adm401bga
3/29/2015 4:04:41 PM | All,
Now that I've got those unexpected issues out of the way, I'm ready to start talking about our new Wiki.
First, for those of you wondering, what is a wiki? Well, here's a quick summary:
A wiki (sometimes spelled "Wiki") is a server program that allows users to collaborate in forming the content of a Web site. The term comes from the word "wikiwiki," which means "fast" in the Hawaiian language. -- Source
Here's a quick explanation of how they can be used:
Our wiki was create primarily to allow our members to create pages honoring their favorite 401st veteran. As an example of that, here is our wiki page for my father, Edward G Dana.
The information you see here is a combination of information from our website and supplied by me. His image and his mission record come directly from our database. The rest of the information you find there was created by me to tell his story. Note that it is broken into three sections. First, his service record which anyone searching the web for him will likely want to see first. Next, it contains a section about his life both before and after the war. I use all these sections to tell everyone about the Hard Seventeen and how it redeemed him later in life.
But it doesn't have to stop at that. This is a very simple telling of his story. Over time, I will add more photos and even videos telling that story and more. This tribute to him will eventually be expanded to include anything about him, his service during the war and how it affected him later in life.
And that's the purpose of our new wiki. So that you too can tell the story of your favorite veteran. His service to our country and how it impacted his life. Be it that he never got to have a full life, as with many of those who sacrificed, be it that he went on live a full and productive life, or be it anywhere in between. This will be our contribution to history and to the sacrifices they made during those very turbulent times.
Don't let them be forgotten!
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adm401bga
3/29/2015 11:05:32 PM | Here is an additional reason why I have been championing a wiki since before I became Webmaster. One of the things that we have offered on our website is the gallery. And among the gallery we have displayed images from our Reunions. Unfortunately, it's been difficult to post images of those reunions, mostly because moving the website forward (and a full time job) have shortened much of my available time. As such, even though I have photos of our 2010-2014 Reunions, it's been tough to find the time to get them on-line. Also, when these photos do get posted, they are typically mine and, as such, more centered on my interests and not necessarily on the entire group's.
And, again, here we have the beauty of a wiki. 1) It's easier for me to create an "album" on the wiki and, 2, it's no longer dependent on my time and just my photos. Anyone willing to do so may also start an album and post their photos from the reunion.
As an example of that, here is a new album from the Historical Society's 2014 Remembrance Day Ceremony. I uploaded Paul Bellamy's photos and made an album of them. If someone else from the society wants their photos included, they can edit this page and add theirs as well.
As before, a small amount of knowledge is required to do this, but once it's learned, it's easy to do.
There are some issues, however, this current album feels a bit slow to me. If it's performance is slow for you too, let me know. I have some other options I can try to help with it's performance. But the important point here is that creating albums for group event (or even historical ones) is no longer bottle-necked by your truly. Other's can participate too.
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