• Click on your name at the top of the screen, then select "Edit Profile".
  
  

• This will take you to the "Edit Profile" page. Scroll to the bottom of the page and you will see the following.
  
  

• Click on the box below "Certificate Level" and you will then see 3 options:

  • Level I

  • Level II

  • Level III

  • None Currently
    Click on the Certification level that you have currently obtained. If you have not yet obtained certification, select "None currently".
    
    

• You will then click on the "Save" button.
  
  

• When you or another member views your profile, they will see a box located on the left side of the page entitled "Retained". This will include you "Full Name" and "Certificate Level". Your "Member Title" will also show, if you have completed that block.
  

In this post, we are going to cover the "STORE" menu option and what each item covers.

If the Store option is not expanded, let's start by clicking the STORE option. It doesn't matter whether you use the side or top menu system. The options are the same.

ORDERS

When the Order option is clicked, you will be taken to a page similar to the one shown. This page lists all of the orders that you have placed on the GACE Forums Store system. To view any order, click on the particular that you wish to view.

Print Invoice

You will then see a page similar to this one. In the upper right corner, there is a button labeled "Print Invoice". Click this button is you wish to print a copy of your invoice or receipt.

MANAGE PURCHASES

Click this option to manage the purchases you have made. Purchases you've made which have associated settings or data can be managed from this section.

MY DETAILS

• Addresses

  • Your saved addresses are listed here along with your default choice for billing. You can always use a new address when you check out.

• Personal Information

  • Edit all of your personal information that is stored in the GACE STORE system

• Payment Methods

  • Your stored payment methods make it easy to check out when purchasing and will be used automatically for renewal invoices.

  • You can change or add new payment methods to your account.

• Alternative Contacts

  • Alternative contacts are other users to whom you grant access to your account. Depending on the permissions you give, they may be able to pay invoices for one or more of your purchases, on your behalf.

Dennis Maidon
October 1, 2025

We're thrilled to announce that we've upgraded our community to Invision Community v5, and with it comes a revamped editor that's going to transform the way you create and share content. Packed with powerful features and a sleek new design, the editor is all about making your posting experience smoother, faster, and more enjoyable.

What's New?

1. Streamlined Toolbar

   The clutter is gone! The new editor sports a clean, intuitive toolbar that keeps all your favorite formatting options within easy reach. Whether you're bolding text for emphasis or inserting a hyperlink, it's all right there, just a click away.

2. Effortless Media Embeds

   Sharing images, videos, or files has never been easier. Simply drag and drop your media directly into the editor, and watch it seamlessly integrate into your post.

   Example: Want to share a screenshot or a photo from your latest project? Just drag the image file into your post, and it appears instantly:

3. Enhanced Emoji and Icon Library

   Express yourself with our expanded selection of emojis and icons. From 😄 to 🚀, add personality and emotion to your posts with a simple click.

4. Real-Time Formatting Preview

   See exactly how your post will look as you compose it. The editor updates your formatting in real-time, so there's no need to switch back and forth between preview modes.

5. Improved Code and Quote Blocks

   For those who love to share code snippets or highlight important quotes, we've upgraded our code and quote blocks for better clarity and presentation.

   Example of a Code Block:

   python

   def greet_user(username):
       return f"Welcome to the community, {username}!"
   
   print(greet_user("Alex"))
   

6. Customizable Text Formatting

   Unleash your creativity with more text styling options. Change font sizes, colors, and styles to make your posts stand out and convey your message effectively.

Tips to Get the Most Out of the New Editor

• Drag and Drop Everything: From images to documents, if you can drag it, you can drop it into your post.

• Use Emojis to Enhance Your Message: Emojis aren't just for fun—they can help convey tone and emotion. Try adding a few to your next post!

• Organize with Headings and Lists: Break up long posts with headings, bullet points, and numbered lists to make them easier to read.

• Experiment with Text Colors and Sizes: Highlight important information by changing text colors or increasing the font size.

Why You'll Love It

• Faster Posting Experience: The new editor is optimized for speed. Spend less time formatting and more time engaging with the community.

