Policy for Web Pages

COMPUTER RESOURCES COMMITTEE

POLICY AND GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR THE
FORMATION AND MAINTENANCE
OF A MASONIC WEB PAGE

a.k.a "GLCPOO Website Policy"

Forming part of this Policy is
RULES AND REGULATIONS
TO OBTAIN WEBSITE APPROVAL AND LINKING
TO THE GRAND LODGE A.F.&A.M. OF CANADA
IN THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO WEBSITE

GLCPOO sites Link/Approval Submit Form

Not a GLCPOO jurisdictional site? For a link request, click here.

The formation of a Website for the Lodge or District should be done with the knowledge and approval of the Master and the DDGM. It is important to remember that this is a public forum, subject to human interpretation, for which considerable planning will be required in order to make it work now and in the future.

The thing which keeps people coming back to a web-page is interest. This can be sparked by a regular update of events, special information, simple graphics and good taste.

The opening screen should identify yourself in a clear manner, using colour, popular/standard fonts (a font on your PC may not be on the visitors and their default font may alter your intentions) and small, quick to load graphics. The links should not be ambiguous, but be marked clearly. Avoid the use of a link which is not finished. IE: nothing turns off a seasoned surfer faster than a graphic which says "UNDER CONSTRUCTION".

GLCPOO has reduced the burden of checking links to District and individual Lodge websites, "within our jurisdiction". If the site does not display the GLCPOO ICON on its opening page, then it has not received approval and you can respond accordingly with an email.

This is not a valid ICON, number is demo only. More information here.

Links to other sites, especially those to other jurisdictions must be carefully researched by your webmaster. It must be first established that the jurisdiction to which you are linking is one which is in amity with and is recognized by our Grand Lodge. This can be established by viewing the yearly list published by Grand Lodge which is kept at the Tyler's Register in your lodge ante-room, or here.

It is equally important to determine if that site is properly sanctioned by the lodge, district or jurisdiction that it purports to represent. This was recently exemplified by a Masonic web-site which portrayed itself as being properly sanctioned, with the operators requesting a link to be placed on our Grand Lodge page. When the Grand Lodge of the jurisdiction was contacted, it was found that this site was not sanctioned and was not a proper representative of the jurisdiction. When in doubt, do not link.

View the contents of the link. If there are things there that you or others feel are controversial or not in keeping with good taste or Masonic teachings, do not link. Others will probably find these, but it should not be our duty to lead them there.

A lodge Website should be centered on the events of the lodge. Links to other lodge sites in your district are encouraged, but you must ensure that the other lodge wishes your link and they display the GLCPOO ICON. You may also not wish another to link to you as a result of their poorly planned and implemented page. The use of buttons to present another part of your site is good, because it keeps the main page clean. A counter, to show the activity level, will provide you with a gauge of the effectiveness of your site. Visit our Webmaster help page for website utilities and tips.

A DISTRICT Website should not be initiated except with the knowledge and full approval of your D.D.G.M.

A LODGE Website should not be initiated except with the knowledge and full approval of your sitting Master.

DISTRICT AND LODGE Websites, within the jurisdiction of the GLCPOO must be registered and comply with the "GLCPOO Website Policies" Upon obtaining verification and approval by email from the G.L. Computer Resources Committee, a special GLCPOO ICON with your website's unique number, will be sent to you by email.

The most important things to remember are:

1.   All pages must be free of advertisements such as banner ads.

2.   No listings of mailing addresses or phone numbers of members or Grand Lodge Officers without their approval. (It is recommended that these NOT be included.)

3.   The lodge summons is not to published on your page.

4.   Prior approval from the Master of the Lodge if it is a lodge web page or approval from the D.D.G.M. if it is a District page.

5.   The publishing of e-mail addresses must be done with the consent of the brethren.

6.   Pictures or images should be kept as small as possible as they take considerable time to download, the recommended format is "jpeg" for pictures and "gif" for most graphics that do not contain gradient fills.

