After a year of planning, coding, adjusting and designing by three hard-working techie volunteers, the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) has proudly unveiled its stunning new website.
Designer Jeane Treloar, webmaster Chuck Ball and site editor Lindy White have come up with a website that not only is chock full of information, functionality, features and appeal, but aptly reflects LCS’ future goals.
LCS Executive Director Terry Vidal is impressed with the results. “The color slide show header subtly illustrates the LCS mission so well, without ever mentioning what it is doing or why. It just blows me away every time I open the page.”
Under the slide show at the top of the home page – www.lakechapalasociety.com – are a row of instant links for easy maneuvering through the site. Most folks who spend time on the internet know that a magnifying glass connects them to the search area. The little Facebook logo links users directly with the LCS page. (While you are on the Facebook page, why not join more than 700 others and click on the “Like” button.)
The drop down menus on the home page give visitors ready access to information about becoming a member or a volunteer. They also provide ways to donate to the society or its various programs, and allow direct access to the activities lists.
Click on the word “more” and down rolls links to LCS’ libraries: the books, tapes and the Spanish Biblioteca at the Wilkes Center, the LCS educational programs and a good deal of information about the society and how it works.
Soon users will have the ability to browse the library, video library and children’s art collections. Long before the end of the year, users will be able to renew their membership online, and will be able to sign-up for Spanish classes, bus trips and who knows what else.
Speaking of those Spanish classes, before long site viewers will be able to convert most of the text on the site into Spanish – a boon for our Mexican neighbors.
“We are so anxious to get feedback (about the site) from the community and also from folks north of the border who are searching for information about the area,” said LCS President Ben White. “I know that I would have liked to have been able to browse through the masses of information on this site about the LCS programs and the active lifestyle in the community it reveals. One of our future updates will provide links to websites that also promote lakeside.”
White and Vidal have every reason to be as proud and there is no question that the LCS website will become a valuable tool for residents, visitors and vacationers coming to Lake Chapala for the first time.
They believe the site’s welcoming home page, quick access to information and its slick modern look will leave the same lasting impression on those who spend five minutes on the site, as those who read every word.
Take a look at www.lakechapalasociety.com and spend some time looking around. That trio of website volunteers are betting you’ll discover new information and activities you didn’t know existed, all right here at the LCS.