• User-Friendly Interface: Its clean design makes it easy for both newcomers and seasoned members to create great content without a learning curve.

• Greater Expression: With more tools at your disposal, you can express your ideas more vividly than ever before.

Join the Conversation!

We're eager to see how you'll use these new features to contribute to our community. Whether you're sharing insights, asking questions, or starting discussions, the new editor is here to make your posts shine.

Have questions or need a hand getting started? Feel free to reply here or reach out to our moderators—they're ready to help!

Dive in, explore, and let's keep building this amazing community together.

Introduction to the New Forums Editor

First let me start by saying, I absolutely hate the new editor. Ok, that being said, let's jump into the new TipTap editor.

The editor used previously in the Invision 4 software was CkEditor. CkEditor is probably the most popular editor on the market. It is very configurable and very easy to add new features to it. For cost reasons, Invision decided to switch to TipTap. TipTap is exactly the opposite of CkEditor. You can't configure or add any features to the setup. Everything must be added by Invision, and they are VERY reluctant to do so.

Here is the menu bar for CkEditor:

And here is the menu bar for TipTap:

Notice any difference? The TipTap menu has a lot of drop-down menus. That means all of the features are hidden and you must search for them. I use the editor quite often and I still have a problem remembering where a specific option is located. Ok, let's get started into the various options.

INTRODUCTION TO MENU BAR

PARAGRAPH

The first menu option allows you to create a new paragraph, code block and set the various heading sizes on each page. Please, do not use but one "heading 1" size per page. This should be the title of your page. Start at the top of your page with an H1 and drop down in size as you got down the page. A well-structured page will look similar to the "Main Heading" image below. The "Code Block" will probably never be used since we do not deal in programming codes on the GACE Forums.

PLUS + DROP-DOWN

This drop-down has the options to create ordered and bullet lists, wrap your content in a box, wrap in quotes, place a horizontal rule and create a very rudimentary table.

Here is an example of text wrapped in quotes and also using a box. The fist image is how it will look in the editor. The second image is how it looks after saving the post.

 This is actually a box inside of quotes. They can also be used separately.

T DROP-DOWN

The next drop-down option is for font sizing. You are able to increate one or more works to make a point or have an idea stand out.

I think the smiley-face icon is pretty much self-explanatory. This is where you will find the various icons available to you to use in your posts. The bubble icon is only for Admins and Directors. it just gives up some options for pre-written emails and text for those often-asked questions. You should not see this option unless you are an Admin or Director.

The GIF icon lists the various gifs you can add to a post. For example:

The last menu option is the ellipses. This option allows Inline Code, Strikethrough, Subscript, Superscript, Default (Font selection), Text Alignment and Highlight colors. I have already opened the color selection. There is only a minimal selection of colors. The reason for this is due to the fact that Invision 5 has the option to switch from Dark to Light. These colors are supposed to work with both options.  Once Again, the "

Inline Code

" will not probably get much use on here since we don't really have a use for code.

You may also attach files and/or use stock images by selecting one of the file/image options at the bottom of the editor. The option on the left is for attaching an existing attachment and the one on the right for selecting stock photos. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words.

You can also change the size of an image by grabbing the resize handle on the lower right bottom of the image.  Just click, hold and resize the image.

I would advise that when you are finished with your post that you go to the bottom of your screen and view your post in both Light and Dark Mode. You will then know how everyone gets to view your post. The switch looks like the image below.

In conclusion, play around with the various options and I am sure you will grow to hate the new editor as much as I do. 😁

---

OK, now to the gist of this blog, "Let's Be a Follower".

At the top of each forum, event, topic, Blog or whatever feature that you will find on the GACE Forums, there is a "Follow" button.

This is a very important button. It allows you to follow that particular feature or topic and receive updates, if you want them.  For instance, most posts on here are in the "Discussions" forum under "News & Happenings".  Click on the Follow button on the Discussions forums and you can receive notification each time a new topic appears.  Once you have followed a feature, the button turns to "Following".

You have some options when you are a follower.

