MyDD :: Web Templates: A great local party web site

Web Templates: A great local party web site

by JJonMyDD, Fri Jan 06, 2006 at 12:14:24 AM EST

Bumped b/c I love stuff like this. Don't restrict suggestions to local town committees, but include favorite features of party web sites that JJonMyDD might be able to use - Matt

My local Democratic Town Committee asked me to start their first web site at tonight's meeting. Other than starting from scratch is there a resource to download templates?

I found nothing at the DNC or my state web site. I need help!

Offer any advise you have in the comments- Thanks.

Has anyone seen a great Democratic Town Committee web site they think is worth emulating? Please post it's address here.

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Permalink :: 23 Comments :: Post a Comment

It's not free but (none / 0)

but it's easy so you could try SoapBlox.

Jeff Wegerson - PrairieStateBlue

by wegerje on Fri Jan 06, 2006 at 12:29:25 AM EST

website (none / 0)

Check out http://www.deschutesdemocrats.org/
We use MD-Pro: http://www.maxdev.com/user.php
It's free

by phastphil on Fri Jan 06, 2006 at 12:57:08 AM EST

I have the same problem (none / 0)

In Reno, Nv. We have a website that is basicly dead and is harder than hell to update. The great rate for hosting is lost in the labor charges for changes. Sooo... I've been doing the research & I'm happy to share.

So that you know where we are comming from, We have an aproximate budget of $1,000 to get this site off the ground. At this point I have no idea if I can pull it off for that amount. But we have the money in the bank (unlike a lot of other county parties). Look hard at the budget first, this is going to be a big expense if you want to do it right (or approach that).

While I'm technically oriented, I am far from an expert on websites and how they work, therefore, we have to go to some pros. The volunteers that come in either seem to evaporate when the work starts or are control freaks about the site and are never there when you need something changed. The Pros Win. I'm a volunteer too but don't have the time to fight those battles. Your situation may be different.

Here is what I've found out so far....It's not too organized but you'll get the idea.

First: The site must be hosted. Never, Never, Ever have your site on or with (same intranet) the same computers you do your business on. It's the pro's headache to keep up with the hackers. It's gonna cost money for this, be ready. Otherwise you will have to keep up with the hackers, it's worth the money. I can't emphasize this enough, you'll feel like hell if you put the website on the office computers and get hacked a week out from the election.

I've discovered that Civic Space is a set of modules (building blocks) that is built on the Dupral platform. Civic Space is based on what the Dean Team built from scratch. It's oriented toward the give and take of politics. After agonizing over this, I went with Civic Space as opposed to Scoop (really for the technically inclined & used here on MyDD), and Movable Type (really the most economical, but less database support that I see).

Now, what do I want to do with the site? I want it to look good. I need a front page that I can update and keep current with ease, I must be able to format the entries to a certain extent (like supporting HTML links in the text of an entry) I want to be able to post pictures in an top line article (subject to negotiation). I Like the two side columns (like here), so that has to be in the design.

The Front Page, Above the fold. I need a place for people to contribute money. A link (button)on the front page but I want to be able to change the .jpeg of the button ocasionally for a special occasion (means I have to have access to the source code on the server). I also want to be able to accept local advertising from comercial interests who would want to support the party. (there is one of the side columns) I would like to get into the blogAds network somehow, I don't exactly understand the concept, yet, but I will (help here would be appreciated). Oh, and some type of index to other sections, perhaps tabs across the top of the center column. I also want a sign up area (link?) where people can volunteer/get on a E-mailing list (more about this later)

Now that I've junked up most of the Front page. I need areas that I can put up pictures and links to candidates (the other narrow column). Perhaps we'll charge them, but I suspect not, it's our job to support the candidates. Basically these will be a link to their site that opens in a new window (maybe).

The tabs will have links to the Issues Page(s), Party Officers, special Party chartered interest groups (where they can update stuff, but not touch the rest of the site - a security issue). Whatever eles the Executive Board comes up with, all in the same format as the front page.

