HTML Writers Guild Newsletter
Volume 4, Number 10, October 1998
http://www.hwg.org/
editor@hwg.org
Table of Contents
1. New Online Classes Announced!
- Introduction to Access 97
- Introduction to HTML 4.0
- Designing for Universal Accessibility with HTML 4.0
- Introduction to Cascading Style Sheets
- Introduction to Perl Programming
2. Instructor Positions Available -- Are You an Expert?
3. Mentor/Apprentice Program Update
4. A Message from the Logo Management Team
5. Help Shape the Guild with Your Participation in Our Issues Forums!
6. Request for Proposals/Jobs and Contracts Program Closure
7. Guild Town Hall Meeting, 24 November, 6:30 p.m. PST
8. Frequently Asked Questions about the HWG-News Newsletter
This issue of HWG-News is sponsored by:
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1. New Online Classes Announced!
(Ann Navarro, Online Classes Manager, classes@hwg.org)
To date, hundreds of students have improved and expanded their skills
at web authoring through the Guild's unique online classes program.
Our course offerings continue to expand as we offer the types
of online classes you want to take! Courses currenly open include:
INTRODUCTION TO ACCESS 97
Dates: November 30, 1998 - January 29, 1999
(9 weeks, with one-week winter break)
Designed for the student with little to no experience of working with
databases. Students will learn database terminology, how to plan a new
database, use Access 97's powerful wizards to create both simple and
complex tables, perform queries, create reports, and publish database
content to the Web.
INTRODUCTION TO HTML 4.0
Dates: November 30 1998 - January 15, 1999
(7 weeks, with one-week winter break)
Designed for the student with little to no working knowledge of creating
HTML files "by hand." If you're looking to learn HTML from scratch or move
beyond using a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editing tool, this
is the class for you. Students will be introduced to the structure of
HTML documents, good markup techniques, and the concept of validation.
Functional topics will include text formatting, using lists, tables, and
an introduction to Cascading Style Sheets.
DESIGNING FOR UNIVERSAL ACCESSIBILITY WITH HTML 4.0
Dates: December 14, 1998 - January 29, 1999
(7 weeks, with one-week winter break)
The days of designing for only one or two web browsers are long gone;
today's Web surfers use anything from non-visual screen readers to the
latest version of Netscape Navigator, and the future will bring even more
Internet-enabled 'Net appliances -- televisions, phones, watches,
toasters, cars, and more. Designing for universal accessibility is
vitally important to ensure that the sites you create today will continue
to work tomorrow and beyond, into the 21st century. Instructor Kynn
Bartlett will show you how to use HTML 4.0 to make your pages accessible
to everyone. (Prerequisite: Intermediate level HTML skill)
INTRODUCTION TO CASCADING STYLE SHEETS
Dates: January 4, 1999 - February 12, 1999
(6 weeks)
HTML 4.0 Strict relies on Style Sheets for all stylistic presentation,
the Web Accessibility Initiative makes use of CSS for improving access
by users with disabilities, dynamic HTML relies heavily on style
manipulation to create exciting pages, and new work on HTML and XML
will continue to make heavy use of stylesheets in the future. This
is the time to learn CSS! In this course, you will learn how to
separate style from structure and craft visually appealing and
functional web pages. The course covers both Cascading Style Sheets
and the recently approved Cascading Style Sheets Level 2.
Prerequisites: Students should be comfortable with basic to
intermediate level HTML, similar to the content in HWG Education
course H101: Introduction to HTML 4.0. Students will also need to have
a stylesheets-enabled browser, such as Internet Explorer 4.x, Netscape
Navigator 4.x or Opera 3.5.
INTRODUCTION TO PERL PROGRAMMING
Dates: Jan 4, 1999 - Feb 19, 1999
(7 weeks)
Learn the basics of the Perl programming language, popular for CGI
programming, system administration, and a variety of other tasks. The
course will cover the fundamentals of the language, such as variables,
looping and conditional structures, regular expressions, modules,
database communication, and very basic CGI programming. Note that this
is NOT a CGI course.
Prerequisites: You should have Perl installed on your machine, or
have remote access to a machine where you can use Perl. You should
have a HTTP (web) server installed on your machine, or have access
to a HTTP server.
COURSE FEES
For all courses, Full and Discounted members may register for $25,
Trial members for $50. Upgrade your membership before registering,
and save! Payments may be made online via secure transaction; all
figures are in U.S. funds.
