WEBSITE/COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER Area 53 Guideline Change

Background Panel 53– Area 53 Website launched, Primary focus is to post content of Area activities. One volunteer “webmaster”. No committee Panel 55—Ad Hoc Website Committee formed to create guidelines for the website. No corresponding Assembly Action. Registrar volunteers as webmaster. No committee. He resigns with no notice. Focus of website is still to post content of Area activities.. Panel 59--Guideline revision to move responsibilities from Area Registrar to PI Committee. Another volunteers as “webmaster”. He resigns, with no notice. Panel 61—Current volunteer takes over. Tries to form website committee (PI committee presentnot active) with no participation. Develops website into what we enjoy today which is far beyond posting Area Activities and is well outside the scope of Public Relations/Information.

Current Needs/Requirements ■Officer-level commitment. Good attendance and participation from Officers. Guidelines outline course for non-participation. No more technical than the registrar or treasurer. ■45 years of Area 53 experience rotating out. New panel will challenged by many things. Important to maintain the current level of service. ■Area 53 enjoys one of the most advanced websites among all of the Areas, with online registrations for events, newsletters, and group service # lookup. address management for all Area members, domain name and web hosting maintenance, privacy protection, website security, and website policy. (this years state convention-no online registration) ■Workload is substantial and critical ■Someone who is accountable to the Area Officers, Committee Chairs and the Assembly. ■Someone who has a vote in Area matters, i.e. web policies and practices. ■Need to explore development of teleconferencing sub-committee meetings.

Alternatives Committee Member ■Committees are autonomous. ■Commitment is low. Turnover is high ■Attendance, even by the Chair, at Planning Meetings and Assemblies is historically very low. Ask any Area Chair. ■Job does not really fit in any of the current Area 53 sub-Committees. Best serves the Area Committee. Hired Professional ■Not part of the Area Committee, will need to compensate for time spent at assemblies, committee meetings, Area Planning meetings and conferences. Roughly hours alone. IT and time with officers and committee chairs another 100 hours. ■Other Areas paying roughly $4000/yr

Experience of Other Areas/GSO ■No committee at the Conference. Does not fall under PI committee. Created new staff position: Communication Services. ■Communication/Technology Issues discussed at great length at conference. Delegates have shared their experience around the country. (Excel spreadsheet) ■Area 51 recently created an officer position: ■“As the demand for on-line content and services continue to grow it is imperative that our Area Website keep up with that demand and the changing technologies. Creating an official Area Webmaster will help ensure our policies are updated and adhered to, content is current and secure and that the technology we are using is the best for our Area purpose. Creating this position will also ensure the spirit of rotation.”