2008 Workshop AHEPA District 3 Website Presentation

Purpose: To acquaint the Chapters of our District with basic web site information. To provide the process for entering info on the AHEPA District 3 website for the purpose of creating a chapter web site.

What is a web site? Basically, A web site is a collection of web pages, images, videos or other digital files that is hosted on one or more web servers, usually accessible via the Internet. A server is a computer that manages and shares web based applications accessible anytime from any computer connected to the Internet. Connection to servers can be via phone lines, cable, satellite or even wireless. All publicly accessible websites collectively make up what we call the "World Wide Web".

How does one acquire their own web site? An individual will take the responsibility to create and update a web site An organization or company will assign an person to act on their behalf . This person (web master) selects a web provider – a company that provides hard drive space on a server– for web production.

Points to consider when selecting a web provider. Most web providers offer many features. In order to decide on which provider to use, several options need to be considered: Cost & affordability? Low Server down time (Are they dependable)? Have 24/7 tech support? Additional domain names available? Large number of E-mail accounts for your group? Credit card convenience to sell your items? Foreign language conversion? Video, music, file availability? On-Line form completion? Chat and Q & A forums (PHP). Visitor tracking? Search engine availability? There are many others.

Deciding on a name. The web master can select any name for his web site as long as no one else has that name . The web provider will issue a domain name upon checking to see that that name is available. The cost often varies with available features Once all these are accomplished the Log in Name and Password will be issued and the web site can be created. .org ? ? .biz .us .com ? .net ? .info ?

How does one produce a web site? You need to be able to access the web provider’s or host’s server. A program is generally used to create a site. Examples: MS FrontPage, Dreamweaver, and a host of others. Some web sites have built in programs with templates to make it easy for anyone to create a site. Once a design is decided on, the web master will create this on his PC and when completed will publish it on the host server. It is his responsibility to update the site as information changes.

How does one access a web site? When we turn on our computer and click the icon of the internet program (or type in an address) we tell that program we want to access a certain site. So it sends a signal to the server requesting the address of that site. A link is established and the sever responds by sending a packet of information to that computer. h Server Your computer

Accessing the District web site. After loading the internet access program, we type in the site address. The address is “www.district3ahepa.com”

Accessing the District web site. (cont’d)

Chapters on our District web site. All active Chapters of our District presently have web pages. What this means is we have created a page for each chapter which includes all the Chapter Officers, place of meetings, and functions they hold every year.

Chapters on our District web site (cont’d) While all Chapters have web pages, not all Chapters have web sites. What’s the difference? A web page is a single page of information that is part of another site and cannot stand alone. There is not normally enough info there to let someone know what exactly that site is about. A web site is an internet site which can stand on its own, it usually has multiple pages though it may be linked to a Main site such as the District site.

Why, should a chapter have a web site? To establish a presence. To advertise upcoming events. To share information concerning the Chapter. Provide information and contact numbers 24/7. To show how a chapter is progressing. To help others benefit from whatever methods they are using. To learn from their successes (or failures). To provide answers to questions. To reduce printing and mailing costs. A hundred other reasons.

Why, should a chapter have a web site (cont’d)? The District wants every Chapter to have their own a web site. We want to make this process easy. To do so we have made a way by which someone representing their chapter can go on line and submit information which will be used to set up their site. Chapters are not required to have a web site as part of the District site. They do have the freedom to create their own web site outside of the District if so desired. Chapters #30 and #286 are examples of this.

Example of the Worthington Chapter #30 web site.

How does a chapter submit information for their web site? Access the District web site main page Click the “Chapters in District” option

How does a chapter submit information for their web site? (cont’d) On the ‘District #3 Chapters’ Page, click the “Information Submission” Button

How does a chapter submit information for their web site? (cont’d) On the ‘Info and Web submission’ Page, you will enter the information on Chapter officers, Activities and such.

How does a chapter submit information for their web site? (cont’d) You also have the option of selecting the format of the web site you prefer. If you click the address on that page “www.oswd.com” it will direct you to a site that has hundreds of free templates for you to select from. (OSWG: Open Source Web Design).

How does a chapter submit information for their web site? (cont’d) Here is the Open Source Web Design Page: You can look at all the templates available and select the one that you prefer. Make a note of the name of that template.

How does a chapter submit information for their web site? (cont’d) Now once this info is submitted, the District Web Administrator will construct the site for you. It is possible for any chapter to update their own site if they feel they have someone with the ability and desire to do so. 1) To do this, the chapter web person will receive the info (Name & Pass-word) needed to access the site. 2) The District web master can provide answers to anyone interested in attempting this.

Task at hand… To create an actual web site for one of the chapters attending the workshop.