A certificate of completion is available for an additional $5;
the request needs to be made at the time of registration. Textbooks
(when required) are separate and may be purchased through the Guild's
online bookstore, The Bookmark. Students should have regular access
to the web and the ability to post completed assignments on a
public (non-Intranet) web server.
Sign up today through our online enrollment forms or get more
information at:
http://www.hwg.org/services/classes/
2. Instructor Positions Available -- Are You an Expert?
(Ann Navarro, Online Classes Manager, classes@hwg.org)
Are you an expert in a Web Development topic? We could use your
skills and experience!
The Guild is currently accepting applications for instructors for new
courses in our successful series of online courses. Qualified
instructors must be at least 18 years old, experts in their chosen
course topics, able to demonstrate an aptitude for teaching, and meet
other criteria that may be established by the Guild's Executive
Committee. An instructor stipend will be provided.
Letters of application should include a text resume (in email, no
attached files or HTML please), along with a course proposal,
outline for a six-week course, and a choice of textbook. Send all
information to: classes@hwg.org. Proposal and outline must accompany
application letter to be considered.
Some suggested course topics include:
* Design Theory
* Intro to Adobe PhotoShop
* Intro to JavaScript
* Advanced JavaScript
* Intro to Active Server Pages
* Developing Databases with MS Access
* Marketing a Web Design Business
* Web Site Promotion
If you are skilled in these areas, or others related to web design,
please consider submitting your proposal for a HWG online course!
3. Mentor/Apprentice Program Update
(Leanne Phillips, VP of Member Education, vp-education@hwg.org)
The Mentor/Apprentice (M/AP) program is undergoing some much needed
changes. One of the changes that is needed is more staff - not more
mentors or apprentices, at this time, but more people to work behind
the scenes to keep the program running smoothly: evaluating potential
mentors, matching apprentices with mentors, and keeping track of various
data important to the program.
Anyone who's interested in helping with the administrative work of the
M/AP program should send mail to mentor-admin@hwg.org.
4. A Message from the Logo Management Team
(Steve Mount, LMT Manager, logo@hwg.org)
The members of the Logo Management Team would like to ask all HWG members
currently using the HWG logo to review the guidelines for logo usage
found at:
http://www.hwg.org/services/logo/
In keeping with our desire to be fully accessible to all Web users, we
have recently added a TITLE attribute to our IMG tag. We would like to
see all members whose HTML files are HTML 4.0 compliant to add the TITLE
attribute if it is not already on your site.
Also, we would like you to be aware of a recent change in logo usage
guidelines; namely, all Business and Corporate members may now add their
business name to their logo display. No more "The author is a member
of..."; now paid Business and Corporate members may use their business
name, as in "XYZ Web Design is a member of..."
We would like to remind all users of the logo that logo use must be
registered. If you are using the HWG logo and have not registered on the
http://www.hwg.org/services/logo/join.html page. This page may also be
accessed from the Guidelines page mentioned above.
The Logo Management Team is in the process of reviewing the list of
registered users. It is a long list, and we are proceeding at a steady
pace. Don't be alarmed if we get to your page and send you an email
about any deviation from the Guidelines. Most members are happy to
bring their usage into compliance. You can aid in our efforts by
reviewing the Guidelines and ensuring your usage is already compliant.
We would also ask that you send any address changes (email or URL)
to dbadmin@hwg.org so that our database can be kept up-to-date.
Thank you for proudly displaying your Guild membership on your
web page, and for making the HTML Writers Guild logo one of the
most recognizable symbols on the Internet!
5. Help Shape the Guild with Your Participation in Our Issues Forums!
(Kynn Bartlett, Acting Guild Issues Forum Manager, ops-forum@hwg.org)
The Guild is pleased to announce the opening of our new online
discussion forums for Guild issues, feedback, and suggestions. These
forums are run using Web Crossing, the same system used for our online
classes, and are hosted at HWG Interactive.
To access the Guild Issues Forums, point your web browser at
http://interact.hwg.org/ -- if you haven't been to HWG Interactive,
you will need to create a new account. If you've used it for
an online class, you can reuse your same login. (Note that this is
NOT the same as your HWG member number and password that give you
access to your member profile page. This is something new that you
create for yourself.)
Each sub-forum is devoted to a specific facet of Guild operations.
You are free to post comments or questions there, after reading
the sub-forum explaining the rules for using the boards.
The Governing Board invites all members interested in Guild
operations to take advantage of this new channel for communication.
