Changes and Other Important News
Changes
We’ve been working hard to improve our Refresh Chapter. We’ve grown faster then we could have ever imagined — who says the web scene isn’t here? Anyway, here is a break down of what’s to come.
Moving Meetings
On the request of many attendees we’ll be moving our meetings to Wednesday nights but still meeting on every third week so as not to interfere with other area gatherings (e.g., The Denver Web Design & Program Meetup Group, The Colorado AIGA Group, the Boulder Creative Commons Meetup Group, Denver Drupal User Group, and the Colorado Linux Users and Enthusiasts Group to name a few).
New CMS
Also as a result of many requests we’ll be changing the web site’s platform. We’ll be moving away from WordPress and on to Expression Engine with the addition of the Forum Module. Because our group has many needs we felt that it was appropriate to move to a Content Management Systems (CMS) with a separate members area. This also allows us to "re-group" and bring more of the elements we’ve been using (e.g., Google Groups, Upcoming, etc.) under one roof to simplify things a bit.
New Format
We are also working hard to bring you speakers on many relevant topics — all of which will fall under three persistent themes, Web Design, Web Development, and Web Business. We hope to get to a point where we can even have a track running for each theme each month.
In January
Starting in January, we’ll have a Web Business Round Table with guest speakers where each person, as a requirement, currently runs and operates a successful web business. So far the panel will include Alex King from Crowd Favorite, SuzAnn Brown and Heather Morgan from Launchpad Interactive, and Brian Warren from Method Arts.
Contests
We also want to hold a few design contests. One for our logo, one for our web site, one for a few web badges (you know the little banners at the bottom of web pages) and one for a few web banners, so members can proudly display and promote Refresh Denver.
Project
We will need a way to allow all our members to submit their designs for the contests above as well as vote for each category. Have an idea on how to accomplish this?
Feedback
And as always, please provide your feedback (here in the comments or via the contact form) and participate wherever you can online and off.
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December 18th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Hmmm. I’d be willing to help out with the new CMS, but I don’t know anything about the Expression Engine, and I don’t know when I’ll have the time to pick it up.
Also… there seems to be a lot of opportunity for input from designers - who we don’t have a lot of yet - but not so much from web developers?
Not sure what to propose as a solution to that, though.
January 2nd, 2008 at 1:10 pm
I think the key to getting interest from designers is having a well-designed site. It’s not currently vomit-inducing or anything, but breaking the site out of the template and giving it a little “flava” will certainly help designers take the group more seriously as a resource for their needs.
January 7th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
I’m glad you guys are getting a bit more organized. Sounds awesome.
Don’t do a design contest though. That’s a terrible idea! Read up on the inherent problems of Spec Work and how contests are just as bad. My suggestion: Hunt down a designer who’s a part of refresh to do the work and give them the prizes you would have given to contest winners. Or, find someone to volunteer to do it.
That’s my 2 cents. I dont mean to knock you guys, I appreciate all you’re doing for refresh!