Madeleine+Vessel

Madeleine Vessel DDBC Las Cruces 2012

=**Capstone Project Proposal**=

Project Description
The Diocese of Las Cruces Deacon Program is in need of of a website for permanent deacons to consult for announcements, resources, and support. Potentially, such a website could also serve the needs of deacons-in-formation, inquirers into the deacon vocation, and catechists.

Thursday, August 16, I met with permanent deacons Lou Roman (He also is the Chancellor of the Diocese.) and Bob Brotherton, Father Michael Cerretto (Instructor with the Deacon Program), David McNamara (in charge of special projects and photography for the Diocese), and Christy Anchondo (editor/graphic artist in charge of Aqua Viva, the Diocese newspaper) to discuss the online needs of the Deacon Program. It was agreed that I would head up a pilot project to implement an appropriate online solution for the permanent deacons. If successful, it could lead to similar solutions for other diocesan programs.

As project leader, I proposed to
 * research other deacon websites to find a selection of models that might be mixed and/or matched to meet the needs outlined above.
 * interview Deacon Bob Brotherton, who is looked to for news by permanent deacons, and to Deacon Lou Roman to understand the permanent deacons' technology skills and specific needs and desires (a wish list) for their site. I offered to include other deacons in the planning, but this was discouraged.
 * design a plan for and implement the proposed website.

I am excited about this project. It promises to bring deacons from around the widespread and far-flung diocese into easy contact with each other. Currently, they often feel isolated when they are away from each other and working in their small communities. It also is a starting point for future projects of this nature in the Diocese.

Goals and Objectives
My goal is to create a permanent deacon website that will provide important and relevant information for permanent deacons, deacons-in-formation, inquirers, and catechists and that will be easy to manage and update by one of the deacons. To reach this goal, my objectives are the following:
 * 1) Interview Deacon Lou Roman and Deacon Bob Brotherton to ascertain their fellow deacons' technology skills and information needs. If possible, I will conduct a survey of the other deacons.
 * 2) Register a domain name.
 * 3) Create an outline and site map for the website.
 * 4) Determine a design for the website: header, menu bar, banner, footer, etc.
 * 5) Decide on a website software package: DreamWeaver CS3 or Word Press. Preliminarily, I am considering Word Press because it is more user-friendly.
 * 6) Find a web host. Preliminarily, I am considering either Blue Host or Media Temple.
 * 7) Construct the site.
 * 8) Add content to the site.
 * 9) Launch the site.
 * 10) Provide training to at least one of the deacons on how to update and manage the website.
 * 11) Provide training for all the deacons on how to best use the website.

This project is a worthy one because it is relevant to my ministry, which is educating adults, and to my professional interest in technical and professional communication, which includes the use of Web 2.0 tools. It also meets the requirements of the DDBC Capstone Project because it makes use of social media. I will be using Google Docs to collaborate with my committee. I will be using Survey Monkey to elicit feedback from deacons about their technology skills and information needs. And, within the site, I will be using Animoto and SlideShare, etc. to make the website maximally useful. I may also need to do some training of the deacons on how best to use the website. For this, I might create a video using Camtasia to walk the deacons through the website.

What is especially exciting is that the website is cutting new ground. Not only will it be the first program website of its kind constructed in the Diocese, it will be an important addition to such websites across the U.S. I have examined websites of dioceses in the western U.S. and, also, the Archdiocese of Atlanta website. It turns out that among them, there is only one good example in existence of a deacon website: <@www.deaconden.org>. This is a stand-alone website that is linked to by the Diocese of Denver website.

There is a social dimension to my project because I will be using Google Docs to collaborate with my committee. I also intend to use iMovie or Animoto and PowerPoint or SlideShare, etc to make the website maximally useful. I am thinking of using Survey Monkey to find out more about the permanent deacons and what they would find useful in the website.

I plan, as part of my survey, to determine how comfortable each of the audience sectors are with social media such as Facebook and Twitter.

Audience Description
The audience for my website will be permanent deacons, who will use the website to stay in touch with one another and to stay abreast of deacon-related activities in the diocese; deacons-in-formation, who will use the website to become familiar with the deacon vocation; inquirers interested in becoming deacons, who will access the website to find out about vocation requirements, and, possibly, catechists, who may want to use the website as a teaching resource.

To determine the website's content, I will need to conduct interviews of Deacon Lou Roman and Deacon Bob Brotherton and as many other permanent deacons and current-crop deacons-in-formation. Survey Monkey may be a good tool for acquiring other relevant information.

At this point, I do not completely understand my audiences' technology skills. Preliminary research shows that of 51 permanent deacons in the diocese, all but one have e-mail. This is a good sign that they will be able to navigate the website I am designing. During the interviews/survey, I will try to ascertain the audiences' familiarity with Facebook and Twitter.

I may need to conduct some training. I will know more once I have conducted my interviews.

=Tentative Timeline (August 17 - November 1, 2012)= Between September 1 and November 23, I plan to do the following:
 * ** Description ** || ** Due Date ** ||
 * Register domain name. || September 7, 2012 ||
 * Interview/survey permanent deacons and deacons-in-formation. || September 21, 2012 ||
 * Outline and map website. || October 1, 2012 ||
 * Create a design for the website. || October 8, 2012 ||
 * Download WebPress software || October 8, 2012 ||
 * Construct the website (header, banner, footer, menu bar for, minimally, a Home (index) page, an About Us page, and a Contact Us page. || November 1, 2012 ||
 * Decide on a web host. || November 1, 2012 ||
 * Launch website. || November 1, 2012 ||

**Follow-up Plan**

 * **Description** || **Due Date** ||
 * Provide training to deacon who will be managing the website || November 9, 2012 ||
 * Provide training to permanent deacons to enable them to make maximum use of the website || December 1, 2012 ||
 * Projected Technology to Be Used**
 * WordPress/DreamWeaver
 * PhotoShop
 * SlideShare
 * iMovie
 * Animoto
 * Video Converter
 * Google Docs

** Projected Budget **

 * ** Description ** || ** Estimated cost ** ||
 * 1 domain name || $15-20 @ year ||
 * WordPress software || No charge ||
 * Web hosting || $5-20 @ month ||
 * Images, Videos, Graphics || Provided by the deacon program or Madeleine Vessel – No charge ||
 * Web page content || Provided by the deacon program or Madeleine Vessel – No charge ||
 * Website development || Provided by Madeleine Vessel – No charge ||
 * ** Total ** || ** Approximately $260 @ year, but better figure $300 ** ||
 * Images, Videos, Graphics || Provided by the deacon program or Madeleine Vessel – No charge ||
 * Web page content || Provided by the deacon program or Madeleine Vessel – No charge ||
 * Website development || Provided by Madeleine Vessel – No charge ||
 * ** Total ** || ** Approximately $260 @ year, but better figure $300 ** ||
 * Website development || Provided by Madeleine Vessel – No charge ||
 * ** Total ** || ** Approximately $260 @ year, but better figure $300 ** ||
 * ** Total ** || ** Approximately $260 @ year, but better figure $300 ** ||

The Deacon Program has some money we can use to launch the pilot project.

I have received approval to start the pilot project from the Chancellor of the Diocese, Deacon Lou Roman.

Thank you for reviewing my proposal. I look forward to hearing any suggestions you may have for improvement.

All the best,

Madeleine

Madeleine Vessel madeleinevessel@mac.com 575-644-7290

Click here to go to your Essay page.

Click here to go to your Article page.