Web Administration

Purpose:  The purpose of the Region 9 webs services platform is to provide a unified platform and centralized information dissemination for all Region 9 entities (Region, Sections, Branches, YMFs, Student Groups, Technical Institutes, Committees, etc.).  This allows for streamlined sharing of data across Region entities such as a shared ‘active member list’ that can be used to automatically check member status for discounted member pricing and interconnection of entity calendars, cost sharing in website hosting/plugins, as well as seamless sharing of website page and form templates.

Website Structure & Administration:  The multisite WordPress platform has been adopted.  The primary domain will be Region 9 (https://asce-staging.org).  All sub-entities will have a subdomain (https://<<SUBDOMAIN>>.r9-asce.org).  Entities can customize their URL and have the ability to utilize their existing URLs (a temporary URL will be assigned until the entity completes their URL redirect process.  Administrators will be assigned to each subdomain and each entity has complete control over access to their subdomain.  The Region SuperAdministrator has access to all subdomains, but different subdomains do not have access to other subdomains.  Entities have the ability to utilize an existing Region 9 template, they can import their current WordPress site from another host, or they can create their own new customized site.  Region 9 has templates for the Section and Branch levels.

Website Features:  The website platform will offer specific plugins listed in Table 1.  The main features of the website platform include:  (a) Event registration and payment via EventsManagerPro with each subdomain having its own payment gateway and event management including event landing pages, calendaring, and automated event archiving; (b) direct link to the Region 9 active member database in order to provide automated member-pricing options; (c) the ability to generate and assign users to specified groups; (d) access to the “Roster Management” plugin allowing for delineation of members to leadership positions; (e) automated updating of webpages with leadership positions based on leadership intervals/years; (f) Shared SSL security certificate; (g) shared hosting; (h) shared security protocols (RECAPTCHA) to proactively limit site hacking; (i) customized forms (with payment options) via WPForms.

Events ManagerPro Features <Event Registration>

• Create events to accept registrations with automatically generated landing page
• Quickly create new events by duplicating prior/past events and updating details
• Past events automatically post in an ‘archive’ (i.e. “past events”)
• Add links to presentations, photos, etc. to past events for a comprehensive archive
• Events are accessible across the entire Region 9 platform (all events displayed at Region 9 site)
• Multiple payment options, both online (paypal, stripe) + offline (checks)
• Receipts are automatically emailed and posted in the user/member account page
• Each subdomain can register its own bank account for funds to be deposited
• Use SHORTCODES to add event details to any webpage
• OFFER MEMBER PRICING BASED ON CURRENT MEMBER LIST

Roster Management Features <Officer Lists>

• Create a volunteer leadership roster/officer list for any entity and any year
• Populate role with ASCE Member using lookup feature tied to member database
• Member database synchronized with Society database 1-2 times per month (rune does this manually)
• Use SHORTCODE to automatically display officer list on a webpage
• Officer list displays current information from user/member profile (headshot, title, company, bio, etc.)
• Use SHORTCODE to display vacant positions on a webpage
• Offers a ‘forecast’ view where you can see future filled/open positions based on filled/unfilled positions

WPForms <Fillable Forms & Payments>

• Drag and drop form builder
• Smart conditional logic for more complex forms (if/then)
• Quickly duplicate past forms and update for new events
• Use the same form, but filter by dates instead of creating new forms each time
• Automatically device responsive (desktop, tablet, phone)
• Multiple notification options (email, google spreadsheet, etc.)
• Accept multiple payment online options with funds deposited to specified account
• Ability to ‘save and resume’ for forms
• Automatically creates a form landing webpage
• Ability to do surveys and polls
• Ability for file uploads along with file type restrictions

Website Content:  All content will be the responsibility of each entity.  It is strongly recommended each entity identify a ‘webmaster’ with a service period of 3 years.  This webmaster would be the entity’s primary point of contact for the group.  It is recommended that all file storage (documents, videos, etc.) be stored on a Google Shared Drive (most sections have Google Non-Profit allowing for essentially unlimited file storage).  The ELEMENTOR plugin is a powerful tool to generate new webpages.  The plugin UltimateMember allows you to restrict content to various user roles (logged in/out or Administrators only, or …).  Additionally, the plugin POSTIE allows for specified users to email updates to the website.

Elementor <Webpages>

• Simple Drag and drop webpage builder
• Easily develop responsive (desktop, tablet, phone) web page view modes
• Lots of ‘widgets’ to quickly generate webpage functionality
• Quickly generate pages by duplicating existing pages
• Easily create web page template pieces to re-use on other pages
• Live editing allows you to see the design in real-time

UltimateMember <Content Restriction/Groups>

• User account and profiles (headshots, user bio, display name, etc.)
• Expanded user roles
• Allows member directories
• Create custom GROUPS of users
• Access controls (site access, per individual page/post, logged in/out)
• Login/Logout/Lost Password process
• Custom user fields

Postie <Content emailed to website>

• Posts content on website directly from incoming email
• Limit ability to post content via email by user role
• Limit ability to post content by incoming email address

Email Campaigns:  Bulk email distribution is not currently part of the Region 9 Platform.  Groups are encouraged to use INFORMZ provided by Society at no charge.  This system has up to date member lists capturing any new members who have recently joined.  You can also add custom lists with emails for non-ASCE members.

Website Hosting & Maintenance:  The site is currently hosted with “NameCheap” hosting services.  Daily Backups are automated and include the primary domain as well as all the subdomains.  An offsite copy of the site backup is also captured daily.  

Customized Features:  Customized features and updates will be packaged as ‘special projects’ and a proposal, along with projected costs, will be developed for each project.  Those sections who participate in the cost-share will have access to the custom features.