NOTICE: Suzi Taylor is no longer serving as leader of the Webmasters Club. However, you may take this project as a self-determined project and use the ideas here to help you.

Check out the P2 Enviro-Rangers Web club for kids!

Welcome to Montana 4-H Webmasters!

Hi--I'm Suzi Taylor, your project leader. 4-H Webmasters is a hands-on project for Montana 4-H'ers. It involves computers and the Internet -- both learning and teaching. This is a brand new project and it's a great opportunity for all of us to develop it into something cool. It is for all ages and all levels of experience. If you have any questions about the project, be sure to send me an e-mail!

This Web page is pretty long, but it explains all the details of the Webmasters Project, so look it over sometime!

There are four main parts to the 4-H Webmaster Project, as well as several other important details. If you run across something you might want to refer to later, be sure to print it out (click here if you need instructions for printing out a Web page). This way your brothers and sisters won't yell at you if you're tying up the phone line while you are on the Internet! If you don't have a printer, send me an e-mail with your mailing address and I will send you a copy the regular post office way. Or, copy the text onto a disk and take it to a printer.

The main parts of 4-H Webmasters

These are some other parts of the Webmasters Project you should know about:

The four major parts

1. The e-mail list-serve.

If you arrived at this Web page, you are probably on the list-serve for the Montana 4-H Webmasters Project. If you are enrolled in the project but you are not on the listserve, send an e-mail to Suzi Taylor, taylor@montana.edu. If you need information about enrolling in this club, click here.

The listserve is for project discussions and ideas. Try to stick to project business (not too many personal messages) and please be kind, courteous and helpful to people who are asking questions and posting opinions. There are all kinds of experiences and personalities in this group; this is a good way to get to know everyone!

If you are already on the list-serve, and want to send a message to everyone, e-mail: 4hweb@listserv.montana.edu

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2. Your personal page.

I would like each of you to create and post a personal profile Web page sometime during the course of this project. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, but I would like it to include: Be sure to check all the personal pages as they are posted. This is the main way we will all get to know each other! You will receive an e-mail when a new personal profile is posted.

IMPORTANT: I realize some of you have never created a Web page before, and I promise to help you every step of the way. For those of you who are interested, I will be starting up a series of lessons begining in January. As you learn more about HTML and Web design during the course of the project, feel free to update and improve your page. If you know how to FTP your Web page to the server, here are the details. If you don't know how to do this yet, don't worry! We'll get to it later on during the lessons.

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3. The Webmaster skills groups.

Like I said earlier, there are all kinds of levels of experience in this project. Therefore, we will definitely not be telling you what you should learn and when you should learn it. That is entirely up to you! I have created a list of HTML skills that you might want to learn or try over the course of this project. Try to figure out where you are within the skills groups, and set a few realistic goals for skills you will try to master. If you finish those, try some more. If you don't finish those, no sweat! Keep trying or pick different topics. (Try to keep me posted on where you are beginning and how you are doing, OK?)

Follow this link to see the Webmaster skills

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4. The individual projects.

Each project member should choose two or three (or more, if you like) individual activities. There are many to choose from, so pick something that interests you. Also, if you have an idea for an individual activity, be sure to let me know! Not only could you do it as one of your activities, but we could post it for other people to try (with credit to you, of course!)

Follow this link to see the list of individual projects

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The minor parts

1. The buddy system.

This is a voluntary activity in which members of the Webmaster project are paired with another member. This helps you learn new skills, teach new skills, keep motivated and meet a new friend. If you would like to have a buddy, please e-mail and let me know. I strongly suggest having a buddy! Let me know if you would like:

1. A buddy who has MORE experience than you, so you can ask questions and learn new skills;

2. A buddy who has LESS experience than you, so you can practice teaching the Web skills you already know; or

3. A buddy at about the SAME level as you so you can keep tabs on each other and work together. (If you would like this type of buddy, please let me know about what skills level you are at.)

I hope you decide to have a buddy! It's good experience for everybody! Try to send an e-mail to your buddy at least twice a month. If you have any concerns, let me know right away.

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2. Getting help when you need it

Even though you will be working a lot with me, other Webmasters project members and on your own, it is important to find somebody who can help you if you need it. This person might be a parent, an MSU Extension agent, a friend who has experience with the Web, a teacher, somebody who works for an Internet or computer company, or anyone who can help you out. Talk to this person before you begin the project and explain what you will be doing.

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3. Helping with the Montana state 4-H Web page

In addition to being the project leader for 4-H, I do many other things for 4-H, including helping with the Montana state 4-H web page. From time to time I would like to ask your help in critiquing the page or thinking up new ideas. Thanks!

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4. 4-H Record Forms.

Even though this is a less traditional project, it is more important than ever to keep your 4-H record forms updated. You can get these free from your county MSU Extension office or from your club leader. You will need "My 4-H Year" and the "4-H Project and Financial Record." Visit the 4-H Records web site

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6. And finally, a couple rules.

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The wrap-up

Thanks for wading through all that! Here's a quick summary of what you need to do as a 4-H Webmaster.

1. Enroll in Montana 4-H

2. Sign up for the 4-H Webmasters project

3. Send your e-mail address to Suzi Taylor at taylor@montana.edu

4. Decide whether you want to be a buddy. Let Suzi know.

5. Look over the Webmasters Skills list and pick some skills you'd like to learn.

6. Look at the list of Individual Projects and pick three you would like to do.

7. Get your record forms and keep them updated.

8. Have fun!

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