UWSAG talks to Linda & Gene Gaynor
of Gene & Linda G's Awards

Owner: Gene & Linda G's Awards rated 4.0 with UWSAG
Owner: Gene & Linda G's Website
Winner: UWSAG Top Ten! for December, 2003

1. What got you started in website design?
   
   "It all started with seeing a “Free” website, promotional ad, in a neighborhood newspaper and a challenge to create family site. Little did I know then that this challenge, while obtainable, would lead to an endless array of new challenges, new friends and an enjoyable hobby."
   
   
2. What do you hope to accomplish with your award program?
   
   Of course, awards are rewards for hard work and the application of sound content and design principles. We also hope to offer webmasters the incentives to set new or higher goals for themselves by offering constructive feedback when it is deemed applicable."
   
   
3. What advice would you give other program owners?
   
   "Don’t throw a program together too quickly. Write it all down on paper in an outline form and then fill in the detail. Then review it….review it…review it. You will have less chance of missing something. You are obligated to issue an award based solely on YOUR CRITERIA. If you find you must make a criteria change, post the date of the change on your site for future applicant’s reference. Also, don’t include criteria that you are not honestly capable to evaluate fully."
   
   
4. What was the biggest problem you faced with your award program?
   
   "The biggest problem I have or so my wife tells me is keeping the same design without any alterations. Even the best of them that have achieved their best work will still look at their site and think if I did this or if I did that, you will all know exactly what I mean."
   
   
5. If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?
   
   "One that is universal! Getting applicants to read the “Mandatory or Disqualifying” criteria."
   
   
6. If you had to do it all over again what would you do differently?
   
   "Yes and No.
   
   Yes, because in retrospect, I would have started out with what I have developed to date. I started out with far too many “Pretty”, and fairly meaningless, awards with little, weak or ambiguous criteria attached. I would not have started our program without building a firmer foundation though visiting and applying to more structured, or rated, award programs.
   
   And no, because along with a lot of mistakes came constructive peer criticism and help"
7. What plans do you have for the future?
   
   "Just this week, we have started attaching the score sheet to the notification emails. Look for some additional criteria change in the next few months. We are also entertaining getting some additional help for the evaluation process because of the time involved and for the purpose of procuring additional opinions."
   
8. What else do you like to do?
   
   "I’m basically a couch potato when not sitting at the computer. If I have more than three days off in a row, the best thing I can think of is to sit in a rowboat on a lake with a fishing pole. Really don’t care if they’re biting or not."