Here are your options:

1. You will receive a notification and an email whenever new contest is posted. The notifications will appear in the User Bar at the top of the screen.
   
   
    
2. You can opt to receive a single email with all the content for that day, if there was any new content.
3. Maybe you would only like one email each week. You have that option, if you like.
4. You can also follow and not receive any notification at all.

Choosing the first option is the beast as it will keep you up to date on the GACE Forums.

Interested in checking on a new job or, just being aware of what your options are, follow the "Job Openings & Positions" topic. Each time you click the Follow button, you get 3 points added to your reputation score. The more points you get, the higher your rank on the GACE Forums.

In short, sometimes it does pay to be a Follower.

Ok, I want to talk about Clubs, a much under used feature of the GACE Forums.

Clubs gives you the opportunity to setup a group or club that is focused on one singular idea. For instance, let's say that I want to start a club focused on karaoke. I would start the group and setup my own discussion forums, file folders, calendar, blog, image gallery, and information pages. I can also limit the membership as to who you would like.  There are several options that I have to choose from for the membership:

• Public: Everyone can see the club and its posts and can participate without joining.
• Open: Everyone can see the club and its posts, but only members can participate. Everyone can join.
• Closed: Everyone can see the club and who's in it, but by default only members can see posts and participate. Leaders can set individual club sections so anybody can view or participate. Users need to ask a leader to join.
• Private: Only members can find the club and see its posts. Users need to be invited by a leader to join.
• Read Only: Everyone can see the club and its posts, but only members can participate. Users need to be invited by a leader to join.

OK, I'm going to make my club "Open". That means anyone that is a member on the GACE Forums can join and participate in the club. Anyone that is a member of the Forums can see the club and the posts but, only club members can participate. 

Next, I want to set up several discussion topics within the club. These topics are separate from the regular GACE Forum topics that you usually see. These topics are self-contained with the club shell. Let's say that I want a topic for general discussions about karaoke and maybe one to discuss the various karaoke venues and of course, one for karaoke singer bios. Now that the topics are set, I want some download categories.  I'm going to start with one category.  I'll set this category as "Karaoke Songs". This will be for users to upload their songs for others to download and enjoy. Who knows, the next Elvis may be found in the Karaoke Club.

Of course, I want a calendar so that the members and I can list upcoming karaoke events in the area. I also want an image gallery so that members can upload images of them their favorite singers and maybe images of their favorite karaoke venue. Now that I have a calendar, I can list that Friday night karaoke at my favorite venue, "The Brandin' Iron Saloon" and the membership and I can also post images from the venue.
 

I may also want to add a blog and maybe some information pages to flesh out the club and help build member interest. Hmm, how about a blog to post critic reviews of the various karaoke venues on the different karaoke DJs?

Now that I have decided on how I want to setup my club, all I have to do is click the "Clubs" option in the "Main Menu" and then select "Start A Club" and you are well on your way.  While you are at it, create some club rules for everyone to help keep a bit of order within the club.

If you have any questions, you can always leave a message to me, the webmaster, I will be more than happy to assist you in setting up and maintaining your club. The GACE Forums has a topic just for asking me questions.

Click here -> Ask the Webmaster

ICYMI: I created a new club several week ago entitled, "CVIOG". This will contain all the information pertaining to GACE conferences and information from the Carl Vinson Institute of Government. This is an OPEN club so that member will need to join the club to be able to participate. To join the club, select "Clubs" in the Main Menu then select "CVIOG (GACE)" from the list of clubs and join as a member.  I will be speaking with Anna Lawrence in Augusta on the maintenance and upkeep of this club. Anna is the GACE representative from CVIOG.

The GACE Forums provide 3 options when adding images to your posts.

1. Upload your personal images.
2. PixaBay
3. Giphy

The first option is simple. Upload images that you have taken and have full permission to upload to the GACE Forums.  You retain full rights to any images that you own.  DO NOT upload images that you do not own or have the rights to post.

