Members get security, convenience and information
A few people have recently asked me about the BCCJ website, so I thought it might be worthwhile to share a few thoughts on it. The site was originally built and is managed by a Hong Kong-based firm, Yes Limited, a specialist in secure on-line payment systems. The servers and our IT support are based in the Philippines. We ourselves are the administrators of the site which is template based. Whenever we want to update an area such as the Daily Media Highlights or the Events Calendar, we can easily do so using Word and then converting it to HTML before uploading it onto the site. The events notices that Members receive are generated using a different template system but use the central database for distribution.
Members have complete control of their own data and can choose to opt out of any direct mail service (such as the Media Highlights). They can also choose what infor-mation they would like visitors to the site to see about themselves and their firm. The site is heavily encrypted and very secure. Indeed, at the outset one Member - a specialist in such systems who boasted he could hack into it with ease - spent three days trying to do just that and finally had to admit it defeated him.
LOOKING AHEAD
Autumn is traditionally a busy period for BCCJ events. We tend to see rather more visitors than at any other time of year. Perhaps it is the lure of the seasonal foliage-the orange and yellow, crimson and gold—or just the fact that air fares are reasonable. The Chamber often benefits by being able to call on these visitors to speak at luncheons and other gatherings. The events programme generally is a very important part of what the Chamber has to offer and we are always ready to offer a platform to anyone with an interesting story to tell. So, if you have a visitor from headquarters who’d be willing to speak to us, please don’t hesitate to let us know.
We’re also interested in knowing what kind of events you’d like included in our calendar. Are there subjects you’d like to see addressed that we’ve not so far tackled? We welcome your input and feedback; and if you’d like to share your views more broadly, the editor welcomes letters to BCCJ ACUMEN.