6. Request for Proposals/Jobs and Contracts Program Closure
(Kynn Bartlett, President, president@hwg.org)
After careful consideration and consultation with the Governing
Board, the Executive Committee has reached a decision to close
the Jobs and Contracts programs, including the Request for
Proposals service. This decision to make was based on the current
needs of and direction of the Guild.
The Governing Board expresses our gratitude and thanks to the
volunteers who have worked on the RFP/JC projects over the last
few years, including Matthew Wickline, Damon Zirkler, E.C.
Gruhler III, Fred Ackers, Jim Campbell, Ryan Fischer, Nicolas
Ian Imrie, Jame E. Lewis, Keith Smiley, Vasco Veloso, and Mary
Lee Zerby.
7. Guild Town Hall Meeting, 24 November, 6:30 p.m. PST
(Kynn Bartlett, President, kynn@hwg.org)
Each month, the Guild provides an opportunity for real-time discussion
and chatting via HWG Interactive. These monthly meetings are hosted by
members of the Governing Board (with most of them in attendance),
and give our members the chance to voice your views about the HWG.
The scheduling information for the next meeting is:
24 November Town Hall Meeting
Date: Tuesday, 24 November 1998
Time: 6:30 p.m. PST, 9:30 p.m. EST, 02:30 (25 November) GMT
Server: HWG Interactive, http://interact.hwg.org/
Room: Meeting Hall
NOTE: Town Hall meetings are usually held on Thursday
evenings. Due to the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday,
November's meeting will be on _Tuesday_.
To connect, surf to the URL above for HWG Interactive, and create a
HWG Interactive account, if you don't have one from a previous
meeting. (This will not be the same as your HWG member id and password.)
8. Frequently Asked Questions about the HWG-News Newsletter
(Shelly Ross, HWG-News Newsletter Editor, editor@hwg.org)
Some questions you may be asking:
Q: Why did I get this mail?
A: You received this newsletter because you are a member of the
HTML Writers Guild. This message came from hwg-news, the Guild's
mandatory mailing list for all members. If you need more information
about hwg-news, please see the List Charter at:
http://www.hwg.org/lists/hwg-news/index.html
Q. Why doesn't this newsletter talk about web design or HTML?
A. The newsletter is the Guild's administrative bulletin to the
membership. If you are interested in the topics of Web design
and HTML, then you might want to subscribe to some of our
discussion lists devoted to those topics. More information on
the Guild's offering of discussion lists can be found at:
http://www.hwg.org/lists/mailinglists.html
Q. How can I find out more about Guild activities?
A. The Guild has set up a one-way announcement list, HWG-Announce,
that carries bulletins of day-to-day Guild business. For details
on how to subscribe, please see:
http://www.hwg.org/lists/hwg-announce/
Q: How do I unsubscribe from hwg-news?
A: Since this is a required list in order to maintain your
Guild membership, unsubscribing is the same as resigning from
the HTML Writers Guild.
If you have your Member ID and password, to resign your membership
in the Guild and to unsubscribe to hwg-news, visit:
http://www.hwg.org/member/resign.html
Fill in the pertinent information, and submit it.
If you don't have a Member ID, or have forgotten your password, send
mail to:
newapps@hwg.org
with a Subject of: Resign membership
In the body of the message, provide the following information:
* Your email address(es)
* Your member ID if you have one.
* The list of discussion lists you are on.
Please remember that unsubscribing to hwg-news automatically resigns
you from the Guild. If you have problems with unsubscribing,
please contact the Database Manager for help.
Q: Can my company advertise in the Guild's newsletter?
A: Yes; the Guild is offering sponsorship opportunities in HWG-News
on a limited basis. If you are interested in advertising your
web related product or service here, please send email to
advertising@hwg.org or call (714) 526-4963. Discounts are available
to Guild Business and Corporate members, as well as for multiple
placements. The Guild's newsletter reaches over 75,000 web authors
worldwide each month.
(Note: The Guild does not make our member database available for
third party use. We have a strong privacy policy and will not
release our members' personal information; our mailing list is
not for sale. Any questions regarding the Guild's advertising or
privacy policies can be directed to advertising@hwg.org.)
Q: What if I want to comment on this newsletter?
A: The HWG-News Mailing List is a "Read-Only" list -- please do not try
to reply to this message directly.
If you wish to contact the editor of this newsletter, you may do
so by sending email to editor@hwg.org. Each article begins with
the contact information for the author as well.
This issue was edited by Shelly Ross and Kynn Bartlett.
Copyright 1998, HTML Writers Guild, Inc., All Rights Reserved.
Published monthly via email and WWW.