This month we are featuring the Philadelphia Chapter web site.

Some highlights of the Philadelphia web site:

• Chapter Anniversary Banner—60 Years! Congratulations, Philly!
  
• Home page—the reader instantly knows a lot is happening with this chapter, and that this web site is up to date.
  
• Chapter has its own distinctive logo.
  
• Calendar of events (you can link an event to your Outlook).
  
• Meeting recaps—every event is chronicled in detail to provide a service to those who cannot attend, and further reinforce how valuable the meetings are.
  
• Chaptergram is distributed in both electronic and printed form. Note the use of photography and graphics.
  
• Detailed archive of past Chaptergrams tells the chapter’s history.
  
• Season ticket available for monthly meetings.
  
• Online registration for events available through Acteva.
  
• Job opportunities area with “date last updated” marked.
  
• Chapter accepts advertising—see link to advertisement rates.
  
• Franklin Award—chapters interested in a “Person of the Year” award can refer to this as a model.
  
• “Mix and Mingle” social activities held several times a year – locations rotated.

This is a web site you just have to visit and spend some time with to appreciate all that is there. Congratulations to webmasters Marty Frappolli, CPCU, and Dawn Upperman, CPCU, as well as Young Park and all the Philadelphia Chapter members who contribute to this very comprehensive and exciting web site.

Webmaster’s Tip: Marty says:

For the Philly Chapter, the web site has been an indispensable way of placing information at our members' fingertips. Started over a decade ago by past-president Pete Palestina, CPCU, our web site quickly became the resource center for chapter events, meeting recaps, and our rich history. I can't imagine not using this website to its fullest capacity. It's not just a bulletin board—it is the best way, the quickest way, and the least expensive way to invite your members to get involved.

Not too long ago, we neglected the site for about three months between webmasters, and we really felt the results in reduced participation in chapter events. Since that time, we make sure every chapter meeting and related event is promoted on the site, and we use the site's "e-mail blast" capacity to send handy reminders to members. We link our site to an external payments processor, so that members can use credit cards to register and pay for events.

For most of our site's history, the web duties were handled by a single person, and that person need not be a techie! Today, however, we have taken full advantage of the free and thorough training provided by the Society, and we now rotate the website maintenance among three members (we all love Leslie Higgins for her thoughtful and patient approach to web training!)”