The following comments are cross-posted over here, from the Executive Branch thread at http://forums.slcds.info/viewtopic.php? ... 192#p14192 -- because other people can add comments here, if they wish. And I have added a few more details here.
I've been unhappy with my own ability to get our CDS Internet web presence (other than the Forums) up to date.
Many of our promotion efforts, in events, relationships with other estates, and in-world devices, have been quite successful. But the website itself is a problem. It's not been updated, and it's hard to do so.
We had two setbacks that help account for the inadequate progress. One is that we lost our co-PIO Brian Livingston, and have not been able to find another person with scripting and web publishing skills who also has adequate time to donate to us. As a result, we have not been able to add key information, like the Al-Andalus merger, a terrible omission, to our web displays.
The other obstacle, is that the very-nice-looking CDS web portal was built on a CMS (document and display management system) that, personally, I find very difficult and user-unfriendly to operate. Others, who are not web professionals, have shared the same view. A few of us who are web professionals disagree. My own opinion is that, for a volunteer group like ours, we must have a system that's easy, and does not require constant acts by an administrator -- a WYSIWYG easily-edited system, like blogs or Ning, which encourage contribution.
The current engine is a very professional one! But if people can't easily use it, it's not good for us. The RA asked Kelia Forager to lead a study group about this topic, which I understand will meet in early February. Thank you to Keila for agreeing to help us with that important topic.
Regards JP