Tagged: Meetings RSS

  • Kathleen McDade 7:56 pm on March 9, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Meetings,   

    March 18: Multisite features and more in WordPress 3.0 

    Join us March 18th at 6:00 p.m. as Aaron Jorbin demonstrates the new multisite, custom post type and menu management features coming in WordPress 3.0. This will be an opportunity to see some of the biggest changes to WordPress in quite some time. Some of the things Aaron will go through include:

    • What the multisite features mean to both users and developers
    • How to enable Multisite once you’ve upgraded
    • How to add and customize custom menus on your site
    • How to add a custom post type

    This talk will be aimed at both users and developers. Even if you don’t know a thing about coding, Aaron will show you the basics to help you understand these three changes. If a beta version of 3.0 is released before the meeting, we will work off of that. Otherwise Aaron will use the latest trunk version of WordPress. As this will be a development version, things can and will change before 3.0 is released, but this should give you an idea of what to expect. If you have any questions or suggestions on specifics that you would like to see covered, please comment on this post. See you on the 18th!

    http://aaron.jorb.in
    twitter: twitter.com/aaronjorbin

    ———
    As always, we’ll meet at Webtrends (851 SW 6th Avenue) from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
    RSVP on Upcoming.

     

  • Kathleen McDade 7:41 pm on February 11, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Meetings, , stats   

    February 18: WordPress and Statistics 

    Join us Thursday, February 18 to talk about statistics: what programs can you use, what are the benefits and drawbacks of each, and what can they tell you that’s really useful?

    Chris O’Rourke will join us to talk about Mint. We’ll also look at the WP-Stats plugin, Google Analytics and Woopra. Do you use any of these, or something else entirely? Bring your expertise and/or your questions, and let’s talk!

    As always, 6:00 p.m. at Webtrends, 951 SW Sixth Avenue, Suite 600. You may need to have the security guard enter an elevator code if you arrive after 6:00. RSVP on Upcoming.

     

  • Kathleen McDade 8:44 pm on January 5, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Meetings   

    January 21: Aaron Hockley On How To Launch a Blog 

    UPDATE: If you missed the meeting, or if you’d like to review an outline of Aaron’s talk, you can find it at Another Blogger. Thank you, Aaron!

    Actually, the name of Aaron’s talk is “After Launching a Couple Dozen Blogs, I Figured Out how to Do it Right.” Aaron presented this talk at WordCamp Seattle, and has done several blog posts around this theme as well. Aaron is experienced at starting new WordPress blogs, including his highly successful SocialPhotoTalk site. Even if you’re an experienced blogger, if you’re thinking about starting another blog (and who isn’t?), Aaron Hockley has great information for you.

    We’ll also have time for networking and socializing. If you’ve got questions about WordPress 2.9 (actually, we’re already up to 2.9.1), someone might be able to help you!

    As usual, we’ll be at Webtrends, 851 SW 6th Avenue on the 16th floor. We usually get into Webtrends right around 6:00, but if you come later than that, just let the security guard know that you’re coming to the WordPress meeting and he’ll punch in the elevator code for you.

    Hope to see you there! Please let us know on Upcoming if you’ll be attending.

     

  • Kathleen McDade 6:26 pm on November 12, 2009 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: child-themes, Meetings,   

    Using Child Themes – November 12, 2009 

    Sites we mentioned or looked at in our discussion of WordPress child themes.

    On ThemeShaper:

    How To Protect Your WordPress Theme Against Upgrades

    How I Used a WordPress Child Theme To Redesign My Blog

    How to Modify WordPress Themes the Smart Way

    Devin Price’s website: WordPress Theming

    Michael Fields is working child theme support into his Platypus Theme, and offered a solution to a problem he had: TEMPLATEPATH for Child Themes

    We also discussed upcoming features in WordPress 2.9: 10 Things You Need to Know About WordPress 2.9

    Aaron Jorbin offered the following 2.9 advice on Twitter post-meeting: “add_theme_support( ‘post-thumbnails’ ); is what’s needed to add post-thumbnails support in 2.9.”

