HTML Writers Guild Newsletter Volume 5 Number 16, 11 September 1999 http://www.hwg.org/ editor@hwg.org Table of Contents 1. Your Input Is Welcome: Strategic Planning for the HWG 2. Enroll Now for Fall Courses from HWG Online Education! - Beginning Programming with Perl - Using Macromedia Dreamweaver - Part 1 - Introduction to HTML 4.0 - Business Writing Basics - Introduction to XML - Practical Web Management: Creating an Effective Web Site - Introduction to Cascading Style Sheets - Introduction to Javascript - Creating Web Graphics with Paint Shop Pro - Designing For Universal Accessibility with HTML 4.0 3. Upcoming HWG Speaking Engagements: Interop, Builder.Com, and more! 4. You're Invited to September's Town Hall Meeting! 5. 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Your Input Is Welcome: Strategic Planning for the HWG (Kynn Bartlett, President, HTML Writers Guild) As part of our ongoing efforts to make the HTML Writers Guild everything that it can be, the Guild's Governing Board is currently evaluating our organization's strategic plan for 2000 and beyond. The plan will guide our policy-making, budgeting, and activities during the next few years. As a membership organization, the HWG is most interested in the opinions of our main constituents: You! Your input is necessary if we are to create a strategic plan that meets member needs. Please take a moment to answer one question: On what two activities or services should the HWG expend the most time and money in the next three years? You'll want to keep in mind the Guild's purpose and charter as defined in the Bylaws, of course, as well as our non-profit status, but within those guidelines we'd like to know what you think is most important of what we do -- or could do. Thanks! Please email your answers directly to us: mailto:planning@hwg.org (Note that since we currently have over 103,000 members, you may not necessarily receive a personal reply to your email, but rest assured that we do read every single one!) 2. Enroll Now for Fall Courses from HWG Online Education! (Ann Navarro, Online Education Director, classes@hwg.org) The end of summer means back to school -- and what better way to advance your continual learning experience with one of the Guild's online classes! Our courses are taught by your fellow HWG members who are experts in their fields, and are adaptable to YOUR schedule so that you can learn at the pace that's right for you! FALL ONLINE COURSES CATALOG The following classes are currently open for enrollment: Beginning Programming with Perl Dates: September 20, 1999 - November 5, 1999 (6 weeks) Learn to create programs in the Perl language! This popular class will teach you all you need to know to get started in Perl. (Note: This is not, strictly speaking, a CGI course.) Using Macromedia Dreamweaver - Part 1 Dates: October 4, 1999 - October 29, 1999 (4 weeks) Designed to work around the one-month free trial version of Dreamweaver, this course will introduce you to the popular web site creation tool. Introduction to HTML 4.0 Dates: October 11, 1999 - November 19, 1999 (6 weeks) Leave your WYSIWYG editor behind and explore the nuts and bolts that make web pages function! Business Writing Basics Dates: October 11, 1999 - December 3, 1999 (8 weeks) You may be good at HTML tags, but that's just half the equation -- learn how to make your content sizzle in our writing course! Introduction to XML Dates: October 18, 1999 - November 26, 1999 (6 weeks) Extensible Markup Language is the Internet's language for the 21st century -- now is the time to learn XML! Practical Web Management: Creating an Effective Web Site Dates: October 18, 1999 - November 30, 1999 (6 weeks) Covering everything from personalization to usability studies, this course is a perfect fit if you're struggling with how to manage your new or growing website! Introduction to Cascading Style Sheets Dates: October 18, 1999 - November 26, 1999 (6 weeks) Add a little style to your web design! This popular course covers CSS 1 and 2, which can enhance the appearance of any web page! You'll learn what CSS is -- and isn't -- supported by the major browsers, and more! Introduction to JavaScript Dates: November 8, 1999 - December 17, 1999 (6 weeks) The Javascript language allows you to add interactivity to your web pages -- this course will teach you the basics of programming in Javascript for multiple browser types. Creating Web Graphics with Paint Shop Pro Dates: November 8, 1999 - December 17, 1999 (6 weeks) Release the artist within you! This graphics course will teach you to create your own stunning images for use on your web site, using the Paint Shop Pro program. Designing for Universal Accessibility with HTML 4.0 Dates: November 8, 1999 - December 19, 1999 (6 weeks) Can your web site be used by everyone, including people with disabilities, older browsers, and hand-held computers? If you're not sure, take this course; it could change the way you view the web! COURSE FEES For all courses, Full and Discounted members may register for $25, Trial members for $50. Upgrade your membership before registering, and save money! 