And of course, a tab to my personal favorite, A blog. We are going to have a TABOR fight this cycle, I want our message out there. I want people to be able to discuss it. To use the blog, one must be registered. My biggest headache is going to be how to handle the trolls. (This one isn't as fleshed out as I would like)

Now, the E-mailing lists that people can sign up for. I want to be able to divide a sign up into different areas, people will state their interest areas when they sign up. (environmentalists arn't too interested in Organized Labor issues). This way we can focus and recruit volunteers into areas and events they would be interested in. For this you need a database, I don't think that Moveable Type filled the bill here (but again, I'm not sure).

I also want a mail server privileges, and email aliases/forwarding (this means an email sent to the Party Chairperson is forwarded to that person's personal email account, I don't want to have to change my personal email address because of trolls and the lunatic fringe). The real trick here is that when it is answered, It needs to strip the personal email address out and insert the 'official' email address.

There is the laundry list in no paticular order, Here is what I'm going to present to the Executive Board.

Platform: Civic Space (with a base of Dupral)
Proposed Site Designers: Antinomia Solutions, Humbolt County, CA
(They are on Civic Space's recomended list and are small (inexpensive) enough to fit my budget (I think/hope), I've talked to a number of the recomended providers, their prices are way too high for a mainly volunteer organization. (however they were all very nice, sympathetic, and understanding that they were way above my budget)) Do your own shopping, I'm not recommending these people yet, I choose them because their rates are in the ballpark and they are physically close to Reno.

So, there is my saga to this point. Let me know how your's goes.

Also, if anyone has some comments or suggestions, nothing is written in stone yet. Feel free to comment on where I'm going with this. I would also appreciate it if you let me know if I'm about to fall off of a cliff here too.

by NvDem on Fri Jan 06, 2006 at 03:02:49 AM EST

You're doing extremely well (none / 0)

I'm sorry the volunteers did not work out, but that's been my experience too--to get something efficiently done requires professional work ethos, meaning they shut up, do what they're supposed to and then can do more--if they're paid.

You're doing extremely well. There is no correct way to do this--one has to dive into the process for the experience.

Jesus, $1,000. Lord--my company burns through $1,000 in an eyeblink. I commend you, truly.

Good luck. You are totally on the right track. Keep copious notes or a journal--this will be by far the worst experience with this, the first one.

I produce web sites professionally. I may write on this some more, standard platforms and software packages would be a great boon to the party.

by paradox on Fri Jan 06, 2006 at 07:14:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: You're doing extremely well (none / 0)

Thanks for the compliment. That's a good idea about keeping a journal about this. I've been so wrapped up in this that I didn't even think of it.

Your last line reminded me that one of the reasons I opted for the Civic Space was that I understand that the DNC is using that platform. Who knows down the road, but I want to have something compatable if they come up with a new feature and make it available to the state/local organizations.

by NvDem on Fri Jan 06, 2006 at 10:52:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Recruit the DeanSpace Team (none / 0)

In the Summer and Fall of 2003, a group of programmers formed the DeanSpace Team -- they created web page templates for local DFA groups.

Why not post at the DFA site, putting out a call for any programmer who was involved then to get involved now.

Ideally, the DNC should sponsor it -- and offer at least nominal pay for the team. A survey of state and local Democratic organizations can be done, to see which have the most user friendly web sites. Then, the DemSpace Team can create several templates, and make them available to Democratic Party groups.

Paradox could be a team leader, and Howard Dean can promote it in his travels.

Reviving the DemZilla and DataMart voter file initiatives should also be a priority -- John Keryy ran them into the ground, but that does not diminish their importance.

by ck on Fri Jan 06, 2006 at 11:59:18 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Recruit the DeanSpace Team (none / 0)

I Believe that Civic Space is what the DeanSpace team morphed into.

by NvDem on Fri Jan 06, 2006 at 04:07:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I have the same problem (none / 0)

I am running off to work but have many thoughts to add. I will reply a bit later when time allows.

