I'm generally don't take part in these discussions but I do follow them....and
this time I'm confused. Maybe I missed part of the original discussion but the jest of
what I am reading seems to be a debate about putting the US GenWeb and State logos on
county pages and linking them ONLY to the respect site that the logo represents.
This is what confuses me - are people linking the logos to other sites or am I simply
mis-understanding the discussion?
If they are - then educate THEM on the issue and ask them not to do it - instead of making
a mountain from a molehill and letting one bad apple ruin the entire bushel.
My apologies if I am not understanding the entire picture. I am still a relatively new
volunteer and am still learning how to maintain things on my county pages...which is
another reason I don't partake in most discussion but rather follow them and try to
learn...and this discussion is just confusing me as more and more comment.
Thank you.
Tami Lorbecke
Price County Coordinator
From: pajolova(a)hotmail.com
To: wigen(a)rootsweb.com
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2010 09:42:26 -0600
Subject: Re: [WIGEN] Fw: Branding and the USGenWeb sites
In reality aren't we already branding our sites with the USGenWeb Project logo and
state logo on the homepage? Since it is already a guideline/standard to have the logo on
the homepage adding the information about linking only seems reasonable to me. It does not
say you have to link.
I do remember when serving on one of the committees there was discussion of what
"prominent" really was and as you can imagine there were different views of
that. Is a tiny logo you can barely see prominent? Is a 2"x2" logo prominent?
Who is to say?
Paula
Waupaca CC -
http://www.wigenweb.org/waupaca
Waushara CC -
http://www.wigenweb.org/waushara/index.htm
IX. GUIDELINES/STANDARDS FOR WEBSITES/MEMBERS
CURRENT/OLD:
A. All websites shall include prominent display of The USGenWeb Project logo on the home
page. A state project logo may be required depending on the guidelines/standards in effect
for that state.
To be replaced by:
REVISED/NEW:
A. All websites shall include prominent display of The USGenWeb Project logo on the home
page. If linked, this logo may only be linked to the USGenWeb National site. A state
project logo may be required depending on the guidelines/standards in effect for that
state. If linked, a state project logo may only be linked to the appropriate state site.
> Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:38:25 -0800
> From: maktranscriber(a)yahoo.com
> To: WIGEN-L(a)rootsweb.com
> Subject: [WIGEN] Fw: Branding and the USGenWeb sites
>
> OK - it is pouring out - so I am really reading all my emails - sorry for the length
of this - but, some of the issues the SCs are discussing right now, will directly impact
our WI CCs - here is my response to the recent proposed bylaw change -
>
> I would love to hear your thoughts on why or why not branding would work in
Wisconsin and what level of branding would you like to see implemented, if any (ie banner
only, all graphics, to include background, index formatting, etc) - consider what changes
would need to occur, and how it would affect our researchers, and the timeline needed to
implement across all the counties - Example - I know many of us are already branding our
own counties - so would you consider just using a "Wisconsin banner" for the top
of the pages and keeping the rest of your site as is???)
>
> Whether you are for it - or against it - I would love to hear your thoughts - to
avoid any "hurt" feelings or perceived personal attacks - please keep your
comments on task - that is, keep your post impersonal - it is not necessary to say I agree
with xyz - or I disagree with xyz - just discuss your thoughts - it will be apparent who
you agree with and don't agree with - and it will allow the more quieter individuals
to voice their opinion - remember, once you post your point of view and thoughts - it is
NOT necessary to agree or disagree with every post - just sit back and read the
"discussion" - and process what is being said or NOT said - lol -
>
> If you would like to comment but not have your name on the post - send it directly
to me - and I will remove all your personal identifiers and post it for you -
>
>
>
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
>
>
>
> ----- Forwarded Message ----
> From: MAK - Transcriber <maktranscriber(a)yahoo.com>
> To: state-coord(a)rootsweb.com
> Sent: Thu, January 21, 2010 11:14:31 AM
> Subject: Branding and the USGenWeb sites
>
> I tend to agree this recent by-law proposal is a guideline issue - however, Right
now, we are requiring the SC to "police" for the USGenWeb logo onall their CCs
site's and we can't control that, so, the new proposed
> bylaws or guidelines suggest SCs will now be responsible to try to enforce it
on"non-USGenWeb" sites - sorry I am ROFLOL -
>
> Rather than put another rule in the by-laws - Has anyone discussed having only ONE
official logo (banner) for all USGenWeb pages at the National level and watermark it, and
copyright it and have them in the National pages graphics to link to all the National
pages -
>
> The same could also be done at each of the State's level - one offical State
Logo (banner) for each state (they agree upon it, which includes the official National
logo with clickable link) - in the state directory, that all CCs link to - don't have
to download upload etc - or it could be a simple cut and paste code - or a template which
cc's could use - especially ones who have difficulty with code sourcing -
>
> With all the computer guru's we have, not only would that would eliminate a lot
of the problems - but linking to graphics, rather than have how many hundreds of CCs
downloading the graphic to their computers and then uploading would allow more space on
the servers and faster uploading of pages - and also it would discourage other's from
using the logos/links without permission - as a spider search could find and report them.
