FreeWrites | Web Group Meeting Notes (non-public)

2026 Jun 30
6-8pm at Charon’s home.

  • Bring | laptops, tablets & other web devices, including smartphones.

Agenda | Please expand.

Example sites | not for imitation. What can we learn, both good & bad?

  • Mary’s Logo for FreeWrites.
  • Other photos, graphics, non-textual content.

Richard’s recommendations

  • FreeWrites needs a dedicated Copyeditor of the Castle.
    • Vets all outgoing webpages, corporate docs, newsletters, emails, cards & other promotional materials (hats, mugs), media quotes or stories, for correct dates, addresses — web & physical, legal, clarity, and style/continuity.
    • What is vetting?
      • Vetting is spell-check, grammar-check, fact-check, style-check, tone-check, accuracy-check, clarity-check, legal-check, color-check, font-check, design-check, continuity-check, diversity-check, vibe-check & check-mate! Webpages are to be periodically re-vetted, by an entity or entities who do not have other responsibilities in the org. For example, webpages are to be removed from the web if their info becomes obsolete. This is important!
      • The Copyeditor of the Castle can be someone who is home-bound or can’t come to regular meetings. They could live in another state. Maybe a single parent or a retiree who would like to make a valuable contribution to the new org. A couple who are retired would be a nice option. They should be confident & competent with their editorial skills. They do not need to understand web mechanics!
      • Susan should hear this: FreeWrites needs a Copyeditor of the Castle, and the right candidate is almost certainly somebody who we do not yet know!
  • The Web Group needs to be a Group — not just Richard or any single other FreeWriter. Now, maybe you are beginning to see why I have been hesitant to claim ownership of the website, because I fundamentally do not believe that one person should be doing this. (For written and design content, the author takes ownership of their work, but the website belongs to FreeWrites). Also, web writing and design is valuable learning for everyone. We should hold web (WordPress) workshops.
  • Related to the previous, FreeWrites, like many other orgs, is at risk of a single person taking over a role into perpetuity. Richard should not own the website. Susan should not be held singularly responsible for all legal dealings, forever. If someone offers to drive folks to the bird walk, they are not automatically dubbed the head of transportation for all time. (Pres. Karla is a special case.) Again, this is important. If I, Richard, screw up the website, then FreeWrites must take necessary action to right the situation. It’s very important that work for the org actually works for the org! One way that community arts nonprofits fail is because a dysfunctional, narcissistic person takes on too much power. We have all seen this too many times before! Vet the website, and vet the org!
  • What needs to be on up the website, asap?
  • What needs to be up on the website in the future, and when?
  • How does the website vet itself to stay current & relevant? (Ask the Copyeditor.)
    Thank you,
    RichardTE3@gmail.com