Volume II Chapter 3 (August 28, 2024): Clubs and More Clubs

Well, it has been quite a while since the last chapter, way back in January. Quite a bit has happened since then.  The new version of the Invision software is currently in alpha testing, and I was selected as one of the first to help test the new software. The testing is currently in alpha version 10. Hopefully, beta testing will begin shortly, and the membership can get a chance to help bang the software around a bit and get familiar with it before it goes live, possible near the very end of 2024 or the start of 2025.

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.