This interesting and illuminating article makes the case for and against the use of 'splash pages'. splash-pages-do-we-really-need-them.

We don't recommend the use of splash pages unless you have your main menu on that page. WCN members must also take into account the requirement for the WCN logo/link to be on the first visible page of your website.

Wellington ICT has taken on the task of organising an Engage Your Community conference similar to the very successful one held in Hamilton in April. The conference will be held at the Wellington campus of Massey University on 4 September 2008.

EYC Wellington will use case studies and hands-on workshops to demonstrate Internet-based tools offering the potential to help community groups and organisations publicise themselves and help them with their community work.

Watch this space for more information about this Engage Your Community conference.

Work has started on a major review of WCN. The review will look at WCN in its present form and will take into account feedback from an enivronmental scan currently being sent out to organisations listed in WCC's Community Directory. It will also take account of the findings from the comprehensive survey of WCN members conducted in 2006-07.

The WCN Review is very important as it will have a major bearing on the future direction of WCN.

Contact the Director, Wellington ICT if you would like more information about the WCN Review. Your views about the value of WCN to your organisation, and any suggestions you may have about how we could enhance its value would also be welcomed.

Check out the latest version of FireFox. Version 3 is a big improvement on 2 and there are many useful add-ons to aid browsing and also some extremely useful add-ons for web-developers. Download FireFox 3 and FireFox Add-ons

Some add-ons that I use are:

• Broadband Speed Test
• Web Developer - useful tools
• Firebug - more useful tools
• Total Validator - validate your pages
• YSlow - analyse page download speed
• Fireshot - screen capture