Website template news

Here's an excerpt of an email exchange that Andy and I had regarding the site and its components. It is what we have been discussing all along, so there shouldn't be any big surprises. Questions? Comments?

For the future design, it might be best to keep it as simple as possible with some real minor template modifications (like getting a logo or maybe header graphic in there) but to not mess with the underlying CSS and whatnot. Then once the group has local momentum you can have someone lead up a conversion, take it to one of many inexpensive (relative) skin shops and have Josie or whoever, work together with a site skinner and build us something custom. Right now thought there aren't enough cycles in the day I think to hammer on all fronts w/o making this a paid job.

Roles/ACL's.. Right now we have these type of roles:
(I created the taxonomy so if we need something different we can do it if the system can allow for it)

Anonymous
Authenticated User
Member
Contributing Member
Event Coordinator
Editorial
Web Developer

Roles are additive in rights.

• Anonymous: pretty much can't do anything. In the future we can restrict anon to a page describing the group and gets them to register.
• Authenticated User: Just that, they have an account this granting them basic read rights for forums and such.
• Member: Member's can create forum posts, do some basic contacting, sign up for events. Generally can't cause harm but can participate.
• Contributing Member: A member that is able to write their own blog entries and stories. Blog entries are not editorialized and get posted to the system (not front page) immediately, while stories are front page material and require editorial approval.
• Event Coordinator: Can create and edit Events and in the future other Event Types. They also have signup admin authority.
• Editorial: Can approve contributions and write and approve their own. Editorial is a clearing house of approval, anything needing moderation this group can do.
• Web Developer: Basically an administrator of the system. Can do anything.

Alright.. enough babbling.. right now I've figured out enough to make forums and basic events work. I thought I had a review module but I don't like it.. we can make static pages and a number of dynamic boxes based off site content.. I'll quantify this more and bring a bunch of print outs to go over.