VASA ON THE WEB Timeline Timeline Initial Goals Initial Goals Implementation Implementation Connecting the Network Connecting the Network Expansion Expansion What else is NEW What else is NEW In the Works In the Works Suggestions WELCOME Suggestions WELCOME

Timeline 1994 – Web presence studied by GL Exec Board 1994 – Web presence studied by GL Exec Board Directory of Lodges transcribed for the web Directory of Lodges transcribed for the web Prototype developed, demonstrated and accepted. Prototype developed, demonstrated and accepted. Host selected Host selected 1996 – Grand Lodge Web Site released 1996 – Grand Lodge Web Site released Site announced in the Vasa Star Site announced in the Vasa Star 1997 – Enhancements added 1997 – Enhancements added Scholarship Information with Application Forms Scholarship Information with Application Forms Request for Membership Application Request for Membership Application Regional Calendar of Events Regional Calendar of Events 1998 – Presentation 1998 – Presentation Site presentation to delegates at 33 rd Grand Lodge Convention Site presentation to delegates at 33 rd Grand Lodge Convention

Initial Goals VISIBILITY VISIBILITY –An Outline of our Order, Calendars of Events, and Directories of Local Lodges in easy view. APPROACHABILITY APPROACHABILITY – links and on-line forms to provide easy contact with our lodges INTEREST INTEREST –Our web site should show the public what we have to offer our members, from educational assistance to language camp, and much more

Implementation The Grand Lodge site should be the “backbone” of our Vasa Intranet. It should include: The Grand Lodge site should be the “backbone” of our Vasa Intranet. It should include: –Information of interest on a National or International level. –A communications network via a full directory of Districts and Lodges with links by to officers, and links to District and Local Lodge web sites. –A catalog of materials and services that are available to our membership.

Connecting the Network A Network is only as good as it is Complete: A Network is only as good as it is Complete: –District and local lodges are strongly encouraged to build their own web sites and link them to our “backbone”. –Many districts and local lodges were already “wired” when the Grand Lodge site was released. As independent sites they stood alone As independent sites they stood alone Many were hard to find. Many were hard to find. Their content varied widely Their content varied widely –One by one – as the independent district and local lodge sites were located, they were linked to our main directories.

Lodge Directories

Expansion There are currently 9 District Lodges and 65 local lodge or club web pages listed on our directories. Again, a network is only as good as it is complete! There are currently 9 District Lodges and 65 local lodge or club web pages listed on our directories. Again, a network is only as good as it is complete! Many lodges have been able to build their local sites with volunteer help from their members, and host them on inexpensive or “free” web servers. There are however still many lodges that lack the web programming skills, or the funds for hosting their sites. Many lodges have been able to build their local sites with volunteer help from their members, and host them on inexpensive or “free” web servers. There are however still many lodges that lack the web programming skills, or the funds for hosting their sites. Introducing Introducing –Of the 74 local web sites that comprise our VASA NETWORK, 27 of them are hosted by Grand Lodge and were created using the tools and template on Vasaorder.net! –Vasaorder.net hosts a template for local lodge site development, similar to the “free” site building tools offered by major commercial hosts. The sites are built and maintained by lodge members using administrator panels where NO web programming skills are required. –Local information, such as a list of officers, a calendar of events, Local Lodge news, a picture gallery, and specific information about the lodge, including meeting place, time, and directions are stored at the server for display on the site. –The average local site is up and running within a few days after a password is requested and assigned.

Sample Web Pages www/vasaorder.net/?Lodge=088 Tryggve #88 Main Page (About Us) Calendar of Events

Sample Web Pages www/vasaorder.net/?Lodge=715 Valhalla #715 Photo Gallery Pop-Up from Photo Gallery

How to get started with vasaorder.net Contact to request a password and ID Contact to request a password and ID Read the 5 tutorials at Read the 5 tutorials at Log on to the site using your ID and password. Log on to the site using your ID and password. Type in your local lodge information using the panels provided. Type in your local lodge information using the panels provided. Upload digital photographs from your computer to build a photo gallery for your lodge. Upload digital photographs from your computer to build a photo gallery for your lodge. Return as often as necessary to keep your site current. Return as often as necessary to keep your site current. All of the Vasa sites using the template are linked from the tutorial page at Explore them to get an idea of what can be done. Hosting for your site will be FREE (cost is covered by the Grand Lodge) but unlike the commercial “free” hosts, there are NO annoying pop-up or banner advertisement intrusions on your site. Links to other Vasa sites at the national and district level, as well as cross links with other lodges in your region are already in place.

