Private Sides to your HQ websites?
 

This is a topic of discussion in the KD yahoo group and I was wondering if any of you would share some info. Obviously nothing secret :) But i'm pretty sure that nothing secret is discussed on your HQ's website/message board or what not, more just to keep it closed to only members and avoid spammers and intruders and such.

What kind of set up is it?

How active are the discussions?

Do contraversial topics get brought up like they do here?

How is it moderated?

Do you get real responses or some sort of greek version of corporate babble-speak?

How long ago did it start being used?

Are there other, "unofficial" resources out there for your group that are used more? Why do you think that is?

Re: Private Sides to your HQ websites?
 

I'll answer my own questions:

What kind of set up is it?
Divided up into categories for various topics- AA events, etc. No lead in page like the one here on GC showing active topics and such.

How active are the discussions?
Nearly nonexistent. The most use is for announcing AA events.

Do contraversial topics get brought up like they do here?
Not to my knowledge

How is it moderated?
Not totally sure, I believe by our Electronic Communications Coordinator

Do you get real responses or some sort of greek version of corporate babble-speak?
Not sure, as not that much has been posted there, but probably a good amount of sorority babble speak

How long ago did it start being used?
There was one before our website was revamped, and it was hard to use, not many people used it.

Are there other, "unofficial" resources out there for your group that are used more? Why do you think that is?
Yes! The KD Yahoogroup, the KD unofficial newsletter, Greekchat, etc. I think it's because these things developed first and people developed loyalty. Also, each of them offer something that the "official" versions do not

There is no forum, but they have compiled a 'members only' directory that is very well kept up.

It is also used to register new initiates and to register for events.

What do you mean register for events? Like if your chapter has a rush event, you list it on there?

-Rudey

Oh. Ours were listed publicly so I didn't realize that was private. Cool.

-Rudey

Regional or national events -- LEAD Institutes (pledge trainer training), Recruitment training, Grand Chapter, things like that.

Chapter events are on the master calendar hanging in the house, and if our recorder is doing his job, it'll be posted on our chapter website as well.

We also have registration for leadership conferences and conclaves on the private site. Chapter materials and message boards are available.

In the past few years the fraternity has tried to move more paperwork online, making it easier for the executive committees at each chapter to do what they need to do.

SAE has a couple of private websites.

One of them is reserved for use by undergraduate members and includes areas for each Brother to monitor his progress as he develops in certain areas of personal growth and such. It's part of The True Gentleman Initiative.

The other, more general private site is best described from the following information copied/pasted off of the greeting page from that site itself:

Not really. I've never heard anyone say that it's a secret. The main reason it's private is so that only members of the GLO can access the info- message boards, forms, manuals, etc. Even though access is controlled, ritual is never discussed anywhere online.

I didn't want to know anything like oh, what exactly do the posts say, but a general idea of the setup and what sort of information/resources/message boards are available and how much the members actually use them.

Not to be Andy Rooney, but did you ever notice how people say "not to be rude" and then proceed to be rude? :p

Let's face it, we are not unique snowflakes. All our groups are more alike than we really want to admit. I'd bet if you changed the names of positions and transplanted messages from one private side to another, no one would notice.

We haven't had a private side for several years. When we did, it was not that active at all.

and if you don't feel comfortable answering my question, then you don't have to :) no one else seems to have a problem with it

Ours is fairly new - as in January - so, not too many people are used to the new format yet. I certainly know that I'm not!

I do know that we have moderators for each Forum, and there is a wide spectrum of headings. Almost too wide, as I keep wondering, "Where did I post that...?" Major props to our web master, as she is busily taking every suggestion & emailing back to the sister who makes it! I'm truly amazed!

IMHO, websites should serve three purposes: Recruitment, Collegiates, and Alumnae. All three have to be able to negotiate the site easily to make it usable.

The AGD Members Only portion of our website currently does not have a message board/forum or chat options. I know that the first phases of work on the site have been completed, so it's not totally done yet.

Right now we have access to a members directory, contact info for IC/IHQ/VST members, a really nifty "Today's Birthdays" page, chapter/club contacts, announcements (vacant volunteer positions, etc.), and a resource to download different forms.

I'm thinking, maybe within the next few years or so, all chapter reporting and payments will probably take place online.

Still, it'd be nice if we had a private forum for ourselves.