Website Introduction
Overview
This site is intended to allow all members the ability to participate and share content with other members. There are a number of features and options you can take advantage of in other to get the most out of the site. Some features, like Groups, help make the site more "self-serve", so it's important you take a look at them.
Main page
The main page is intended to server as a quick overview of what's new on the site. The left menu gives you quick links to navigate the site. In the centre section, important notices can be created by site administrators, upcoming events lists any events in the next 2 weeks. ecent images shows the last week of images uploaded, up to 20. Recent posts shows the last week of documents, up to 10. The right side menu shows the featured image, a random critique request image, a summary and link to the most recent newsletter, and a random advertisement.
How is the "Featured Image" selected?
Once an hour, the site automatically computes which image to display in the Featured Image spot, based on several criteria: The image must be a least a week old, in the Member Gallery folder, and it is picked based on the highest average score, age since upload (the older the image the more the score is lowered, by a quarter point per week of age), and a small random value (up to one point). This should give the Featured Image spot a good balance of high scoring images that are recent.
Groups
Each member of the site can control their membership in individual group lists. These group listings, like the Digital Group, allow for the easy sending of e-mails to all the group members. By controlling your own memberships in these lists, you can make sure you will be included in the information you want to get, and those sending stuff to the lists will not have to worry about sending stuff to those who don't want it.
Use the "List Groups" link in the side menu to see the groups available, and make sure you've added yourself to those that interest you.
You can create your own group if you think there is an area of interest that deserves attention.
Uploading your images
What's a photography club wihout pictures? Show off your photographs!
There are two main folder you should upload images to, "Member Gallery" and "Critique Request". Images in Critique Request will be randomly featured on the main page. Each user can only have 5 image in the Critique Request folder at any given time, but you can move critiqued images back into the Member Gallery if you have new images you would like to have comments on.
Maximum image size is 1024 pixels on the longest side.
Creating other documents
There are a number of other types of documents that you can create, including Advertisements, Articles, Events, Files, Links, and Polls.
Advertisements are for equipment for sale, personal websites, your own for-profit seminars and shows, and the like. Advertisements can be created in the Classified folder, and a random ad is featured on the main page each time it loads. Ads run for 30 days, and you can have up to 4 ads at a time.
Articles can range from simple questions and comments, to full-length news items. If you have a something intended for the newsletter, post it to the Newsletter folder. Other questions and comments can go in the General Discussion folder.
Events can be used for general club meeting, speakers, outings, and such. Events will automatically be listed on the main page for the two weeks before their listed date. If you have an outing, trip, or other club-related activity, please create an Event for it. Personal events, like for-profit seminars and presentations should be Advertisements.
Files are for downloadable documents such as PDFs. The downloadable version of the newsletters or Program of Events are common uses.
Links are for links to other websites or pages. The Links folder is intended to be a list of links of general use to club members and visitors, including links to other camera clubs in South-Western Ontario, and other general interest sites. Links to personal pages should be Advertisements, where they'll get better exposure on the main page.
Polls can be used in other to gather quick opinions on an range of club related topics.
Comments and ratings
The different document types can have text comments and/or numerical ratings assigned to them. Please make use of this feature! It's an easy way to provide feedback and constructive criticism. You can also use the comments to reply to General Discussion topics and questions.
Newsletter
One goal of the site is to make it the gathering point for the printed newsletter. As not all members have web/e-mail access, the printed newsletter will serve as a digest of information that they may find useful, and as a hardcopy of website highlights for the online members to have.
You should assume any material will be considered for printed newsletter use, unless you add a specific comment stating otherwise.
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