Getting the Word Out About FreeHostToast 2.0

In recent discussions at Area contests, I discovered that not everyone is aware the FreeToastHost has been revamped and FreeToastHost 1.0 is going away. I prepared a Q&A article for oour District web site, and it will be included in our District Newsletter next month. I feel we need to get the word out in numerous ways so members are aware of the Feb. 17, 2012 deadline to migrate off of the freetoasthost domain.

Here is a link to the Q&A on the District 86 web site.

toastmasters86.org/joomla/index.php?opti...-page&Itemid=468

Bill

Bill,

There are emails scheduled to be sent out to clubs that have not requested sites.

Brian is on top of this.

Thanks!

Hi Roger,

I expected that there would be some sort of follow-up from the support group, and I am glad to hear that this is in progress. Sometimes, it takes several messages from a variety of sources to reach everyone.

How many clubs have we seen on this forum that didn't know who was maintaining their present sites? How many of the old site webmasters have left the club (or even Toastmasters), or have outdated e-mail contacts at TI or at freetoasthost.org? In eight years, a lot can (and has) happened with the membership in Toastmasters.

For our district, I thought a proactive message on the website and in our newsletter was important to get the word out so our clubs who were otherwise unaware of the change would be forewarned and not lose their sites out from under them with no recourse to get information from their old sites.

A club website is one of the most important advertising media for the clubs today, and even if it only helps to prevent a few clubs from losing their sites, it will be worth it.

Bill

Bill:

1) The existing site admins see the warning on their FTH 1.0 site administration page

2) every thime a change of site admin for FTH 1.0 is requested the welcome email has the warning at the top of the email.

3) The TI Branding pages has the information on the change.

4) We will be sending out a series or emails to all the registered admins.

5) If that is enough Starting on February 18th 2012 the clubs can request a new site and load entirely new content.

Brian, we are after the same thing, getting the word out to the clubs so they don't lose anything where possible.

However, I still maintain that I would rather warn the clubs in alternate ways, and let those clubs be able to get access to and transfer their old data if applicable, than just letting them "request a new site and load entirely new content" if it can be avoided.

FreeToastHost will not be able to contact those clubs whose webmaster (admin) is no longer with the club, or whose contact information is no longer current with FreeToastHost or with TI. And there are those who do not regularly (or ever) access TI site, and the Brand pages in particular.

I guess it is a philosophical thing, but I prefer to be proactive in using alternate methods to contact those that are outside your net of communication, so as little past information as possible is lost.