Thanks for bumping this post! It's about winning elections right?

If all politics is local- then it's time to support your local Democratic Town Committee.

by JJonMyDD on Fri Jan 06, 2006 at 07:53:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]

It doesn't have to be a big deal. (none / 0)

A town website probably won't have very high traffic, so you don't need a ton of server space. I built a web page for a Bronx political club (www.bfrdc.org). All I did was make an account with ipowerweb and then buy an inexpensive template, which I then modified with a little HTML knowledge. The whole thing took less than $200.

by thirdestate on Fri Jan 06, 2006 at 08:02:46 AM EST

Do yourself a huge favor (none / 0)

Sit down and learn CSS, PHP, and MySQL.

If you're up to it, learn your way around a Linux shell, too. Learn Apache.

A website today is completely worthless without a database and stylesheet.

A well-done PHP-driven website can be built so you only ever have to modify a handful of files to do a complete outward redesign.

Everything should be built around the index.php file and whatever CSS files you need.

All the content should be in the database, and gets read out from there.

I generally build with a user agent detection system in place to distribute different style sheets to different browsers, to ensure that someone using Firefox gets the same look as someone using Internet Explorer.

If you need donations, sit down and figure out the PayPal Developer's stuff. It's incredibly obfuscated, but it's worth the muddling through hundreds of PDF pages to figure out. Mixing PayPal with a good PHP system that verifies payments removes many headaches.

I cannot emphasize this enough: sit down and learn these things.

by jcjcjc on Fri Jan 06, 2006 at 10:13:38 AM EST

Re: Do yourself a huge favor (none / 0)

"Sit down and learn these things"

Well to tell the truth, I have been learning html, and movable type for my personal web site project. I understand css but have not figured it all out yet. I am going to do this myself- We don't need $1000 to hire a guy to do it. Now, I am not a web site guy- but I am a Film/TV Designer/Art Director and taught myself to use Adobe GoLive. (Check out the link if you care to: http://www.thepoliticalmind.com ) I "tricked out" the movable type system to make it a publishing system with comments. This is very different than what I would do for the Party web site though.

MySQL baffles me... any advise on a book that explains it easily in less than 100 pages would be most appreciated.

I live in a very small town in CT-2 that can be relied upon to vote for Tom Courtney in the next election. But we as a local party want to build the organization to maximize the vote in what could be a very close election to pick up a new Democratic seat.

This web site should have more than the usual message from the chair and pretty photos of local candidates.

[1] I would like it to have a database like MySQL to collect names and address of voters in the town. (The party has no database they start over again every year and then promptly loose the papers) We have developed a "welcome wagon" booklet to give to new people in the community. We hope this will be a good opportunity to go to their door and meet face to face. It would be nice for people to have the ability to sign up for the book online. (php contact us form?)

[2] A datebook of events- in order to build a party you have to bring people together.

[3] An e-mail database to send mass mailings/newsletters.

[4] Take orders for our only fund raising event of the year (Please don't laugh) the superbowl Sunday grinder sale- Did I mention this is a small town? I can do this with a php contact us form easily enough I think.

[5] I imagine taking Paypal as a Democratic Committee is not a good idea. Anyone have experience with this? How does one get set up with Credit card donations? (that is way beyond us- but I ask for the benefit of the group)

[6] I would also like to post notes from the Republican controlled Town Council meetings. Perhaps we would send someone to take our own "minutes" that reflect what we hear at these meetings. That could draw people to the site and offer them something unique.

Other thoughts?

If all politics is local- then it's time to support your local Democratic Town Committee.

by JJonMyDD on Fri Jan 06, 2006 at 02:44:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Do yourself a huge favor (none / 0)

Good for you. I just haven't the time and we will be having a real fight on our hands this season. (CD-2, 60% R's but it's an open sheet & we got a shot).

