Website Development Update - Feb/March 2013
AMWA is in the early stages of the website redesign, working to ensure that the new site will contain the most relevant information for medical communicators delivered in an intuitive way. The process involves thoughtful migration of a large body of current content to the new AMWA website and the development of new tools to improve the new website, such as members-only access to special and expanded content. These efforts are aligned with our goal of enhancing AMWA's image within the larger medical writing community as well. The website redesign is also a major component of a larger project aimed at replacing AMWA's association management system and membership database.
Both AMWA staff and the Executive Committee members are motivated to get the new website up as soon as possible, while working to ensure that the task is done correctly. Additional information about the website and database development will be shared via AMWA Update and through AMWA's social media channels. So be sure to "follow us" and stay tuned!
Issues Alert
AMWA LISTSERVES: TRANSITION PLAN IN DEVELOPMENT
The software that maintains the existing AMWA listserves is outdated, and support for the current product is being discontinued by the provider. HQ has experienced a significant uptick in calls and emails from listserve users experiencing issues related to posting or receiving messages. Although we are committed to making every effort possible to resolve these issues, the reality is that the software powering the existing system will soon no longer be a feasible solution for AMWA member-to-member communication.
The new website and underlying database system in development at HQ will provide new tools for online networking and member engagement. The HQ staff, in consultation with AMWA volunteer groups such as the Online Community and Member Resources Departments, is in the process of learning about the new technology and identifying the steps necessary to transition the members-only online community interactions to the new communication system.
The many years of discussion and insight currently available in the AMWA listserve archive will remain a great resource for the medical writing community. A solution is in development to ensure that members maintain access to the long and invaluable history of information and advice shared through the AMWA listserves. More information on this exciting and much-needed transition will be forthcoming.
RECOMMENDED BROWSERS FOR CURRENT AMWA WEBSITE
The current AMWA website is best viewed in Internet Explorer. Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox are other browsers that generally support the site. Unfortunately, there are significant compatibility issues with Safari, whether on a Mac or a PC. We highly recommend using Internet Explorer to access the AMWA website at this time. The new AMWA website will be fully compatible with all major browsers. It will also be flexible for ease of viewing on tablets, smart phones, and other mobile devices.
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