By Kirit Gordhandas
This year’s report begins with an important request: I am looking for someone to take over the role of Webmaster. Unfortunately, I am no longer able to continue in an active beekeeping role, as I am caring for an elderly relative whose health has significantly deteriorated.
Our website, wpbka.org.uk, is hosted through Ionos and built using a simple website editor – a system designed more like a desktop publishing program than a traditional web development tool. This means that no programming or coding knowledge is required, and with just a couple of hours of guidance, a non-technical member could confidently manage the site.
Of course, simplicity comes with trade-offs. The site doesn’t have all the “bells and whistles” seen on some association websites, but it is functional, accessible, and fulfils its key purposes effectively.
The role of the website is to:
- Raise the public profile of the association
- Inform the public about our activities and aims
- Provide potential members with a clear route to contact us
- Serve as an information hub for existing members, including:
- Events and meetings
- Apiary updates
- Features and news
- A document repository for members
- Act as a central communication point for those without access to social media
The hosting arrangement is on a rolling monthly contract, currently costing £14.40 per month, following an initial 12-month introductory rate of £3.60 per month.
The system was deliberately chosen to be straightforward so that any member familiar with basic computer use – word processing or posting to social media – could easily take on the role. I have no formal background in web design myself, which I hope reassures potential volunteers that it’s well within reach for anyone willing to learn.
In friendship,
Kirit Gordhandas
Webmaster, Wakefield & Pontefract Beekeepers Association