> Hi,

> I suggest using wordpress for blogs, vanilla/smf/phpbb for forums,
> gallery2 for photo galleries and google apps for CTC mails. All of
> them can be integrated together to have single registration and sign-
> in (except Google mail i guess, but we can figure out some way.).
> These are opensource and backed by a powerful community with loads of
> plugins to choose from. And about the domain name I presume that
> chennaitrekkers.org is already being registered so we just have to
> change the name servers.
> Regarding web space I can arrange an unlimited storage for 100$ per
> year. The web space is important since lots of photos will be stored
> in the photo gallery.
> Also if possible I can arrange free unlimited web space for one year.

> Regards,
> Nilutpol

> On Sep 17, 7:54 pm, "Peter Van Geit" <peter.vang...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Agreed.

> > Two people recently came up with a proposal/prototype for a new CTC site
> -
> > refer attached.

> > One is based on Joomla (site)/phpbb (forum)
> > The other one is based on Ning (site+forum)

> > I need volunteers to try out both for some time and provide their
> feedback
> > before we pick one and migrate.

> > Anyone?
> > Peter.

> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: sachennaitrekkingclub@googlegroups.com

> > [mailto:sachennaitrekkingclub@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of
> > nilut...@gmail.com
> > Sent: Tuesday, September 16, 2008 6:51 PM
> > To: The Chennai Trekking Club
> > Subject: [Chennai Trekking Club] CTC's own website

> > Hi All,

> > I was thinking that as now CTC has become quite popular and has 1000+
> > members. Why dont we have our own website instead of being a google
> > groups website. We can have our own photo gallery with individuals
> > having their own account to upload their photos and this way things
> > will be more organised and we dont have to look through all the mails
> > to find a particular trip photo. I had discussed the same with Vinodha
> > also during the trek.

> > Peter If you agree I can arrange this photo gallery and contribute
> > something towards CTC.

> > Regards,
> > Nilutpol

> > [ Attached Message ]From:"Tarannum Abbasi" <tan...@gmail.com>To:<
> ctconline@googlegroups.com>, <organiz...@chennaitrekkers.org>Date:Wed, 20
> Aug 2008 11:23:19 +0530Local:Wed, Aug 20 2008 10:53 amSubject:ctc website -
> check this out!

> > Hi,

> > I present before you freedom from overfilled inbox and unconnected
> 'threads'
> > and faq's.

> > Before that .... here out my story!

> > As you know we discussed free forums before.  But the main problem was
> > having to register for groups and the forums, no control over who joins
> the
> > forums.... We would end up having two different member list! Woha!

> > Sometime back the talk of setting up our own website integrated with
> forums,
> > blogs, pages came up... Diwakar has some web space with joomla installed
> and
> > I got started.

> > So, there was joomla, a good CMS and phpbb, a good free forum. But again
> the
> > problem - two databases of users; we need a single one. I found a froum -
> > Fireboard to integrate with the site, but it was very basic and ugly.

> > After giving up precious sleep and straining drooping eyelids, I found a
> > bridge to sync both the databases. Huge amount of tweeking later it
> started
> > working right. if you register into the main site, you automatically get
> > registerd to the forum. Create an account, click 'Forum' button on the
> top
> > menu...

> > Diwakar - I got some errors while working on the CB-phpbb part. I needed
> the
> > control panal details to work on the errors. I remember asking you for
> them
> > more that once, but I guess you were too busy or missed out that part.
> Any
> > way, I could'nt wait and had to shift the site.

> > Huge amount of work still has to be done, but as of now we can register
> and
> > start using the Forum, I guess.

> > http://chennaitrekkers.0fees.net/

> > Peter - the site auto creates the list of members with photos! :-)
> > We need to define clearly the public area and the members only area.

> > Registration process requires admin approval. For now I am disabling it
> so
> > that you can login quickly and play around with it.

> > Please let me know what you think of it. I have created a thread 'website
> > feedback' in the forum for this.

> > Hope you find the work useful.

> > --
> > Cheers,
> > Tarannum

> > [ Attached Message ]From:"Balachandar" <becha...@gmail.com>To:"'Peter
> Van Geit'" <peter.vang...@gmail.com>, <organiz...@chennaitrekkers.org>,
> "'Tarannum Abbasi'" <tan...@gmail.com>Cc:<amal.paramb...@gmail.com>Date:Thu,
> 11 Sep 2008 12:08:18 +0530Local:Thurs, Sep 11 2008 11:38 amSubject:Re:
> Social networking sites will get better with Ning

> > Peter / Organizers,

> > With reference to the attached mail, It's high time we need to come out
> of
> > this email chains. 1000+ members is more to handle in email chains.  As I
> > proposed earlier, I've started setting up a Ning site for CTC. I might
> need
> > some help from you guys in terms of Information architecture / Navigation
> > design and for content.

> > In Ning, every trek will become an 'Event' and conversations will be
> > relevant to each events. Members can manage their communication
> preferences
> > at multiple levels. It won't be an information glut anymore. It also
> > supports traditional one to one QnA interaction with forums and people
> can
> > share experiences by Blog posts.

> > The current setup is happening athttp://chennaitrekkers.ning.com. This
> is
> > for all of your information. We can make it public, once it has some
> > structure.

> > Peter, I took it as an 'yes' and started doing things when you replied
> that
> > you're busy right now to look at this. Wish your daughter a speedy
> recovery.

> > For people who are skeptical about using ning, the following links will
> > justify that.

