VASA ON THE WEBVASA ON THE WEB TimelineTimeline Initial GoalsInitial Goals ImplementationImplementation Connecting the Network Connecting the Network ExpansionExpansion What else is NEWWhat else is NEW In the WorksIn the Works Suggestions Suggestions WELCOMEWELCOME

TimelineTimeline 1994 – 1994 – Web presence studied by GL Exec BoardWeb presence studied by GL Exec Board

Directory of Lodges transcribed for the webDirectory of Lodges transcribed for the web Prototype developed, demonstrated and accepted.Prototype developed, demonstrated and accepted. Host selectedHost selected

1996 – 1996 – Grand Lodge Web Site releasedGrand Lodge Web Site released Site announced in the Vasa StarSite announced in the Vasa Star

1997 – 1997 – Enhancements addedEnhancements added Scholarship Information with Application FormsScholarship Information with Application Forms Request for Membership ApplicationRequest for Membership Application Regional Calendar of EventsRegional Calendar of Events

1998 – 1998 – PresentationPresentation Site presentation to delegates at 33Site presentation to delegates at 33rdrd Grand Grand

Lodge ConventionLodge Convention

Initial GoalsInitial Goals

VISIBILITYVISIBILITY– An Outline of our Order, Calendars of Events, and An Outline of our Order, Calendars of Events, and

Directories of Local Lodges in easy view.Directories of Local Lodges in easy view. APPROACHABILITYAPPROACHABILITY

– Email links and on-line forms to provide easy contact Email links and on-line forms to provide easy contact with our lodgeswith our lodges

INTERESTINTEREST– Our web site should show the public what we have to Our web site should show the public what we have to

offer our members, from educational assistance to offer our members, from educational assistance to language camp, and much morelanguage camp, and much more

ImplementationImplementation

The Grand Lodge site should be the “backbone” of The Grand Lodge site should be the “backbone” of our Vasa Intranet. It should include:our Vasa Intranet. It should include:– Information of interest on a National or International Information of interest on a National or International

level.level.– A communications network via a full directory of A communications network via a full directory of

Districts and Lodges with links by email to officers, Districts and Lodges with links by email to officers, and links to District and Local Lodge web sites.and links to District and Local Lodge web sites.

– A catalog of materials and services that are available to A catalog of materials and services that are available to our membership.our membership.

www.vasaorder.comwww.vasaorder.com

Connecting the NetworkConnecting the Network A Network is only as good as it is Complete:A Network is only as good as it is Complete:

– District and local lodges are strongly encouraged to District and local lodges are strongly encouraged to build their own web sites and link them to our build their own web sites and link them to our “backbone”.“backbone”.

– Many districts and local lodges were already “wired” Many districts and local lodges were already “wired” when the Grand Lodge site was released.when the Grand Lodge site was released.

As independent sites they stood alone As independent sites they stood alone Many were hard to find.Many were hard to find. Their content varied widelyTheir content varied widely

– One by one – as the independent district and local One by one – as the independent district and local lodge sites were located, they were linked to our main lodge sites were located, they were linked to our main directories.directories.

Lodge DirectoriesLodge Directories

ExpansionExpansion There are currently 9 District Lodges and 65 local lodge or club web pages listed There are currently 9 District Lodges and 65 local lodge or club web pages listed

on our directories. Again, a network is only as good as it is complete!on our directories. Again, a network is only as good as it is complete! Many lodges have been able to build their local sites with volunteer help from Many lodges have been able to build their local sites with volunteer help from

their members, and host them on inexpensive or “free” web servers. There are their members, and host them on inexpensive or “free” web servers. There are however still many lodges that lack the web programming skills, or the funds for however still many lodges that lack the web programming skills, or the funds for hosting their sites.hosting their sites.

