wheelinterested -- 02-07-2007 @ 9:24 PM
I recently visited WBCCI headquarters in JC Ohio and on the table was a bin of newsletters from all over the country from many many different units.
I know some units can and do post their newsletters online. But I think if there was a newsletter inbox right here, members could upload their own newsletters at will, and we could all benefit from all the work that went into producing them and it would be a great asset to the unity and cohesion of the club. We could be connected to news, pictures, and rally highlights from all over many regions. I think it would be encouraging and inspiring, and a good use of resources already expended.
And if the International officers would choose to put up articles and pictures about their travels, service and experiences that could also be put up online for members to enjoy.
tincantom -- 02-07-2007 @ 11:16 PM
Great idea. I'd like to see the inclusion of Intra Clubs newsletters as well.
tom
wheelinterested -- 02-09-2007 @ 2:32 PM
Tom I see in the last Blue Beret that only 2 of the intraclubs had features in that section. Perhaps the Classic Airstream Club could submit an article there as well for an upcoming issue.
dwightdi -- 02-10-2007 @ 7:34 AM
With the new design of the website already in the works, this suggestion should be directed to Bill Schrader. We will have a central place here that all the local chapters can place their announcements and newsletters, if they chose to do so.
wheelinterested -- 02-10-2007 @ 1:43 PM
I was thinking along the lines of members having the capability to upload their favorites. Some of the Yahoo groups have an index on the side of their page with photos and documents links where members can post there.
Schrader -- 02-10-2007 @ 11:56 PM
WBCCI is in the process of making it possible for every Unit to have its own Web site at no cost to the Unit. Each Unit member will also be able to get a free e-mail address.
The Unit Web Site is being currently Beta tested by six Units across the country. Their experiences will be used to fine tune the program before it is rolled out to all the Units in the country.
Intra-Clubs would also be able to have their own Web site, at no charge.
More information on the Web site plan is below, which is a report that was made to the IBT meeting in Perry, Ga.
Report prepared by Bill Schrader, Digital Communications Study Committee.
An agenda item for 2007 was to develop a Web Site Kit that will make it easier and less expensive for Units to develop and maintain their own Web site.
Assistance was sought from Tim Schwartz, a member of the Southern Illinois Unit and developer of that Unit’s Web site.
Tim developed a plan that will enable Units to have elegant, sophisticated Web sites that are easy to maintain and update and require no knowledge of the complicated Web site technology. From a WBCCI standpoint the plan will create a unified look for member Web sites.
First a domain name was obtained to be used as the backbone for the WBCCI Unit sites.
All a Unit will have to do is go to this site, complete a simple registration process, selects its own sub-domain name, follow seven simple steps to create the Web site and then fill in the Unit information. The process of creating the Web site will be 15 to 30 minutes. Additional time will be required to fill in the Unit information.
The Unit Web sites will have some unique features:
Customizable – Units can select from one of eight headers for their site. They can set up as many pages as would like for their site, complete with pictures and graphics.
WallyMail – Each Unit can sign up for a FREE e-mail account for each of its members. The accounts will include two gigabytes of storage per individual account, plus search tools to *ssist in finding information fast and Instant Messaging. Each member will select their individual password.
Calendar System – Members of every Unit with a Web site can organize their schedules and share information on events, meetings and entire calendars with others using the online calendar system.
A Support Forum – Users can use the forum to share and discuss ideas.
A help Desk – This will be available to provide personalized help.
The Web sites don’t have to be limited to Units. National rallies and caravans could also set up Web sites.
The cost for the Unit will be Zero. The cost for WBCCI will be $10 a year for the domain name, $300 a year for the Web server hosting feee and a still to be determined amount for support.
Over the next few weeks six Units will be identified as beta sites for the program. There will be one Unit each from Regions 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12. The test will be used to determine if changes need to be made to make the program as user friendly as possible, to get feedback from the Units, and to help measure what support costs will be.
A report on the beta testing will be made to the International Board of Trustees at the June meeting in Perry, Ga. and if final approval is given it will be rolled out to all Units in WBCCI beginning in July.
wkerfoot -- 02-11-2007 @ 12:17 PM
Bill,
Thanks for this information, this is great news. Do you know which units have been selected?
Bill
Bill Kerfoot
WBCCI/VAC #5223
1973 Dodge W200 PowerWagon, 1977 Lincoln Continental
1979 23' Safari, 1954 Double Door Liner
wheelinterested -- 02-11-2007 @ 3:10 PM
I think the beta site websites is terrific. I was very happy that that is in the works. I think it will make a huge difference. Kudos to all involved! I think that is a major step forward and quickly brought to action.
I am glad for all the information you are putting up here for us, both in this post and in your others. It is very appreciated. THANK YOU!
Just one more reiteration from me on my suggestion. Aside from going to the 140 separate unit sites and clicking on every newsletter, I thought it would be nice if their were a single link to newsletters only, that could quickly be browsed and organized, much like a photo organizer. Newsletter front pages could be displayed as thumbnail pictures (with option to view small medium or large) sorted and labeled in unit/region order. Double clicking could expand the thumbnail picture and bring up the entire newsletter at 100 percent with the added feature of downloading the .pdf.
tincantom -- 02-12-2007 @ 7:20 PM
quote:
Perhaps the Classic Airstream Club could submit an article there as well for an upcoming issue.
Carol,
There is a limit to the number of column inches per year Regions and Intraclubs are allowed in the Blue Beret. I think we have one more article this year (I don't recall who our Pres has appointed this year to write the articles for the CAC). I think it's great that we are allowed space and of course due to costs there must be a limit somewhere.
tom
tincantom -- 02-12-2007 @ 7:29 PM
quote:
WBCCI is in the process of making it possible for every Unit to have its own Web site at no cost to the Unit...Intra-Clubs would also be able to have their own Web site ,,
This is one of the best things WBCCI has done to unify it's membership in a long time. It really makes sense that you could go to one location and access (potentially) all the groups within WBCCI. Great thinking on someone's part.
Alumiphile -- 02-12-2007 @ 7:59 PM
Tom,
quote:
This is one of the best things WBCCI has done to unify it's membership in a long time. It really makes sense that you could go to one location and access (potentially) all the groups within WBCCI.
Hear, hear!
wheelinterested -- 02-12-2007 @ 8:22 PM
I didn't know that the intraclubs take turns on posting thanks for the info. I thought it was like region space and all had some every issue. I look forward to seeing your next contribution.
tincantom -- 02-12-2007 @ 9:08 PM
quote:
I didn't know that the intraclubs take turns on posting
Sorry, I guess I wasn't clear enough. The Intraclubs don't actually take turns. The contributions can be in any issue (there is about a 3 month lead time if I recall), but there is a limit in column inches for each contributor.
tom
Communicator -- 03-12-2007 @ 2:29 PM
Kudos and thanks to Bill Schrader and Tim Schwartz for all of their work on the websites project. It is all very exciting and a real big plus for WBCCI.
Thanks also to Tim Kendziorski, WBCCI #17330, the member who suggested this committee to the WBCCI Communications Liaison and to Don Shafer who received the idea and appointed Bill.
This message was edited by Communicator on 3-12-07 @ 2:30 PM
