GIN SYSTEM! Check out the link in my signature. :D

Plus, the way it's designed, the chapters have serveral different layouts they can choose from, and they can switch it up as often or as little as they want. They can add pages, and take away pages (except for the national history and general insignia stuff. AXiD just implemented this over the summer, and some chapters are still using their own websites, but FHQ provided one to every single chapter to use, if they wanted it. The website is just frosting though - the real reason behind GIN system is it's a communication portal - announcements, calendar, wuot text message reminders (if you sign up for them), sign up to buy t-shirts, stuff like that. It's a REALLY cool system. I didn't think I would like it, because I'm not a fan of the cookie cutter websites (like Chapter Communications - no offense, but I couldnt stand the way theirs was set up).

I think Phi Mu and ADPi are also using GIN....I could be mistaken though....

I've noticed the change in AXiD...the sites are really nice and professional in appearance. Hopefully each chapter will take the time to personalize the site for their own chapter.

AOII chose to use a different approach. All chapters MUST have a working website by September that includes items outlined by IHQ. They provide a template if needed, but chapters can have personalized websites as long as all of the required information is included. My site is up to standards. Many still are not but will hopefully meet the September deadline. I'm glad (I)HQs are showing an interest in this since it is such a great PR and recruitment tool!

GIN is great but it still needs to be recognized by search engines. Thanks everyone for the suggestions and I'm working on the solution.

The frustrating part was going thru the specific college's panhel website that had the list of sororities and when you click on their name it is supposed to take you to their site (at that school). Some even linked to "error" meaning there was NO website.

Please don't think I am trying to attack you or the GIN system (if nothing else, I like that it sounds like liquor :D....

But...

When I looked at 5-7 GIN sites, they looked just as "cookie cutter" as Chapter Communications sites.... and to me, that's not really saying a lot.

Both are content management systems which provide a lot of different templates you can use. I never knew about GIN before today, but more power to them.

I just don't see the significant non-cookie cutterness that you're describing.

(Like for example, all CC websites have the left hand navigation, and all the GIN sites I saw have the up-top navigation.)

My collegiate chapters do ok with getting websites up but I'm starting to get requests for help from the alumnae chapters. These are older women who know they need an internet presence but haven't grown up designing things. I'm trying to hook them up with collegians to assist them. We always have the alumnae helping the collegians. This is an opportunity for the collegians to help the alumnae for a change! I'm hoping they begin to develop some stronger relationships as a result.

Chi Omega is still doing this. We just unveiled our new sites at Convention this summer. I'm sure many chapters (alumnae and collegiate) are still working on them. My alumnae chapter's is finished, luckily. I did it, and it was very simple.

The new sites have a lot more individuality, but they also have those special touches that tie all the sites together.

Yep, Phi Mu is using GIN and I'm pretty much in love with it...

Lady, where have you BEEN?

I think this is an extremely accurate statement about many "top tier" chapters - they feel like having a website is almost "selling out" or something.

Another major issue with websites is that there is a lot of turnover in collegiate chapters. You might have a good website officer for two or even three or four years, but when she graduates, there's no guarantee that it will be kept up.

W&L has some kind of standardized system that all the sororities are using there... I don't know if it's GIN or not. I like it because I've been able to sign up for chapter email alum updates. :)

I saw a Clemson thread and decided to check out their panhel website and it's really nice. On each group page is a link to their own website even tho the main one has great pics of each group. Very well done and so cute.

W&L is using Chapter Communications
http://www.wlupanhel.com/index.php

Haha... I know, right? I gave up on LiveJournal, and then I haven't been around here much either. But I'm the Membership Adviser now at my old chapter, and I missed you guys!

Thanks for remembering me :p