Introducing Introducing WWW.VASAORDER.NETWWW.VASAORDER.NET– Of the 74 local web sites that comprise our VASA NETWORK, 27 of them are hosted Of the 74 local web sites that comprise our VASA NETWORK, 27 of them are hosted

by Grand Lodge and were created using the tools and template on Vasaorder.net!by Grand Lodge and were created using the tools and template on Vasaorder.net!– Vasaorder.net hosts a template for local lodge site development, similar to the “free” Vasaorder.net hosts a template for local lodge site development, similar to the “free”

site building tools offered by major commercial hosts. The sites are built and site building tools offered by major commercial hosts. The sites are built and maintained by lodge members using administrator panels where NO web maintained by lodge members using administrator panels where NO web programming skills are required. programming skills are required.

– Local information, such as a list of officers, a calendar of events, Local Lodge news, a Local information, such as a list of officers, a calendar of events, Local Lodge news, a picture gallery, and specific information about the lodge, including meeting place, picture gallery, and specific information about the lodge, including meeting place, time, and directions are stored at the server for display on the site.time, and directions are stored at the server for display on the site.

– The average local site is up and running within a few days after a password is The average local site is up and running within a few days after a password is requested and assigned.requested and assigned.

Sample Web PagesSample Web Pageswww/vasaorder.net/?Lodge=088 Tryggve #88www/vasaorder.net/?Lodge=088 Tryggve #88

Main Page (About Us)Main Page (About Us) Calendar of EventsCalendar of Events

Sample Web PagesSample Web Pageswww/vasaorder.net/?Lodge=715 Valhalla #715www/vasaorder.net/?Lodge=715 Valhalla #715

Photo GalleryPhoto Gallery Pop-Up from Photo GalleryPop-Up from Photo Gallery

How to get started with vasaorder.netHow to get started with vasaorder.net Contact Contact webmaster@vasaorder.netwebmaster@vasaorder.net

to request a password and IDto request a password and ID Read the 5 tutorials at Read the 5 tutorials at

www.vasaorder.netwww.vasaorder.net Log on to the site using your ID Log on to the site using your ID

and password.and password. Type in your local lodge Type in your local lodge

information using the panels information using the panels provided.provided.

Upload digital photographs from Upload digital photographs from your computer to build a photo your computer to build a photo gallery for your lodge.gallery for your lodge.

Return as often as necessary to Return as often as necessary to keep your site current.keep your site current.

All of the Vasa sites using the All of the Vasa sites using the template are linked from the template are linked from the tutorial page at tutorial page at www.vasaorder.netwww.vasaorder.net. . Explore them to get an idea of what Explore them to get an idea of what can be done.can be done.

Hosting for your site will be FREE Hosting for your site will be FREE (cost is covered by the Grand (cost is covered by the Grand Lodge) but unlike the commercial Lodge) but unlike the commercial “free” hosts, there are NO “free” hosts, there are NO annoying pop-up or banner annoying pop-up or banner advertisement intrusions on your advertisement intrusions on your site.site.

Links to other Vasa sites at the Links to other Vasa sites at the national and district level, as well national and district level, as well as cross links with other lodges in as cross links with other lodges in your region are already in place.your region are already in place.

www.vasaorder.netwww.vasaorder.netSample Site Building ScreensSample Site Building Screens

Update calendar & newsUpdate calendar & newsAdministrator Login ScreenAdministrator Login Screen

What else is NEW?What else is NEW? More interaction via on-line forms for certain scholarship More interaction via on-line forms for certain scholarship

applications.applications. Isolation of e-mail links in our directories to make them Isolation of e-mail links in our directories to make them

less vulnerable to spammers.less vulnerable to spammers. Acquisition of the domain Acquisition of the domain www.vasaorder.orgwww.vasaorder.org as an alias as an alias

for our National site. for our National site. ((Thank you brother Tore Kellgren)Thank you brother Tore Kellgren) Coverage of major events in Sweden and the United Coverage of major events in Sweden and the United

States, thanks to input from District and Grand Lodge States, thanks to input from District and Grand Lodge officers and members.officers and members.

www.vasaarchives.orgwww.vasaarchives.org (National Archive site) ready for (National Archive site) ready for release.release.

E-Mail links protectedE-Mail links protectedSpam is an annoying fact of life on the Internet. In order to isolate our links from the mining efforts of the Spammers robots, our addresses are hidden until needed: Click the link on our directory and our mail handler will appear, awaiting your reply.

