Webmasters' Guild Initiatives and Accomplishments

2006-2007

Note Related to Projected 2006-2007 Initaitives:

Italics indicates initiatives added at the July 14, 2006 Forum Planning Session
Numbers in parenthesis indicate votes cast for the initiative at the July 14, 2006 Forum Planning Session.

2005-2006 Accomplishments

  • Web Training and Collaboration

    • Celebrated 10 year anniversary of the Webmasters' Guild in October 2005 with a full day session attended by over 100 focusing on future technologies.
    • Conducted 7 other monthly sessions with an average attendance of @ 100 participants focusing on topics of interest. Sessions included 5 presentations that addressed topics including New Web Technologies, Search Engine Optimatization, Security (NYS CSCIC) and Development of Applications for Mobile Technologies and two additional sessions dedicated to information sharing among participants.
    • Co-sponsored and participated in the development and successful implementation of two training initiatives for NYS Web Professionals -
      1. "Successful Web Communications in NYS Government" - jointly sponsored by GOER and PEF which offered professional training statewide for Web Professionals. Total attendance for this program was over 1000 participants. This Program was nominated for a NASCIO Recognition Award.
      2. "Web Search Workshop" - jointly sponsored with the World Organization of Webmasters - This was a two day work shop offered by Bebo White a Retired Departmental Associate with the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center Computing Services Group.
    • Provided a List Serv that Web Guild members can use to share ideas and query the group.

  • Partnerships

    • Worked in Conjunction with the NYS CIO Council Human Resources Committee to ensure that the Skill's Inventory Survey reached Web Professionals in NYS agencies.
    • Continued to work with the World Organization of Webmasters on issues of interest to both groups.
    • Supported the formation of two technology specific User Groups for Public Sector IT professionals using Websphere and Cold Fusion.

  • Publications and Awards

    • Awarded NYS Forum Best of the Web Awards recognizing both New York State and Local Government Web accomplishments.
    • Supported the Development and Publication of Mastering the Web Revolution in NYS Agencies a White paper published by the NYS Forum that identified critical needs associated with the Web Development area in New York State Government and contained suggestions for how to address these issues.

Projected 2006-2007 Initiatives

  • Conduct a minimum of 8 monthly sessions addressing topics of interest for NYS Web Professionals.
  • Participate and facilitate a minimum of two additional training sessions to support NYS Web Professionals and the IT Community in general to facilitate successful web development for New York State Public Sector.
  • Continue to offer a List Serv capability to foster communications among Public Sector Web Professionals. We anticipate, with the cooperation of the Forum, to upgrading the functionality of this List Serv during the 2006 - 2007 time frame.
  • Continue to support programs such as the NYS Forum Best of the Web Awards that recognize and identify exemplary web development efforts.
  • Continue to be responsive to the needs of the NYS Government's Web Development Professionals and to be opportunistic about offering relevant, focused training programs.
  • Develop standards for common look and feel to improve state website usability. (10)
  • Expand Webmaster Guild audience beyond local web developers using web casting.
  • Develop a library of web casts.
  • Emphasize in web development that security is everyone's responsibility (2)