Proposal Advice needed

This is a tread softly client...site rebuild

[OntheEdge]

I'm working on a proposal for a very small town's web site rebuild.
My problem is, it's a small close knit town. I'm a newcomer. The web site was built 2 years ago by the daughter of one of the board director's that I will be presenting to.
The site is typical '99 do it yourself. To the non-experianced it appears not to bad, but it has some severe design and functional drawbacks.
Keyword stuffing, the only Meta tag is the title tag on the index page, plenty of bmp's not web-optimized, absolutely zero backlinks, and the list goes on, and on...
My problem is this; they realize it needs some work, however it has been neglected for two years because nobody had the faintest idea of how to access it. Their idea of update is to add the dates for the hockey games.
Obviously, I will not go in there and tell them their site is crud, but I would like to hear any good angles others have used to explain why the important things need to be done, but in the most simplistic laymen's terms.
Most of these people don't even own a computer.

Oh, and I should add... the town has recently established an economic development board and it anxiously seeking ways to promote their town and build its economy by attracting new people and businesses. Plenty of opportunity there...

[Tony_Perry]

a good starting point would be to ask all the members of the board to make a list of how they think it could be improved. ask if the daughter who built the site would be interested in consulting on the new site and keep her on your side. most importantly, point out that webdesign has moved forward in leaps and bounds since 99 and that's why the new site will be able to do so much more!

[sem4u]

You should show them examples of your work to show them what can be achieved in 2003!

[Tony_Perry]

sem4u
couldnt put it any better myself, so glad you did!

[KA_Curtis]

I live in a small town also, and our County website sounds like what you are describing. About a year ago, I wondered if they would like to see my proposal for a redesign, so I did a rough/demo site for them and told them where it was. I explained that it was free to them, that I was working on building my portfolio, and I wanted to do something for the area, I even offered to keep it updated. I spent two days trying to craft the best letter to them explaining who I was, why I wanted to do this, and I didn't even mention the old site, just the new one.

First of all they were offended that I thought the orginal site needed to be redesigned. They acted as if I was trying to "rip them off." I couldn't get them to return my calls or e-mails, and when I could speak to someone, I got "attitude" from them.

I suggest you research who is in control of the site, and then massage their ego. Maybe go to a town meeting, or join the Chamber if they have one.

Live and learn... :)

[OntheEdge]

a good starting point would be to ask all the members of the board to make a list of how they think it could be improved.

excellent point, i've decided that since they have indicated a casual interest in updating the site, that I will be asking them, what they want the site to do. From there make the reccomendations, just like I would with any other client.
As for the creator of the site, I would say I don't want to share the job. Either she will update it for them or I will.Based on the horrendous construction of the site now, I definately wouldn't be interested in co-designing a site with her.
I guess that even though it seems like a special case, it really isn't. I should just follow them same principles for every other client. Portfolio for proof of skill and competancy, don't overwhelm them with too much technical info and of course my site worksheet and contract.
Thanks folks for your input, as usual, this forum has helped me think clearly.