> > Is
> > <http://www.cmswire.com/cms/enterprise-20/is-ning-the-next-facebook-or.
> ..
> > ce-002535.php>  ning the next facebook. by CMS wire

> > http://www.techcrunch.com/wp-content/wlsn_comparison_chart.html

> > The premium services cost is listed here <
> http://about.ning.com/product.php>
> > , but the site can run without any of these.

> > Cheers

> > Balachandar

> > From: sachennaitrekkingclub@googlegroups.com
> > [mailto:sachennaitrekkingclub@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Amal P
> > Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2008 10:11 AM
> > To: Dheeraj drew.knox.dj
> > Cc: bal...@yahoo.com; sachennaitrekkingclub@googlegroups.com
> > Subject: [Chennai Trekking Club] Re: Invitation to Javadi Hills,
> September
> > 13-14 2008 - choice of a one day/two day trek

> > Folks,

> >     There are nearly 1000 members in the group who are not interested in
> all
> > the individual mails. By any chance if you think it is going to attract
> > people in the group about you the member, its just not a good idea. I
> know
> > at least 200 people who shared with me - these junk messages like, "I am
> > in", "Count me in", "Yo Yo, I am in for this trek" are spamming the group
> > and making it hard to find important messages.

> >     I owe I don't want to touch any of yours feelings. Please take it in
> > positive sense. Heaven sake stop it!!!

> >     If any of you want to send reply for this mail, please do send it to
> me
> > alone, or you may copy it to organiz...@chennaitrekkers.org.

> >     I am sorry if the reply was too harsh.

> > Thank you,
> > Amal P

> > On Thu, Sep 11, 2008 at 1:11 AM, Dheeraj drew.knox.dj

> > <drew.knox...@gmail.com> wrote:

> > Hi Guys,

> > I would like to join this trek too, I have filled the registeration form.

> > Cheers,

> > Dheeraj

> > On Tue, Sep 9, 2008 at 1:21 PM, Balaji Seshan <bal...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> > Hi CTC

> > Rajesh and Vinod Hari is organising this weekend's trek to Javadi Hills

> > We have two options - those who want to come for just one day, can return
> > back to Chennai and reach Chennai by about 11 pm on saturday. Those who
> want
> > to continue trekking, could stay at the forest guesthouse at Jamnamathur
> for
> > the night (with food also being organised there). However, we need to
> know
> > upfront so that the food and stay can be organised accordingly.we have a
> > column indicated for you to choose what you want.

> > Vinod can be contacted at 98410-48949.his email is
> hari_vi...@hotmail.com

> > *Register using the form below:*
> http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=pisS_0_uc96XomQxIm-CxYg

> > SUMMARY
> > Objective - trek along the Village trail and reach Javadi Hills
> > Terrain - gradual upward gradient, shrub forests over a couple of hills
> > where the view from the top is great.
> > Difficulty - Medium -diffucult, participants need to be in good physical
> and
> > mental condition
> > Duration - Saturday early morning till Sunday late evening,
> > Distance - 230km one way,4-5 hours Near Vellore , around 20km day one and
> > between 12-20 km day 2
> > Transportation - own (cars)
> > Expense - around Rs 750 for a one day trek and Rs 1200 for a two day trek
> > (shared petrol, food, ...)
> > Advance - to be paid when joining - Rs 750 for one day and Rs 1200 for a
> two
> > day trek (difference will be settled later on)

> > AGENDA
> > Assemble Saturday 5am near TIDEL PARK main entrance
> > Pick up people along route (see pickup points below)
> > Leave Chennai before peak traffic
> > We hit the Bangalore highway and reach Vellore around 7.30 am.
> > Have breakfast and also pack lunch there.
> > Then we go on the Vellore - Thiruvannamalai route upto Polur (reach
> around
> > 9.30).
> > From Polur we take a right towards Alangayam
> > and travel a few Km to the start of the trek,
> > where the local guides will be waiting for us and we leave our cars
> behind
> > with one local guarding them.
> > Since the total distance is about 230 km one way, we may have to go only
> by
> > cars.
> > Start the trek by 10:00 am
> > reach the base by 6-7 pm

> > One day trekkers can start off immediately to chennai and reach chennai
> by
> > 11pm
> > Two day trekkers can stay back at the forest Guest house and explore the
> > other possible trek routes
> > on sunday also and return back to chennai Sunday night.
> > Upload photos to make non-joiners jealous and sorry for not joining us

> > PICKUP POINTS:
> > TIDEL Park, Taramani - 5am
> > Madya Kailash - 5:10am
> > Guindy circle (Le Meridien) - 5:15am
> > Koyambedu (out gate of parking of public bus stand) - 5:40am

> > PICKUP ROUTE:http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8
> > <http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=1007958952061.>
> > &hl=en&msa=0&msid=1007958952061...

> > MUST CARRY LUGGAGE:
> > All participants must carry following
> > items:
> http://groups.google.co.in/group/sachennaitrekkingclub/web/what-to-ca.
> > ..
> > Good walking shoes, preferably boots
> > Carry 3 liters of water (to buy self)
> > Small/medium back-pack to carry water, food, camping gear
> > Lightweight raining jacket to protect from possible rains
> > LED torch to get around at night
> > One extra set of clothes
> > One thin plastic to protect luggage against possible heavy rains
> > Sun cap and cream
> > Camera and 500Rs cash extra
> > Food  will be taken care of by us
> > VERY IMPORTANT: Travel lightweight or you will not make

> > - Show quoted text -