FINALLY..... ....the end of one of "those weeks".....! ! !
Last night, while taking a break from grading exams, (and shoveling very wet snow and sleet before it froze solid), I spent some time beta testing the AAW's NEW WEB SITE ! ! !
It has been a while since the AAW upgraded its electronic communications media, and a lot of work went into developing a more user-friendly and interactive web site. I was very favorably impressed by the layout and ease of access to information.
Although it is not yet "live", AAW chapter officers were sent a link to the test version of the site to give it a try (i.e. to a few hundred users), particularly to get feedback to enable 'tweaking' (but not twerking!) specific pages, to clean up broken links or find other bugs before it is officially launched. Those of you who are chapter presidents or chapter contact designees should have received a message from AAW Executive Director Phil McDonald earlier this week with links to follow to go to test the new web site, and to provide feedback (also via a response web page). We would appreciate hearing back from you with any problems, concerns, suggestions for improvement, or even simply "it works OK" comments.
The new web site site will have several new membership related pages, including the opportunity for each member to create their own personal profile page if they so choose, improved membership renewal and payment options, an on-line store for AAW logo products and publications, and fully interactive searches for member directory information, AAW member and chapter resources, and other improved communications possibilities. Additionally, each AAW chapter will be able to have its own searchable profile page that can include whatever information you would like to put up to introduce prospective members to your chapter (i.e. meeting days times, schedules, demonstrations, officer/membership information, images, galleries, etc.). For the first time we will now have a web-based electronic system where membership data, renewals, chapter information etc. and web site capabilities are fully integrated and very efficient.
All of this new web site development took some planning and lots of time investment with the web site developers; our Program Director, Linda Ferber was the point person working very hard over the past year+ on getting the AAW's web site ready for our 15,000+ members. This is yet another example of improved member services that the AAW is committed to.
If all goes as planned, and there are no major glitches or web page re-builds necessary, we might see the new web site 'go live' at www.woodturner.org over the next 10-14 days (...perhaps even sooner?). From what I saw last night, this is a welcome improvement that should serve us well.
I just had to share the good news we received from AAW Headquarters at our February telephonic board meeting on Wednesday evening, and after my chance to navigate and test the new web site. There's even a one-click link on the home page to the AAW Forums!!
When the new site goes live over the next week or two (and with apologies to Alka Seltzer), "Try it, you'll like it!!"
Rob
Last night, while taking a break from grading exams, (and shoveling very wet snow and sleet before it froze solid), I spent some time beta testing the AAW's NEW WEB SITE ! ! !
It has been a while since the AAW upgraded its electronic communications media, and a lot of work went into developing a more user-friendly and interactive web site. I was very favorably impressed by the layout and ease of access to information.
Although it is not yet "live", AAW chapter officers were sent a link to the test version of the site to give it a try (i.e. to a few hundred users), particularly to get feedback to enable 'tweaking' (but not twerking!) specific pages, to clean up broken links or find other bugs before it is officially launched. Those of you who are chapter presidents or chapter contact designees should have received a message from AAW Executive Director Phil McDonald earlier this week with links to follow to go to test the new web site, and to provide feedback (also via a response web page). We would appreciate hearing back from you with any problems, concerns, suggestions for improvement, or even simply "it works OK" comments.
The new web site site will have several new membership related pages, including the opportunity for each member to create their own personal profile page if they so choose, improved membership renewal and payment options, an on-line store for AAW logo products and publications, and fully interactive searches for member directory information, AAW member and chapter resources, and other improved communications possibilities. Additionally, each AAW chapter will be able to have its own searchable profile page that can include whatever information you would like to put up to introduce prospective members to your chapter (i.e. meeting days times, schedules, demonstrations, officer/membership information, images, galleries, etc.). For the first time we will now have a web-based electronic system where membership data, renewals, chapter information etc. and web site capabilities are fully integrated and very efficient.
All of this new web site development took some planning and lots of time investment with the web site developers; our Program Director, Linda Ferber was the point person working very hard over the past year+ on getting the AAW's web site ready for our 15,000+ members. This is yet another example of improved member services that the AAW is committed to.
If all goes as planned, and there are no major glitches or web page re-builds necessary, we might see the new web site 'go live' at www.woodturner.org over the next 10-14 days (...perhaps even sooner?). From what I saw last night, this is a welcome improvement that should serve us well.
I just had to share the good news we received from AAW Headquarters at our February telephonic board meeting on Wednesday evening, and after my chance to navigate and test the new web site. There's even a one-click link on the home page to the AAW Forums!!
When the new site goes live over the next week or two (and with apologies to Alka Seltzer), "Try it, you'll like it!!"
Rob
