Page 17 - PAM - PROOF

V 1.1 February 2024

Why Have a Website at all?
The world has changed. Everywhere you look these days you’ll see a www
address or hear someone suggesting you go to www.websitename.com . There
are some very good reasons for this with benefits to both you and the
organisation that owns the website. A website is only useful if it is interesting
and up-to-date.

What does or could your u3a website do?
For Members: -
Members can access information about their u3a from meeting times and
venues to more specific information about any group they belong to. They can
also contact a committee member or a Group Leader at the touch of a button.

They can get information about a group or an event such as a forthcoming walk, a
day out, a speaker event, and more that can contain as much information as we
want to share with them. Your website can also record previous events or
activities and provide members with lovely memories.

For prospective members: -
A website is our shop window for prospective members and can make the
difference on whether they join a particular u3a or not. With some 1,200 u3a
sites around the country there is usually more than one to choose from within a
reasonable distance from home. Members are our lifeblood because unless we
get a steady flow of new ones then our future is bleak. The new members of
today are our Group Leaders and Committee members of tomorrow as those of
us who are older want to step down from these roles and enjoy time simply
being a member.

We know from talking to new members that prospective members who are
looking at u3a sites within their geographical area go to the local group websites
to get a feel for the groups as a whole. They look at the group pages and make
comparisons. They want to know the types of activities available and events that
are planned to see if there are any that they would be interested in joining.
Plenty of up-to-date information plays a role in attracting new members. If the
shop window isn’t attractive then they might not even go inside the store and
take a look.
For our own u3a: -
The benefits to our u3as include the ability to communicate with members very
quickly at zero cost. This extends far beyond a text email and perhaps an
attachment. There is no need to print and distribute hard copy and this provides
a large cost saving.

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Workbook for Web Managers Migrating to u3a SiteWorks Page 17