All By Myself

[McDLT]

I do all it by myself. I've tried to get others involved but can't seem to generate any interest, even with the youth.

There are no church guidelines for the website and I don't really get any direction from the leadership despite asking. I can usually get the pastor to respond but it's usually about updating the announcements (which usually don't get sent to me).

Sorry that was starting to be another rant. I really do love doing it.

[flutem3]

I do all it by myself. I've tried to get others involved but can't seem to generate any interest, even with the youth.

There are no church guidelines for the website and I don't really get any direction from the leadership despite asking. I can usually get the pastor to respond but it's usually about updating the announcements (which usually don't get sent to me).Hi,

I do our website myself as well. Others are glad I am doing it, but there is nobody else in the wings. If I dropped dead, I think the website would as well. I think, perhaps, getting information when it is useful has to be the bane of all the website editors that I have ever talked to. My guidelines are as follows (established by me):

1. Praise God.

2. Represent the church well.

3. Don't embarrass the pastors

4. Don't embarrass myself although that is a more difficult order in a way. :)

5. Chase information as frequently and as persistently as needed for it to be current!

These are not the most sophisticated guidelines in the world, but so far, I think I have kept us "safe" and in some kind of order. I have stated the actual website goals before.

[flutem3]

I do all it by myself. I've tried to get others involved but can't seem to generate any interest, even with the youth.

There are no church guidelines for the website and I don't really get any direction from the leadership despite asking. I can usually get the pastor to respond but it's usually about updating the announcements (which usually don't get sent to me).

Sorry that was starting to be another rant. I really do love doing it.I forgot to ask what the URL of your website is so I can look at it. That is one of my hobbies...looking at church websites.

Thanks,

Carol

[McDLT]

I forgot to ask what the URL of your website is so I can look at it. That is one of my hobbies...looking at church websites.

Thanks,

CarolHere's the link:

New Life Christian Church (http://www.celebratenewlife.com)

I like looking at other church websites too. :)

[Craig]

I work at the direction of the Associate and Executive Pastor. Everything for the site has to go through them for approval. I like it this way assuring someone won't come up and ask why I placed something on the site. The Associate Pastor is an extremely gifted artist and quite adept using Photoshop. Other than editing the occasional text or graphic I do pretty much everything else.

[KristenAH]

When my husband and I joined our church four years ago, we were just happy to find a church near us that had a website (even if it was really bad.)

I have taken the task on now. My husband helps when necessary as he is a computer programmer. I redesigned our website in July 2004, but realize after visiting this site that I probably have a lot to change. :( I have such a hard time getting the information to put on the site. There are still spots with no information even after repeated pleas.

I am currently going to meet with the Evangelism committee (whose job it is to maintain the website, but who hasn't offered any help!) and try to get someone to help me gather the information.

Suggestions about the website are welcomed!
www.faithchurchumc.org

Thanks,
Kristen Douglass

[flutem3]

Kristen wrote:

"I have taken the task on now. My husband helps when necessary as he is a computer programmer. I redesigned our website in July 2004, but realize after visiting this site that I probably have a lot to change. :( I have such a hard time getting the information to put on the site. There are still spots with no information even after repeated pleas. "

Hi, Kristen, WELCOME.

Kristen you have already run into the bane of the existance for web site editors...getting the information.

I jump up and down, bug people, call them at work and at home, and I still have trouble getting some of information. The minister is fine. Everyone else needs to be awakened or so it seems to me. People want a website, but they don't seem to understand what is needed. The situation is better than it was when I first designed the site 1 1/2 years ago. But I still have trouble.

Part of the problem has to do with priority. In my mind, the web site is a high priority item. Other people see it much lower on the list. And that causes part of the problem. I have at times told the people who were responsible for getting me the information that their page looked really strange without anything on it.

Another situation is dependent upon how computer literate your church members are. I have discovered that ours are not too literate with the exception of some whiz people, adults and kids. I think you just have to keep at it. I think eventually people will get into the habit of getting me information and you too...but not without being reminded. :D

What is the experience of others on the forum, please? I would like to know too.

Once again, welcome. You have found a fine forum with some very bright people, but don't tell them I said so.

Carol

[KristenAH]

Thanks for the welcome! I'm glad I found this forum. I think it will help me a lot, since I don't get much if any help from other church members. Our church is not too computer literate. My husband and I are pretty much responsible for deciding what type of equipment we need, hosting sites, DSL provider, etc. When we first joined, 85% of the church membership was over the age of 70. We were the youngest couple there. (I am happy to report that it is no longer the case.) God was definitely calling us to stay there though.

I realize that the lack of computer literacy has a large thing to do with my inability to get the information I need. However, I do ask visitors how they found out about us and a lot say they visited the website. I know how important that is, since we only went to visit the church because it actually had a website (even though it was really bad...animate gifs, music, clashing colors.) I think in this day and age, the website is where its at! Our church is focusing on trying to bring younger families into the church...well, younger families use the internet extensively.

Kristen

[flutem3]

Kristen wrote:

"I realize that the lack of computer literacy has a large thing to do with my inability to get the information I need. "

Hi,

I do not mean the above. What I meant was that there are not very many avid computer users in our church. Fewer than half have computers. And they seem to use their computers mostly for email which is fine...but there is much more. And the majority of the people who do have computers have dial-up connections. However, I should be the last person to complain. I began to use a computer only three years ago in December. I was not only computer illiterate, I had no computer nor had I ever had one or even watched another person use one.

I cannot look at CRT monitors because I have epilepsy. CRT monitors have a "wiggle" in them that my brain does not like at all. However, the LCD monitor is great. All of which reminds me that anyone building a website needs to remember that there are many photosensitive people out here. There are certain sites I have landed on that I had to leave immediately because of all the flashing stuff which is why I don't use flash. It bothers me to work with it. And, believe it or not, I visited a site that about half way down the page had a note that said, "People who are photosensitive should not continue." I thought that was great. I still do!!

When I began web building, I didn't know much about loading time etc., and my pages take some time to load on dial-up so that is another difficulty. Some of the later pages I designed load faster.

Anyway, I went on a tangent which is not surprising for me. Ask the others here.

Have a good day!!

Carol

It is raining and blowing. It is nice.