A new website for nargs.org

[Burr]

You may have noticed from reading the Bulletin Board that the Internet Committee is pursuing the development of a new website for nargs.org. 

The most important features of the proposed new site are the following:

   Drupal Content Management System
   Improved User Interface
      Non-technical editorial control
      Enhanced navigation and ease of use
      Updated and enhanced visual design
      Single User Login
      Enhanced e-commerce
    Integrated Membership Database
      Join and Renewal On-line
      Members Update Profiles
    Enhanced RG Quarterly Page
    Event Calendar

For a more complete discussion of the process and an up to date list of features, go to mcnargs.org/New_Website.html.

[deesen]

Sounds like "consultancy speak" for "we're going to make improvements folks" !

[David Sellars]

These planned improvements are significant and congratulations to all involved in getting this moving along for NARGS.

At the Alpine Garden Club of British Columbia, we recently upgraded our website and included many of the features proposed for the new NARGS website.  In particular, the Content Management System (CMS) revolutionizes website functionality. It allows a website to be modified with little computer knowledge - about the same level as required to post to this Forum.  This means that almost anyone can take on the role of "webmaster" and may in fact, make that role obsolete. With a CMS, a number of members can easily contribute to various aspects of the website.

We have implemented an integrated membership data base that allows on-line new subscriptions and renewals and gives members access to their contact information which can be updated by individual members.  This reduces the requirement for central administration - important in a volunteer organization . We have also applied the structure and functionality of e-commerce to our seed exchange which makes it more effective to use.  It can be viewed here:

http://www.agc-bc.ca/seed-list

We have found these website changes to be very effective at the Alpine Garden Club of BC and, with the CMS, I hope our website will eventually be an effective "meeting place" for our members all over the world.  I am sure that the new NARGS website will be of great benefit to the far-flung NARGS membership and make running the organization easier and more effective once it becomes the real hub of the society.

[McDonough]

There are some definite complexities here, particularly regarding incorporation of the NARGS Forum and the fact our forum not only allows NARGS members to participate, but it is also open to non-NARGS forum membership upon forum moderator approval; this aspect not necessarily easily rolled into the planned upgrade to the NARGS website.  I am traveling this week in Las Vegas (for work) and cannot contribute to this discussion in a more meaningful way until this coming weekend of Dec 1 & 2.

[Burr]

Hello Mark,

Non-members will have no problem registering and logging into the Drupal site.  They will be users with permission to contribute to the forum pages. 

There definitely will be work involved to make sure that the Drupal forum works to your satisfaction. 

Ben

[deesen]

What does "Drupal" mean please?

[McGregor]

David

I think the main points are that it's a tool for developing websites and it is "open-source" which basically means that anyone can use it, there are no owners of the tool system, and so on. There is an entry on Wikipedia but it's the sort of entry that doesn't help.

I'm sure there are others who could give you a better answer but since no-one has this is the best simple answer I can give you.

Malcolm

[deesen]

Many thanks Mark.

[Burr]

Hi David,

It is the "consultant" again.

A Content Management System (CMS) is software that organizes and controls the components of a website.  The current nargs.org uses the Joomla! CMS.  The Internet Committee chose Drupal CMS because it, like Joomla!, is open-source and widely supported.  It is particularly useful for community-based websites such as ours.  There are many developers who have contributed modules for each of the components.  For example, there are several forum modules, one of which we hope to adapt to NARGS Fourm users' satisfaction for the new website.  (The current Forum runs on SMF software and is an entirely distinct component of nargs.org.  Hence, separate logins.)  The availability of these modules means less programming (and less expense) to develop the website.  Drupal CMS permits us to assign page privileges at many levels which means that non-technical members can have much more editorial control over the content.  (Currently, only administrators, who have better things to do with their time, can make editorial changes to the main pages.)  We anticipate that this will make nargs.org a much more vibrant site.

I hope this helps.

Ben

[RickR]

I've always wondered what the reason is for multiple logs. 

Thanks, Ben, and a belated welcome to the Forum, too!

[deesen]

........ Drupal CMS permits us to assign page privileges at many levels which means that non-technical members can have much more editorial control over the content...........

Many thanks for responding Ben, I'm a little clearer now!! One thing that worries me is the assumption that "non-technical members" actually want "more editorial control over the content" Some don't and couldn't care a fig about exercising their own "editorial control". Maybe it's an age thing but speaking personally I'm happy to leave the technical "guff" to Mark and others and concentrate solely on enjoying the content in the spirit of learning, comradeship, and, if there's a laugh about then enjoying that too.

[cohan]

........ Drupal CMS permits us to assign page privileges at many levels which means that non-technical members can have much more editorial control over the content...........

Many thanks for responding Ben, I'm a little clearer now!! One thing that worries me is the assumption that "non-technical members" actually want "more editorial control over the content" Some don't and couldn't care a fig about exercising their own "editorial control". Maybe it's an age thing but speaking personally I'm happy to leave the technical "guff" to Mark and others and concentrate solely on enjoying the content in the spirit of learning, comradeship, and, if there's a laugh about then enjoying that too.

I'm supposing this could be useful in the sort of case that has come up a few times for me: I have wanted to post things in the Family/
genus section of the forum, but found that there was no area for Ericaceae, for example. While I could add topics to an existing board, as a non-administrator, I could not add new boards, so I had to pester administrators for that. I would think, though, you might want to carefully examine which editorial tools you want all members to have access to- you could in theory get a situation where people are constantly splitting off topics and creating new boards to the extent that it is all too fractured... If this is even the sort of editorial activity Ben is talking about...

[RickR]

That would be chaos, Cohan.  Or worse, maybe even CHAOS (from the Get Smart TV series).

I think it would be more like allowing Chapters to edit their own individual info pages in the main NARGS site, for instance.

[Burr]

Editorial Control:

I should have been clearer; Rick is correct.  I was speaking about the main nargs.org website.  It is our view that the Forum and the WIKI are models for how the entire site should be run.  In the case of the Forum, Mark is doing a remarkable job of keeping the site not only operative, but vibrant, because he has created an environment whereby registered users are actively contributing interesting an exciting material.

Editorial control does not mean administrative or structural control.  If you look at the information that we have distributed and posted you will see that we envision that web developers will be contracted to make major changes and upgrades.  A site administrator will be responsible for assigning page privileges, maintenance and minor structural changes to the site.  A Content Editor will have overall editorial control of the content on the website.  He will have provide the vision for how it should look and in addition to providing material on his own, will assign editorial tasks to managers for specific pages and approve changes before they are posted.  Malcolm McGregor has agreed to be our initial Content Manager.  We are fortunate that he has agreed to take on this responsibility because it will provide continuity between the Quarterly and the website.  Malcolm or one of his assistants will field suggestions or contributions to the website. The Drupal database allows for an infinite permutation of page privilege assignments so members will only be allowed to work on pages for which they have been assigned.

The Drupal database also permits us to integrate the membership database into the site.  Bobby Ward, our Executive Director, will continue to administer the database, but we believe that many of the tasks he performs now will be automated.  Forum users are familiar with managing their profiles.  Those who are NARGS members will be able to update their membership information.  Online membership renewal, as well as joining, will be easier.

No changes for administration of the Forum or the WIKI pages are planned.

Ben

[Booker]

So pleased to hear that, Ben ... and many thanks to each and every contributor to this wonderful resource.