2009-01-12 Web Design status meeting

Old Business:

1. Agenda modifications

2. Subteam status reports

* Content (Georgette)

• -- Public transportation content has been updated.
• -- Catherine has worked on volunteer forms and is reviewing them with staff this week.
• -- Ken has only three parks left; no input from Phil this week; Gayle has done Fahnestock.

* Technology (Walt)

• -- Fighting with Exchange & spam issue -- solving this is a prereq to switching DNS to new site.
• -- Trellon patch file for ucdiscount didn't make sense -- have new one now but Trellon also needs to post itas Drupal bug fix. Trellon also need to fix plus signs in store code.

* Business model (Ed)

• -- Current email problems (stuff going to nynjtc.org addresses ends up in spam folder) -- what's going on? Walt doesn't know -- service provider isn't responding quickly to problem report.
• -- Park pages in Wiki -- well-written; Discussion of how to attract their authors to contribute to our pages. What are the issues of public vs copyrighted content? Bottom line: we really don't know. (Add to requirements for later phase.)

3. Web redesign status

* discuss what we want to announce re the launch-what's available, what's not, what's planned for the future, what people need to know to use the site effectively. See Walt's amended agenda in comments.

Must haves:

• -- hikes should all have maps in place for launch (solves NJ-centered directions)
• -- Georgette may withdraw her request to move directions in View Hike to top, especially as directions for Dan's hikes of the week are are NJ-centric.
• -- Make links on front page current
• -- Left block re new features -- need to review and revise
• -- Site User's Guide from user's perspective (Action: Ann to call Georgette during week re this.)
• -- E-commerce (store code and join/renew/donate)
• -- Viewpoint forum and community -- Action: Walt to propose what should be there for launch at next status meeting.
• -- Left menu cleanup -- Action: Walt to do it & review with us next week.
• -- Panel page links need to be corrected or deleted (Action: Georgette)

Good to haves:

• Volunteers
• Event Calendar (needs a menu item to point to it -- Walt to do)
• Advocacy (probably not, but link to something)
• Committees (Web, Trails)
• Graphics (Captions&credits; where it is; who took it; when) Need some sort of disclaimer where we don't have provenance. Add photo credits link to bottom footer.
• Privacy policy -- it exists but needs tuneup. Copyright needs tuneup. Text needs to be imported from old site (Walt action)
• Google adwords / adsense.

* discuss store discount policy and make recommendation to whoever it is that sets the discounts. Ann to summarize recommendation (no discount for registered members -- only for TC members (25%), but possibly have promotion at launch with 10% discount first 30 days). Also ask committees if they want to exploit our launch in any way (Georgette to draft email.)

* Trellon -- Deliverables outstanding ... are we done? -- not quite; see above.

4. Specific action items requiring discussion.

See http://new.nynjtc.net/meeting/actions

5. Review site with Regional Reps if available (2:30 - 3:00)

Regional reps: Brenda, Christie, Larry joined the discussion.

-- Walt reviewed Go Hiking and Get Involved pages
Q: Can your class of people navigate and find what they are looking for?

• Brenda: move Today's Highlights up on the main page (above Hike of the Week) Walt moved it.
• Re Parks description -- Larry noted that when we go public, we should alert Parks that we have description they can review and link to.
• Larry: who takes care of information and makes sure it's current? (we are working on it)
  All: concerned that keeping Web info up to date is extra burden and they have too much to do.
• Question: will people be able to register for workshops with same process once we go live? (Should work just fine.)
• Brenda: where are the trail committees? -- something we need to add: Add Trails Council structure and committees to About US and Get Involved pages. Add list of all committees to Get Involved. (Action: Georgette?)
• Next Trails Council meeting is Feb. 5. Walt to do a presentation.

• Note that the Search function is most useful.
• Discussion of terminology used: "Trail University"
  Consistent terminology -- Trail U Courses -> Course Catalog (Georgette has revised pages per suggestions.)
• We need to include info about Volunteer orientation on About us and Get Involved pages. (Action: Georgette)
• Ongoing issue with Trail University concept -- Action: Georgette to make proposal about dropping it.
• Make link to old site visible in all left columns -- Action: Walt
• Need to be able to get to forms from new site ... set up on new site (Search forms a la search parks) --Georgette has set up page for this. (We committed to
  figure out how to access forms by Feb. 5 Trails Council meeting.)
• Add "search old site" line in left column ? -- Action: Walt
• Larry: get volunteers to see if they can navigate their most common stuff
• Not enough emphasis on Advocacy and Conservation -- Georgette: work in progress -- looking for better solution
• Brenda wants to see all of Highlights above the fold on the main page
• Larry: can people create their own forum? Answer: yes
• Walt looking for suggestions for structuring Viewpoint forum -- by topics or threaded discussions
• Discussion of Contribute vs Drupal -- people who've used both say Drupal is a little easier to use.
• Brenda commented that the look and feel of the new site is much nicer.

6. Review launch plan and set goals for next week.

See http://new.nynjtc.net/book/nynjtc-web-site-launch-plan
(Discussed earlier in agenda.)

New Business:

Invite someone to next status meeting? -- not this time.

* Walt demoed three different ways to incorporate Google maps in a page (iframe to plop in text box - Google module -- has the most functionality -- also accommodates incorporation of KML file) Team decided this is the best choice. Action: Walt to do a Hike1 so Georgette can try it and determine whether to redo all the existing maps.