WEB STRUCTURE

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A Web site is an interactive, full color brochure that offers global communication with constant access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. It is unique in that it requires no manpower to be functional- manpower is only required for the web site to be designed, implemented and maintained.

A Web site is also a related collection of Web files that includes a beginning file called a homepage. Our organization can tell others how to get to our Web site by giving them the address of our home page. From the home page, you can get to all the other pages on our site.

Why Have an Internet Web Site?

A web sites primary purpose is to provide information, enhance both external and internal communication and to give direction.  It is important for us to "get the word out" about ourselves and the good works we do.  The internet therefore is a natural in accomplishing this goal and we should take full advantage of the opportunity it affords us.

Where Will the Web Site be Physically Located?

Our Web site is physically placed on what is known as a Web server. A server is a computer that holds the files for one or more sites. A very large Web site may be spread over a number of servers in different geographic locations. IBM is a good example; its Web site consists of thousands of files spread out over many servers in world-wide locations. But ours is a more typical site, which resides on a commercial space provider's server with a number of other sites.  Though it resides with other sites this does not present a security problem in that our individual areas are protected from each other and we maintain full access control into and within our files and our site. 

The New York State Elks Association Web site has taken form following budget reviewed and adoption by the Advisory Board in 1999. The site has been designed in accordance with the following.

The main structure of the Web site shall typically consist of:

• Leadership Information - This consists of Officers, Advisory, Sponsorship and Committee Chairmen.
• Community Information - This includes information about or links to Districts & Lodges.
• Involvement - This is the programs of our organization including events, activities and convention information. The content would primarily be that which is authorized by the individual State Committees participating.
• Online Communications - This generally includes an E-Mail List, Guestbook(s) or Message Boards.
• Linking & Interlocking - Linking is references to another site other than your own.  Such links would be Elk related or of interest to Elks and where content is reasonably within our own guidelines.  Interlocking is where some areas of our Grand Lodge Web site would be seamlessly connected to our site.  i.e., each state has what is called a Virtual Web Page at elks.org.  The content of the New York State page is under the control of our Empire State Elk Publication Editors and the Internet Chairman.
• Password Protection - We are able to control access into any areas that are deemed not for public viewing.  Our website uses password management software from CGI-World.

Matthew C. Intrieri, PDDGER
Internet/Electronic Media Committee Chairman