Posted by Gerry Morrissey on 19 March 2009
It is right that this, my first blog on BECTU's new website - my first ever blog if truth be told - should start with a welcome to our new site.
One year on from the start of planning, which was followed by the appointment of our developers, NetXtra, the new site has been born. We hope you like it and that you will visit regularly.
We hope you find the information you need and that it is of practical assistance. Why not add the site to your favourites? Content on the website will evolve; do tell us if you'd like us to add new areas.
Above all, we hope new visitors will join us and become part of our community.
Our trade union is committed to improving its services to members and to introducing new benefits; our new website has been designed to make us more accessible to existing and new members and to help our representatives to reach out more effectively to their members with the help of their branch pages.
Site users will find news on BECTU's activities, information and resources about the campaigns we are running, up to the minute information from our training department and much, much more.
To coincide with the launch of the new site we have launched our new Student Register, a contact scheme for students working towards a career in media and entertainment. Since the launch of the scheme last week, more than 70 students have registered. Students who take part will receive useful information, invites to special events and access to subsidised training.
The Student Register demonstrates our commitment to those yet to enter the industry and supports the work the union's officials do through their visits to colleges and universities during the year.
Our branch representatives will also find real value in the new site. They have the option to create branch pages visible only to members of the union. Branches need space in which to conduct their business, and we know that not all members can make all branch meetings; the website is one way to make sure that members can access key information around the clock.
Training for our reps is a major part of the website project; this training will continue throughout 2009.
The site has open access areas and private pages available to members only. Miller Technology has worked with NetXtra to bring the new site to members with substantially more functionality than we have had previously. We thank both companies for their commitment to the project.
The new site opens up welcome opportunities for BECTU to strengthen our communications - trade union to member, member to trade union and member to member.
Crewbus, our online freelance directory, has been remodelled as part of the website project. New Crewbus will be unveiled in a few weeks time with added facilities for members including the option to upload a showreel (maximum size 15 MB).
Many people in BECTU have worked very hard over several months to deliver the new site - I'd like to thank them all very much. We also relay our sincere thanks to the Union Modernisation Fund for backing our bid for funds to enable us to take this new and important step forward. Enjoy the site. Use it and tell us what you think. BECTU will be stronger as a result.
Gerry Morrissey, general secretary.
Comments
- Ganesan Kannuchamy 23 March 2009
- I am so glad BECTU is now just a 'click' away. Thank you.
- Una Murphy 25 March 2009
- I think the website is a great idea and I think Crewbus will be a valuable resource. I would like to find out about branch activities in Northern Ireland.
- George Einstein 25 March 2009
- It just goes to show, you can't be too careful.
- Billy Wilson 25 March 2009
- I hope to see the site increase the membership and communication
between members. - Uta Sohr 26 March 2009
- Congratulations to the new Website!!
- Graham Feast 26 March 2009
- I really like the new look website. much more up to date.
- Willis McBriar 29 March 2009
- Hi Una
Good Point. Will you be able to make it to Conference? If not, drop me an e-mail [email protected] and we can discuss how to make a decent fist of our web presence.
Best Regards
Willis - Andrew Dawkins 30 March 2009
- What is a mgb (as in "maximum size 15mgb")?
Do you not mean MB? - Sandi Newton 31 March 2009
- When you say 'trade union to member, member to trade union', surely the trade union is composed of its members?
The way this is phrased implies the trade union is something separate from its members. - dave reilly 31 March 2009
- would be nice to comment if i could get online
password is not being accepted
thanks - Steve Hawkin 31 March 2009
- "One year on from the start of planning"
This site took one year to plan?
I would have expected something a lot better and more web 2.0.
A bulletin board - in 2009?
Very poor - fail. - Albert Lisi 1 April 2009
- I agree with George Einstein - "It just goes to show, you can't be too careful".
