River Valley Wood Carvers, Welcome to the New Site Design! While currently we are still working behind the scenes you will start to see new features being added in the weeks to come. We will also be working to make navigation simple and easy as you “CRUISE” around the new site.
History Section of RVWC
One New section we will be working on is creating an archive section for the history of RVWC. This will take some time but I encourage you to check back over the next month or so as updates will be on going. Also if you have anything you would like to contribute to the history section by all means email to “me” the webmaster link can always be found in the footer section. I think you will find this section enjoyable and interesting if you are a new member to the club. I have been enlightened by the history of our club and am thrilled to share this with others.
Resources for New Members
In addition to the history section we will be adding a resources section for new aspiring wood carvers. This section will include articles about tools, types of wood, styles of carving and anything that can spark the interest for a person wishing to get started with our club. Often times I believe people hesitate to start carving because they feel they don’t know enough about it, so if we can give them a little knowledge before they join, it might let them see why we are all “hooked on wood carving”.
Once again I would encourage your ideas for this resources area and ask for participation from our distinguished expert members. If you would like to be a contributor to this section I can accept any articles, or set you up so you can post directly to the website.
Members Area
Most of the website will be available to the general public, but I am also adding in areas that will be specific for our “Members Only”. In order to gain access to the members only section you will be REQUIRED to be logged in to the website. Setting up your account is easy and link is provided as well as a login in the footer menu also. The only information needed is your name and a valid email address, you will also create your own password for logging in purposes. If you need any assistance with this let me know and I will help you get your account setup. Registering accounts will be verified and approved before any access to this area will be granted.
Wood Carving Patterns
Inside of our members area we will have a section for wood carving patterns to share with our members, so if you have any patterns you would like to share scan it in and send it to me. If you don’t have the ability to scan bring it to the meeting and I will scan it in and return it to you. I cannot add copyrighted patterns so if they came out of someone’s book or publication they will not be added out of respect to the creator. If this is a pattern you created and wish to share it with the members then by all means we can add it. Any questionable patterns can be discussed at one of our meetings.
Newsletters
I am also in the process of adding an archive section for past newsletters and future newsletters so this will be something we can discuss at our meeting. I am not sure as to whether we should include this in the Members only section or allow general public to access. I would like to make creating Newsletters easy so the President. Secretary and Treasurer can create the Newsletter online and click “Send”. This is still open for discussion.
Attainable Goals
Last year our site hit somewhere around 50,000 views. With the old server we had the site hosted on we were experiencing downtime, site not loading correctly and no metrics were in place for stats. Therefore with no statistic metrics I could not determine whether views was coming from new possible interested people or returning viewers. Now with our new site I can have more in depth stats which will allow me to provide you with a breakdown report. The goal which is more attainable now will be to convert those viewers if they are local to our club to become new members.
I plan to make our website enjoyable, educational and also do what a website should do and that is attract new interested members to the joy of woodcarving.
Thank You,
Ron G.
