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By FreeToastHost
To create a map for your directions page
We recommend placing a map to your meeting location on your Meeting Information/Directions page. Doing this makes it very convenient for first time meeting guests to find your meeting location and provides a way for them to create directions from their home or office.
If you are a new website admin or you just don't want to deal with the technical details of generating the iframe code for embedding a map in your Meeting Information/Directions page, then the simplest thing to do is to just enter the street address of your meeting location in the Google Maps box in the Meeting Information/Directions tab of the Admin Console, then click the Save button. FreeToastHost 3 will take it from there and create a basic map for you. If you do this, keep in mind that the street address must be understandable to Google Maps, since we essentially just send it directly to Google Maps to create the map.
However, if you prefer finer control over your embedded map, then we recommend you check out one of the many available map providers on the internet. Although we designed the Google Maps feature with Google Maps in mind, you can use any map provider that can produce iframe embedding code. ("iframe" is just fancy jargon for a method to place a window to another website in your website.) Here are some of the various map providers that can provide iframe code--click on any of the names below to visit their website:
- Google Maps (Use the menu icon, the three bars, at the top left of the page.)
- Bing Maps (Select 'More' near the top right (right of page center), when the menu opens select </> Embed a map.)
- Waze Live Map (Enter your club meeting address in the 'destination' box then select Share on the left side. Select 'Embed' in the dialog box that opens.)
- OpenStreetMap (User Share button at right, then click HTML tab.)
For more details about using iframe code, see Adding and editing page content.
Steps to embed the map in your Meeting Information/Directions Page using <iframe> code:
- Go to the map provider of your choice.
- Use the available features in the map service to locate your meeting address.
- Use the above italicized suggestions to find the appropriate Share or Link button and locate the iframe code. You should see some embed code there beginning with <iframe>--that is what you are looking for.
- Choose the view, embedded map size and zoom level that you want. If there are choices, choose embeddable html.
Note for Bing Maps: As of this writing, the embed code typically contains several <div> that are needed and must be included in the code you copy into your sites "Google Maps Address / iframe" box.
Note for Waze Live Map: See this page for information about available customizations (such as adding a pin): https://developers.google.com/waze/iframe - Copy that iframe code to the clipboard and paste it in to the Google Maps box in the Meeting Information/Directions tab of the Admin Console. Remember, although it says "Google Maps", it can also be used for any of the above. You can see what your map will look like if you click the "See the Map!" button--a window will pop-up showing your map.
- Save, then check your page by clicking on the "Meeting information / directions" link in the main menu, and make adjustments if necessary.
If you want to see what your map will look like without having to exit the Admin Console, then click the "See the Map!" button shown above, after entering an address or iframe code in the box to the left. Clicking the button will cause a pop-up window containing your map to be displayed.
As an example of what the <iframe> code looks like, here is what you would see as of this writing using Google Maps:
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This area allows you to delegate access to certain areas of the website, without having to give out the admin password.
For example, you may wish to have the VP PR take care of updating custom pages and for VP Membership to be able to add new names to the membership list.
For each of the website areas that this feature supports, up to three officers may have access, in addition to the admin, who always has access.
To set access, click on the bar to the right of the menu item. Then check up to three boxes to select the officers.
If you want to remove all officers at once and make the area admin access only, click on the item at the top of the drop-down list.
Remember to SAVE when you have finished.
Important: Agenda Settings & Templates refers to the overall settings that affect how future agendas will look. Access to current agendas is a separate setting.
You can allow up to three officers to create new agendas and edit current ones, in addition to the site admin.
The Toastmaster of the current meeting, or other designated role-holder, has editing rights but cannot create new agendas.
Delegating Website Settings will not allow the officer(s) in question to access this Access Settings tab or the Administrator Info tab. These remain admin-only areas.
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In the article Aliases and Domain Names: what's the difference, we looked at what these are and some of their advantages and disadvantages. In this article we cover some of the practical details and especially what's involved in switching from one to the other.
Aliases
Aliases cost nothing. They don't need renewal, either. If your admin leaves and you need to set up a new one, FTH is set up to make the update process fairly straightforward.
Aliases are easy to set up. You just enter the term you've chosen in the Alias box in the admin console and save. You can change your alias any time you like, but if you do this it will take Google and other search engines a while to catch up.
- It may be a good idea to use the club number version i.e. http://nnnnnnn.toastmastersclubs.org in places such as TI Find-a-Club because this never changes.
- Keep aliases short. Bear in mind that an alias is used with "toastmastersclubs.org". Therefore you don't need something such as "clubnametoastmasters" as an alias. It's not fun to type, especially on a mobile device. "clubname", or even an abbreviation, is better.
- Aliases don't apply to email addresses. You still need to use the club number version i.e.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Domain names
A domain name is not something that you buy outright and is then yours forever. Domain names need to be renewed, often annually, and if they aren't, they stop working and someone else can grab them.
The domain name registrar has a contract with one person and getting the company to deal with someone else may be a challenge. To minimise problems of this kind, choose a contact email address that will be accessible for a long time, such as a club-number version of an officer address.
Getting domain names to work can be tricky. Getting the email to work properly can also be tricky. Configuring DNS settings for a Custom Website Domain gives some instructions on how to do this. If you need to, you can ask for help on the forums.
An advantage of Domain names is a simpler form of the email address. E.g.
Changing from alias to domain name
If you change from alias to domain name, you can continue to use the alias until you've made sure that domain name is set up properly, and that your members know what it is, including the new email addresses to use.
Changing from a domain name to an alias
Changing from a domain name is technically very easy. All you need to do is to remove the domain name from the box in the admin panel, and put your alias into the alias box. From that point on, the domain name will cease to operate.
Informing your members and the rest of the world may be a little more challenging. If the domain name hasn't expired yet, you may be able to set up a redirect to the alias version for a little while.
You can also run an alias and a domain name in parallel for a while, until your members and the search engines catch up with the change.
If you use Google or Bing webmaster tools, you can register the new name with them, which will reduce the time needed for search engines to update their results.
If you don't use Webmaster tools and the domain name has already expired, it may take Google and friends a few weeks to catch up.
Moving from a domain name to using the club number version (i.e. no alias) uses a similar process. In this case, though, you'll leave the alias box empty.
Update your listings
Whichever way you change, make sure that you update your club listing on other sites. Having these up to date also makes it quicker and easier for Google to incorporate your new details in its listings — and for visitors to find your site while the search engines are still updating.
Check and update your website address on:
- TI Club Central
- District/Division websites
- Paypal
- Local community sites with club listings
- Social Media Websites
- Meetup
- Google +
- and others if you use them
- Personal browser bookmarks/favourites
You'll need to educate your members regarding the email address format to use. You may find a "cheat sheet" useful for this.
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