Enhancing Conference Communication with WordPress and Electronic Tools

1. IEEE Computer / Communications Society – Denver Section Wordpress and Electronic Communications for Section, Chapters (and Conferences) Tim Weil– CISSP, CISA, PMP Member-at-Large – IEEE Denver COMSOC Chapter Dr. Pankaj Goyal Chair – IEEE Denver Computer Society Chapter Denver, CO 6 February 2013 DeVry University

2. Table of Contents Objectives WordPress – Tools and Techniques Electronic Communications for Conference Planning Screenshots (Wordpress, Electronic Communications) References Future Work Lessons Learned

3. Objectives • We had 16 months to promote 2 conferences and bring 400+ attendees to our program • Previous conference (and Sections and Chapters) using proprietary technology • Non-compliant look’n’feel with IEEE standard • Geographic size (Region 5) requires • Better outreach mechanism • Better communication tools • Better utilization of social networking • Availability of IEEE sites • Electronic Communication toolbox

4. Table of Contents Objectives WordPress – Tools and Techniques Electronic Communications for Conference Planning Screenshots (Wordpress, Electronic Communications) References Future Work Lessons Learned

5. Wordpress (WP) • Open source • Started as a blogging tool • Evolved to a powerful CMS • Extensibility through Plug-Ins

6. IEEE Sites WP • ieeegreentech.org and r5conferences.org • First Secure your site • Restrict blog postings only after approval • Decide in what do you want? • Content pages, Calendar, Blogging, … • Change the time zone, add site editors • Start by editing the default “Sample” page

7. IEEE WP • Conforms to IEEE brands • Consistent look'n'feel • Pre-designed Templates – running start • Restricted to select and tested Plugins • IEEE Hosted

8. Your Site • First Secure your site • Setting  Discussion • Restrict blog postings only after approval • Change your password: Users Profile • Decide on what your visitors would want • Pages, Blogs • Menus • Calendar

9. Dashboard • Customization and Control • Let us Explore the Dashboard

10. Themes • A default theme has been selected • What are our choices? • Appearance --> Themes • Themes with Logos allow an image to be uploaded • Choose a theme that you like -- can always change • Section should consider Specifying a Default Theme

11. Editor • Default is very basic • Let us use a better editor • Are there any settings for the Editor in use • Activate: TinyMCE Advanced • Plugins  “activate” under TinyMCE Advanced • What are our options (under "Settings") • Choose what you need -- can always change

12. Localization • Change Time Zones • Settings General • Add Users and define their Roles • Users  Add New • They will receive an activation link • Add at least two more Administrators • one of them is the Section Webmaster

13. Home page • Edit the Sample page or create a New page • Add some content • "Under Construction -- will become active on XXXXXX" • Make it the "Start" page • Settings Reading

14. Page Make-Up • Themes set up defaults for various areas • Some can be changed (override defaults) • Others cannot -- branding • Page Areas • Title, Tagline • Primary and Utility Menus • Promos, Left and Right Sidebars • Let use remove "Meta" from Promos

15. Plugins • Multiple Calendar choices • can import/export external • Adrotate, Collapse-O-Matic, Contact Form 7 • Custom CSS Manager, Dynamic Widgets • Exclude Pages from Navigation, Global Content Blocks • MapPress Easy Google Maps, Page Links to • Next Gen Gallery, Use Google Libraries

16. Table of Contents Objectives WordPress – Tools and Techniques Electronic Communications for Conference Planning Screenshots (Wordpress, Electronic Communications References Future Work Lessons Learned

17. Electronic Communication (Misc). Electronic Communication Tools • Tools – • Website (Wordpress), Dropbox (File Share), Email (Aliases, Listserv, Distribution Lists, Calendar, Conferencing (GoToMeeting), Social Networking (FB, Twitter, IEEE Communities, MeetUp Communities), R5 Communities, vTools • Examples – Greentech, R5 Annual Meeting (2013 Websites) Test Account for Wordpress Online Project Management Tool Robotics R5 Community 2010 Greentech Conference (Facebook) • Social Media (Need Volunteers) 20

18. Table of Contents Objectives WordPress – Tools and Techniques Electronic Communications for Conference Planning Screenshots (Wordpress, Electronic Communications) References Future Work Lessons Learned

19. Wordpress Dashboard

20. Wordpress Plugins

21. Functional Email Aliaseshttp://www.ieee.org/organizations/rab/functionalalias.html

22. IEEE Entity Web Hostinghttp://sites.ieee.org/hosting/wordpress-hosting

23. R5 Community – Roboticshttp://r5robotics.oc.ieee.org/

24. Table of Contents Objectives WordPress – Tools and Techniques Electronic Communications for Conference Planning Screenshots (Wordpress, Electronic Communications) References Future Work Lessons Learned

25. Wordpress References • Wordpress Dot Org • http://wordpress.org/ • IEEE Entity Web Hosting • http://sites.ieee.org/ • Wordpress Editors Guide (on-line) • http://sites.ieee.org/files/2011/04/WordPress-Editors-Guide-WL.pdf • Install Wordpress on Centos/RH Fedora • http://www.if-not-true-then-false.com/2010/install-wordpress-on-fedora-centos-red-hat-rhel/

26. Table of Contents Objectives WordPress – Tools and Techniques Electronic Communications for Conference Planning Screenshots (Wordpress, Electronic Communications) References Future Work Lessons Learned

27. New Region 5 Websitehttp://www.ieeer5.org

28. IEEE Denver Computer Society (under construction)

29. Table of Contents Objectives WordPress – Tools and Techniques Electronic Communications for Conference Planning Screenshots (Wordpress, Electronic Communications) References Future Work Lessons Learned

30. Wordpress Migration It Can Be Done! Pitch In and Help We invite Denver Section COMSOC and Computer Society members to get involved.

31. sites.ieee.org/baton-rouge/