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Revised 8/2016
Section 9: The Web
Ruritan Web Site Guidelines
One of the best new ways to promote your Ruritan
club is through the World Wide Web. The Web
provides an opportunity to reach out to different
audiences. Creating a club website with an e-mail
link is a excellent way to let people from your
hometown, and all around the world, know about
your club. It has become increasingly easy to set
up websites, and there are even many excellent
free, or very low cost, methods for maintaining
a “web presence.” Before beginning, check out
Ruritan National’s official website at http://Ruritan.
org. Taking a look at the site can give you a good
frame of reference for understanding what makes
a website effective. Your club site can link to http://
ruritan.organd may duplicate a similar design and
content if you like.
To get a web page started, ask around your club
to find out if any of your members have web page
design skills. In addition to the experience this
person may have, he/she can also purchase a book
on designing pages or go to sites on the web that
offer instruction. Posting a message at a college
requesting a student website designer is another
way to get started. Once the person who will create
the pages is identified, think about content. Be sure
to include general information about your club on the
website – when and where it meets, club activities,
and how to get more information. Have an e-mail
link to someone in your club for people to send their
questions.
Other suggested items to include on your site
are photos, a club history, and calendar of events.
There are many items that could be included – be
creative! Once your website is up and running,
register with web search engines so when people
enter a keyword search, they will be able to find
your website. Do not forget to put your e-mail and
web addresses on the items your club distributes.
We also offer publications that can easily be
downloaded through our web site at http://ruritan.
org. However, because it has become so easy to
set up a window to the world, there are cautions that
should be observed.
We encourage all publications (regular
and on-line) about Ruritan and Ruritan
National to maintain levels of good taste. Do
not link your website to any site that might
have questionable content. When in doubt, be
conservative.
Do not provide actual physical addresses
and telephone numbers for ANYONE
connected with your Club, District, or Ruritan
National.
You may, however, provide the physical
address of your meeting place and the date
and time of your meetings in case someone
would want to visit your club. You may also
provide an E-mail address as a contact for
someone interested in Ruritan.
Keep your site as current as possible.
Changing the first page of information will
keep people checking back to see what is
new.
Make sure that your site references the
latest information concerning Ruritan National.
Feel free to copy Ruritan’s history, current
National Convention information, or Ruritan
National Foundation programs from the
Ruritan National website at
http://ruritan.org.
It is not a good idea to publish club
correspondence and minutes of your meeting
on your web site/. E-mail, fax or write
members directly with those kinds of things.
Websites should be for general promotional
vehicles not for specific record keeping.
Internet regulation is very limited and anything
put out on the web may be pirated for any
number of inappropriate uses.
Electronic Mail (E-Mail) Guidelines
Electronic mail, or E-mail, has become ex
tremely popular and nearly as indispensable as the
telephone. As with websites, the easy access by
millions has caused some problems of which we
all must be aware. Abuse by just a few can cause
nuisances for many. We strongly encourage E-mail
interaction between club members, clubs, district
officers, and Ruritan National. It is efficient, fast,
inexpensive, and generally less intrusive than a
phone call at dinner time or during your favorite
activity. To protect our Ruritan members and clubs,
we ask that you follow a few simple guidelines
to keep from being a target or from becoming a
nuisance.
Unsolicited E-Mail
We strongly discourage individuals and clubs
from sending unsolicited mass e-mails that are not
directly intended for or requested by the recipient.
Use it as you would a regular mailing from your club.
If you’re having a special event, it is OK to send
information to other clubs in your area, much like
you would send a news release to the local media.
PR