- Susan Russel Wallace 1 April 2009
- Is this the sum total of jargon involved with BECTU?
http://www.bectu.org.uk/jargon - Susan Russel Wallace 1 April 2009
- Is this the sum total of jargon involved with BECTU?
http://www.bectu.org.uk/jargon - Robert Eastland 1 April 2009
- Could be a good site for referance, BUT login details not accepted even with my letter with membership No & password in front of me.Please get it sorted.
- Trevor B. Lee 1 April 2009
- Why no HTML allowed in comments?
- Trevor Edison 2 April 2009
- Is anyone going to reply to the comments?
- John Bayliss 2 April 2009
- Not much happening here - time to move on
- Keith Shankster 2 April 2009
- It would be nice to get login in some time not working at the moment
- Steve Hawkin 2 April 2009
- "One year on from the start of planning" and the login is not working?
Epic fail. - Sharon Elliott 2 April 2009
- Thanks to everyone for their comments. I'll take the liberty of responding for Gerry, as I am the BECTU official with principle responsiblity for the new site. As everyone associated with IT projects is aware, there are always unforseen issues. Thankfully, yesterday, we found a solution to be problem with the password experienced by some members and our membership department are well on the way to delivering a fix for all. Our members have been understanding, which is great. On the query about HTML tags - we have decided to keep it simple, simple as that! And yes, mgb should have read MB. Enjoy the site. We especially appreciate your constructive comments.
- Sharon Elliott 2 April 2009
- It has been a long day .... for principle read principal!
- John Moore 2 April 2009
- It just goes to show, you can't be too careful.
- Trevor B. Lee 3 April 2009
- Sharon - 'On the query about HTML tags - we have decided to keep it simple, simple as that!'
Means you can't have links in comments - thought this was a web site?
With no links defeats the point of being on the web. - Lawrie McInally 6 April 2009
- new site looks great
well done guys n gals - Trevor B. Lee 7 April 2009
- Lawrie - It would look great if this was 1999.
- Kirstin Donaldson 9 April 2009
- The site looks really good, a vast improvement.
- Peter Brill 14 April 2009
- Well done Sharon! The design looks brilliant, and we don't need spell cheque!!!! All these comments alone prove its success and the absolute requirement for an open forum within our union. Hopefully this in turn will increase new membership. See you in Bournemouth on the 25th.
- Trevor B. Lee 15 April 2009
- Peter - How does an "open forum within our union" increase new membership?
- Peter Brill 16 April 2009
- Trevor - Hopefully this splendid up-to-date and accessible Web-site will increase new membership.... as Gerry states so clearly at the top of this blog.
- Trevor B. Lee 21 April 2009
- Peter - You still haven't answered my question 'How does an "open forum within our union" increase new membership?'
I think 'hopefully' is the appropiate word - this would be an 'up-to-date' site ten years ago!
However, websites have moved on in the intervening period.
Why, for example, can't we comment on each news story? - Billy Wilson 24 April 2009
- Very funny Peter.
I fear we may have missed some major points in the design of the site.
I think that we have failed to look at whats happening on the internet, and should have combined elements from such sites as the forums in The Blue Room (sorry can't insert Link), and the social networking properties of the Facebook genres.
We would always discuss at meetings how we could attract young technicians to the Union, and I fear that this site will never be a focal point for technicians young and old.
So I would agree with Trevor B. Lee that its out of touch. - Sharon Elliott 2 May 2009
- I suppose the previous two comments reflect the 'glass half empty' or 'glass half full' divide. We have developed the site with the whole of the union's membership in mind and our broad-based user group wanted a site which would have general appeal.
Our central focus is to encourage our membership to play a more active part in the union's affairs. The response from representatives at our annual conference last weekend was overwhelming positive. We can all have a wish list - and we do - but there is no doubt that the new site presents new and valuable opportunities for our membership.
This year, in particular, is about improving our use of the site's functions and supporting representatives in their use of the branch pages.
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