Meeting Minutes, Notes, etc.
NOTES on the Introductory Meeting of 6 February 2008.
This meeting, held at the Jaffrey Town Offices (see notice) was attended by Kathy Batchelder, Dick Boutwell, Sean Driscoll, Janet Grant, Mary Jo Marvin, Christine Pedott, Paul St. Pierre, Rob Stephenson, Frank Sterling and Kevin Sterling. Mark Cournoyer arrived just as we left but was briefed and given the handout materials. The purpose was to introduce the project, get suggestions and encourage volunteer participation.
There was considerable discussion about how to proceed and what the content should be.
Sean was able to offer good advice. To do much of what we want to do (including downloadable material, Jaffrey photographs and maps, etc.) is pretty straight forward and not difficult to accomplish. Once we get into databases, particularly complex ones, then things become more difficult.
The basic objective of the project is to create a website that is a prototype that can be added to in the years ahead. This means it should include all the ingredients that we are likly to want to have in the future but they won't necessarily be "fleshed out." In other words, we want a database function on the website but by September we might not have much in the way of data in the database; i.e., 50 gravestones not every gravestone in Jaffrey.
Sean suggested that we all look for websites that we like—the look and design, the ease of operation, special features, content. If we have some agreement on such attributes then it will be a lot easier and less expensive to have a consultant work with us to create the site.
Toward that end, Sean offered to give us a presentation, probably at his school, showing sites he's done and ones he's aware of that might be emulated by us. Others can bring web addresses to show and discuss. This was tentatively scheduled for 3:30, Friday 15 February. This will be confirmed later and details sent out to those who attended the meeting and perhaps other potentially interested persons.
In other matters, Frank has offered the use of his employer's large-format scanner which will be a great help in getting hi-resolution images of large size maps.
NOTES on the Meeting of 15 February 2008.
This meeting was held at the South Meadow School in Peterborough. Sean Driscoll was the host. Attending were: Bill Driscoll, Sean Driscoll, Janet Grant, Mary Jo Marvin, Christine Pedott, Rob Stephenson, Kevin Sterling and Gail Therriault. The main purpose of the meeting was for Sean to give us a "Website 101" course using sites he's designed or knows about. He described scripting on servers (necessary for including databases) and other such things. We talked about hosting options, web authoring software, image maps, etc. All very interesting. Rob agreed to do up a mockup of what our site might look like for the next meeting, set for 22 February.
NOTES on the Meeting of 22 February 2008.
Despite the snow, Sean Driscoll, Rob Stephenson and Kevin Sterling met in hte TD
Banknorth conference room (Town Office was closed) where we had wi-fi connectons. We concentrated on hosting and domain registration.
NOTES on the Meeting of 23 February 2008.
Sean Driscoll and Rob Stephenson met at Rob's house and managed to line up hosting for the JaffreyHistory.org site at Intermedia. The cost for one year including set-up charge will be $216.40.
NOTES 24 February 2008.
Rob registered the site through Intermedia and we now have the domain name JaffreyHistory.org (or jaffreyhistory.org, no difference) for a fee of $175 for 5 years.
NOTES 29 February 2008.
Rob took a large group of Jaffrey maps to Frank Sterling's employer in Lunenburg who has a large format scanner (36" by any length). Most of the morning was spent on this, Frank doing the scanning. The scanner is terrific.
NOTES 2 March 2008.
Rob and Sean spent some time this evening setting up stuff on the website, Sean mostly walking Rob through the paces. Dreamweaver has a high learning curve but I'm sure it will all become clear and easy in time. Had a good bit of trouble the next day—3 March—getting into our account at register.com in an attempt to get a receipt for the $175 that was spent for our five-year registration of our domain, jaffreyhistory.com. Finally worked it out.
NOTES 7 March 2008.
Rob and Sean met and worked on Dreamweaver issues.
NOTES 1 April 2008.
Rob and Sean met. Discussed a list of questions and comments arising over the past week or so. Did some experiments with videos. Sean thinks easiest thing to do is to put any videos up on YouTube and put in a link. This saves space. Discussed "cooking trails" and how and where they might be included. Rob agreed to work up a "publications" section to see how we want to handle downloads. Played around a bit with QTVR. Panoramic images might be easier and mroe straightforward. We should let the HDC members and those who have attended meeting about the content that is now up and ask for comments. Sean will work up a response/feedback form perhaps similar to the one he did for the Amos Fortune Forum.
NOTES 18 April 2008.
Rob and Sean met.
NOTES 22 April 2008.
Rob and Sean met. Sean will work on Phillips-Heil and Old Burying Ground database and template for 2nd level pages. Rob will finish Excel design sheet and put up Images (postcards) and Publications content.
NOTES 8 May 2008.
Rob and Sean met at the Jaffrey Library so that Windows machines could be used for checking out design. Some of the non-functioning files were corrected. Still are problems with the sidebars in IE. Lots of discussion about purchasing some packaged sidebars and menus. Looked at some available through http://www.opencube.com/
Changed the code so that the actualy jaffreyhostory.org comes up first rather than the project website (which will now be linked to the homepage). Will meet next on Sunday 18 May. Sean will continue work on 2nd level t emplates, clean-up images and Rob's errors. Rob will update project information and continue on maps. Will add more content (images, maps, publications).
NOTES 25 May 2008.
Rob and Sean met at Rob's house. Sean has added "contact us" option at the bottom of most pages. Rob will add to the Old Burying Ground database and prepare those 90 or so gravestone photographs for inclusion. He will design a page to display individual gravestone photos. There may be both hi and lo resolution versions. Chekc in PS: >File >Automate >Batch
Photos no larger than 500 pixels high. Save for web. High compresson. Thumbnails 125 pixels.
Update Old Burying Ground records corresponding to photos. Send Sean comma separated text file.
The problem with Opera was fixed. Sean will fix the templates so that text is no longer centered.
Rob will change background color of lower level pages.
NOTES 3 July 2008.
Rob and Sean met.
NOTES 31 July 2008.
Rob and Sean met. Worked on cemetery photos using Action.
NOTES 13 August 2008.
Rob and Sean met and cleared up a few points and reviewed a draft RFP for a website designer. We then met at the Town Office with Jo Anne Carr to discuss the RFP further; also the computer projector and GPS unit.
NOTES 30 August 2008.
Rob and Sean met and cleared up a appearance problems; some couldn't be solved (Sean will work on at home). Reviewed one proposal for the Website Developer. Probably won't work as apparently doesn't work in php and MySQL. Much time was spent setting up the Windows machine supplied by the Town. It works fine. Windows 98. Eventually got it working on the Internet via my Apple Airport. Then much time spent trying to download free AVG virus software which was finally accomplished. No virus detected.