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Tools for the Future

By Tammie Underhill posted Apr 01, 2010 01:41 PM

  

We started off a little sluggish when we first implemented the Connected Community software, but with support from Higher Logic and their team of experts, our site has become much more vibrant and active. We've yet to utilize or even realize the full potential of this software, but with time and diligence, we are hopeful that this avenue of communication will be the only place our members will want to go to ask questions, receive answers, share samples and examples, and engage in best practices with others that are on the same playing field -- their peers.
 
Most generally, just about any site you visit anymore, you need to login for one thing or another. By promoting the social networking site as a member benefit, it was evident that members only login was bound to take place. The transition was anything but easy -- we had a few unhappy members. And even though it is necessary for change in order to make things happen, it's still easier to "do it the way it has always been done." And our members are a prime example of this argument -- “What happened to the listserv? It is so much easier to use”. But as the activity level climbs, and our members are realizing just how easy the site is to use, we are hopeful that these changes are being seen by our members as a move for the better – creating resources that can be found nowhere else.

We have been promoting the microsites to our county chapters. The microsites were introduced to our members in January so we haven't had much time to fully educate them on the potential time and money this platform will save them. Starting this month I will be making several trips around the State to visit with the individual chapters to show them just how useful this tool can be. I will report back when the chapters start using the microsites.
 

I also wanted to express my thanks to the HUG forums. They have been very helpful to me. I have been able to glean a few ideas and actually implement some of them on our site. Please keep up the Q & As.

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Apr 22, 2010 03:48 PM

Hi Sherry,
Thank you for the comment. I know what you are or will be going through. At some point, members eventually come around to the necessary changes. It just isn't easy getting them there. Also, July 1 our web site will be password protected. I don't even want to think about that right now. We still have a long way to go. I'm just hoping for the light at the end of the tunnel. ;-)

Apr 09, 2010 05:47 PM

Tammie
I am dreading all of the unhappy members we'll have. It gives me solace to know that others have gone before us. I agree that the HUG forums are great tools.