Things have been going well at my internship at MCLV. I have finally finished editing the "External Links" and "Services" pages on the website, and have published them. Everything went fairly well as far as the editing and writing, but using the free website creator program that is used to manage their website has proved to be, well, frustrating. After weeks of weird formatting woes, I simply switched from a laptop to a desktop and it seemed to solve a lot of problems. (I had no idea...)
Anyway, this web design program is called "Joomla." Has anyone heard of it? Used it? HATE it? MCLV purchased their web domain and the initial design from a web design company in Morgantown, and they use Joomla to design the site, and we also use it to update it. I have no control over the overall design, just the text that goes into it. I wish I did have more control, as the site is a little drab, but oh well...
Besides updating and editing (and constantly adding links, small bits of info, etc. to) some of the website, I have created two documents, one a "Conflict of Interest Policy" that must be signed annually by any Board, Committee or Staff member, and a interest generating type flyer to educate people about how to include the organization in their will, life insurance policy, etc. (Planned giving.) I must always do two of every document, since the office serves both Monongalia and Preston County, but that is as easy as changing the heading, and replacing (via cutting and pasting) MCLV/PCLV, so it's no big deal at all.
I really didn't have to much original writing for either of these, since they are somewhat generic forms with many, MANY models everywhere. It was a matter of doing some research, and selecting various elements from different examples, changing some words, copyediting, and document designing (using our headings and logos). It did feel good, however, to produce a document that will be used yearly, (probably forever!) and another that will be distributed to the public.
Next week, I am moving on to the personnel policy manual, which I am excited about. Again, I will use a model to help me draft the manual. Susie actually gave me a contact that will gladly show me their policy manual as an example. I have been gathering materials little by little over the weeks at my internship, and now I will get started on actually putting them together.
My internship is very self-directed. My supervisor plants a seed, and I pretty much do everything on my own. I do consult with her and ask questions, but she puts a lot of trust in me to do things on my own. I'm glad that I can use models and examples for most things. That, with some common sense, is usually enough to produce a document that works well for its purpose. I hope that in the end, the documents work for the organization. I think that they will be fine!
I hope that everyone is doing well at and learning a lot from their internships! Until next time...
The Site is Up
16 years ago
A great post here, Erin -- you describe and reflect on many aspects of your internship experience here. Your discussion of the Joomla web designer program is particularly interesting. The fact that you and others in the non-profit organization find it frustrating to use speaks to a concern about the "sustainability" of technology applications that companies use to develop projects in service of others. It's important for companies (or for interns and other workers, for that matter) not only to create a design/document that's effective/attractive/etc. but also one that other members of the organization can easily use to keep the site up and running, keep it looking attractive, etc.
ReplyDeleteI know there was some disagreement between some of the designers FIT, the place of my own internship, uses as to which design program to use. They each talked about being "used to" certain programs and which were like older programs. Both found an old design program in common, one which they liked. But it had become outdated and so each had to look for new systems. They were equally adamant in their defense of their current respective systems, but program common to them both made each question whether the other's program was really not so bad. Fortunately, the decision to use one program or another doesn't really affect those I work with, so it doesn't affect me. But I'm having my own technology problems in setting up blogs and webpages for my internship and this class, so I feel for you.
ReplyDelete