To upload an image to your content box, you can use the tile upload box at the bottom. You can either click "choose files" and browse your system for the file you want to upload, or drag your file to the box and drop it there. Then you can hover your mouse over the image in the box and select "insert" to insert the image into your post at the exact location you want it to be.

PixaBay allows you to upload stock images from an online database of images. When you are creating your post, there should be a button in the lower right-hand corner of the Content box that says "Other Media"

     There are three options to choose from. We want the last option for PixaBay. The first option "Insert existing attachment" allows you to search through the existing images and select one from the database or you can select option two and insert an image from a URL off the internet.  Just be careful and not upload an image that you do not own or have permission to use.

Select "Insert a stock photo" and select the image you wish to use from the PixaBay window.  There is also a search box at the bottom of the window that you can utilize to narrow down the image(s) that you wish to use.

     My search criteria was "sleeping dogs" and this is the image I selected.

Finally we have Giphy. Giphy allows you to utilize animated gifs in you post. At the top of the post content box, there is a menu that contains the Giphy icon. It's a square box with the word "Gif" in it. Click on the Giphy icon and the selection box appears. The same options apply for Giphy that you used for PixaBay.  Select one of the give images or, use the search box and type in your search criteria.

     Giphy selection box.

     My search criteria was "interesting" and this is the image I selected to use.

If the images you select are too large for the page, just let your mouse hiver over the image and grab a corner of the image and resize it. It's really simple to do.

So, spice up your posted with an image or two and make people notice them more.  Just don't overdo them.  A little spice goes a long ways.

You may have noticed that the GACE Forums have a new look. I bought a new theme called "Dimension" for the Forums. You can choose between a light and a dark version of this theme. You can also customize it to suit your needs and preferences. I will show you some of the customization features to help you get familiar with this theme and make the most of it.

First, let's get started with the User Menu at the top of the screen.  This menu is embedded in the theme header.

The first menu shown is from the "Dark" theme and the second menu is from the "Light" theme.  Click on the lightbulb to change to the "Light" version of the theme and the moon icon will change over to the "Dark" theme. This makes it easy to change from version to version depending on your preferences.

The slider icon is for the "Customizer" option for this theme. Click on the slider icon and the "Customizer" menu will appear.

    1. Dark/Light mode? This allows you to switch from Dark to Light or Light to Dark mode.

    2. Sticky header? The menu sticks to the top of the screen as you scroll down the page. You do not have to scroll back to the top of the page to change pages or screens.

    3. Fluid width? This is useful for a large screen. Allows you to fill the screen.

    4. Larger font-size for posts? For those of you that need a larger font.

    5. Sticky author panel? Topic author panel sticks to top of screen.

    6. Sticky sidebar? When scrolling down, sidebar stops scrolling when you get to bottom of scrollbar.

    7. Flip sidebar? Flip sidebar to different side.

    8. Enable Heart/Confetti/Snow effect? Certain holidays have special effects.  Toggles effects on/off.

    9. Show countdown? Toggle countdown timer on/off.

The footer is embedded in the these and looks more professional than the previous menu.

The Countdown Timer is also embedded in the theme and may be toggled by you using the "Customizer" menu.

Lastly, if you wish to change themes, scroll to the bottom of the screen and look to the "Theme" menu. Click on "Theme" and select the theme you wish to use.

Just play around with the various options. If you don't like the "Dimensions" theme, switch back to the old "Red/Black" theme.  For those of you that didn't know, I modeled this theme using the UGA colors.

Enjoy!

You will find the GACE Calendar in the top menu, labeled "Events". Let your mouse hover over "Events" and a drop-down menu will appear with two options. The options are "Calendar/Events" and "Events/Calendar Overview". 

There are several views for the calendar that are available to see, depending on your preference.

• Events Overview
• Month
• Week
• Day

To view the different options, you will need to select your preference from the options menu.

First let's select the option "Events/Calendar Overview". This option was covered in an earlier blog but it's worth mentioning again. 

We then move on to the "Month" view. 

This view provides you with the entire month of events for you to view. The current day is colored in black, and the events are show by the red lines. All you need do to view a particular event is click on the red line.

The next events view is the "Week" view.