     

  • Kathleen McDade 9:47 pm on November 8, 2009 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Meetings   

    We’re Meeting This Week! Let’s Talk Child Themes. 

    We had a more developer-focused meeting in October, and a great discussion with Aaron Jorbin, Eric Curtis, Michael Fields, Kevin Peoples and Devin Price. We discussed bugs, taxonomies, wp-ecommerce, themes, svn, git, and more. Don’t know what all of those things are? Me, either. But if you come to a meeting, maybe someone else can explain it to you.

    Our next meeting is on Thursday, November 12 at 6:00 p.m. (still at Webtrends). Yes, that is the second Thursday of the month. This month is Ignite Portland, and you know you want to be there on November 19, so we’re doing our meeting on the 12th.  This month’s topic is using child themes, so that you can customize a theme without losing all of your changes when you upgrade to a new version of that theme.  We don’t have a speaker, so I’m currently crowdsourcing. Do you use child themes? Can you be there to help us learn about them? Contact me using kmcdadepdx at gmail.  You can also RSVP on Upcoming.

    UPDATE!  Devin Price is a child-theme-user, and will be at the meeting to share his knowledge. Thanks, Devin!

     

    • Devin 2:02 am on November 9, 2009 Permalink | Reply

      My site uses a child theme of Thematic. I’d be happy to share the process and learn what other folks are doing.

    • Michael Fields 3:01 am on November 9, 2009 Permalink | Reply

      Actually, I wish that I did know more about child theme’s. The articles that I have read regarding them seem to make customization a nightmare even for the most savvy CSS wizards… perhaps I have been misled? Would love to be proved wrong… Would love to learn more :)

  • Kathleen McDade 8:56 pm on September 16, 2009 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Meetings,   

    August Recap, NO MEETING in September 

    Hello, WordPressers! I’m here with a recap of the August meeting, but first, a reminder that there is NO WORDPRESS USER GROUP MEETING in September, because WordCamp Portland is the same week.

    Unfortunately, if you don’t already have a ticket, WordCamp Portland is SOLD OUT!

    The August meeting was all about themes. Robin Catesby led an excellent presentation/discussion on designing themes, while Aaron Hockley and I discussed choosing and using themes on the less techie side (Kelly Guimont was unable to make it due to a death in the family. Heartfelt condolences to Kelly and her husband Scott!).

    For those who didn’t make it, or who would like another look, below is Kelly’s outline, which we used for the talk on choosing and using themes. Robin is still working on getting the slides from her presentation up on the web, and we’ll post a link as soon as they’re available.

    Two things to consider for your blog:

    • Who your audience is
    • Who you want your audience to be

    Sometimes each of these is different, whether you intend them or not. For example: If you are working on a site for the visually impaired, don’t use teeny type and lots of Flash that will keep a text-to-speech-reader from working properly. Also have some awareness of your actual audience, your regular readers aren’t always who you want them to be.

    Here is a list of validators that can help:
    http://webdesign.about.com/od/accessibilityvalidators/Accessibility_Validators.htm

    And a second list of resources for compliance:
    http://trace.wisc.edu/world/web/

    One good way to make sure you are able to meet requirements in various ways is to have a theme that is flexible and easy to customize. A prime example of this sort of theme is called Thesis:
    http://bit.ly/getthesis

    A big advantage to Thesis (even though it is a paid theme) is that it separates the content from the layout pretty clearly so it’s easy to make changes and get things how you want them without seriously breaking content elements.

