New AFCNA Member Website - Additional Information (01-04-2010)

Dear Member,

This is a follow-up to the earlier email that explained how to access the member area of the new website at www.afcna.com. Hopefully you have taken time to login and update yourusername, password and member details.

The new website was developed around a single important principal - "Communication". This principal appears in three broad areas.

1. Communication to the Public: The AFCNA website serves as the first source of information about our Cooperative to non-members, both within the alpaca community and in the larger world. As such, we have attempted to provide a pleasing and easily navigable site to give a polished first impression.

As a member, you are part of our public face. You are invited to add you farm to our publicly accessible Membership Directory. This feature effectively gives you a web page on the AFCNA member site. You must be logged in to add your farm to the directory. Simply navigate to your State or Province and click on the Add Entry link. (i.e. from main menu 'AFCNA Members' -> 'Your State' -> 'Add Entry')

2. Communication to and with the Membership: The new site integrates our mailing lists (electronic and postal) with member maintained contact information. It is very important that you keep your contact information up to date in your member profile.

Directors and Staff can be contacted directly from the member site using a standard form.

Important information for the membership will be communicated through easily updated pages on the site.

3. Communication among the Membership: One of the great difficulties our Cooperative has faced over the years has been the lack of an effective way to organize our diverse membership that spans most of the US and parts of Canada. The new site offers several ways to facilitate communication with and between members.

Once you are logged in you will find discussion forums. It is here that the membership can explore issues ranging from organizing regional clip collection to managing a farm to the internal workings of AFCNA. It is here, also, that we offer an area for members to buy, sell or trade.

You will also find that you are able to send an email to any AFCNA member. Simply find their profile in the member list and use the appropriate link (under "Messages") to open a form that will allow you to send them an email.

The site also incorporates an internal messaging system. This feature allows you to send messages that stay on the AFCNA server. The recipient will see that they have messages when logging on or off.

You will also note that you will be able to tell if a fellow member is currently on-line.

As you explore the website and its functions, please keep in mind that there are sure to be bugs. If you experience any problems, please send an email to admin@afcna.com. Describe the problem in detail, including you computer operating system, browser, the URL of the page and a concise description of what happened vs. what you expected would happen.

Best Regards,

AFCNA Site Administrator

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