October 6, 2005
BELLEVUE — The Libertarian Party of Washington State has dramatically redesigned its online presence. From the graphic design to the content layout, the website is recognizably different - even the address has changed! While the old web address of www.LPWS.org will still work, the official web address is now www.LPWA.org. This change will bring us more inline with the practices of other state organizations (it also mean a change in email addresses, so check the directory for more information).
In addition to the obvious visual changes, the new site leverages modern web technologies. These changes will allow site administrators to more easily maintain the content while keeping the look and feel uniform throughout. Further, the new site will provide a mechanism for delegating maintenance tasks. For example, news articles can now be published by any number of authorized contributors using an interface similar to a weblog and the Event Calendar can be directly updated by regional representatives.
And more improvements are on the way. In the near future, a complete online community for LPWS supporters will be made available. The password protected environment will facilitate communication between party officials, volunteers, and other supporters. Features will include regional chat rooms, regional and topical discussion forums, a document repository, and a collaborative document editing system called a “Wiki.” Most importantly, this system will allow individual supporters to update their own contact information and volunteer profile. Look for more on this exciting project in the coming months.
Ultimately, the goal is present the party in a more attractive and modern light. With the recent increase in media attention, it is important that LPWS provide the best online experience it can. This new site is huge step in the right direction.