The server that hosts comara.org began having a problem in mid-August. This finally was corrected about October 1. While waiting for the hosting company, the webmaster had created a complete mirror of the website at http://www.rongarlow.com/comara/
By the time the problem was finally fixed, the mirror site was the one that has all of the updates, including the online ballot. So, the mirror site will remain the site to visit until October 17.
You still get there from http://www.comara.org/
Just let the redirection do the work. If you are impatient (like me)
click the link that appears on the page.
The online ballot is now available to paying members. Sign In - and the link to the ballot appears in the left menu.
You need your PIN or a password you established to sign in. If you need to have a copy of the pin emailed to the email address in our records, just click the "Send my PIN to my email address"
If you prefer to return a paper ballot instead of using the on-line
ballot, Please return the ballot by October 16, 2006
COMARA
PO Box 34594,
Bethesda, MD 20827
They say there's no such thing as a free lunch. But, there are free "Substantial hors d'oeuvres" provided at the annual meeting. All you have to do is let us know you are coming, and get there.
Annual Meeting Anouncement
RSVP Form: use the form.
Thursday, November 9, 2006, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m
Chef Geoff
On 13th Street between E and F, NW, Washington
across from the Warner Theatre
One block from Metro Center
This will also be the announcement of the election for Directors, and the announcment of officers to lead COMARA in the next year. Ellen Hoff has done a great job as President. So join us and add your appreciation for her efforts.
We've had several problems to deal with this year on the web site. First - new owners late 2005 who provided upgraded equipment. They also created some unexpected problems that took nearly six months to fullly overcome. Then, came a malfunction in our server in August. Connections to the database were very erratic. All of this took time away from updating the web site.
Hopefully all of this is now behind us. I hope to provide monthly updates in addition to the quarterly newsletters.
Two of the recent additions are pictures from the April Social, and pictures from Ron Johnson's First Wednesday Get-together last December. Paul Schrantz took pictures at both gatherings. I'm sure he wondered if you would have a chance to see them. Both are now available. There are a couple of alternatives that are used for these. I found a technique called "Hoverbox" recently. Thumbnail pictures are shown. as the mouse passes over [hover], the size of the picture doubles. In the larger state, click to see the full size picture. This was first used for the FirstWednesday pictures. I then used it for an alternative display of the April 2006 social. [See the small link at the upper right corner "View Alt Display". It works for me in both Internet Explorer and Firefox. Send an email to webmaster@comara.org to let me know if it doesn't work in your browser. Also, let me know which you prefer.
We'll be back to one web site on October 17 - so get those votes and RSVPs for the annual meeting back to us.
More features are being developed. Check the web site periodically to see what's new, and to read the news.