This view gives you the current or users selected week along with all the events for that particular week. The week starts on Sunday and runs through Saturday.

The final view is the "Day" view.

This view displays the current or selected day events.

Clicking the "Subscribe' button allows you to download the iCalendar file and import to your personal calendar or you can subscribe to the iCalendar feed. Either way will allow you to keep up with GACE events and happenings from your desk.

On occasion you may see the following RSS (RDF Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication) icon. You will need a RSS reader or some email application allow you to import these files into your computer.  You are then able to keep up with the information on the RSS specific items from your desktop without having to log into the GACE Forums.

If you have an event, class or happening, please feel free to post these items to the GACE Members Calendar.

Wow! There are many Participation Badges. You can earn these badges by actively engaging in the forums, not just by logging in to the system. Some badges might be challenging to get, but they are all possible with participation. Some actions, such as buying something from the store or downloading a file, do not give you a badge, but they do give you points. You can also get two points by following an item or a member. As you can see, earning points is easy.

Each time you login to the GACE Forums, you get one point, just for logging in.

Whenever you access the GACE Online Forums, you receive one point. These points are awarded for initiating discussions, responding to discussions, reacting to discussions, and any other activity related to discussions on the forums. If you create a new poll, you will receive points. If you participate in a poll, you will receive points. As you can see, almost everything you do on the forums will earn points. These points accumulate and assist you in advancing through the ranks.

Upon registering on the forums, your initial rank was "Newbie" and you possessed a solitary point. However, as you actively engaged in the forums, you accumulated points and your rank progressed accordingly. Additionally, the Admins and Moderators have the authority to grant points to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional participation. Furthermore, specific badges may be bestowed upon individuals by the Admins and Moderators for their exceptional contributions.

Occasionally, the badges or ranks that you earn will have a "Rare" tag attached to them.  That tag signifies that 5% or less of the membership has received that rank or badge.

You ranking level depends on your participation. 

Visit the landing page and direct your attention to the "Recent Achievements" section located in the sidebar on the right-hand side. Within this section, you will find the names of the five most recent members who have earned a new badge. In this edition of the GACE Community Insider, we will explore some of these badges and the requirements needed to obtain them.

Whenever you acquire a badge, you receive points that contribute to your overall ranking score. The topic of ranks will be discussed in a future edition of GACE Community Online.

The badges on the GACE Forums are determined by the duration of registration. The GACE Forums have been operational since November 11, 2016, which means that only seven years have elapsed since its establishment. As time progresses, additional badges will be introduced.

In later installments, we will cover the other badges and how to obtain them.

I have been scouring the internet for Code Enforcement job openings in Georgia for the past few weeks and posting the new listings I located in the "Job Openings" forum. It would be advantageous if individuals could request their HR departments to establish an account on the GACE Forums and publish any relevant job openings. Imagine a small town posting an opening on the forums and having it viewed by interested individuals throughout the state. I have informed various cities and SafeBuilt about the GACE Forums and extended them the chance to post their job openings on the forums.

If there are any other types of jobs, other than code enforcement, that you would like to see, please let me know and I will start posting those as I locate them. In case you didn't know, I am from North Carolina and never worked for a jurisdiction that had a strictly "Code Enforcement" department so, I am not familiar with what jobs posting you would like to see. Would you like postings from surrounding states or, do you prefer just those in Georgia?

The GACE Forums serve as an excellent platform for posting any classes that may be of interest to the members, should you have knowledge of such courses being taught. If you know of a class or seminar, create a listing in the "Training Opportunities" forum and also create a listing on the Members Calendar.

If you don't feel comfortable in creating a new topic, go to the "Test Posting Forum" and create a few test posts.  Don't worry, only you can see the topic you create.  The topics are also deleted every day or two so that your trials, and tribulations are kept a secret.

If you want to stay up to date with the job postings and maybe even this newsletter, go to the top of the forum or topic you wish to follow and click that "Follow" button. You will auto-magically receive an email each time something new is posted.

