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Free Canva graphics program for nonprofits
Want to increase your impact? Get the Canva graphics program today!
Canva is offering 10 free seats to its graphics program to nonprofits. It is perfect for creating social media banners, profile images, and a wide variety of other graphics. Click the link below to apply. https://support.canva.com/account-basics/nonprofit-program/apply-for-nonprofit/ Ann |
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My chapter is considering a website - where do we start?
#website
I have started this discussion thread as a continuation from the recent HLAA Leaders group thread on websites.
-- Alan Katsura Moderator HLAA Tech Group |
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Continuation of thread from HLAA Leaders "Older WordPress Websites Dropdown Menus Not Functioning"
#website
#wordpress
Those of you who are following this thread from the HLAA Leaders group welcome to the HLAATech group. I am one of the moderators of this group. This is a group discussion platform. It is my hope that collectively we can address many of the issues that are brought forward in this group. My thanks to Grammarly and Techsoup for keeping me looking like a moron. Techsoup supports nonprofits through access to technology.
I would consider myself a hobbyist when it comes to starting, developing, and maintaining a website. I need to develop my social media skills as they are nonexistent. Although I do not have a hearing loss I live with it daily and it is one of the reasons I volunteer for my local chapter, state association, and now HLAA. Alan Katsura Moderator HLAA Tech Group |
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Re: My chapter is considering a website - where do we start?
#website
Michelle Gross, HLAA Rochester
Thanks for doing this Alan; you are a brave soul indeed! By way of getting to know each other, my name is Michelle Gross from the Rochester NY Chapter. Our Website https://www.hearinglossrochester.org was my second foray into learing about Websites. I inherited the job knowing "0", a big nothing about Websites when the person who designed our prior Website suddenly left the job. He basically showed me how to sign in, then it was sayonara! That was in 2013. Fortunately, I had something to go on and over the years have grown into the job. Our current Website was redesigned in 2018 but of course is a work in progress. Michelle |
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Re: My chapter is considering a website - where do we start?
#website
I think it depends upon your skill level. I started out building on godaddy (at one time was free) using their web site builder. I graduated to doing my own with html, later added php. There are free and somewhat easy-to-use options with Microsoft Azure but this would require a smidge of technical ability. Our North Bay chapter https://www.hearinglossnorthbay.org/ uses squarespace (I think we pay a nominal amount), which suits our purposes and meets the requirement of not requiring technical knowhow. I developed a mobile app database for us using Xamarin but so few people have android phones that I have scrapped it; Apple Store policies prevent me from developing an ios version. I am currently developing a web-based database for us using razor, c# and sqlite on Microsoft Azure, which will be free using my technical sophistication. I have also installed and loaded a database using Sales Force for Non Profits. As I think you know, Sales Force offers a free 10-user license to non-profits but their product is a major overkill and highly complex. Both of these systems leave open the issue of replacing me but are a major asset in the meantime.
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HLAA Hearing Loss Support, Communicating with a Police Officer Sat Sep 12 9:30 AM PT
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Social Media Usage
#poll-notice
My experience with HLAA leads me to believe that HLAA membership literally may die off. Most of the chapters that I am familiar with have leadership primarily with retired people. They are all concerned about the age of their membership. There have been discussions on how to reach the working-age people. Social media may be an answer. I'm not the social media maven. By nature, I'm not a social person and force myself to try and do anything socially. My Facebook account has a picture of a pumpkin with an image of my brother's dog (now deceased) and a few posts about HLAA and CERT (Community Emergency Response Team). I have a Twitter account that I don't ever remember looking at, let alone tweet or retweet anything. But I am beginning to realize the importance social media may have as part of the future of HLAA and its chapters and towards that end am willing to dedicate time to learning about it.
How do you use social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.)?
Thank you for voting. Results will be available when the poll is closed.
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Re: Social Media Usage
#poll-notice
Alan, I totally agree with you. If chapters don't start to include younger working adults and the parents of HOH children, they will fade away and never realize their full potential. I believe that HLAA has the ability to advocate for many more people of all ages. (Back in the day, as SHHH, I learned a lot that helped us with our son.)
