to do famous grave sites is welcome to do it.

Some files are hard to keep updating unless there is input from the rest of the POI members. A good example is my Family restaurants Mom & Pop Locations, I wanted this file to be restaurants that were recommended by people that had actually eaten there, not just names taken out of the phone book. All of the ones that I have personally entered are places I have eaten at, but I can only eat at so many restaurants. I have gotten input from a few people but with the number of members we have I know there are hundreds of people eating at hundreds of places that could be added to the list from different parts of the country. Don't get me wrong, I'm not whining because it's nothing I'm going to lose any sleep over, I'm just giving an example because it's one I know first hand about. I'm sure there are other people's files that are in the same situation.

Hello Gang~

I have a few files here that are in need of a general maintainer. The listed maintainer has been contacted and is no longer interested in maintaining files.

The five that I would like to see updated as soon as possible are:

PF Changs USA
Marriott Hotels - USA
Six Flags Parks
Theme Parks in the US
Top 10 US Water parks

If you are interested in maintaining any of these files please contact me via the contact form and let me know which you are interested in.

Thank you!

~Angela

As a way to keep track of known orphaned files, I am changing the maintainer status to POI Factory.

If a file has this designation it is either up for adoption, or open for member updating.

I know Mahoney has helped us locate a few files that are now orphaned and he has been willing to bring the file up-to-date for us but not take on maintainer status due to his current file load.

I am open to others helping in this way as well.
While I would rather each file be maintained by a member of the community, it's also important to me that the files be as current as possible.

Please feel free to contact me if you have additional thoughts or questions.

~Angela