By D/Lt. Wayne Spivak, JN

Computer Systems Committee

I am constantly asked, "What is a website?" My answer can be a staid technical answer: "a second generation search engine" or an answer that most people understand, such as "an inexpensive sales/marketing brochure!"

Most organizations’ websites are simply their brochures transferred to the World Wide Web. Dollars put into glossy paper brochure can be saved by using a website. However, a web site can be more than just your brochure.

Take for example the USPS web site. USPS has a very successful web site located at http://www.usps.org that paints a picture of what USPS is all about. We discuss the Boating Course, activities, and educational initiatives. We provide links to other nautical sites, and our sister organization, the Canadian Power & Sail Squadrons. With the USPS website, we provide information to the public and to our members.

The public is invited to take the online Basic Boating Quiz, an interactive quiz that is graded as soon as you have finished it. We were first on the Internet with such a quiz!

We also provide to the public a listing of every Boating course our squadrons offer, along with location, dates, times and contacts. Hundreds of people have found our Boating Courses through our Web site.

But that’s not all! We also have a member-only site located at http://www.usps.org/member. Have your Certificate Number handy, since it’s required for entry. We provide information there for our members, such as an information Interchange System (IIS) mirror site, downloadable forms and programs, how-to manuals.

Many squadrons and districts have put up their own Web Sites. Many of them are located at http://www.sb.usps.org. The rules for putting your own website on-line are rather simple.

1. Make sure the USPS trademarks are clearly shown and attributed.
2. Place a very noticeable link to the National site.
3. Place an E-mail link to the site Webmaster – (not me!).

You are free, within reason, to make a site that says something about your Squadron or District. Try not to duplicate the national site. Make your Squadron or District site unique. Tell your local boaters why they can call your local squadron home and further their boating education. Let your Web site tell them why your squadron can be the central to their summer boating activities and year-round social life. Highlight those get-togethers with pictures of families enjoying squadron activities.

Here is how you get free web space: Simply have your Computer Systems Chair or designated Webmaster contact me at wspivak@usps.org. I will create an account on my Internet host computer, Kira (It’s named after my dog. A picture of her can be found on the main page of the unofficial USPS Web Site at http://www.sb.usps.org).

I will create a directory for your Squadron or District and give you some pointers. Inform you of your URL (uniform resource locator or address), put you on an internal mailing list so I can communicate with you more easily. Then you are on your own. Plenty of books and software available to help you make artistic, full-featured web sites. It can be easy and fun!

Remember, always include a link to the national site and your district site on anything you publish. Your website may be the first glimpse into squadron life a potential new member sees. Make it inviting, open, friendly and warm!

Just ask some of the other Squadrons with websites about their success. You’ll be amazed at the response they have drawn!