The Province’s Web Site - 'reLaunch'*Last updated: 04 October 2007
Genesis, Chap 1 In the beginning, the Province did not have a web site. However, around mid 1999 a chance word to me by W Bro Ken Lorberg, PGSec at the time, on the matter of the Provincial Grand Master wanting one eventually caused us to launch our own. In those early days, it was not uncommon for the information on a Provincial web site to comprise mainly of the Province's meetings calendar, with very little else and few pictures to brighten things up. Our initial effort was very simple, comprising a home page with a message from, and picture of, our PGM at the time, RW Bro ‘Bill’ Bryen, and a short list of links to other pages and other, mainly masonic, sites. Apart from the inevitable calendar of all meetings in the Province, one of our first pages, our Open Days provided very suitable additional subject matter, along with more pictures. So, it all started from there. We didn’t really ask what the site was actually for, but, nevertheless, we had one. We have moved on - again Web site design, use and raison d'etre have changed a very great deal since our launch in late 1999. Whole new programming languages with sophisticated construction systems to support them have appeared. These are very powerful tools enabling a wide variety of deep as well as wacky & tacky effects. The Province’s site cannot hope to be a leader in the upbeat ‘race’ to have the latest design of site, but notice is constantly taken of the general developments that occur. As a result our web site has changed substantially from its initial form, incrementally and radically, now, for a third time. This latest version has a completely new look, and one reflecting the looser and more flexible formats starting to be seen in larger industrial/commercial sites. It still has an opening page with our PGM’s greeting, albeit shorter, but now features a mosaic of panel based shortcuts for reaching a selection of pages. It still includes a drop down main menu at the top left leading to a top down navigation sequence of menus. To this are added a Find facility that will find and list pages in the site containing entered keywords and a permanent quick-links bar, one link of which is to the Site Map. These never go from the home page so that a reader, or ‘surfer’, can quite quickly go from one topic to another. There's no excuse now not to be able to find one's way around! So what’s there to be looked at? A lot; around 600 pages, making getting on for 200,000 words, and over 1000 images of all sizes! Without wishing to spoil the hoped for surprises in store when surfing our web site, the following are some of the pages of information that can be read:
And, just as a handy tool, a group of links to some invaluable public service sites has been added. What will there to be read in the future? A web site should be dynamic as well as static, trying giving latest information of events as well as holding longer-term referential information in an archive. Few do! Provincial history is being made every day and the web page is a fine and convenient tool to note it down on. We are, therefore, building a sequence of snapshots of the life of our Province as it evolves that will be there for a long time to come, and for future Brn of our Province to take an interest in. But it does not stop there. Our Provincial membership is so rich in experience and talent across many fields that there has to be much that could be shared. If you think you have something to contribute, the Provincial Communications Officer, W Bro Bob King, and/or the West Kent News Editor, W Bro Ken Lorberg are waiting to hear about it; from you. Or, if you want to send information directly to the Webmaster, then that is just as an acceptable route. The essential thing is to let us have that idea you have that’s just waiting to get out! We look forward to hearing from YOU to make suggestions for new and engaging ‘copy’. Much of what will be on the site to be read in the future will be down to you. the Brn of this Province. You are in the driving seat of this evolution; if you want make your mark, you can! Now’s the time for all budding authors to come to the fore! So would you like to be a contributor to the Province’s web site? Let’s hear from you if you would. Are you a theatre goer who would like to keep us up with your reviews of the plays and shows you have seen? Are you an astronomer and would like to tell us what other stars we can expect to see - looking heavenward? Are you going to put on an event in the Province and would like it to get a global advert? And, so on … . Information on these, and any other suitable topics, only have to be communicated to us and we will get it around the Province and post it to the web site. And finally ... ... we have a web site. It's future direction and content are dependent upon many 'parameters' with the main three of these being contributions, style and criticism - of the friendly and honest type. Without these we will lose our way, which cannot be allowed to happen. Please take an interest in YOUR WEB SITE and let us know what you think. And finally finally ... Your founding web master has retired. Thank you for your interest in the site. Contacts: Provincial Communications Officer, W Bro W R King, Email: rkingwkpm@... WKNEWS, W Bro Ken Lorberg, Tel: 01 ... ... ..., Email: ken@lorberg... eClub membership, W Bro Fred Halligan, Tel: 020 8466 7795, Email: fredhalligan@aol.com Provincial Webmaster, ..., Tel: ..., Email: ...
Website address: http://www.freemasons-westkent.org.uk * ??. JS is now extensively used in the Prov web site. PLE, ex-Prov Web Master. |