Home

Technology Committee

VI. Ashland Facility

Initiative Lead: M. Geigel

Building and Grounds (BaG) (Sublead: B.Holmes)
Aesthetics (Sublead: H. Berman)
Expansion Committee (Sublead: Vacant)
Technology (Sublead: John Limb)

Technology Committee

technologyChair: John Limb
Members: Janet Dolan, Michael Donnelly, Walter Ensign, Adam Marx, Steve Weyer

Background: The Technology Committee is one of the supporting committees fulfilling various functions of the Fellowship (Bylaws 14.1B). The chair is elected by the members of the committee for a period of three years, subject to confirmation by the Board (Bylaws 14.6). The Technology Committee is partly responsible for implementing the Ashland Facility Initiative of RVUUF’s Strategic Plan.

Purpose:

  • To anticipate and meet the technological needs of RVUUF.
  • To stimulate the effective use of new technology in fulfilling the Mission of RVUUF.

Responsibilities:

  • Deploy and maintain all technology used by RVUUF, including telecommunications, data networks, computers, databases, web site, e-mail, social networking systems, telephone systems, conferencing systems, and audio/video/multimedia systems.
  • Develop a unified policy with other relevant committees regarding the publication of material in all forms.
  • Consult on technology issues for other RVUUF entities.
  • Provide appropriate backup of electronically stored information
  • Train backup operators and administrators of critical systems.
  • Promote good design, security, training and documentation practices.
  • Provide education and a limited level of technical support to RVUUF Members.
  • Explore the use of new technology in the conduct of our Mission.

Membership:

  • The committee will include those with a strong technical background in one of the areas of committee responsibility, as well as user representatives.

Policies:

  • 700.x: Building Use (sound system)
  • Using RVUUF Computers, Network and Data (under development)

Newsletter articles (PDF):

Aug 2010 New Phone System

Computer Training, Donations, Recycling

RVUUF does not offer any computer training or troubleshooting help, though such services may be available through the Auction, or if enough technically-savvy volunteers appear someday... -- talk to our Technology Committee.

If you're interested in participating in an introductory or in-depth demonstration of RVUUF's web site after a Sunday service, Contact: Web Administrator.

Training. The following local organizations may be able to help you learn more about your computer, the web, mail and other applications:

Donations:

Recycling:

Technology

drupalGeek-speak Alert!

Our site uses Drupal, a free, open-source Content Management System (CMS). A CMS typically stores different kinds of information objects, e.g., menus, topics, stories, events, newsfeeds, blogs, & forms in a database; it then applies a theme via a template/style sheet for fonts, colors, layout to generate standards-compliant web pages automatically.

technologySince the interface for updating the web site is entirely browser-based, it's relatively easy for anyone (with the appropriate access role) to add/edit stories or events, add comments, or even administer the web site (change menus, appearance, modules, settings) -- just by filling out a form. No HTML (or programming) experience is required, though it does come in handy sometimes; those with CSS (Cascading Style Sheet), PHP (PHP Hypertext Preprocessor), JavaScript, mySQL or graphic design experience could help us customize the site even more. Also see Browsers page for more acryonyms & jargon.

Although a lot of functionality comes built-in with Drupal, our site adds many (free) 3rd-party modules; many themes are available for page layout/appearance -- our site uses the (boring) built-in Garland fluid-width theme. We are currently using Drupal version 6.x in a multi-site configuration on Hostgator shared web hosting services. E-mail lists are handled separately (via Google Apps Groups).

Syndicate content