January 2009's news:
Nickos Gogolos
New Year, New Look for the UKRG brand and our web site. Welcome!
After much hard work and time spent by committee members old and new, the new web site is now up and running. It has been programmed using more modern technology to allow the Group the flexibility it needs for its activities and designed to fit with our new visual identity. We hope it will provide an easier and contemporary forum for Registrars, so please take a moment to explore the new pages. Please note that our web address has now changed to www.ukregistrarsgroup.org
New UKRG Brand
As soon as the Committee took over in November 2007, we began discussions about the logo of the Group. It became apparent from the very beginning that what the Group needed was a change of brand, which will speak of its identity, its reputation, its aspirations; a brand that will be consistent across all our activities, including web site, publications, mail-outs, and instantly recognisable in order to represent the Group and what it stands for in all its communications.
The new brand was launched at the Annual General Meeting on 31 October and at the November European Conference in Basel. We have also had a flyer printed to advertise the new brand and to attract new members by giving information of who we are and the benefits of joining.
It is very important that all members start using the UKRG publications in the new brand design and also guide other colleagues (non-members) to use them, i.e. Facilities Report, Display Case & Security Supplements and Courier guidelines.
E-bulletin
After 8 years (I believe), it is with sadness that we bid farewell to the Newsletter as we move on with the times to make it completely electronic. One of the features of the new web site is a dedicated news page to be updated monthly. Once a month all members will receive an e-bulletin informing them of all the news, job adverts and other new announcements to be found on the web site. This will hopefully increase traffic and establish the site centrally in our activities.
Membership Database
One of the most important applications we have set up is a contacts database to manage our membership list. Members will be automatically subscribed to this database. New signed up members are notified by email and can unsubscribe if they so wish, or forward emails to friends. Clicks to the site can be monitored and all emails can be archived on the site.
There is also now a facility to help members log in if they have forgotten their password, rather than having to contact the web officer. It is essential that all members keep their login details handy in order to access the members area.
The Future
We hope that in the future we can update the website further including;
- building up a bank of photographs and images including taking photographs at all events, and
- evaluating the new site and features over the coming year, and to look for further improvements that can be made.
We appreciate any feedback about the site, including what you think works well or any problems you’ve had and any ways in which you think the site can be improved. There is a feedback form on the site for this purpose.
We hope that the site will continue to evolve and that you will all be able to contribute news articles, FAQs and photographs of Registrars at work (and at play). Please contact our Web Developer, Stephanie Bush or our Web Editor, Kathy Richmond, with your ideas.
We believe this is an important investment for the future and look forward to your comments.
All the very best for 2009.