As we have done every year at the AGM, committee chairpersons—including me—wrote and delivered our goals for the year. It's interesting to see what has happened since last year, and revamp some of the old goals to put them on next year's list. (Somehow this is reminiscent of my daily to-do lists...)

Here is an abbreviated version. You can find the "formal" version here.

Accomplished Last Year

• Done from last year's goals: PayPal, Amazon store, new template on site
• Added component that automatically displays icons next to text for external links, email links, pdf documents, etc.
• Major improvements in additional website content including pictures of the grounds and house and sanctuary for rental inquires.
• Added the church to Google Maps, with a company page that includes contact information, pictures of the inside and grounds, hours, a brief description of the congregation, etc.
• Added help articles, new links to other web resources, streaming audio (in place of podcasting): http://uuwinnipeg.mb.ca/communication/website-updates/589-streaming-audio-is-here
• Added images for every Sunday Service, and a mechanism that displays those articles plus featured blog posts, announcements and other articles, in a gallery on the front page.
• Added Website Submission Content Guidelines.
• Added two photo galleries, including one of the building of the deck.
• Disabled self-registration on the website due to spam. Instead, people request registration in an email to me.
• Stopped posting streaming audio of services due to concerns about privacy and policy issues.
• Created a Facebook Group, and a Facebook page which will replace the group.
• Added an iPod/tablet interface for the website which automatically senses that the user is using a device and switches templates. Added custom buttons to main screen with our chalice etc.
• Added a sound system schedule that the members of the AV team and sound system people can add to themselves to schedule sound techs for the year. Although it doesn't directly fall under my mandate, I want to include that I also facilitated sound system training, and participated in a sound system inventory.

To Do in the 2011-2012 Year

• To do from last year's goals: I still need to present training for the website to the community. Also, I'll revisit how announcements are handled on the site vs. church email, and poll the community to see how people are using the site.
• This year I hope to develop a policy document for content on the website, which will address topics like ownership of site content, responsibility for content, inclusion of possibly private information, etc.
• Develop the existing form-based contact form component of the website, to include most members of the church. I also want to gradually phase out actual email addresses on the site and replace them with links to the contact form, with the exception of church office and committees and staff that have dedicated email addresses.
• Participate (with other members of the Communications committee and with input from the Board) in the development of a church communication plan.
• Begin posting streaming audio of some services.
• Develop a Website Style Guide, which would include information on how to maintain the website, presentation and formatting elements, colors, etc.
• Develop areas for several committees to help them share files.
• Post and/or distribute reports on site traffic and monetization results (Amazon Associates etc.) for the site.
• Keep time records of what I do each month so that I can be more accountable to the congregation and board with what I am doing and how long it takes me.
• Phase out the Facebook Group in favour of the page.
• Expand "Community News" area on the website for non-church specific events that members want to publicize/share. Also Members Corner to feature art, poetry, etc.
• Provide workshops on the website through Adult Programming.
• Add to/update the help articles on the site for training for site use and for sound system training.
• Add a UU Gift Shop on the Website. With assistance from the Fundraising Committee, plans are already in the works to add a gift shop to sell our UU stuff, including custom jewelry based on our chalice that Nancy Gilbert designed for us. Hopefully this will be fully functional by Christmas. The shopping cart system is being installed by Karin at no additional charge to the church, and will use the already-in-place PayPal connection to our bank account. [Update: The shopping cart software is installed, and will be functional in November.]
• Add keyword "tag clouds" to the website. [This is done - look in the right column of the site.]
• Work with the Library Committee to add an online catalog of the books in our UU Church Library to the website. [This is done - here.]

Website Improvements July 2011

• The Help menu has two new areas of interest: "Using the Website" and "Article Submission Help". Also learn how to How to Save, Email or Print Articles.
• A new, shiny iPhone interface is installed. You have to have a cell phone to browse to it, but at right is a picture of the basic interface. 
• There is a contacts area where any visitor can send an email to staff (and some members) using a form, instead of clicking on an email link. Church Staff are here; church members are here (right now you have to log in to the site to see the second list, however I'd like to change that).      Read more...

Hi everybody! You might see some strange, new, exciting, or seemingly-misplaced content on our website over the coming weeks. Summer is the time of recreation with the UU website, and this summer I have lots of exciting things planned for our cyber home.

Please be patient, and feel free to ask me any questions or make suggestions. I'd love to know what you think.

Cheers,

Karin