Reston Runners Web Site Standards and Guidelines

Current Webmaster: Will Fraize

Revised 21 July 2010

Introduction and Purpose The purpose of the Reston Runners' website is to provide a readily available information and communications resource for its members and the community at large. The site has grown extensively over the past 10 years and is now rich in subject matter and technical complexity. This document establishes the editorial policy and technical standards necessary to maintain a professional club image and to minimize the technical work required to maintain the site.

Website Volunteer Support The site is not professionally designed or maintained. Every aspect of the website has been designed and prepared by Club members who volunteered their time and skill. The Club encourages all of its members to contribute to the maintenance of the website. Help is always needed with writing and posting of new pages (articles), taking and managing the display of photographs, review of course descriptions, supporting the generation of maps from GPS-generated traces, and setting up and managing event signups, to name a few. Members skilled with, or who would like to learn about a content management system (ours is Joomla-based) are also needed.

Standards and Guidelines for Posted Material As contributors prepare news, information, or commentary for posting on the website, the posted material must meet the following strandards:

• No use of tasteless humor (humor that is based on gender, race, cultural values, politics, sex, or other topics likely to offend Web browsers-and not just our membership!)
• No criticizing of other persons, cultures, or organizations
• No discussion of politics or religion
• No solicitation by runners raising money for causes

Commentary The Club encourages its members to share their experiences, observations, and insights on running, walking, and the human condition. To accommodate this, several well marked areas of the web site have been created, including the RR forums (soon to be restored) and the weekly guest-authored "Stats and Chats" column. The Club hopes these submissions by individuals will inform, entertain, amuse, and occasionally provoke our membership. The right of reply is a given. Responsibility for the content of such submissions rests solely with the identified author. All authors are expected to refrain from scurrilous comments, ad hominem attacks, or mean spirited remarks of any kind. Violators of this standard will be denied posting privileges.

Privacy Personal e-mail addresses, home addresses, phone numbers, or places of employment will not be posted on the RR Web site unless germane to a RR event and only then with permission (written or e-mail) of the individual and approval of the Webmaster. The webmaster will provide a Reston Runners email address [ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ] for all Club officers, program coordinators, and others conducting Club business so that personal e-mail addresses need not be used.

Links to Outside Sites The following quidelines will apply:

• There shall be no links that offer additional links to unsavory sites (e.g., those with pornographic or violent content).
• Links to commercial sites should be avoided and used only with the webmaster's permission. Weather forecasts are a special case
• Links to RR sponsors and to Running Event sites are acceptable
• Links to commercial photo-displaying sites are permissible as long as they are clearly labeled as "external" and they do not require the viewer to register (requiring a user name and/or email address)

Photo Images Photos should be only of RR events or events promoted by RRs. Photos of RRs at play elsewhere (e.g., skiing or hiking) are acceptable in a folder clearly describing their social context (so viewers are aware). Priority is always to be given to RR event images

Access Privileges Individuals who have responsibility for content on the Website will be given access privileges appropriate to their area of responsibility. For security reasons, account names and passwords are not to be shared; new accounts will be set up within minutes for those needing them.

Race Announcements Announcements for local races will be posted on our local races page Announcements for out-of-town races will be posted only if there is known interest within the Club; members may request the posting of a race announcement.