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| Get Started On USLYC
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OVERVIEW:
Everybody on this site is probably coming from a different place with regard to his or her ability with computers and sites like this one. Below is a step-by-step explanation of all of the features on this site and how to use them. If you have any trouble, hopefully these instructions will help. Even if you are very comfortable with computers, you should still scan the instructions below so that you do not miss any of the features offered.
For those of you who are familiar with "My Space" and "Facebook," the features of this site are very similar; however the network is obviously restricted to the lake community. The “Discussion Board” feature here is very similar to the “The Wall” offered on “Facebook,” and the “Profiles” in the “Members” section here mirror those on both “Facebook” and “My Space.” Alternatively, those of you familiar with blogging may consider this site a fancy community blogg, where you can exchange opinions, events, and information with a closed community. If you have no idea what was just said, then don’t worry about it. This will be a good introduction for you.
Upon entering the site, you will only have viewing access to the “Home Page,” the “How the Site Works” section, and the “History” section. In order to access any of the substantive features of the site, you must become a member. This is the first step.
BECOMING A MEMBER:
In order to become a member you need to sign up by clicking on the “Sign Up” link. This is located on the task bar on the left side of the “Home Page” just under the link to this page: “How the Site Works.” Once you click on the “Sign Up” link you will be taken to a registration page where you should fill out all of the information boxes provided. Remember that the password requires numbers and letters and both upper and lower case characters. The picture required can not exceed the size limitations provided; this will accommodate almost any picture that you might want to use, and it will prevent the site from getting jammed up by over sized photos. Once you have completed filling out the information boxes, and you have adequately read the “Terms of Use,” click the “Register Now!” link at the bottom of the page. Your information will be sent to an administrator who will confirm your identity. You should be able to access the site within a day or two at the latest.
FEATURES FOR MEMBERS:
Once you become a member your name will appear in the “Members” column on the right hand side of the “Home Page” underneath the USLYC burgee along with all of the other members. You can log in by clicking the “Members Section” link just underneath the “History” link on the left hand task bar of the “Home Page.” You will then be prompted for the username and password that you provided when registering. Your username is your email address. You will also be prompted for your username and password if you click on any of the member features such as “Invitation” or “Events.”
Once you have signed in, you will be taken to your “Profile.” This will act as your home base at the site. You should see your picture and all of your information displayed. You will also notice that that the left hand task bar has changed to provide you with the member features: "Profile," "Photo Gallery," "Invitation," "Events," "Change Password," "Discussion Board," and "Logout."
Profile:
The “Profile” link is located at the top of the left hand task bar. You may edit your profile at any time by clicking on the “edit” link just to the right of the “Profile” link on the task bar. This will take you back to the information boxes that you filled out when you registered. You may edit any feature of your Profile at any time. Also, as you navigate through the other features of the “Members Section,” you can click on this “Profile” link to return to this page.
Photo Gallery:
The “Photo Gallery” link is just below “Profile” on the left hand task bar and enables you to upload photos to share with the rest of the members. It is a great way to share photos from an event. Any photo that you upload can be accessed by all of the other members. To upload a photo, click the “Add Image” link, browse and select a photo from your computer, enter a description in the box provided, and affirm your selection by clicking “Add Image” again. Once you have uploaded a photo, it will appear in your “Photo Gallery” and in your “Personal Photo Section” on your “Profile.” You can click on the miniature pictures to enlarge them and scan through all of the pictures on the site.
Invitation:
The “Invitation” link is just below the “Photo Gallery” on the left hand task bar and enables you to invite someone you know in the lake community to join the USLYC. Please use restraint with this feature and do not invite your friends who are not a part of the lake community. These people will be filtered out in registration, and will only clog up the process. To invite someone, enter their email address and a message for them in the boxes provided. Once you hit “Invite,” an email will be sent to them from the USLYC with a link to the registration page and your message. This is a good way for members to actively expand the club and get more people involved.
Events:
The “Events” link is just below the “Invitation” link on the left hand task bar and provides the members with a way of planning and organizing community activities. This is one of the most important features of the site. To plan an event, click the “Add Event” link after entering into the “Events” section. This will take you to a series of information boxes that need to be filled out.
