New website layout. Please comment.

[Runner]

I have gone through and re-vamped the front page of the website. I used a similar format to what RC uses. I have uploaded it here:

http://www.easttnreefclub.com/ETRC/

Please go by and take a look and comment. If you think I should go this way, I'll work the rest of the website over into a similar format. I am open to criticism and comment.

The one thing I did that I do not know if I really like are the variable columns like RC uses. I'd almost rather set the width at 1000 to 1200 pixels and be done with it.

-Scott

 

[EvilMel]

Hmmmm...variable columns you say?

Well I don't know about that one...but I liked the website. I thought it was pretty cool.

 

[Runner]

Thanks. I have made a few more modifications too clean up the look. I was up past 2:30 am working on it and did not realize I had gone past midnight. I suppose when a gEEk gets in his element, time flies.

The central column is a minimum of 650 (similar to RC's). If you stretch the Explorer page out beyond the pixel width of the page, the center section will stretch out, too.

What I would really like help on is the central info section and some of the front page content. Suggestions?

Edit: My only complaint against myself is that it is cumbersome to download on dial-up. I think all the pieces of the front page are around 200K~300K. Conventional wisdom says keep it to ~100K to cater to dial-up connections.

 

[AndynSarah]

looks good runner

 

[Runner]

Thanks.

Anybody have any idea who/what Reefland.com is? It does not appear to be a vendor of any kind, but rather another website. I have them listed as a "Sponsor", but am not sure if that is the case. They look like another RC-type website. Plus, the special link they gave us to their site is busted. Any clue what I should do with that?

 

[Runner]

I suppose the same goes for "The Reef Tank", too. Apparently they paid for their banner on our site at one time?

Somebody needs to give me our policy for banners/sponsors. I want to try and make our website something that people will want to come by and visit so as to make us more valuable to the sponsors.

And have I left anybody off? I know The Coral Reef gives us a 10% discount, but have they ever requested a banner?

 

[imsqueak]

I like, but like you, we need to sort out who's sponsoring and who's not.

 

[ct_vol]

I like the site... It looks much better than before... But we really need to get on the sponsor bandwagon... It would help me out as PR person... I've been sending different potential sponsors to the site... One guy was knocking it saying that the last minutes posted were from a couple years ago... And that I wasn't posted as the club's PR rep... Oh well, I think he figured I was just trying to get a discount for myself... Fraggle Reef offered us 5% off all orders over $300... But thats not much... And OI is offering us 15% off any order, just show your membership card... I wasn't sure if sponsors needed to pay for commercial membership in order to have a banner??? LMK that info would help me out too...

 

[stevensmd]

good job Scott...looks real nice.
dave

 

[hawkeye31657]

great job Scott

 

[Fishboy42]

Very nice Scott, that was a lot of work! I think the sponsoring information is in the bylaws, so we should look at that and decide if we can follow that or if some of the sponsors, by offering a discount, also should get a banner? I can't find the bylaws now, but there was a link on the site; maybe you can find them Scott?

David S. should have the meeting minutes for August; I will send you the ones from Sept. so we can have an updated site.

 

[Runner]

The link to the bylaws and the constitution on on the front page near the bottom. It took me a while to find them, to. I have placed those links with the mission statement on the new layout.

http://www.easttnreefclub.com/BylawsERTC.pdf
http://www.easttnreefclub.com/Constitution ETRC.pdf

 

[seased]

the new web site looks great!

FYI - everyone - the meeting minutes from the August Meeting (at Mels) is posted. They are in a box on the bottom left. Also, I wrote up Mel and Arts demo on making frag plugs. Look it over and make sure I did not miss any steps.

 

[SRT80]

none of the main menu links works for me. Maybe its my computer...

Steve

 

[Runner]

Hey Steve. Can you be more specific? Like on what page the links did not work? If it is all pages, I am not sure what the problem would be. What kind of computer and operating system and web browser software are you using?

 

[awcurl]

The links Members, Officers, Minutes ect... on the left side of the main page don't work for me either. When clicked they come up as page not found. I'm running IE 6.0

 

[Runner]

They work fine for me. Do they work for anybody else?

 

[ct_vol]

They don't work for me...

 

[Fishboy42]

They work for me

 

[TriMax]

The only ones that work for me are "Meeting" and "Forum". They all worked two or three days ago, however.

Eddie