Information Technology Report - October 2009

As many of you have already seen, we have revised the District web site to more accurately reflect your needs. You no longer need a login/user identification and a password to see the majority of the site (you do need a login and password to view the State/District directory, to prevent spammers from harvesting everyone's e-mail address). In addition, we have added another gateway for non-Lion viewers who don't know what the phrase "MD27-D1" means. Our site is also accessable via "lions-serve.org".

We are trying to be responsive. You asked for links to club web sites, we added a page listing known club links, along with an interactive District map. You asked for more club news, we added news as it is reported. You asked for a link to Youth Exchange information, we added one. If you have a specific request, please let us know.

In addition to the web site, we have added several electronic mail lists, making it easier for you to communicate with the Cabinet, club presidents, secretaries, treasurers, and Leo advisors. If you want Lion-related information sent to any (or all) of these lists, let us know.

If your club does not have a club web site, we can offer assistance in starting one, at a variety of levels.

The web site does have some costs involved. There is a fairly substantial hosting cost (and we are trying to reduce that cost). One of the ways that we may offset that cost is with advertising. It has recently been suggested that we post ads of interest to Lions to the site, similar in principle to the ads in the International Lions magazine or the ads in the District Convention program. Obviously, this would be a big step for the District, and not one taken lightly or without significant discussion. We look forward to your comments on this.

If you have suggestions or comments about any of these topics, please feel free to send them to pr@md27d1.org.