Free Toast Host 2.0
What is FTH 2.0? FreeToastHost 2.0 is the replacement for FreeToastHost 1.0. It is not a competitor of FTH, or a alternative for FTH. It is a complete rebuild using the latest web technology and Toastmasters branding guidelines. When you create your new FTH 2.0 website, you are starting a NEW website while your OLD FTH 1.0 website is still live. Once your new website is complete, you can move over your custom domain (if you have one) or simply start using the new domain, as well as redirect your old domain.
Check out the Sample Club Website
Check out what Admin and Member Access Look Like on the Club Demo site
Getting Started Guide
Getting Started
Step 1: Request Your FreeToastHost 2.0 Website Visit http://www.toastmastersclubs.org Follow the instructions on the homepage to request your website. Once confirmed, you will receive an e-mail with the details of your new website.
Email the Club Contact Receives
Email confirmation you receive
Step 2: Login To Your FreeToastHost 2.0 Website Once you receive your welcome e-mail, you can login by clicking the "login as site admin" link in the "Members Only" left menu section. Enter your club number and temporary password as listed in your welcome e-mail.
Login as Site Administrator May take several tries Tip: take the leading zero off the club number.
Step 3: Launch the Admin Console To Setup Your Site Once you are logged in, the links at the bottom of the "Members Only" menu will change to show that you are logged in, and show the link to launch the admin console. Click the "launch admin console" link.
Step 4: Club Website Settings Go through the options in your club website settings and customize the settings. Each field has an explanation under it, if you are not sure what to enter. If you require more information or details, check the FAQ. When you are done, click the "Save" button at the bottom of the admin console window.
Change Your Admin Password
Web Settings: Alias A. Website Alias - This is what you will use if you are NOT using a custom domain. An alias is what comes before the toastmastersclubs.org/toastmastersdistricts.org domain -- it is what replaces your club number in the URL. Example: http://12345.toastmastersclubs.org would become http://myclub.toastmastersclubs.org Once you establish an alias, your site will still be accessible by the club number in the URL as well, but each URL will require the member/admin to login again, since they are recognized as two separate URLs by the browser. You can change your alias at any time. As more clubs register, fewer aliases will be available. It is first come, first serve, so all of you "talk of the town" ers better hurry up! When you change your alias, the old one goes back in the pool of available aliases.
Change Your Website Name Website Alias (replaces the club number in the web address)
Club Settings: Color Themes Your Club Website Color Theme - This allows for you to use one of the three approved club/district templates. This changes all colors and the base header. You can switch these as many times as you like -- it does not affect any of your content. Note: Your club name is automatically added to the banner at the top of the website -- there is no need for, or no ability to, upload your own header.
Describe your website and Pick your Color Theme
Themes Theme 1 Theme 2 Theme 3
Step 5: Administrator Information Using the pulldown menu at the top center of the admin console, select the "Administrator Information". This will automatically take you to the "Administrator Information" screen, within the admin console. Go through the options and customize the settings. Each field has an explanation under it, if you are not sure what to enter. If you require more information or details, check the FAQ. When you are done, click the "Save" button at the bottom of the admin console window. This will take you back to the main screen - - the Club Website Settings.
Step 6: Membership Management Using the pulldown menu at the top center of the admin console, select the "Membership Management". This will automatically take you to that screen, within the admin console. Go through the options and customize the settings. Each field has an explanation under it, if you are not sure what to enter. If you require more information or details, check the FAQ.
Add Members Drop Down Box Membership Management Name - email - phone Example: Joan Smith, DTM toastmasterjoan@gmail.com 612-306-1234 (no spaces in phone number)
Get Member Roster from TI site
Export to Excel or Do Manually Note: Highlight the three columns needed Paste into the Member Screen Name - email - phone Example: Joan Smith, DTM toastmasterjoan@gmail.com 612-306-1234 (no spaces in phone number)
Membership assignments Now that you have entered members, you will be able to choose which members will be the club contacts. Select the member(s) from the list of available members, and choose to include their phone numbers or not (get permission first from them!) Select the member in charge of your club's mentor program. When you are done, click the "Save" button at the bottom of the admin console window. This will take you back to the main screen -- the Club Website Settings.
Assign Officer, Guest, Former Member Status (Member Status is default) Hit save after each person (unless you are just adding a member)
Inactive Members Make them "Former Members" by changing their membership status using the pull down. When you do this, it will be as if they are no longer members, but all their historical data will be preserved. They will NOT get any e- mails*, be on any lists, or be inconvenienced in any way. * Do make sure if the member you are now making a former member is listed as one of the contacts in the contact / mentor form, you remove them from there as well, or they will get e-mail still from those forms. If you delete a member from your website, all their data will be removed. Speech info, agenda info, photo, etc.
