Re: [GBW] update on GBW website

[Sam Ellenport <sam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello -
While of the old school, I think this is a very good idea and am all for
it.  There are two caveats which are probably apparent.  First, I think the
payment system, if done online, should be linked to some kind of
record-keeping software system so that the secretary or treasurer does not
have to wade through each item.  In my experience, refunds, small discounts,
etc. can cause confusion and eat time when a software program might resolve
many of these issues.  Second, if the membership list is accessible online
through the new site, I would suggest a safeguard so that members have to
enter a password or key to access it.  This would keep our membership lists
semi-private which I would applaud.  It's not that we are a secret society,
but I would hate to get more spam than I do now through an abuse of the
system.
Other than that, I look forward to the new system.
Sam Ellenport

On Wed, Feb 18, 2009 at 11:12 AM, Eric Alstrom GBW Communications Chair <
communications@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> With all the talk about digital publications and related matters, I
> wanted to update the membership (or the portion of the membership
> which subscribes to our list) about what is happening with the GBW
> website.
>
> As it was noted, the website has basically been the same since Peter
> Verheyen, then GBW Publicity chair, created many years ago (in early
> 1995, I believe).  Peter asked me to be the webpage editor in
> 1997/1998.  I updated it and did minor changes for several years.
> Then I was elected Publicity Chair (now known as the Communications
> Chair) when Peter stepped down in 2002.  I have done some more tweaks
> and addition of pages over the past few years, but nothing major.
> The look, the navigation and the content have been pretty  much the
> same since 1995.  It is time for some change!
>
> So change, were we come!  I am currently working with a professional
> web designer on overhauling the website: the look, the navigation,
> somewhat with the content, and perhaps most importantly, adding an
> online payment system.  To be honest, I do not know what direction
> the designer will take.  We are still in the early stages of this
> process.  I have told him what we need (info about the Guild, about
> our activities such as exhibits and Standards, online payment system,
> and info about the book arts), who our audience is (members and the
> public) and what the goals of the website should be (inform current
> members, attract new members, and be a resource for information on
> the book arts).  Where he goes with this is anyone's guess.  Not that
> I/we won't have input, but he is the professional so I am letting him
> present his ideas first.
>
> This is a multi-month project.  I don't expect anything to appear on
> our website until late Spring/early Summer.  And that will be the
> first round of changes.  More will come at an even later date.  But
> rest assured, some changes are coming.
>
> If you have thoughts about what our website should be and what it
> should contain, please let me know.  Better yet, please reply to the
> list and lets have a discussion about what we want to see on our
> website.  I won't promise that every idea can be implemented (we
> don't want to create Homer Simpson's "perfect" car), but it is to all
> of our advantages to know what we want to see as the public face for
> our Guild.
>
> Thanks,
> Eric
>
>
>
>
> ^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^
>  Eric Alstrom
>  Publicity Chair & WebBinder
>  Guild of Book Workers
>  publicity@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>  http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byorg/gbw/
> ^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^
>
>
>
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GBW: The email list for GBW member communications

GBW Standards - October 16-18, 2008
Toronto, Ontario
More info at http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byorg/gbw/standards.shtml

The GBW website is supported and maintained by
Conservation OnLine http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byorg/gbw

To post messages, email to GBW@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

For problems, contact Eric Alstrom, List Manager:
gbwlist@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

For info about the list, visit http://mailman.lib.msu.edu/mailman/listinfo/gbw
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