Chapters’ Website Support Ideas Goal in context –To provide all LDA Chapters with individualized, easy-to- maintain websites consistent with LDAO’s Current body of Websites (in terms of Look n’Feel, content management, and navigational flow) –To provide Chapters with Tech support around the development of their websites –To provide Chapters with training on how to maintain their websites –To provide Chapters with fully accessible websites in compliance with W3Cs Web Accessibility Initiative. TBahr for LDAO May 2005

Proposed Look n’ Feel to new websites 1.In keeping with LDAO’s current “Mother”website, the proposal is to adapt the current Templates to individual chapters 2.Slight modifications to colour scheme is negotiable, provided LDAO selects colour choices in keeping with LDAO branding TBahr for LDAO May 2005

Proposed Hosting Options Option One – LDAO provides Templates only to Chapter Details: –LDAO sets up templates for a Chapter to host via its own web hosting company. A chapter organization would need to make staff available to coordinate website sections and menus. Templates would be based on LDAO’s current Mother site templates. –LDAO provides Templates to Chapter Org complete with menu headings and appropriate links to sub-pages –Chapter arranges hosting company (URL would be the choice of the Chapter Org) –Chapter Org. designates resources to maintain the website including staff and hosting company TBahr for LDAO May 2005

Option Two – LDAO builds the chapter website and maintains it on the LDAO server Details: –LDAO provides templates and design for chapter Organization’s website –LDAO hosts the files on LDAO servers (website URL would look like: –LDAO provides Chapter Org with Content Management Software (CMS) –LDAO provides training on the CMS software –LDAO provides Tech support for Chapter website –Chapter Org is responsible for the content and content updates TBahr for LDAO May 2005

Open issues: 1.It might be advisable to have all Chapters to decide unanimously on one option. My concern over some choosing option 1 while others choose Options 2 or 3 is that the site URLs would seem inconsistent (i.e. imagine two chapters having their own dedicated URL while all others have the URL This may or may not cause End Users to feel there is an inconsistency ??? Just a thought but I am not totally firm with it. 2.We’d need to come up with long term plans and firm commitment on both sides so that LDAO can plan appropriate budgeting and resources for this endeavor. 3.Paper Agreements with the Chapter Orgs would be necessary to avoid miscommunications between LDAO and Chapter Orgs around the website maintenance responsibilities. (scenario: what happens if an ED changes at a Chapter and the new ED decides LDAO should be fully responsible for their entire website …) 4.LDAO and Chapter Orgs would need to work closely and come up with long term plans and visions for the Websites. TBahr for LDAO May 2005