Volunteers;Help
Launch;Association
Forum’s;Online
Communications
Campaign
BY SUSAN A. NOWICKI, APR, CAE
In early 2010, the Association Forum of Chicagoland launched an online communications cam- paign beginning with the website redesign, which included the
introduction of MyForum, a new online
community that enables members to
electronically collaborate through the
Association Forum’s Shared Interest
Groups and committees, and to build or
join online communities that focus on
their professional interests.
The redesigned website was the
first of several social media projects
in the campaign. Future plans include
enhanced use of Facebook, Twitter,
LinkedIn and You Tube.
To help implement the initiative, the
Association Forum created the Online
Communications Task Force, a volunteer ad hoc group designed to develop,
organize and guide the Association
Forum’s online community, website and
social media initiatives.
Task;Force;Goals
Established in September 2010 with a
six-month appointment, the task force
has been charged with:
• Working with staff to plan a strat-
egy around the Association Forum’s
social networking and media
accounts.
Helping;Launch;the;New
Website
The task force’s first assignment was
to participate in the beta testing and
launch of the new website. Months
of work went into development of the
revamped design, upgraded features
and expanded content. While staff and
outside consultants provided technical
and design support, task force members
played a key role in improving the new
website’s functionality and organization.
During a five-day period in October,
task force members went through the
new site, page by page, to give feedback, offer suggestions for improvements and suggest tweaks to its
functionality. The aim was to make
www.associationforum.org more intuitive
in its layout and navigation, and more
user-friendly. The group also tested the
usability of MyForum.
The updated website launched Dec.
1, and was featured in a special MyFo-
rum exhibit booth during the 2010
Holiday Showcase on Dec. 14. Task
force members demonstrated features of
the new website and helped attendees
update their member profiles.
Additional;Projects;Underway
Now that the new website is fully functional, the task force has turned its
attention to other projects. Recently,
it was asked to participate in the beta
testing for an updated online buyers
guide being developed for the site. It
also has begun work on development of
the basic policies and overall strategic
plan that will build a strong foundation
for the Association Forum’s ongoing
social media efforts.
By its very nature, the task force is a
time-limited entity, designed to be disbanded once its goals are accomplished. On behalf of the task force, it
has been our pleasure to help the Association Forum become a stronger social
media presence within the association
management profession.
Susan;Nowicki,;APR,;CAE, is chair of the
Association Forum of Chicagoland’s Online
Communications Task Force and is manager of
communications and marketing for the American
College of Osteopathic Family Physicians. She may
be reached at
susann@acofp.org.
