Websites And The Lack Thereof!!

[shugyo]

Does a website, even in today's age, validate the dojo?

Does a website, even in today's age, validate the style?

Does a website, even in today's age, validate the practitioner?

Does a website, even in today's age, validate the student body?


Even the age we live in, not every school of the MA has a website, and for those who do, this doesn't make them more valid than those who don't, imho.

Our Soke built up everything that's Shindokan by old fashioned blood, sweat, and tears, and in that, his student body grew by word of mouth and by him doing one demo after another wherever he could. Computers and the internet weren't around when our Hombu was founded.

Fast forward, our Soke and Dai-Soke have passed away! When they were alive, we entertained to create a respectful website in order to bring us out of the dark ages, but it never reached fruition. As of last year, we've still not been able to create a respectful website, and that's basically because we can't seem to agree 100% on everything that should or shouldn't be on the website, and in that, we're at a standstill, one I don't think we'll ever end because we can't agree on every 't' to cross or on every 'i' to dot.

Not that it matters, our ENTIRE student body, counting ALL of the dojo's that are affiliated to the Shindokan Hombu, it's a tinkle over 10,000. How to we communicate with the student body in today's high-tech age? Old fashioned phone calls and the trusted US Mail.

Your thoughts, please!!

[meguro]

fb

[senshido]

I think a website is a useful thing, but not essential. As for content, too many people having input is always going to create a dilema as to what you put in, personally I am solely responsible for what goes on my site, so no problem there!
As meguro says, Facebook is good for getting the message around, but again you have to have everyone you want to reach to be facebook users too.
I relay most messages to my students by giving out information letters in the dojo, and use posters for advertising.
The website comes into its own when a potentially new student is searching for a local dojo etc

[MMX]

We have a site and a facebook page but mostly we communicate with Email and Phone calls.

[shugyo]

I'm a FB IDIOT...through and through, and in that, fb isn't an option that I'm willing to explore for us. Even more so, we can't agree STILL on a website, so I don't see a FB site working out well for us either. One day...one day...maybe...but I won't be holding my breath.