Feedback on the new site

Darragh.

I didnt know the full extent of your plan with the site.
Here is a thought.
Somewhere on the main page (say where you have the renovation notice )
could you put a paragraph something like.

'We Need You!' - Help us make this the best Irish Astronomy Website.

By joining our forums you will have free access to a wealth of
information on all aspects of astronomy.
You can log your observing reports in the blog section
or simply post up your astrophotos for comments and critiques.
If you are a member of an IFAS club you can search our
event calander for upcoming talks and starparties.

....etc....?

It just might tempt new visitors to join and
also make it clear to existing members what they
can or cant contribute and may help
'grow the site' as you say.

As I say, unless you tell them what you want
they wont know about it.

Just a thought.

What's with the severe request to have the forums THE website? Get over it guys, there's more to this place than just forums! You can't force people to join just for the sake of increasing membership count. To do that (Frank and Dave) we might as well make the forums browsed by members-only instead.

Seanie.

Hi Guys

I dont think anyone was saying that the website should just be the forums, but that they are the most important and most used part and so should be given prominence.

Realistically we have little else active apart from the forums. We have the observing challenges which are unique to us, We have the AOP and the Astrophotography competition which are excellent initiatives but are time consuming and rely on volunteer time. We don't have any active newsletters at the moment either (as far as I know). We have little or no articles,

We do however have lots of clubs around the country who organise events and monthly talks .These few items should be at the heart of the site

It is the knowledge and help found in the forums, the clubs and outreach activities around the country, our annual star parties, the observing challenges, the astrophotography competition and the AOP that make IFAS special .

In my opinion this is what we should be at the heart of this site.

Seanie,
We're not saying that the site is solely the forums, we're saying that it is by far the most important and most used aspect of it. IMHO if the forums die off, there wouldn't be much else left and as for having it accessible to members only, that's just mad.

New bug: Styling on pagination in forum needs to be styled better.

I have broadened the homepage 'greeting' of the first paragraph, with some extra emphasis on the forums.

Seanie.