HRGB Website Revamp

Just to keep everyone up to date with happenings on the main HRGB Website.

New version of content managing software "Joomla!" which will give us the functionality to take membership renewals over the web and generate automated reminders. The NEC will be discussing membership renewals and whether they needs to be January-to-January, and the types of membership available. This is all with an eye on the government's proposal to abolish cheques in the next few years.

The new site also takes a feed from the membership database and shows the public a map showing the approximate locations of teams. The map pin is centred on the postcode area of the team correspondent. Of course if the team meets in, say, Exeter and the Correspondent lives in Plymouth the map aint that accurate but it's close. NO PERSONAL INFORMATION IS RELEALED BY THE MAP. It just suggests a visitor contact the regional secretary.

The next phase of this tool is to have the links to the team's regional secretary so a visitor doesn't have to work out which border teams are where.

All downloads are now bing managed by a download manager allowing us to control documents better. This means a link in an article will take the visitor to the download area where they can download the file they want and any similar ones of interest. We also have the opportinuty to host "paid" downloads and sell published documents if required.

I am also now in possession of a full run of Reverberations from 1967. Once the NEC have confirmed the copyright implications of displaying articles we can start publishing historic reports and articles and make the website more interesting to visitors. It is frequently commented that members of HRGB do not have easy access to old artivcles and this will address that need.

Well that's it for now. I am just sorting out the main graphic for the front page and then I'll lift the maintenance barrier