MySQL drives me nuts too. I'm just an old linear type of guy....

In our concept, the site is not just for a single race or cycle, but everything, school board, mayor, city council, County Comission, etc.

On your point #5, I'm not to sure how easy it is to set up with PayPal. We have our own mechanism which is different. I would Suggest ActBlue which has been used numerous times by Dem Candidates. I don't see any reason not to use it. Just watch how you set up the accounting and make sure that it conforms to fundraising laws.

I like your point #6, not a bad idea, I'll borrow that one.

Good luck.

by NvDem on Fri Jan 06, 2006 at 04:30:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I now sort of feel awful (none / 0)

Because I tend to neglect the fact that I've been programming since I was eight years old (presently 27).

I learned everything I know by brute force. The closest things to guided learning I've really been through is referencing the w3schools.org website (an absolute must) and the php.net website.

MySQL seems to only be learnable by code examples. I've never seen a decent book on the topic.

Also, for some people, operating in four or five languages at once can be a real killer (one of the many good reasons to just avoid JavaScript and ActionScript is to pare down the number of interacting languages).

Anyhow . . .

None of what you listed is that hard to do for a decent programmer. The problem is that decent programmers usually cost money.

Below I posted a reply to the effect of what might be done to start an open source piece of software geared toward small political websites.

All ideas are welcome. I've been mulling the idea for some time.

It's something that needs to be done, because Content Management Systems and blog systems are mere components. They don't cover the full range of needs that small campaigns have.

I'm gonna post an article on this later today when I wrap my brain around the idea a little better.

by jcjcjc on Mon Jan 09, 2006 at 11:31:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Do yourself a huge favor (none / 0)

"Sit down an learn these things"

I have to disagree strongly. If you have a a town political organization based on a handful of people, and one with skills in communication and organizing wants to put the effort into building content and communication through a web site, the LAST thing you want to do is sidetrack them with a bunch of technojunk. It makes no more sense than having your get-out-the-vote drivers go to car maintenance courses.

For small local volunteeer groups, it is critical to let people be productive at the things they have enthusiasm for.

If you are going to have a local do the layout and database design in-house, then find a volunteer who already uses MySQL every day, and show how they can put that skill to political use. If you don't have that, raise money an pay a professional.

by De Re Rustica on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 09:35:41 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I've been thinking about this for a while (none / 0)

OK. Obviously, I should concede that point that "Learn this and that, etc." is probably easier for me to say than others.

Anyhow, here's a thought that's been hiding in my skull for a while.

What about just doing an open source project for a political website?

Right now, most of the smaller political websites I see are being driven by some sort of Content Management System, which largely ignore their needs for stuff like contact systems, donations, SSL implementations, so forth.

To the best of what I can find, there really is no campaign software out there.

I've been reluctant to pursue the idea in the past locally, because frankly I live in a part of the country where you can lose business for being a known Democrat (this is not a joke, or even a bit of hyperbole).

Something to ponder. What do other people think?

Maybe a small support network of people to help with things like server setup and such?

As I think about what I said, I think you're more right than I was.

You go down that list of things to learn:

PHP (fairly easy until you need to approach a large algorithm)
MySQL (easy, as databases, but maddening if you've never worked with one; also, the MySQL online manual is AWFUL).
Linux . . . ugh. Not easy if you're not a hardcore geek.
Apache . . . double ugh. Can leave novices in tears.
Mail server setup. Always fun.
Donations and payments. Very fun. Requires either merchant accounts or some willingness to piss with PayPal (very AWFUL manual for the PayPal API).

What do you guys think?

by jcjcjc on Mon Jan 09, 2006 at 11:23:41 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I've been thinking about this for a while (none / 0)

WHAT DO I THINK? I THINK IT'S A FANTASTIC IDEA.

