Can I make a suggestion (and butt in)?
I'm an information architect (IA) by trade. I basically work with graphic designers and website programmers to make sure that websites are user friendly.
If LXA doesn't have an (inter)national website committee, you should solicit volunteers to create one. If you do have one, hire an IA (or find a volunteer) to help with the process. If money is an option, graduate programs in human computer interaction, information architecture, or library and information studies are an excellent way to get students to do the work for free in exchange for course credit. (I know of a few programs in the US and Canada, so PM me if you need some leads)
In order to make sure that websites are truly user friendly, you need someone to conduct user studies. That's part of what IAs do. That can be done in a questionnaire format just to get a basic idea of what Lambda Chis (and potential members/parents) are looking for when they come to the site. The IA then works with the designers and programmers to come up with some scenarios and clickable prototypes that can be used to conduct field tests to see if the proposed designs are truly user friendly. These prototypes are tested, reworked, and retested until a final version of the site is ready to go live. But the process doesn't end there. Web development is an iterative process that never truly ends. That's where a lot of websites fall flat.
This effort can be very extensive - including working to optimize any back-end databases that are used to drive content, or it can be something as simple as making sure that the navigation used on the site is easy to understand and makes it easy for people to find their way through the site from any and all entry points.
Just something for you guys to think about.