<-- Follow Button

GACE has quite a few committees that need volunteers. A list of the GACE committees and a description of their purpose may be found here. If you're interested in helping out with a committee this year, contact one of the Board members and they will set you up. You may also check the committee you are interested in serving on above and a Board member will get back to you.

Security & Privacy

Have you ever wondered what information the GACE Forums is storing about you? Well, you can easily find out.

1. Click on your name in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.
2. Then under 'Settings', click on "Account Settings".
3. On the 'Account Settings' page, click on "Security and Privacy".
4. On the right-hand side of the page, click on the "Request Data" button under 'Request PII Data". 
5. A request is sent to the site Admins to release your data and you should see a notice, in green, "We received your request. You'll receive a notification when it has been processed.".
6. The administrators will review the submitted request to determine whether to grant or deny the release of your data. Unless you are proven to be an international spy or alien from another world, there should be no reason to deny a PII Release claim. It is recommended to regularly check this page for updates on the status of your request. You will also receive a notification when your PII data is available for download. Once a "Download" button appears in the 'Request PII Data' section, you can retrieve all the data that GACE has stored about you. The data will be provided in XML format, so you will need a text or XML reader application to access and view it. Alternatively, you can choose to directly view the data in your web browser.
7. if you have not received the "Download" button in 3 days, please send me an email requesting that your data be released. dmaidon@gaceonline.com  

Please note that reading the file may be hindered by a security error or a notice from Microsoft. In order to avoid this error, it is necessary to unlock the XML file. If you are unsure about how to unlock or unblock a file, please refer to the informative video provided below. It is worth mentioning that numerous files downloaded from the internet, such as ZIP files, may be blocked. By unblocking these files, the process of unzipping will be expedited.

 UnblockAFile.mp41.43 MB · 0 downloads  

While in the settings app, you have the ability to modify your profile by including an image, signature, and updating additional information. If you have not yet provided your birthdate, kindly include it. However, it is not necessary to include the birth year. Simply choose "Not Telling" from the available options in the drop-down menus.

Don/t forget to vote in the Conference Locations survey. it's Important that everyone votes.

This concludes our weekly newsletter. We may not send one next week because the boss and I are taking a vacation in Myrtle Beach.

Until next time, stay safe.

Last week, GACE President @Angel Gray sent out a newsletter urging members to participate in the Fall Conference Locations survey. Unfortunately, only 29 individuals have responded so far, despite the significance of this matter. With over 400 members and nearly 400 attendees at the previous conference, it is crucial to gather more input to ensure a suitable venue that can accommodate all members without the need for offsite accommodations and commuting.

Conference Location Survey Link

I created a Blog called Forum Help Topics, which highlights the captivating aspects of the GACE Forums and encourages members to engage in more interesting discussions and topics. As a member, you have the option to create a Blog to share your valuable knowledge and ideas related to your job. To do so, click on the Blog link at the top of the page and choose "Create new Blog". It's a straightforward process.

Your participation is vital to the success of this site. A few years ago, I managed the web sites for the following sites:

• Metro-Atlanta Inspectors Association

• North Carolina Mechanical Inspectors Association

• ICC Region VIII

• Wake County Inspections

• TarHeel Leagues Inc.

With the exception of one site, all the listed sites failed due to insufficient member participation. Some members were unwilling to search for topics by typing a single word in the search box, while others simply didn't care. The one site that didn't fail due to lack of participation was unsuccessful because I retired and my replacement didn't follow my instructions, causing the entire board to crash.

To show your appreciation for a member's contributions to the site, you can participate by liking their post or clicking the "Thank You" button. Additionally, if you plan on attending an event or are considering attending, you can click the RSVP button to indicate your interest.

I added the images from the GACE Facebook page to the Forums Gallery. For most of the graduates' photos, I was able to read the certificates and add their names to the images. However, for the few images where I couldn't read the certificate, please inform me of the name and I will add it to the photo.

If you have any suggestions for the GACE Forums, please inform me and I will endeavor to incorporate the feature or a comparable alternative.

That concludes this week's update. Stay safe until the next one.

Just click on the "Overview" page button to see the full effect of the new events feature.

