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<p style=" margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; -qt-block-indent:0; text-indent:0px; -qt-user-state:0;">Guys, I know it's disappointing that we haven't been able to find more support for redesigning WPLUG.org, but the clock is ticking. I have a feeling that if we don't start <span style=" font-style:italic;">something</span> soon, this project will fall by the wayside and we'll wind up in this same position months from now.</p>
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<p style=" margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; -qt-block-indent:0; text-indent:0px; -qt-user-state:0;">I think we should at least purchase a theme and set up WordPress on a subdomain so we have something to hack on in our spare time. Well, I'm guessing it'd be <span style=" font-style:italic;">my</span> spare time since I'm the only one of us who doesn't have a job at the moment, but I don't mind. It needs to be done.</p>
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<p style=" margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; -qt-block-indent:0; text-indent:0px; -qt-user-state:0;">If you recall, we had previously discussed purchasing the <a href="http://themeforest.net/item/lespaul-retina-responsive-wordpress-theme/4083224?WT.ac=search_item&WT.seg_1=search_item&WT.z_author=webmandesign"><span style=" text-decoration: underline; color:#0057ae;">LesPaul</span></a> theme from Themeforest at a cost of $45. The rationale behind choosing LesPaul was its visual appeal and documentation.</p>
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<p style=" margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; -qt-block-indent:0; text-indent:0px; -qt-user-state:0;">I spent some time looking through ThemeForest this afternoon just to make sure we weren't missing anything, and I came across something that I feel may be better suited to our circumstances: a new theme called <a href="http://themeforest.net/item/enfold-responsive-multipurpose-theme/4519990?WT.ac=search_item&WT.seg_1=search_item&WT.z_author=Kriesi"><span style=" text-decoration: underline; color:#0057ae;">Enfold</span></a>. It's the second most popular theme on ThemeForest right now, and it isn't difficult to see why; you get a <span style=" font-style:italic;">lot</span> for your money. A live demo of the theme is available <a href="http://www.kriesi.at/themedemo/?theme=enfold"><span style=" text-decoration: underline; color:#0057ae;">here</span></a>.</p>
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<p style=" margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; -qt-block-indent:0; text-indent:0px; -qt-user-state:0;">Besides the visual appeal, which I think is at least on par with LesPaul, Enfold has a lot going for it behind the scenes. It includes page creator that is 100% drag 'n drop. If you can drag a series of onscreen widgets into a big box, you can build a page with Enfold. </p>
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<p style=" margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; -qt-block-indent:0; text-indent:0px; -qt-user-state:0;">And if you want to see what it's like, Enfold includes a series of narrated, <a href="http://vimeo.com/channels/aviathemes/"><span style=" text-decoration: underline; color:#0057ae;">HD videos</span></a> that go over almost every aspect of the theme, from setting it up to upgrading it and using the page creator. That's in addition to documentation.</p>
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<p style=" margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; -qt-block-indent:0; text-indent:0px; -qt-user-state:0;">To make matters easier, Enfold includes a form creator that is supported by producer. We could use it to set up an online membership form quickly and without installing and learning a separate software package.</p>
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<p style=" margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; -qt-block-indent:0; text-indent:0px; -qt-user-state:0;">Other than that, a lot of the same stuff as LesPaul applies. Technical support (via a forum) and upgrades are free; it will scale down the interface elements for mobile devices; page templates like FAQ and “About Us” are included. </p>
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<p style=" margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; -qt-block-indent:0; text-indent:0px; -qt-user-state:0;">Don't let me rush you on this, but as head of the Marketing & Communication Committee, I think we need to at least take a first step in overhauling WPLUG.org. </p>
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<p style=" margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; -qt-block-indent:0; text-indent:0px; -qt-user-state:0;">--</p>
<p style=" margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; -qt-block-indent:0; text-indent:0px; -qt-user-state:0;"><span style=" font-weight:600;">Justin S. Smith</span></p>
<p style=" margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; -qt-block-indent:0; text-indent:0px; -qt-user-state:0;"><span style=" color:#808080;">Vice chair/secretary, WPLUG Board of Directors</span></p>
<p style=" margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; -qt-block-indent:0; text-indent:0px; -qt-user-state:0;"><a href="http://www.wplug.org"><span style=" text-decoration: underline; color:#0057ae;">http://www.wplug.org</span></a> </p>
<p style="-qt-paragraph-type:empty; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; -qt-block-indent:0; text-indent:0px; "> </p>
<p style=" margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; -qt-block-indent:0; text-indent:0px; -qt-user-state:0;"><span style=" font-style:italic; color:#808080;">"Isn't it ironic that the proprietary software developers call us communists? We are the ones who have provided for a free market, where they allow only monopoly."</span></p>
<p style=" margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; -qt-block-indent:0; text-indent:0px; -qt-user-state:0;"><span style=" color:#808080;">-Richard Stallman</span></p></body></html>