For reference, some of the social media we try to keep updated here in South Florida:
https://www.facebook.com/HearingLossAssocPalmBeach/ https://www.facebook.com/HearingLossNPBC/
https://www.facebook.com/Loops4Hearing https://www.facebook.com/Telecoils/ https://www.facebook.com/2020HearingMatters
https://twitter.com/loops4hearing
https://twitter.com/HLAAPalmBeach
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Re: My chapter is considering a website - where do we start?
#website
Basic Wordpress sites are pretty easy to set up, maintain and are reasonably priced - $99 to $299 per year for hosting, CMS and support. Google for 20% off coupons before you pay!
Peggy www.hlapbc.org www.nyhearingloss.org |
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Re: Social Media Usage
#poll-notice
Michelle Gross, HLAA Rochester
Although we as the "older set" may not be as big on the use of social media, those younger who are coming up usually are, as we all know. The issue to me, becomes more one of how much technology has played a part in improving our communication issues. Like Deaf people those of us with significant hearing loss enjoy personal interaction with each other. We have a mutual understanding of hearing loss and therefore enjoy the natural flow of our communication, without the additional stressors communicating with hearing people can inflict.
We probably agree that the good part of social media is the ease of using written/visual communication (text, captions, streaming) for "us", but of course the other side of the coin is the lack of intimacy that leaves a void that may not be appreciated by those who use social media almost exclusively. We all have read about that and it holds true for hearing people as well. In my opinion, being that HL occurs at any age but predominates in older age groups, our Organizational Marketing to an older group of people makes sense. As younger people with hearing loss become the "older group" and as technolgy/medical advancements occur, HLAA as an entity will either continue to fill a void or will fade as no longer being necessary. Of course that's a statement of the obvious but for now, like it or not, our focus remains on our largest demographic, "older people" who currently aren't the biggest group of social media users. The situation (continuation of HLAA) will take care of itself as it become more apparent if progress lessons the need for our Organization. We can move with the times but all our eggs don't need to be in the social media basket. It's important to offer what we can to the upcoming group of potential members but to me we need not be so consumed with drawing in younger people that we play short shrift to the needs of the majority of members/potential older members currently in our society. I see it as Room to live now and room to grow...Michelle |
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Re: My chapter is considering a website - where do we start?
#website
Michelle Gross, HLAA Rochester
When it came time to re-do our Website https://www.hearinglossrochester.org I continued with the choice of our former Webmaster (Homestead Websites https://www.homestead.com). It uses a wysiwyg is rather expensive, but provides full support, "community" and phone and a lot of flexibility. It uses "Websitebuilder" (a program that allows you to create your website without knowing code) and is responsive (has the ability to adapt to different devices computer to phone), although the mobile version can be awkward when editing. I looked into CMS like Word Press ( the builder not the Webhost), for me it wasn't a good fit. I wasn't confident about my ability to select "safe", reliable plugins and maintain their updates and compatibility. A lot of plug in use also can slow down page loading and we elected to have a multipage website. There may be some other downsides and certainly it's widely used and can be very flexible and ideal for some Webmasters. WP was originally devised for Blogs so it's ideal for one page Websites but for me, it isn't the best fit. Of course lots of developers competeing for plugins can be a good thing as well, so I don't knock it. Also there are multiple Webhosts that provide a variety of services; just wasn't the way I chose to go. Michelle Rochester ny |
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Re: My chapter is considering a website - where do we start?
#website
As Rich Osborne explains in his post, we use Squarespace. My son set it up for us with our input. We all got together one day and he asked how we wanted it organized, From that he created the site. Then we found images and paid for them. We pay $200-$250 per year for the site. It has a button where people can sign up for the newsletter. That information automatically goes into Mailchimp. I edit the website, but I haven't made any structural changes. I feel that this is an easy way to get started if you have someone who knows Squarespace to set it up. Mailchimp works pretty well for sending newsletters and emails and connects to social media. I learned how to use it during a winter break. I just do what I can with what I can figure out.
Sara |
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Re: My chapter is considering a website - where do we start?
