Elliott Augustine explains "Web 2.0"

Jason Conn suggests ways you can start the turnaround

President Mark present the program, composed of two Vocational Awareness/Classification Talks: Elliott Augustine, the owner of WebXperts Design talked about his work of web design and planning. The internet is evolving rapidly and in order to use it effectively in business you must have more than just a website. That website has to be easily accessible and it has to keep people engaged.

In order to accomplish these things the website has to have (1) good design and (2) functionality.

Good design consists of several things. The site must change over time with updates every 12 to 18 months. It must reflect current standards for internet use that are being set currently by social-networking sites like Face Book and My Space. Some of the website designs and redesigns that Elliott's firm has done include Ted Turner Enterprises, DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, and Advent PDS. Good functionality includes things like good search capabilities, forms that capture crucial user information, and being generally engaging to the visitor.

Sites Elliott showed to demonstrate functionality included Prestige Jets, Rowdy Records, and Cox Communications. In addition the business should work for search engine optimization. This is achieved by focusing on key terms that are associated with your business and making sure that these key terms appear in the very beginning of your website. Make sure to submit the domain name to the search engines that you are trying to use. To be effective, your website must be in the top three listed on the search engine. If it is at the bottom of the page or on the next page it can be easily missed.

Check out the new Decatur Rotary Website, designed by Elliott's firm.

Jason Conn, of HLM Financial, talked about the general economic situation. Mortgage rates are great and incredible buys in housing. However there is much fear and anxiety. Jason believes that we must pull ourselves out.

Jason listed ten things that we have the ability to do to start the turnaround:

Happy January Birthday

• January 2: Raiford Hodges
• January 4: Kathryn Johnson
• January 4: Bill Mealor
• January 5: Bruce Roaden
• January 6: Mark Hastings
• January 7: James Jarboe
• January 14: Melissa Forgey
• January 16: Fred Boykin
• January 19: Alan Dishman

Bill Moon, Jason Conn and Jack Gerlach

Many of the Decatur Rotarians who assembled this past Saturday to contribute their time and effort to the MLK, Jr. Weekend Service Project sponsored by the Decatur Preservation Alliance. Pictured are Jack Gerlach, Bill Mealor, David Weitnauer, Morgan Thompson (Scott Thompson's son), Ed Turner, Sara Fountain, John Bennett, and Mark Burnette.

A starting view of the house we helped repair on Greenwood Avenue in the Oakhurst section of Decatur.

David Weitnauer, Scott Thompson, and Jack Gerlach prior to our digging in and getting started.

Another partial assembly of Decatur Rotarian co-workers. Pictured in this shot are Mark Burnette, Ed Turner, Scott Thompson, John Bennett, Bill Mealor, and David Weitnauer.