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. Books should be purchased before the first week of class! In addition, 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/ Head back to school this fall with the HTML Writers Guild -- enroll now! 3. Upcoming HWG Speaking Engagements: Interop, Builder.Com, and more! (Frank Boumphrey, Vice President of Special Events, vp-events@hwg.org) As part of our outreach to new members -- and in accordance with the Guild's purpose to inform and educate the web design community -- the HTML Writers Guild actively participates in conferences and workshops. Upcoming engagements featuring HWG presenters or speakers include: * NetWorld+Interop Atlanta, Georgia 13-17 September 1999 http://www.zdevents.com/interop/atlanta/ Frank Boumphrey will be speaking at NetWorld+Interop in Atlanta. He will be part of the session "Will XML replace HTML?" to be held on Tuesday, 14 September from 3:30-4:45. Drop by and be sure to introduce yourself after the talk! * E-Commerce Summit Rome, Italy 6-8 October 1999 http://www.e-commerce-summit.com/ HWG President Kynn Bartlett will speak on the HWG's AWARE Center and efforts to highlight the need for Web Accessibility; the HWG is also planning a member get-together. If you will be in Rome, please send email to kynn@hwg.org for further information! * Web Manager's National Conference Denver, Colorado 13-14 October 1999 http://www.govtech.net/conferences/webmanager/webmanager.shtm Government and educational web managers are invited to attend the panel "Applying the ADA to the Internet: A Web Accessibility Standard" co-hosted by the City of San Jose's Cynthia Waddell and the HWG's Kynn Bartlett. * Builder.Com Live! New Orleans, Louisiana 7-11 December 1999 http://www.builder.com/live/ The best web design sessions all under one roof in the heart of the ultimate fun city! HWG presentations include Frank Boumphrey who will tell you how to "Use ASP to Access XML Data Stores" and the panel "You Can Build It, But They Won't Come If They Can't: Accessibility and Your Site" with Kynn Bartlett and others. If you plan to attend any of these events, please let us know; we'd love to arrange to meet our fellow Guild members! Guild appearances at conferences are made possible through our newly created HWG Speakers Bureau. The purpose of this program is to list qualified speakers on topics of interest to the HTML community. We're currently seeking Guild members who meet the following qualifications: 1. Be an expert in your topic. 2. Be a fluent and accomplished speaker. 3. Have had experience speaking to a large audience. Speakers who meet these qualifications will be informed of any call for papers for national meetings received by the HWG, and will go into a database of speakers. They may also be invited to speak at HWG sponsored events. If you think you might qualify please forward a brief biography to vp-events@hwg.org together with a list of topics you feel qualified to speak on. In addition to your address, phone number, and other contact information, please include a short statement outlining your experience, and the reasons that you think you are the person who should speak on your subject(s) of choice (Don't be coy!). Please put "HWG Speakers Bureau" in the subject line. 4. You're Invited to September's Town Hall Meeting! (Leanne Phillips, HWG Secretary, secretary@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 details for September's meeting are: 23 September Town Hall Meeting Date: Thursday, 23 September 1999 Time: 6:30 p.m. PDT, 9:30 p.m. EDT, 01:30 (24 September) GMT Server: HWG Interactive, http://interact.hwg.org/ IRC: irc.hwg.org, port 6667 Channel: #townhall To connect, either go to the URL above and use the Java-based client available via the web, or use your favorite IRC client and join channel #townhall. We look forward to meeting you there! 5. More Information About Your HWG-News Subscription (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: mailto:lost-password@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 password support team 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 100,000 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. Copyright 1999, HTML Writers Guild, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Published monthly via email and WWW.