7.   Be sure that you have permission to publish any article, photograph or image. Masonic literature is covered under the Copyright Act.

8.   Remember that you are not a spokesman for the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario. Please keep all material relevant to your lodge or district.

9.   Do not provide links to other lodges or Grand Lodges that the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario does not recognize. All secretaries have copies of the current GL Amity List or you can find those that are recognized. here.

10. No duplication of the information found on the Grand Lodge Web site will be permitted.

11. Counters and guest books must be free of all advertisements. Most I.S.P.'s (Internet Service Providers) have free counters available. If you require a guest book, it is recommended that you use an I.S.P. that supports Microsoft FrontPage extensions as they have a built-in guest book feature, same as the GL guest book, or use an I.S.P. that will allow you to do C.G. I. Scripting. Guest books should be visited and/or edited everyday to ensure proper conduct. If unable to do so, it is wise to by-pass this feature.

12. All GLCPOO Lodge and District Website URLs, addresses as well as a contact email address must be submitted to the Computer Resources Committee for approval prior to publishing, linking or otherwise making the site public. Please use the GLCPOO Website Registration Form for this purpose. All areas of the form must be completed.
It is expected that all current GLCPOO Websites eventually, and sooner-that-later will co-operate and register their sites using the new method to obtain the GLCPOO approved icon.

13. No password protected pages or sections are permitted.

14. LINK REQUEST: Other than GLCPOO jurisdictional sites, link request form, click here.

NOTE: Once a website or webpage has been uploaded to the Internet, a search engine robot will discover it, so unless advanced html knowledge is used to prevent that robot from finding it, it will become accessible to all.

Common sense must prevail. A committee may be the best way to keep things on track- the excitement of designing a site can be shared.
The content of the Page should not be controversial or detrimental to the overall tone of the page. Be upbeat, positive and supportive of the membership. Again, remember, this is a PUBLIC forum, and what people see here affects their perception of Masonry in general.
HINT ABOUT DESIGN, if you print your web page and it is not something you would place in a newspaper or magazine as is, then change it until it becomes acceptable. Note: distracting backgrounds are usually the main problem, unless solid colour tables are used to carry the information over them.

The whole purpose of a Website is to inform. Whether this is directed to the membership or to the public, it must be relevant. Clear, unambiguous information is required. Hidden meanings or cryptic messages should never be used. Incomplete information can be more damaging then a full statement.

Many symbols/graphics obtainable on the Internet represent different things to different people. When the meaning of a graphic can be taken out of context, do not use it. Witness a personal Masonic page with moving skulls, flaming pits, unrecognizable graphics and hard music and decide if that is the way Masonry should be represented. NOT !

Your Website is a picture of your lodge or district. Constant maintenance is essential for success. A member of the lodge or district should be charged with gathering information on current and future events. Your Webmaster must be available at reasonable times to insert and update.

A stale page is a dead page. People will visit once and never come back. The purpose of the page is lost and as a result the viewer will take away a bad view of masonry.

The Grand Lodge Website has a number of links to other sites. If you wish to have a link from our Grand Lodge to your site, contact this committee through the use of the Link/Approval Submit Form The site will be accessed and viewed. A report will be forwarded to you, detailing any decision made.

Fraternally,
R.W. Bro. Brian E. Bond

GLCPOO sites: to submit your site for linking and GLCPOO Approval Icon. First read the above policy and guide and also the:
RULES AND REGULATIONS TO OBTAIN WEBSITE APPROVAL AND LINKING TO THE GRAND LODGE A.F.&A.M. OF CANADA IN THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO WEBSITE

Read both documents and then submit here: LINK AND/OR ICON REQUEST FORM

Other Link Requests:
Thank you for taking the time to read the above policy, we hope it assists you in your researches. If you are other than a GLCPOO jurisdictional sites, please submit your link request here, click here.