The new Events Overview page will load.

The following text and images are from the Invision Software web site.

Featured Events

Community leaders can now promote member-driven events with the “Feature” option. This highlights the event on the main overview page for all to see. It includes the event’s cover photo, date, title and description.
 

Search Events

Search for community events that are located near you. 

Tapping the “use my location” prompt allows your browser to identify your physical location, then shows a list of events that are in close proximity to you. 

Get granular with your search. Filter by general  location, date and/or whether the event is an in-person or online event. 

Maps

When searching, a map is also available for you to see in an instant what community events are happening.

Happening Near You

This section shows a list of events happening near you. It includes a snap shot of the events happening near your physical location, as well as a map of where the event is taking place.

This tailor-made page displays events based on geo-location, so communities with members from all over the world will view and experience the Events page differently. 

If there aren’t any events happening, a message block is displayed instead that says: 

  Quote

“We couldn't find any events happening soon near you. Check back later!”

Happening Today
 

On the day of, your event will include a badge to show the entire community the special event is happening.

Online Events

This section displays a list of virtual events within your community. Events are shown in chronological order by date and time.

Browse by month

We extended the search functionality to automatically show both in-person and online events categorized by the month. 

This is particularly useful to plan what events you’d like to attend and also see what’s in the pipeline. 

Event Page

Here's an example of what an Event's page looks like. It includes the event details, a map if it's an in-person event and an “Open Event” linked button for the online events. Optionally members can RSVP or confirm they attended when you request that per event.

Integrations

A particularly useful addition to our new Events application is the inclusion of popular, third-party video streaming platforms. When creating a virtual event in your Events application, you may include a link to your event and the platform will advertise it with the vendor’s logo so your community knows what to expect. When your members are ready to join, choosing the “Open Event” button will set them on their way.

Below is a complete list of platforms that Invision Community’s Events app can showcase (see examples in the screen shots above):

• Zoom

• YouTube

• EventBrite

• On24

• Facebook

• Google

• Webex

• Slack

• Discord

• Microsoft Teams

Here are a few examples of how your community can leverage our Events with in-person events:

Team building meeting
Unite your team with a collaborative event celebrating the company’s wins and victories. Sometimes in-person meetings spark new ideas in ways that a virtual environment can’t. 

Donation drive
Round up your local community and raise money for those in need with an in-person fundraiser. 

Training programs
Gather a group of community moderators and/or employees together and teach them how to innovate, strategize and lead with a physical training event. 

Flash sale
Make Black Friday, Boxing Day and other major retail sales an event within your community. Encourage your community to show up to a limited-time flash sale where in-person purchases are the only route to obtain an exclusive item. 

Let's check out some examples for online events:

Virtual happy hour
Let loose with a few of your community buddies at a virtual happy hour. Schedule something once a week or month and make a few extra friends no matter where they live (a cold brew at 5 a.m. your time when it’s 5 p.m. their time might be a tad awkward, but hey, it’s 5 p.m. somewhere). 

Holiday party
If your company is remote-based, an online holiday party is the perfect solution to spread the good time vibes. 

Interviews
Invite fans of an artist to watch a virtual live stream or music video where they can actively engage and contribute.

Fan gatherings
Speaking of fans or an artist or brand, unite people who share common interests together with a fan-fueled event. Conduct a Q&A, share inside information and create a space for them to celebrate their collective passions.

Above each post, image, page and other articles, you will see an image similar to what you see above.  Click the "Follow" button and you will be notified each time you logon if the post has been changes, altered or replied to. You may also set up your notifications so that you will receive and email from the Forums notifying you of any changes to the post or image that you are following.  While there, rate the post or image on a scale of 1 to 5 stars as to how interesting or information it is. Click the "Share" button and you can share the post or image to you favorite social site or share with a friend or co-worker via email.

You will also see the "heart" button. This is where you can give the poster reputation points. Reputation lets the posters know how much they are appreciated for their posts and insights and also helps them towards new badges.

Below you will see the Reputation point values and icon meanings.

Don't just read, participate.