First is the date that the event will take place. Although it is not conventional in the United States, you must enter the date as yyyy-mm-dd because of the way the calendar software works. For your convenience we have included a small gray calendar pop-up link just to the right of the information box. You can click on this link to view a calendar and simply click on the day displayed on the calendar. To change the month shown, click on the blue arrows on either side of the displayed month to move forward or backwards. The date of the event will appear on the “Calendar” feature of the “Home Page” in bold red font. For example: 2007-07-27
The second box is the “Event Title.” This will appear just under the date on the “Home Page.” For example: Climb up Algonquin and Iroquois
The third box is the “Event Short Description.” This text will also appear on the “Home Page.” This should encompass all of the information that you want everybody to read. Do not be thrown off by the term “short” description; this text should include anything substantive about your event. For example: Come climb with a bunch of us from the north end of the lake. A few families are getting together; the more the merrier. We are planning on leaving early in the morning on Saturday for a rigorous hike up Algonquin and Iroquois mountains. It will be a tough day trip, so make sure you are up to the challenge!
The fourth box is the “Event Long Description.” This text will NOT appear on the “Home Page.” This text will only be seen if a member clicks on the date, which acts as a link, to see more information. Depending upon the event, it may not be necessary to include a long description. If this is the case, you can just enter “…” Remember that the “Home Page” is visible to both members and non-members, so any private information should be entered into the this “long description” so that only members can view it. If you feel that it is necessary to enter a long description. For example: We will meet at the Public Boat landing at 6AM in Back Bay. We will drive to the Adirondack Lodge and hope to be on the trail by 8AM. Round trip will be approximately 14 miles. Call my cell if you have any questions: *** *** ****
Finally, you must select the “status” of your event. There are only two options: “public” and “private.” If your event is private than it will not appear on the “Home Page” as stated above. Instead, it will only appear in box form in your personal “Events” section. When viewing your private event in this way, you can choose to send it out to specific members by clicking on the “Send Mail” link in the box all the way to the right next to “Delete.” This will take you to a page where you can select which member you want to notify of the event. At any time you can delete your event by clicking on “Delete” in the “Events” section. If your event is public than it will appear as stated above on the “Home Page.” For example:
2007-07-27
Climb up Algonquin and Iroquois
Come climb with a bunch of us from the north end of the lake. A few families are getting together; the more the merrier. We are planning on leaving early in the morning on Saturday for a rigorous hike up Algonquin and Iroquois mountains. It will be a tough day trip, so make sure you are up to the challenge!
Also, in addition to it being visible on the “Home Page,” the event information will be emailed to every member of the USLYC so that everybody is aware that it is going on. In this way, your event will get lots press quickly.
Changing Your Password:
The “Changing Your Password” link is just under the “Events” link on the left hand task bar. This section is fairly self-explanatory. If you want to change your password, fill in the appropriate information boxes and click “Change Password.” Remember that a “hard” password requires both numbers and letters, upper and lower case characters.
Discussion Board:
The “Discussion Board” link is just under the “Changing Your Password” link on the left hand task bar. This is another important feature of the site; it will enable each member to post thoughts, questions, opinions, memories, or whatever else you might want on the “Home Page.” In order to do this, click “Add” once in the “Discussion Board” section. You will be prompted with a bunch of information boxes of the same format and nature as the “Add Event” option. Follow the same guidelines above to post on the “Discussion Board.” Note that there is no “private” option for the “Discussion Board.” Any post will be seen on the “Home Page” by all. Also, remember that the "Home Page" is visible to both members and non-members, so any private information should be entered in the "Long Description" box so that only members have access to it.
Logout:
The "Logout" link is located at the bottom of the left hand task bar just underneath the "Discussion Board" link. This link simply takes you out of the "Members Section" and returns you to the "Home Page." You can re-enter the "Members Section" at any time by logging in.
MEMBERS PROFILES:
Once you have signed into the “Members Section” you have access to see other members “Profiles.” You can do this by clicking the “Home Page” link on the top, horizontal task bar of the “Members Section” that includes: “Home Page,” “How the Site Works,” “History,” and “Members Section.” Once you have returned to the “Home Page” via this link, you can click on the names of any of the members in the “Members” list on the right side under the burgee. This will take you to their profile where you can see their picture, information, and “Personal Photo Gallery.”
HOME PAGE:
The “Home Page” is visible to both members and non-members so please remember to keep the content visible there of a public nature. Also, if you leave the “Members Section” to view the “Home Page” you may be prompted to re-enter your username and password when returning to the "Members Page". The best way to avoid this is by returning to the “Members Section” via the “Members Section” link on the top, horizontal task bar. This will take you right back to your “Profile.”
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