In order to send mail, click the In order to send mail, click the [send e-mail] link. If ignored the [send e-mail] link. If ignored the box will self close in 45 seconds.box will self close in 45 seconds.

Your email program will open, pre-loaded Your email program will open, pre-loaded with the required address. with the required address. As stated earlier, a network is only as good As stated earlier, a network is only as good as it is complete. Visibility and Contact are as it is complete. Visibility and Contact are essential if our Order is to grow!essential if our Order is to grow!

New since last ConventionNew since last Convention

Introduced Swedish-American Introduced Swedish-American of the year since 2002of the year since 2002

Just Released! Back Just Released! Back issues of the VASA issues of the VASA STAR on-lineSTAR on-line

www.vasaarchives.orgwww.vasaarchives.org

Our National Archive site is automatically linked from District and Local Lodge Our National Archive site is automatically linked from District and Local Lodge sites hosted on www.vasaorder.netsites hosted on www.vasaorder.net

www.vasaarchives.orgwww.vasaarchives.org

Words about our National Archive by PGM Bertil WinstromWords about our National Archive by PGM Bertil Winstrom

On Line Forms to Request ServicesOn Line Forms to Request Services

A few clicks will bring up a form on A few clicks will bring up a form on which to submit genealogy information which to submit genealogy information to the Archive. Currently the form is to to the Archive. Currently the form is to be printed and mailed. Future plans be printed and mailed. Future plans include on-line submission.include on-line submission.

There is also a form to request There is also a form to request a genealogy search at the a genealogy search at the archive, with an explanation archive, with an explanation of limitations.of limitations.

When fully completed the site When fully completed the site will support a photo gallery of will support a photo gallery of artifacts, and much more!artifacts, and much more!

Visit Visit www.vasaarchives.org and watch it grow.and watch it grow.

Work in processWork in process A Vasa Member’s Section to include:A Vasa Member’s Section to include:

– An on-line catalog of materials such as Jewelry, An on-line catalog of materials such as Jewelry, Emblems, Forms etc. Content and access limitations Emblems, Forms etc. Content and access limitations will be subject to approval by the Grand Lodge will be subject to approval by the Grand Lodge Executive Board.Executive Board.

Further development of Vasaorder.net to allow:Further development of Vasaorder.net to allow:– Upload of flyers or posters for events, and pictures to Upload of flyers or posters for events, and pictures to

be included with text.be included with text.– Posting of additional web links to accompany local or Posting of additional web links to accompany local or

district lodge sites.district lodge sites. An alternate web template suitable for building An alternate web template suitable for building

Children’s Club sites.Children’s Club sites.

Suggestions are ALWAYS Welcome!Suggestions are ALWAYS Welcome! Please consider building a web presence for your Lodge, District , or Please consider building a web presence for your Lodge, District , or

Activities Club, if none yet exists. It is not difficult with our templates. If Activities Club, if none yet exists. It is not difficult with our templates. If there is a feature that you would like that is not provided, let me know there is a feature that you would like that is not provided, let me know and if possible it will be added.and if possible it will be added.

While there is currently NO formal procedure to report changes for our While there is currently NO formal procedure to report changes for our web directories and calendars, updates are essential. I thank all of our web directories and calendars, updates are essential. I thank all of our members for their help keeping our site up-to-date. I am especially members for their help keeping our site up-to-date. I am especially grateful to the pioneers who first used Vasaorder.net and reported to me grateful to the pioneers who first used Vasaorder.net and reported to me the areas that needed attention.the areas that needed attention.

It is my hope that our Vasa Web Presence will NEVER be considered It is my hope that our Vasa Web Presence will NEVER be considered finished. As we move into the 21finished. As we move into the 21stst Century, lets take full advantage this Century, lets take full advantage this fantastic communication and presentation tool, the Internet.fantastic communication and presentation tool, the Internet.

In Truth and UnityIn Truth and UnityRobert C AndersonRobert C Anderson

Webmaster@vasaorder.comWebmaster@vasaorder.com