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Communications Committee POA Update
May 19, 2009
Committee Members:
Chuck Gleason (Chairman)
Michele Gleason
Veronica Brooks
Carl Addington
The Communications Committee met in early 2009 to discuss goals surrounding an improved website and improved communications within the neighborhood about ongoing and upcoming activities. The goals established included:
1. To create a new website for Lakes of Katy that would set us apart from the LSF Development website run by Gordon Hall. We wanted a website that we could manage, update, and use to communicate with residents as well as the outside world. A site that would provide valuable information to residents as well as general information about our neighborhood such as driving directions, maps, etc…
2. To re-establish a forum that could be used by LOK residents to discuss LOK topics, events, issues, etc… The forum needed to be easily manageable and accessible by the internet.
3. To establish a robust email blast communications tool that would allow important communications to be distributed to all property owners quickly, as well as allow Committee to update the neighborhood on current and upcoming projects.
Veronica Brooks, Carl Addington, Chuck & Michele Gleason met in early February to discuss available options. Chuck’s experience designing and running websites helped the committee in the selection of the web publishing software, forum software, and email communication software. After looking at several options, the committee purchased the publishing software, registered the names of SKILAKESOFKATY.COM and MYLAKESOFKATY.COM. We registered the website with GoDaddy.com and then set out to build the website. It took Chuck about 2-1/2 weeks to get the website and forum operational. Each Committee Chairperson was asked to submit information about their committee, members and project status. Keith Evans worked closely with Chuck to verify names, processes, contact information etc…
To help improve neighborhood communications, we began sending out email blasts on a more regular basis to keep the neighborhood up-to-date with ongoing projects. Joe Shea, chairman of the Lake Committee has been very helpful keeping us abreast of Lake Committee projects concerning lake levels, and lake closings. We’ve used the email blast to keep owners aware of the ongoing Capital Committee projects around the lakes and need for tree donations. We’ve used the blast to make owners aware of upcoming tournaments and skier clinics.
On the forum, property owners can communicate about many topics surrounding the LOK neighborhood. Along with the forum, members can also access a community calendar for upcoming events such as tournaments, parties, and lake reservations.
On the LakesofKaty.com website, property owners now have the ability to look up neighbor phone numbers and addresses. All the information that can be found in the printed directory, is now found on-line, and is only accessible by LOK property owners. LOK residents can now update their own information and make changes at any time. Property owners can also look up Committee and Board Member contact information as well as important information about our neighborhood such as building restrictions, weed control, fertilizers, shoreline maintenance, lake use rules, and more.
We hope that everyone enjoys the new website and feels more informed as a result of the website and communications updates.
Ongoing costs to maintain the website, forum, etc is about $45/month.
Chuck Gleason
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