The New CHGPA Web Site: Room to Grow and Improve!

Mark Cavanaugh

Did you know that Scott Lindsay has provided web hosting for the CHGA and the MHGA at absolutely *zero* cost, ever since the unveiling of the joint CHGA/MHGA website in March of 1997? We've got a great presence on the web as a result of Scott's efforts, and we've all directly benefitted. His generosity deserves a heartfelt thank-you from both clubs!

But you know what they say: "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch!".

With the rename of CHGA (now CHGPA) last year, the Board realized that it would be a good idea to register chgpa.org before some other organization grabbed it. At the same time, many desired capabilities for the web site were identified: SQL databases; CHGPA email addresses; methods for collaborative maintenance of the site; better security for members-only pages; more reliable FTP access; it's a pretty long list.

And guess what? These sorts of features are what web hosting companies are in the business of providing, but certainly NOT for free. No-one felt that it would be fair to ask Scott to provide free hosting *and* the new features that we need.

So, we decided to go legit; the club signed up for a web hosting plan with AffordableHost.com at $15/month, and thus www.chgpa.org has joined the Web. We chose AffordableHost for several reasons, chief among them being that they offer a 10% discount for non-profits, and I was able to talk them into providing their Option 5 plan at the Option 4 price.

Now that chgpa.org is "live", these addresses are available for your use:


Thus far things have been pretty busy just getting everything moved to the new site (there's an understatement!). But once that's settled down, you will begin to see new content that takes advantage of the new features available to us.

You'll also see a new logo on the chgpa.org homepage which reflects both hang-gliding and paragliding. You *do* know that the club is sponsoring a contest for a new logo, right? So come on you artsy-types, create a design and submit it! Your logo could grace our homepage and provide lifelong fame!

Cheers,

~mark