I was one of the board members kicking and screaming no until I was sure that we have safeguards in place to protect us if the creator of the system turns and runs.
We have a good contract with him, at mutually agreed upon intervals, AMHA's lawyer is sent a full copy of all of the source code for the software along with copies of the database.
Why are we doing this?
This software is intended to allow AMHA and members to manage all of our data online from registering foals electronically, submitting stallion reports, entering shows, checking points. The software will have built in edits so if you put the wrong sire on a registration application for a foal, it will go check the stallion report to verify if the mare was on the report and if not, you will get notified on the spot.
Many many things it can do for the office as far as tying in to accounts payable/receivable, etc, it will take the human time invested in processing paperwork down to a smaller amount, and HEY! That means we can avoid having to increase fees.
Show results can be uploaded immediately and seen by all.
What you don't understand is that the current computer system is about to die for good, it has hit its limits. It crashes a lot, and is so hard to maintain because it is written in such old technology that support for it no longer exists. Just call it the Latin of the computer languages.
AMHA owns the data, and will own the software as well. The south african is hosting it on his servers here in the USA. He does not own it.
AMHA does not own the current studbook, we have to pay someone to host and maintain it and all it does is the studbook. Period, that is it. Nothing more, not connected to any other systems, of no use other than reference.
Change is always difficult, but it is a necessary evil.