Step 7: Default Website Pages / Forms Club Contacts for the "Contact Us" Form Select up to 3 contacts for your club. The order in which you select the members, will be the order in which they are listed. Generally speaking, this means that the first contact will be called the most, if the phone number option is checked. Otherwise, the contact form submissions will go to all the contacts. The club contact who responds is encouraged to "reply-all", so the other contacts can see the reply and know the prospect is not waiting for an answer.
Contact Us
More Default Pages - Mentors Mentor / Mentee Requests Select the member of your club who will be handling these requests. This is traditionally the VPED, but does not have to be. Unlike the contact form, this form is seen by members only.
More Default Pages Meeting Info Meeting Information / Directions This is the page where you want to tell prospects all about your club. You use the custom HTML editor to design an attractive page for that purpose. Follow the on screen directions to get the Google maps iframe code and paste it into the area below the text area.
Step 8: Social Networking Links You might find it beneficial to your club to start social networking accounts. If you do, enter in the URLs in this section, the logos/links will appear in the bottom left menu. There s a place to record the password information which is very helpful when transitioning responsibility. When you are done, click the "Save" button at the bottom of the admin console window. This will take you back to the main screen -- the Club Website Settings.
Social Networking Which to Use Facebook is great for hosting discussions Twitter is ideal for short notices and updates YouTube is for club videos Flickr is for photos LinkedIn is for contacts and networking
Step 9: Custom Webpages Create as many custom webpages as you like. It is a requirement that the webpages you create are linked to either the public or members only menu (this is done automatically). When you are done, click the "Save" button at the bottom of the admin console window. This will take you back to the main screen -- the Club Website Settings.
Custom Webpage process Visuals make pages more interesting Add Photos Select from the Toastmasters Library Or Upload your own
Add Content hover over the buttons for a description of what they do
Step 9: Floater Messages You can enter messages that appear at the top of the browser window for both members and guests (two different messages). These messages show up only once per session -- as to not annoy members and guests. When you are done, click the "Save" button at the bottom of the admin console window. This will take you back to the main screen -- the Club Website Settings.
Step 10: File Manager Upload files that you would like guests and/or members to have the ability to download. By default, the file is member only, but it can be made public by clicking the lock icon. By default, the file name is used for the description. You can change these, then click the "save" button. You don't need to save for just uploading files, changing to or from private, or removing.
Step 11: Meeting Agenda Settings There are two primary types of Agendas: Templates Custom This template will be used as the basis for all your future meetings. When you are done, click the "Save" button at the bottom of the admin console window. This will take you back to the main screen -- the Club Website Settings.
Agenda Tips 1) Make sure you are logged in as administrator or logged in as a member, if you are VPED. 2) Click the "Create New" link in the Members Only menu. 3) Click the "+" button to create the new agenda. 4) Select the template you would like to use as a starting point for your new agenda. Tip: Use the Default templates to get started quickly.
Edit / Role Assignment an Agenda Use the pencil Button
To assign roles, click on the drop down box
Custom Agendas Use this to set up a custom agenda specific to your club This can also be used for special event agendas such as Speak-athons Note: This can be very time consuming
How do I Get Agendas on the Calendar When you create a new agenda and assign a date the meeting is automatically entered on the calendar.
Step 12: Notify Your Members! Notify your members! Let them know your URL. Once a member visits the site, they will be able to authorize their account and create a custom password.
Let Your Members Know! You have to send each welcome message one at a time. Click Save to send.
Update your Club Meeting information at TI
Put in Your New Website
Check Your Listing in Find a Club (give it a little time)
Once Your FTH 2.0 Site Is Complete and Live... Log into your admin console on your OLD FTH 1.0 site. At the top, you will see where you redirect to your new site: Enter in your club number or alias (it does not matter which), then click the arrow to save. The server will check to make sure you have entered a valid FTH 2.0 site, and redirect all web traffic going to your old FTH 1.0 URL to your new FTH 2.0 URL.
Before You Forward: If you copied and pasted your website from FTH 1.0 to 2.0, make sure you have corrected all your links (pictures), as the redirect will cause them not to be seen. Updated your contact list Downloaded your historical data (post as a file sharing item if appropriate)
Where to get help www.freetoasthost.org
Next Steps Claim your site: http://www.toastmastersclubs.org www.freetoasthost.org Keep this manual!