Sample Site Building Screens Update calendar & news Administrator Login Screen

What else is NEW? More interaction via on-line forms for certain scholarship applications. More interaction via on-line forms for certain scholarship applications. Isolation of links in our directories to make them less vulnerable to spammers. Isolation of links in our directories to make them less vulnerable to spammers. Acquisition of the domain as an alias for our National site. ( Thank you brother Tore Kellgren) Acquisition of the domain as an alias for our National site. ( Thank you brother Tore Kellgren) Coverage of major events in Sweden and the United States, thanks to input from District and Grand Lodge officers and members. Coverage of major events in Sweden and the United States, thanks to input from District and Grand Lodge officers and members. (National Archive site) ready for release. (National Archive site) ready for release.

links protected Spam is an annoying fact of life on the Internet. In order to isolate our links from the mining efforts of the Spammers robots, our addresses are hidden until needed: Click the link on our directory and our mail handler will appear, awaiting your reply. In order to send mail, click the [send ] link. If ignored the box will self close in 45 seconds. Your program will open, pre-loaded with the required address. As stated earlier, a network is only as good as it is complete. Visibility and Contact are essential if our Order is to grow!

New since last Convention Introduced Swedish-American of the year since 2002 Just Released! Back issues of the VASA STAR on-line

Our National Archive site is automatically linked from District and Local Lodge sites hosted on

Words about our National Archive by PGM Bertil Winstrom

On Line Forms to Request Services A few clicks will bring up a form on which to submit genealogy information to the Archive. Currently the form is to be printed and mailed. Future plans include on-line submission. There is also a form to request a genealogy search at the archive, with an explanation of limitations. When fully completed the site will support a photo gallery of artifacts, and much more! Visit and watch it grow.

Work in process A Vasa Member’s Section to include: A Vasa Member’s Section to include: –An on-line catalog of materials such as Jewelry, Emblems, Forms etc. Content and access limitations will be subject to approval by the Grand Lodge Executive Board. Further development of Vasaorder.net to allow: Further development of Vasaorder.net to allow: –Upload of flyers or posters for events, and pictures to be included with text. –Posting of additional web links to accompany local or district lodge sites. An alternate web template suitable for building Children’s Club sites. An alternate web template suitable for building Children’s Club sites.

Suggestions are ALWAYS Welcome! Please consider building a web presence for your Lodge, District, or Activities Club, if none yet exists. It is not difficult with our templates. If there is a feature that you would like that is not provided, let me know and if possible it will be added. Please consider building a web presence for your Lodge, District, or Activities Club, if none yet exists. It is not difficult with our templates. If there is a feature that you would like that is not provided, let me know and if possible it will be added. While there is currently NO formal procedure to report changes for our web directories and calendars, updates are essential. I thank all of our members for their help keeping our site up-to-date. I am especially grateful to the pioneers who first used Vasaorder.net and reported to me the areas that needed attention. While there is currently NO formal procedure to report changes for our web directories and calendars, updates are essential. I thank all of our members for their help keeping our site up-to-date. I am especially grateful to the pioneers who first used Vasaorder.net and reported to me the areas that needed attention. It is my hope that our Vasa Web Presence will NEVER be considered finished. As we move into the 21 st Century, lets take full advantage this fantastic communication and presentation tool, the Internet. It is my hope that our Vasa Web Presence will NEVER be considered finished. As we move into the 21 st Century, lets take full advantage this fantastic communication and presentation tool, the Internet. In Truth and Unity Robert C Anderson