>
> Also, it makes more sense in terms of branding - In most professional organizations,
branding is an important concept - branding allows the public to immediately recognize the
"brand", letting their customers know it is a legitimate page within the site -
(example - look at the coca cola symbol which has been around for a half century - we all
recognize it when we see it - can the same be said about USGenWeb???)
>
> I applaud all the states that have made a conscious decision to brand their state
pages - you go to their state and CC pages - and you KNOW it is an offical page under that
state - no one has to tell you - the banners are all the same - as are the logos - it is
easy for the SC to "police" and their researchers immediately recognize the
offical pages within the projects - (examples which come to mind immediately are below)
> KY -
http://www.kygenweb.net/
> KS -
http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/index.html
>
> With those of you not familiar with the way other states "do it" - go to
the index at
http://usgenweb.org/ and take some time going through the other states - you
will immediate see how much easier it is to research in a state which is more cohesive -
>
> Yes - there are some obstacles, and it would require compromise and teamwork - but
it could be do-able - even though, Early on, when the USGenWeb decided each CC and SC
could have a wide berth on originality and creativity - we weren't as big - and we
needed volunteer incentives - however, as USGenWeb grew - the lack of cohesion within the
state projects has contributed to some of the confusion and conflict with "outside
sources" using USGenWeb like logos on non-USGenWeb pages -
>
> While I personally like having my own "stamp" on my pages - I understand
how the "branding" would give our states our own identity - but still fall
within the National USGenWeb guidelines - and still allow any researcher to go from state
to state without wondering if it were a USGenWeb project page - Personally, I have
"branded" all my county pages - so as a researcher goes from page to page, they
immediately KNOW when they are not in that county project -
>
> I would really love it if all our states would "consider" discussing this
with their CCs - right now, we are asking for a national and state logo on all the pages -
so, would it really be pushing it much to ask for a "consistent" state banner on
all the state pages, to include the county CC pages - ??? below it - they still can have
anything they like - or each state can develope guidelines on their "index" page
- etc - there is still room for a LOT of creativity - and teamwork -
>
> Just my thoughts - for more information on "branding" - why and why nots -
and how to do-s -There are several great articles at
>
http://www.usmansheikh.com/?s=branding
>
> I would love to see a discussion on "branding" and alternatives from SCs
who have tried it and it has worked sucessfully for your state - and/or those of you who
have proposed it and it fell to dear ears, pro's and con's - problems with
implementation - etc - thank you in advance -
>
> R/S MAK
>
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> To: state-coord(a)rootsweb.com
> Sent: Fri, January 15, 2010 4:14:51 PM
> Subject: Re: [STATE-COORD] Proposed Bylaws Amendment
>
> At 05:57 PM 1/15/2010, you wrote:
> >There are those CCs out there right now linking the USGenWeb logo to sites
> >that are not even a part of the USGenWeb and don't reflect well on the
> >USGenWeb. With nothing in the bylaws about what the logo can be linked to,
> >there's not really anything that we can do if the State Coordinator
won't
> >deal with the situation even when it's reported to them.
>
> And what are you going to do when it is part of the bylaws and the
> State Coordinator STILL won't do anything?
>
> Quoting one of the AR CCs who said it much better than I can:
>
> Bylaws structure an organization and provide the broad rules under
> which the organization will operate. They are meant to be permanent
> and not change over time.
>
> Standard rules and guidelines are for day-to-day operational needs,
> which often do change over time.
>
> As a functional directive, instructions on how the logo may be linked
> belong in the Guidelines, NOT the Bylaws.
>
> Name snipped
>
>
>
>
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