Web team continues work on new OCA web site
Guided by a series of deadlines established when it began its work in January 2011, the team charged with developing the new web site of the Orthodox Church in America is confident that the site will be “up and running” by summer.
While the announcement of a new web site initially had been made at the 15th All-American Council in the fall of 2008, the project did not get underway in earnest until January 2011. According to Virginia Nieuwsma, who manages the team under the guidance of Archpriest Eric G. Tosi, OCA Secretary, work to date is “on schedule.”
“Progress has been made in vetting new home page layouts with Simple Focus Designs, working through a long list of delivery points, constructing the new site’s skeleton using the Expression Engine content management system, and creating a new site map,” Virginia said. “The site’s two developers—Technical Manager Ryan Platte and Priest John Schroedel—have faced a series of challenges due to the complexity of the present site’s databases, directories, and page count.”
The team, which also includes Archpriest John Matusiak, Senior Editor, and Jessica Linke, Chancery Assistant, has also relied upon the services of John Burns, an Orthodox logo specialist. Weekly teleconferences have been invaluable in keeping team members “on task.”
“While we’ve made great strides towards our goal, we’re cognizant of the great deal of work still to be done,” Virginia added. “We are grateful for the prayers and good will of the many individuals who have inspired and encouraged us. While we want to preserve all that is good about the existing site, our goal is to present the OCA with a significantly improved site, both in terms of functionality and design.”
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