The Web Site (www.oocities.org/CapitolHill/Lobby/9703) for the UNA Sarasota-Manatee Chapter, has been built by Daniel Luu, with the assistance and support of Wade Matthews. The project of building a Web Site for the Chapter had been initially suggested by the former Computer Committee, created in 1996-1997. Unfortunately, the idea had been only at the exploratory stage, and the Committee was inactive in 1997-98. Considering, on the one hand, the importance of Internet, especially in the field of information and communication, and, on the other, the need for the UNA Sarasota-Manatee Chapter to have an appropriate forum for the exchange of information and experiences with other UNA chapters and organizations, Daniel Luu had proposed to built this Web Site, as part of the new activity of the External Relations and Publicity Committee, chaired by Wade Matthews.
The Server that hosts this Web Site is Geocities. It was selected for many reasons. First, it was free, in other words, there was no requirement to pay annual or monthly fees to store and maintain the Web Site. Besides, Geocities is thus far the world's largest free Server with approximately one million members, and it covers a comprehensive range of topics including politics, Government, business, art, entertainment, sports, women, home and living. The diversity of topics and the great number of users increase the visibility and the accessibility of the Web Site.
To encourage visits to the Chapter's Web Site and to facilitate its reading, the Web pages were kept very simple, in presentation as well as in structure and content. In contrast to a number of commercial Web Sites that are overburdened with colors, lines and graphics which readers may find confusing, the Chapter's Web Site includes a straightforward Index which lists most of the items leading directly to needed information about UNA Sarasota-Manatee Chapter. Besides, in each Web page, three links are available, which allow the user, by a simple click of the mouse, to connect directly to the Web Sites of UN system and UNA (National) or to return to Index. The Chapter Web Site has included so far 17 pages, covering mainly the objectives of the Chapter, its composition and activities. They have been regularly updated, in principle once per month, usually after the meeting of the Board of Directors. However, updating could take place more frequently depending on the availability of information.
The Sarasota-Manatee Chapter Web Site is apparently the first, and thus far the only UNA Web Site in Florida. It has been officially approved by UNA National, which has included it in its list of Chapter and Division Web Sites. The 11 existing UNA Web Sites, officially listed in the UNA National Web Site and connected through its links, are: (1) Central Piedmont Chapter (Charlotte, NC), (2) Greater Hartford (CT) Chapter, (3) Delaware Valley Chapter, (4) Michigan Division, (5)UNA of Minnesota, (6) Pasadena/Foothills (CA) Chapter, (7) Pittsburgh (PA) Chapter, (8) Puerto Rico Division, (9) Sarasota-Manatee(FL) Chapter, (10) St. Louis Chapter, (11) Triad Chapter(Winston-Salem, NC).
It should be noted that graphics (UNA logo, pictures, etc.) have not yet been included in the Chapter's Web Site, mainly because they take a lot of space (memory) and the Server provides free users only with a limited memory. Although recently, Geocities has increased the size of memory without fees for members, the Chapter gives priority to text and, if space is still available, some graphics can be included. It should be also noted that the Chapter Web Site is only at an initial stage and needs constant updating and improvement. Comments and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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