Post 184 Members, visitors, and friends of Post 184 – welcome to our new home on The Internet. After many months of work, data collection, discussion, and lots of effort, we now have a much-improved Web presence for The American Legion South Bay Post 184. Why is this so important to Post 184 and our efforts to support Veterans and The Community around us? The new Website is built upon a modern foundation that allows us as an organization to communicate with our members, supporters and friends in an easier, updated format. Making changes, updating text, and announcing news or events are all easier because of the technology that the Website is built with – WordPress.
What does WordPress do for us, and why is it better? Instead of having to hand code entire web pages, WordPress gives us more of a “template” or “outline” format from which to work. This doesn’t mean we don’t have flexibility in how we present our text and pictures, but it DOES mean that it’s a lot easier to add items, make changes, and build new ideas in the future. So yes, it’s a foundational change, but it’s also a change that supports Post 184 as it grows and desires to publish new content. It allows us to integrate our efforts on social media (Facebook and Instagram for now.) It allows us to integrate with our Email system, Constant Contact, so visitors to the Website can sign up for an email list if they want to know more about Post 184. It builds upon modern Internet functionality, so the Website works and displays well if you are on a Laptop, Desktop, or mobile phone. These features, and many others, give Post 184 the present-day functionality we need and gives us a fresh, modern online face to show off. Both existing members and the public demand that organizations have updated, visually appealing and functional websites; in fact, we will go so far as to say organizations today are judged by the look and feel of their online presence. Our new website gives us that contemporary, clean look and offers members and the public the ability to interact with Post 184 the way they want in today’s world, on their smartphones and tablets while on the go, on Wifi or cellular, in the Post, or in the comfort of their homes.
Over the last four years, we have worked tirelessly to improve our communications efforts at Post 184. Beginning with social media on Facebook, expanding to Instagram, and posting over 2000 posts, we have increased the knowledge that the American Legion South Bay is a great place to visit, join as a member, volunteer, and donate to help our Veterans, the Legion mission, and the larger community we support. We now have over 1350 followers on those two platforms alone, quite a number for our size. We cleaned up and resurrected our email system so we can reach out directly to each Unit member in our Post,
SONS, The Auxiliary, and The Riders and let them know what’s happening at Post 184. This new Website is an extension of that beginning effort started four years ago. In the coming weeks and months, we will add QR codes and tie them into the table tents on the bar and lounge tables. You can point your smartphone camera at the QR code, press a link, and go to a page to donate or view our shared calendar to see what’s coming up. Go to the events page to read about the latest BBQ. Stay in touch with the latest Post efforts, fundraisers, and what each of the Units is working on. Donate to The Post with a click. Sign up to volunteer for events. You get the idea.
We want to thank all of the members, friends, volunteers, and others who have been a part of this effort. We aren’t done yet by any means, and there will be
additions, changes, and updates as we go along, but it’s a great beginning. Congratulations to American Legion South Bay Post 184. It’s 2024 (soon to be
2025), and The American Legion South Bay has a fresh, updated, accurate, and modern Website to use and enjoy, and a place where our Post can share their good works with the public. Welcome!