Lions Website Resource Report
Introduction
The purpose of this report is to provide information for consideration by Lions in the area of website design and hosting. I hope that the information that I provide will fertilize Lions’ imaginations toward cultivating ideas for using computer tools for communicating with each other.
I’m going to discuss:
- Lions-sponsored free website design and hosting
- Outside free website design and hosting
- Paid website design and hosting
- Social Networking
- Group mail
- Distribution lists
- Actions
I will conclude with some remarks.
Club members can use a website as a tool for attracting prospective members. They can use it as a tool for keeping interested folks informed about their Club.
While there are people who want to be Lions, on their own, most prospects have to be educated about the Lions Club. A website that doesn’t educate most folks isn’t going to attract most prospects. If the purpose of a Club website is to attract dedicated wannabe Lions, it only needs a page of contact information. If the point of the Club website is to educate prospects and others about the Acton Lions Club, such a website has to be more complete.
Another way to use a website is to keep folks up-to-date on Club activities. Someone who was absent from a meeting could find out what he missed. A contact link could provide a way for a member to sign-up for whatever service opportunities interested him. Such a link could also be used for member feedback.
Once Club members have decided to set up and administer a web site they can look at different ways to accomplish that.
Lions-sponsored free website design and hosting
The simplest and quickest way to create a free web site for the Club is to goto http://www.e-clubhouse.org/ . This site uses templates and easy-to-use applications to help users. Users can display up to ten photographs on-site. Goto http://www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/actonca/index.php Acton CA LIONS e-clubhouse for an example of a Lions e-Clubhouse site
Outside free website design and hosting
More ambitious web administrators can opt for web design sites that offer more layout and content options than are available at http://www.e-clubhouse.org.
There are a lot of sites out there. They generally are easy to use, and offer upgrades for those folks who want more than just basic web site services. These sites offer a variety of layouts and themes. They offer support and how-to articles.
Here are three free website design and hosting services, and examples:
- http://www.wix.com/docellis124/sweetwaterspecialtyservices Sweetwater Specialty Services Website under construction
- http://renoarch.tripod.com/ Reno Arch LIONS
- http://sweetwaterspecialtyservices.webs.com/ Sweetwater Specialty Services Website
Paid website design and hosting
https://www.ixwebhosting.com/ Pay-to-play web design and hosting
- http://actoncalions.com/ or http://98.130.249.111/ Acton CA LIONS paid website. We pay about $66.00 a year for this website. Goto https://www.ixwebhosting.com/shared-hosting-specs for pricing and plan information.
Social Networking
A network is a group of e-mail addresses, with individual accounts, linked together. Networks differ from group mail services (see below) in that each account can have private access or open access. Networks also offer opportunities for members to post blog entries on their own blog lines.
There is currently one Acton CA LIONS Club network page at which interested readers may visit
- FaceBook at Acton CA LIONS Club https://www.facebook.com/groups/51862171726/
Group mail
Along with Lion e-Clubhouse, Yahoo.com offers a free group mail service to folks at http://groups.yahoo.com. This service offers shared message archives, photo albums, group event calendars, member polls and shared links, and the capacity for open access messages. A benefit of this group is that any member can send a message to everyone in the group without having to develop a distribution list.
Distribution Lists
A distribution list is a collection of e-mail addresses under a common name. A list maker inputs through the use of listing functions a group of e-mail addresses and then assigns a name, for example: Acton Lions. When sending a message, he enters the group name in the to line, or cc line, or bcc line. Recipients can respond either to the sender only, or to everyone on the list. Setting up such a list can be a time-consuming task if there are a lot of addresses to enter onto the list. Over time, if shared by everyone on the list, such a list can grow into a network. This network, maintained by the list members, would not be dependent on one person or staff.
Actions
Club members need to decide:
- If they benefit from having Club-oriented computer resources
- What they want to accomplish through the uses of Club resources
- How they want to integrate such uses into Club activities
Once they have resolved these issues, they can delegate the tasks of setting up the infrastructure to interested members.
Club members must make sure that someone notifies Lions International, the Club Multiple District, the Club District, the Club Region, other Clubs, and other Club members. Promote the website through social networks, group mail, and distribution lists. A Club website must have visitors to justify its existence, and notifying and promoting will help interested folks find that website. The more folks find the website, the more likely folks will want to know more about the Club.
Remarks
I realize that this is a long discussion of LIONS Club website choices and communications. I hope that I have provided sufficient information to allow interested Lions to make informed decisions.
2011.03.17, by Lion Doc Ellis
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