#website
There are WordPress hosts that donate services to non-profits. Although they are shared hosting plans, they are adequate for low traffic sites. Our chapter currently uses Bluehost. Bluehost's services include email - where you can set up personalized email addresses such as yourname@.... I understand the Mailchimp recently added basic website creation to its package of free services.
-- Alan Katsura Moderator HLAA Tech Group |
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Re: Social Media Usage
#poll-notice
Judy G. Martin, FL <judygmartin@...>
Well said, Michelle. I agree with all of your thoughts whole-heartedly. I want to say, though, that “old” when I joined in 2006 is not really “old” any longer in that many more seniors are up to date with the use of social media.
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Judy G. Martin Founder and Past President, HLAA, Jacksonville Chapter 
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Re: My chapter is considering a website - where do we start?
#website
Two website builders that are easy to use (minimal technical knowledge), with templates, tools (like visitor visits), and hosting all in one:
https://www.wix.com $168/year and https://www.weebly.com $72-$144/year Domain name registration is extra (or you can connect to a separate registration company) |
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Re: My chapter is considering a website - where do we start?
#website
Hi Wynne
Ann mentioned that Mailchimp has added a website builder to their free package. Alan Katsura Moderator HLAA Tech Group |
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Techsoup
#poll-notice
My original plan is to include a couple of polls a month, and I released one on social media several days ago. I think this poll needs to take place at this time because so much of what nonprofits can have access to depends on organizations like this. If you are aware of other like organizations, please share here. Techsoup is an organization that allows nonprofits to access technology that they may otherwise not be able to afford or even know. They administer a wide variety of technology products and services, including Google for Nonprofits, Microsoft, Adobe, Zoom, and many more. It is not limited to software as services and hardware are also available. Your chapter will go through a vetting process during registration. https://www.techsoup.org/
I will close this poll at the end of September. To answer the poll, select the circle in front of your selection. It will change to a dark gray color. Then submit the poll. Please do not create a "reply" message with a numbered choice. Are you aware of Techsoup?
Thank you for voting. Results will be available when the poll is closed.
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Locked
Favicon - That Little Image That Sits in Your Web Browser Tab
#website
#wordpress
There is a push from HLAA for brand consistency. My reasoning is a uniformed and professional appearance from chapters and state associations gains instant recognition and, from that, credibility. We all know what
You can view Ann Thomas's PowerPoint "Getting the Word Out: Promoting Chapter Identity & Creating Advertising Collateral." There also is the HLAA Logo Use Guide, which all webmasters should become familiar with. Besides the proper use of logos, the Guide produces information on font and brand color requirements. This image  is an example of a favicon. I have attached the image file to this post if anyone wants to use it. It is a transparent png file. The size is larger than what is typically recommended but should resize itself. How you get it to appear depends on what you are using for your website builder. WordPress has multiple ways of adding a favicon. New sites can use the WordPress Customizer. Most themes allow you to add a favicon, and there always is a plugin in the WordPress Plugin Repository that will accomplish the task.I apologized for how this post is assembled - no flow at all, but the content is there. Stay safe everyone -- Alan Katsura Moderator HLAA Tech Group |
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Re: Social Media Usage
#poll-notice
I was creating a post earlier this evening. I kept proofing it - Grammarly said it was okay, but she doesn't catch everything, and I remembered one reason why I didn't care for social media. You push that button, and everybody knows. They know you can't spell, put coherent thoughts together, get your facts correct - though that doesn't seem to faze some people. I entered a comment in a Zoom chat today, with its 5pt font, and I must have dragged my thumb across the touchpad. When the comment appeared in the Chat with my name at the top and not making any sense - well, it was too late to change my name.
Stay safe everyone -- Alan Katsura Moderator HLAA Tech Group |
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Re: Favicon -
Michelle Gross, HLAA Rochester
Alan has done a great job of explaining the favicon. I will just put in my 2¢ to say favicons are unique in that they have various layers so they can display properly in a browser "address bar") on desktops, and bookmarks etc. Many Website's builders provide a way to insert your image and they will automatically generate the favicon. Our Webhost "Homestead" has that service, WIX also provides favicon creating, Square Space I believe uses their own favicon but provides directions as to how to replace it with one particuliar to your website (HLAA's). If at all possible use the .png format. Michelle |
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