It's the kind of idea that should be paid for by Howard Dean's DNC or DFA, don't you think? I'm a little astounded after these few years that there isn't a project like this out there! Now I have read carefully all of your suggestions and I looked at Civic Space and Scoop. They both look great. But that is more than I can handle. Although, I can certainly find someone in town (or in the local HS) to help me get this going.

Here is my proposal: The Democratic Party should hire a bunch of top notch programmers, (We all know that Howard knows a few), to write a system for State Parties, local Democratic Town Councils and Clubs to set up and easily customize. It should have the functions that you described above, but it should also connect all of the sites together like the "Dean-Link" did in 2004.

Can you imagine being able to see not only events in your town posted, but also those of the towns down the road? Or 20 miles away? How about finding supporters? I might just go to the next towns chicken supper to meet other active Democrats, but not if I don't know about it.

If the DNC hosted the site, (or the State Party if there are money & legal reasons for this) then as official committees and clubs they would not have to pay for hosting- but have a turn key product to set themselves up with. (Insert your e-mail address here, insert your web address here- you know...)

Could you imagine the power of such a system?

Now plug new candidates into this system... Total Candidate Awareness.

If all politics is local- then it's time to support your local Democratic Town Committee.

by JJonMyDD on Mon Jan 09, 2006 at 03:02:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I open a new article on this (none / 0)

http://powerlineblog.com/aboutus.php#hindrocket

In case you wish to contribute.

by jcjcjc on Tue Jan 10, 2006 at 11:25:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I open a new article on this (none / 0)

I went to your site, are you a Republican?

If all politics is local- then it's time to support your local Democratic Town Committee.

by JJonMyDD on Tue Jan 10, 2006 at 10:22:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Oh, damn! (none / 0)

I got copying and pasting so much stuff!!!

I didn't even look! That was something I copied and pasted in a reply to something else!

Oh, man . . .

Geez.

That was a link to my favorite Republican, the overtly not-out gay Hindrocket.

I really need to slow down when I post things.

http://jcjcjc.mydd.com/story/2006/1/9/114527/5690#readmore

This was the link I want to have you go to.

Sorry . . . I'm embarrassed in the worst way: mistaken for a Powerline blogger. Ick!

by jcjcjc on Wed Jan 11, 2006 at 07:45:06 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I've been thinking about this for a while (none / 0)

I think your plan would substantially reduce barriers to volunteer engagement. There would be more local groups that would have sufficient expertise to be able to put up a website that helps the cause.

If it was done well, there would even be a certain brand identity for Democratic sites. That would be a bonus to easy impelmentations. I;m envisioning the user of the software plugging in the candidates' names, contact addresses, events, etc., but the overall appearance is the same.

by De Re Rustica on Sun Jan 15, 2006 at 03:32:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Free blog licenses - BlogFusion.com (none / 0)

I've been running a special deal for User Groups to get a free license of BlogFusion - I hadn't thought about extending that to political groups, but I'm more than happy to do so. Contact me directly at jakeATcountersinkdgDOTcom and I'll hook you up, if you like.

by sink on Fri Jan 06, 2006 at 03:55:56 PM EST

Re: Free blog licenses - BlogFusion.com (none / 0)

I'll take you up on that! Great software. Can I customize the index page the way I can with movabletype?

Also: Lawyers out there- can a DTC take a free lic. to software that individuals have to pay for? Is this an "In kind" contribution?

If all politics is local- then it's time to support your local Democratic Town Committee.

by JJonMyDD on Fri Jan 06, 2006 at 04:28:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Web Templates: A great local party web site (none / 0)

I have my site up!

http://hampton.dems.info

Let me know what you think. It is a civicspace site, with no changes in the template except for color.

If all politics is local- then it's time to support your local Democratic Town Committee.

by JJonMyDD on Tue Feb 14, 2006 at 02:32:22 PM EST

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