A Step by Step Guide to Setting Up Your FreeToastHost Club Website

Welcome to the getting started guide for FreeToastHost 2.0 -- the new hosting platform for Toastmasters Clubs all over the world.

This document will show you how to setup your new club website, whether you are starting a club website for the first time, or moving from your FreeToastHost 1.0 website.

The whole process should take less than an hour.

FreeToastHost 2.0 is the replacement for FreeToastHost 1.0.  It is not a competitor of FTH, or a alternative for FTH.  It is a complete rebuild using the latest web technology and Toastmasters branding guidelines. When you create your new FTH 2.0 website, you are starting a NEW website while your OLD FTH 1.0 website is still live.  Once your new website is complete, you can move over your custom domain (if you have one) or simply start using the new domain, as well as redirect your old domain.  All of this is explained in detail below.

Step 1: Request Your FreeToastHost 2.0 Website

• Visit http://www.toastmastersclubs.org
• Follow the instructions on the homepage to request your website.
• Once confirmed, you will receive an e-mail with the details of your new website.

Step 2: Login To Your FreeToastHost 2.0 Website

• Once you receive your welcome e-mail, you can login by clicking the "login as site admin" link in the "Members Only" left menu section.

• Enter your club number and temporary password as listed in your welcome e-mail.

Step 3: Launch the Admin Console To Setup Your Site

• Once you are logged in, the links at the bottom of the "Members Only" menu will change to show that you are logged in, and show the link to launch the admin console.  Click the "launch admin console" link.

Step 4: Club Website Settings

• Go through the options in your club website settings and customize the settings.  Each field has an explanation under it, if you are not sure what to enter.  If you require more information or details, check our FAQ.
• When you are done, click the "Save" button at the bottom of the admin console window.

Step 5: Administrator Information

• Using the pulldown menu at the top center of the admin console, select the "Administrator Information".  This will automatically take you to the "Administrator Information" screen, within the admin console.

• Go through the options and customize the settings.  Each field has an explanation under it, if you are not sure what to enter.  If you require more information or details, check our FAQ.
• When you are done, click the "Save" button at the bottom of the admin console window.  This will take you back to the main screen -- the Club Website Settings.

Step 6: Membership Management

• Using the pulldown menu at the top center of the admin console, select the "Membership Management".  This will automatically take you to that screen, within the admin console.
• Go through the options and customize the settings.  Each field has an explanation under it, if you are not sure what to enter.  If you require more information or details, check our FAQ.

Start Fresh!  If you are moving from a FreeToastHost site or any other membership site, it might be a good idea to get a fresh membership list from the Toastmasters International member's section.  Any officer can download this list.  Open as a spreadsheet, and delete all but the three name, e-mail, and phone columns.  Then, just cut and past that into the first textarea.

• When you are done, click the "Save" button at the bottom of the admin console window.  This will take you back to the main screen -- the Club Website Settings.

Step 7: Default Website Pages / Forms

• Now that you have entered members, you will be able to choose which members will be the club contacts.  Select the member(s) from the list of available members, and choose to include their phone numbers or not (get permission first from them!)
• Select the member in charge of your club's mentor program.
• Create your membership information / meeting information / directions page.
• When you are done, click the "Save" button at the bottom of the admin console window.  This will take you back to the main screen -- the Club Website Settings.

Step 8: Social Networking Links

• You might find it beneficial to your club to start social networking accounts with some of the major social networking sites.  If you do, enter in the URLs in this section, and the logos/links will appear in the bottom left menu.

• When you are done, click the "Save" button at the bottom of the admin console window.  This will take you back to the main screen -- the Club Website Settings.

Facebook is great for hosting discussions, twitter is ideal for short notices and updates, YouTube is for club videos, Flickr is for photos, and LinkedIn is for contacts and networking.

Step 9: Custom Webpages

• Create as many custom webpages as you like.  It is a requirement that the webpages you create are linked to either the public or members only menu (this is done automatically).  You can upload your own images, or use the Toastmasters International approved stock image gallery.

• When you are done, click the "Save" button at the bottom of the admin console window.  This will take you back to the main screen -- the Club Website Settings.

Step 9: Floater Messages

• You can enter messages that appear at the top of the browser window for both members and guests (two different messages).  These messages show up only once per session -- as to not annoy members and guests.

• When you are done, click the "Save" button at the bottom of the admin console window.  This will take you back to the main screen -- the Club Website Settings.

Step 10: File Manager

• Upload files that you would like guests and/or members to have the ability to download.  By default, the file is member only, but it can be made public by clicking the lock icon.
• By default, the file name is used for the description.  You can change these, then click the "save" button.  You don't need to save for just uploading files, changing to or from private, or removing.

Step 11: Meeting Agenda Settings

• This is where you setup your "default agenda" or "agenda template".  This template will be used as the basis for all your future meetings. 
• Start with your Meeting Global Settings, then create each agenda item.
• When you are done, click the "Save" button at the bottom of the admin console window.  This will take you back to the main screen -- the Club Website Settings.

You can choose to select one of the pre-designed agendas if you prefer, by clicking the "Create New" link in the Members Only menu.  You can them modify and customize the agenda, click the edit button and select "Save this agenda as your default agenda" under the "Meeting Agenda Setup" pane.

Check the FAQs and forums for more details on the features of FreeToastHost 2.0!  This is just the Quick Start / Getting Started Guide.

Step 12: Notify Your Members!

• Notify your members!  Let them know your URL.  Once a member visits the site, they will be able to authorize their account and create a custom password.

Once Your FTH 2.0 Site Is Complete and Live...

Log into your admin console on your OLD FTH 1.0 site.  At the top, you will see where you redirect to your new site:

Enter in your clubnumber or alias (it does not matter which), then click the arrow to save.  The server will check to make sure you have entered a valid FTH 2.0 site, and redirect all web traffic going to your old FTH 1.0 URL to your new FTH 2.0 URL.

DON'T forward if:

• You copied and pasted your website from FTH 1.0 to 2.0, untill you have corrected all your links (pictures), as the redirect will cause them not to be seen.
• You have not updated your contact list
• You have not downloaded your historical data (and want to)

If you have a custom domain, this step will not be necessary (but it cant hurt).  If you are using a custom domain, you need to follow specific instructions to move your domain to the new server.  Please see this FAQ for details.