Welcome New VBPC member:
As you are probably aware, VBPC has a very robust and active website located at www.vbpc.org. While there are many different features on the site, I want you to be aware of a few of those:
a) The FORUMS are probably the most visited part of the site by our members. It is a very active and diverse bulletin board where members can create new subject matter threads or add postings to existing threads. The Forums are divided into several broad categories (General Discussion, VBPC Members Only, Club Information, Classifieds and Image Sharing) within which are sub-categories that are too numerous to list here.
b) The GALLERY is a repository where members can upload their photographic images to share with others online. Each member is allotted his or her own Member Album. In addition new Albums are added for certain club shooting events and other activities so that members who attended can share all of the images from the event in one location.
c) The EVENTS page features a listing of both past and planned future club events. Usually the events are listed in chronological order and will have links to website locations where more detailed information can be found.
d) The CALENDAR page features club events on a calendar format with links to location and contact information.
As you can see, the website serves multiple purposes for the Club. It provides members with information on club activities, provides a means to share the product of our creativity, and allows us to communicate with one another in a variety of ways.
The information which follows will be beneficial to you in starting to fully utilize the VBPC Website.
1) USERNAME: When you register with the club, you will be asked to provide a Username and password for use in accessing the "member only" areas of the website. Although it is entirely your choice, the Club encourages the use of your real name to help others know who you are (examples are “MikeOrnoff” and “SkipMorrow”). It’s very easy to know who those individuals are when they post in the Forums or send private messages. Others have chosen to use nicknames (such as “CanonLover” or “NikonHater”) which make knowing the member a little more difficult. When a member uses a nickname, a great many of us are left clueless as to who you are. You might end up sitting right next to someone at a membership meeting or focus group and never know that you’ve been exchanging ideas with that person in the Forums.
If you have already chosen to use a nickname but want to switch to your real name, it can be easily changed by clicking this link to notify the site webmaster.
2) UPDATE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION: Please update your personal information which can only be viewed by club members.
How to do it?
a) Be sure you are logged into the website from the home page
b) In the left column, click “My account” under your Username located below the Random Image.
c) Click on the Edit tab
d) Complete the information under the four (4) tabs (Account settings, Camera Gear, Contact Info, and Personal Info)
e) On the Account settings tab, please add a picture of yourself. The club encourages you to use a picture in which you are clearly visible. An icon of a favorite character, camera logo, favorite photo, or a picture of you from a mile away (unless you were photographed with an 1800 mm telephoto) doesn’t help anyone know who you are. Note that the image size is limited to 85 x 85 pixels. You will find information below on an easy way to resize an image.
3) ADD A PICTURE OF YOUR FACE TO YOUR FORUM PROFILE: Although you may have added a picture to your member’s profile which will appear only to club members who are logged in while viewing the Club Members page, you have the option to include a picture whenever you add a posting in the Forums. This is still another way by which members can get to know one another. As noted above, an icon of a favorite character, camera logo, favorite photo, or a picture of you from a mile away (unless you were photographed with an 1800 mm telephoto) doesn’t help anyone know who you are. But please note, for those of you who have privacy concerns, this picture will appear to non-members visiting when viewing the public portion of the Forums.
How to do it?
a) Be sure you are logged into the website from the home page.
b) Go to the Forums
c) Just above the date in the upper right, click on User Control Panel
d) Under Options on the left, click on Profile, then Edit avatar.
e) Upload the picture of yourself. Note size limitation of 90 x 90 pixels. You may need to resize your image for this to work.
f) Click Submit.
4) ADD YOUR SIGNATURE TO YOUR POSTINGS IN THE FORUMS: If you absolutely must use a nickname rather than your real name as your Username , consider creating a “Signature” which will be automatically added to your posts in the Forums.
When I submit a post, the following signature appears at the bottom of every post:
Mike Ornoff
mornoff@cox.net
Cell: 757.574.5180
There are lots of other things that can be included in the signature, but the most important is your name! For me, that’s important because so many members use only nicknames. So, unless you include a signature, it’s difficult to know who you are. Note that your Signature will appear to non-members who can view the public portion of the Forums.
How to do it?
a) Be sure you are logged into the website from the home page.
b) Go to the Forums
c) Just above the date in the upper right, click on User Control Panel
d) Under Options on the left, click on Profile, then Edit signature.
e) Key in your name and other information that you want to include.
f) Click Submit.
5) INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO THE CLUB: For your first posting to the Forums, please introduce yourself to the members of the club.
How to do it?
a) Be sure that you are logged in from the HOME page of the website.
b) Click on one of the links to the Forums (either the one in the upper right or under Main Menu on the left side of the home page)
c) Under the broad topic of General Discussion, click on Member Introductions
d) Click the New Topic button and have at it. And Don't Be Shy!
6) HOW TO RESIZE AN IMAGE: While there are many ways to resize a JPG file in order to upload it to our website. One of the simplest ways for PC users, is an plug-in from Microsoft called Image Resizer. You can use it to create and resize a duplicate of your image(s) while working within a folder in your directory.
The Image Resizer can be downloaded at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/Downloads/powertoys/Xppowertoys.mspx. Scroll down the right side of this page until you see Image Resizer and click on the link ImageResizer.exe. Once installed, the Image Resizer is easy to use:
a) Open the directory containing your image.
b) Right click on the file that is your image.
c) In the menu that opens, click on "Resize Picture."
d) Click on the Advanced button
e) Check "Custom" and specify your pixel size (e.g., 90 x 90 for avatars).
f) Click OK
g) A copy of your picture will be created and named xyz(custom).jpg. So if your original picture is named “XYZ.jpg,” the Image Resizer will create a new file in the same directory called “XYZ(Custom).jpg.” Your original image remains as “XYZ.jpg.”
h) Now simply upload the “XYZ(Custom).jpg” file from the appropriate prompt in the VBPC website.
Resize Multiple Images: What's really nice about the Microsoft Image Resizer is that you can resize multiple images at the same time. So if you are posting 5 pictures to the Forums (which does have a size limitation also), just select all 5 image files, right click on one of them and resize them. Generally, for posting to the Forums, selecting the pre-defined "Small" size (640x480 pixels) works fine. Each duplicate, resized image will be named "XYZ(Small).jpg."
If anyone needs help doing these things, just email me at mornoff@cox.net.
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