Background:
The BHPA launched its web site in September 2001.  It was hosted free of charge by HunTel.net in the "Community" directory as a community service.   The web address was:  http://www.huntel.net/community/blairpreservation/.  The web design was done by Nathan Kramer as a volunteer service.  There was one email address setup and hosted free by HunTel.net.  The address was: BlairPreservation@huntel.net.  All mail sent to that address was automatically forwarded to individuals of the  executive committee plus the web master.  The web site address and email address have been listed on most of the organization's publications (business cards, brochures, mailings), in newspaper articles, the Walking Tour brochure, and with reciprocal links such as the WCHA and HunTel.net.  The site has a good standing in most search engines.

Terms:
Domain Name -- A unique name that is assigned to web files located (or hosted) on a particular web server so that internet users can view them.
Hosting -- A service where web files are stored for internet uses to view and/or access using the domain name.

Proposal:
I propose that the Alliance authorize funds to contract with HunTel.net to host the organization's website under its own domain name.  I also propose that the Alliance accept and use the domain name "BlairHistory.com."  I further propose that after these arrangements have been made, the organization's website be moved to the new location and that the domain name be used as the primary web site address for the organization.

Rationale:
The free community site has grown over the limit and scope allowed by HunTel.net.  We either need to reduce the number of images on the site or expand to our own site.

Having a simpler domain name will be easier for people to remember and type into their browsers when accessing the site.

The proposed domain name would provide a name that is very descriptive to the mission of the organization, making it a valuable tool to market the efforts of the organization.

Details:
Included in the Level 1 HunTel.net hosting costs are 20 megabytes of file storage, 20 mail boxes and 5 mail lists.   These mailboxes would be used for general mail to the organization (i.e. contact@BlairHistory.com ) or if desired, mailboxes for the specific officers (i.e. president@BlairHistory.com, webmaster@BlairHistory.com, etc.)  The mail lists could be set up to act as a membership list, whereas a person listed in the membership database could send an email to a common address (members@BlairHistory.com) and that email would then be distributed to the list of members.

The annual cost to host the site is $275 per year when prepaid.  The one-time setup fee of $25 would be donated by HunTel.net.

The use (and the first year's annual registration fee) of the BlairHistory.com domain name would be donated by Nathan Krämer.  The annual domain name registration fee is $25 per year.

Nathan would continue his offer to serve as web master to administer the file move and the continued development of the site.

If this proposal is accepted, the new domain name would be active and file transfer complete within a two-week period.  The old files would be removed (after being copied to the new site), redirect files would be installed on the old site, and they would be in place for the next 2-3 months.