[NSRCA-discussion] Why did you join the NSRCA?

[Martin X. Moleski, SJ]

davidmichael1 wrote:

> ... 4) I think the NSRCA website needs to be more robust and be updated
> more frequently if it is intended to attract and keep members.  I
> thank all who have and are working on the site now- but I am
> struggling to find a way to say this without offending or being
> ungrateful- so I'll just say it- take a look at the IMAC site and
> compare: <http://www.mini-iac.com>  ...

1. Robustness: we're straddling two operating systems and using
two different databases (Access on nsrca.org and MySQL on
nsrca.us).  If you or anyone else on list would like to help
finish the transition, volunteers are most welcome.

Here's the outline of what has been done and still needs to
be done:

http://nsrca.us/formfunction/design/190-database-gameplan.html

2. Updates: I'm willing and able to support the mechanics
of the site.  I'm also willing to resign at any time and
hand things over to a new webmaster.  I saw a need and
volunteered to fill it a while ago.  I can be replaced.

3. The IMAC site is running on a content management system
from <http://www.dotnetnuke.com/>.  We use Joomla.  Both
are open-source (free).  If we want to scrap Joomla and go to
DotNetNuke, we can.  I hauled all of the pages over from
HTML into Joomla format.  I suppose I could haul them
into DotNetNuke, too.  Or better yet--the new webmaster
could.

What does DotNetNuke provide?
* user login
* forums
* news articles

What does Joomla provide?
* user login
* forums
* news articles

4. Adding content to the site more frequently is definitely
something that would make it more fun and valuable.
I've gone with a static front page because it's easy to
do.  But we could turn on various modules that would
let articles start on the front page with "more ..."
links for those who want to read more.

5. It seems to me that I've asked several times for folks
to help us give the site a better look.  I cooked up the
home page logo when I first installed Joomla and put up
an article asking for help from better graphics artists:

http://nsrca.us/formfunction/graphics/188-site-logos.html

The first line of the article from the day I wrote it
reads: "We are interested in improving the graphics on
this site."  We have received zero (0) responses to these
requests for improving the site graphics.

If you'd like to work on the .css for the site, it's
explained here:

http://nsrca.us/howto/css.html

Lots of other articles on what the webteam has done
and is doing:

http://nsrca.us/webteamhome.html

6. If you don't like the looks or layout of the site,
we have options.  There are other templates we could
use.  If you browse this list, you may find one that
suits your taste:

<http://www.google.com/search?q=Joomla+templates>

We chose ja_purity after using a couple of others on
our test site.  The choice is not written in stone.
We can change templates more or less with the click
of a button on an administration page (graphics need
to be adjusted for the NSRCA).

				Marty