Region Websites Suggestions & Guinea Pig Needed

[Wayne Messer <6d200f2f1@rewrite.aisboard.org>]

The feedback from our earlier discussion was that Regional websites are
important and will become more important.  As I suspected, top barriers to
having a website are finding someone to set up a website and to update and
maintain it.  Both time and technical know-how are needed to start and keep
a website current.  There is also a concern about the costs involved in
having a website.

For the costs concern, out of pocket costs in setting up a website can be
zero.  There are a number of services where this can be done - as long as
you do not want a special name and do not need their advanced services.  I
consider them a good way to get started and then see if you need more.  The
special names would be something like irises.com instead of
irises.wordpress.com.  I'm comfortable with the latter form; but, it should
be a policy decision.  (The current region websites vary with most, but not
all, being aisregionX.org or aisregionX.com.)

As an example of free services we use, I assume World of Irises is one
because of its address.  Also all the Facebook pages.  Another example from
Region 21 is the Club website using Wix for Siouxland Iris Society created
by their president Mike Becker at:
http://topdog51031.wix.com/siouxland-iris

To address the other obstacles, there are three general approaches I've
been thinking about.

1.  Do it for them.  Similar to what we currently do using the AIS website
only bringing several pieces together and adding events like their upcoming
meetings.  It would have RVP contact information, Clubs in the Region and
their contacts and websites (if applicable) as well as Region events and a
Regional Newsletter if they have a digital one.  Could be hosted on the AIS
website (similar to what some regions do for their Clubs) or elsewhere.  It
would cut out the technical problems (presumably); but, still have the
challenge of being updated in a timely fashion.  Someone or more than one
person would need to be designated to let us know what is happening.  Are
there reports from the Region or Clubs that come in on a regular basis that
would supply the needed updates?

2.  Set it up for them to update.  Similar to number 1 except the actual
updating would be their responsibility.  Updating a page or post is
generally simpler and less intimidating than creating a website from
scratch.  We probably would not have it hosted on the AIS website - I don't
know if it is feasible for someone to be able to edit one page without the
permission extending to the rest of the website.

3.  Teach them to set it up and update it.  Have either people or pointers
to tutorials to help them learn how to create a website.  Then they would
be responsible for updating it as well.  The result would be similar to
what we do now; except, there would be a committee of volunteers (hopefully
plural) to assist them or point the way.  We would publicize that this help
is available.

I've experimented some with number 1, not creating a website; but, helping
them get a notice online (using Dropbox in my case) that could be linked
to.  It can be done; however, number 2 would now be my preferred approach.
It only requires one person to get something updated, not two.  And I think
there is a way to do it that takes advantage of their usual workflow.

A website (blog in this case) can be set to update by email.  Both Blogger
(blogspot) and WordPress offer this.  You just need to know the proper
email address to send something for immediate posting.  If you can email
and know how to attach a file to email, you could be all set.  I've set up
an example of what we might do at:

http://aissample.wordpress.com/

The posts are all things sent by email.  Only the initial setup and the
About page were created the regular way.  Instead of having the About page,
this information could be in posts as well, making it easy to add updated
info.

I would be willing to work with a Region to try this if there are any
volunteers.  Is AISDiscuss the place to publicize this and see who would
like to participate?

Comments and suggestions please.

Regards,

Wayne Messer

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