    Other things you should consider when looking at themes:

    • Is there a color associated with what you’re blogging about? (Maybe your environmental blog should be in shades of green.) This isn’t something to worry about when picking your theme, usually it is easy to change a color, so don’t worry if you love a layout and don’t like the oranges in the color scheme (for example).
    • What are you posting? Are they really really long posts? I write some really long liveblog posts, and I had a theme that broke REALLY badly when I got a little lengthy. Make sure you’re keeping in mind your content when you look at themes. If you are posting a lot of large images, you might wanna avoid super skinny columns.
    • There’s more themes out there than wordpress.org. Go google (or bing or whatever the kids do these days) your desire (flexible width, blue, photoblog, custom header) with “wordpress” and “theme” at the end and you’ll get about a jillion hits. I actually googled “WordPress Themes” recently and got 81 MILLION hits (and change). I’m not kidding.
    • Monkey around with it! Swap out a header, change a color, keep in mind that like a house, you’re more looking for “good bones” than for the exact perfect thing. If you find the exact perfect thing, fabulous. But mostly you will probably be close, and if you’re close you (or someone you get to consult on your site for you) will be able to get it the rest of the way. Keep a clean copy stashed away somewhere and if you totally break everything, it’s no big deal.
     

  • Kathleen McDade 3:51 pm on August 7, 2009 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , Meetings, robin catesby,   

    August 20: All About Themes 

    Kelly Guimont and Robin Catesby will join us on Thursday, August 20 to talk about WordPress themes! We’ll be splitting up into two groups, and plan to have something for people with and without technical backgrounds.

    Kelly (@verso) describes herself on LinkedIn as a “Product Poster Girl, Powergeek, Professional Question-Asker.” She was one of the organizers of WordCampPortland’s 2008 debut, and has been teaching WordPress classes for MacForce.  Kelly’s currently a self-employed consultant, but is looking for a job, so come down, see her in action, and hire her!

    Kelly gave a presentation at WordCamp 2008 on Considerations When Choosing a Theme, and will be leading a less technical, more blogger-oriented discussion of choosing and using themes.

    Robin (@mizd) says on Twitter that she’s a “Writer, crafter, WordPress addict, NBA junkie, Cubist, and karaoke DJ.” Or, in more professional terms, “Graphic Design & Web Professional, Freelance Writer & Editor, Theatrical Craftsperson, Events Manager & Karaoke Jockey.”  She specializes in designing WordPress blogs and websites.

    Robin will be leading a discussion for the more technical folk about designing themes using a grid system and Sandbox.

    Not many people voted in the meeting time poll, and those who did still favored 6:00 p.m., so we’ll be sticking with that time.  Hope to see you Thursday, August 20, 6:00 p.m. at Webtrends, 851 SW 6th Avenue, Suite 1600.

    RSVP on Upcoming

    UPDATE: Aaron Hockley will be giving away two tickets to WordCamp Portland (which is now SOLD OUT)!

     

  • Kathleen McDade 5:17 pm on July 30, 2009 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: blogging, Meetings, monetizing   

    July Meeting Wrap-Up (Making Money Blogging) 

    In July, we were pleased to welcome Sam Churchill of dailywireless.org! 18 people attended, and the discussion was lively and informative.

    The slide show from Sam’s presentation on making money blogging is available on Slideshare.

    Also, we’re considering a change to our meeting time.  Please vote in the poll!

    Our next meeting will be August 20, and will feature both technical and non-technical discussion of WordPress themes.

     

    • Marie Mea 11:08 pm on October 10, 2009 Permalink | Reply

      i am a beginner when it comes to Money Blogging. i use Adsense to make money on my blogs and it is really good.

  • Kathleen McDade 10:07 pm on July 9, 2009 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Meetings, , osbridge, ,   

    June Meeting Recap 

    We had a great turnout and a great space for our June meeting at the Open Source Bridge conference.  Thank you to Audrey Eschright for arranging our session!

    We announced our poll to decide on a date for the July meeting, since we didn’t want to meet the same night as Ignite Portland. Several people did take time to vote, and the meeting was later set for Thursday, July 23, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Webtrends.

    Aaron Hockley gave us an update on WordCamp Portland (September 19-20 at Webtrends). What WordCamp Portland needs most right now are sponsors! ¾ of event costs last year were covered by sponsors, which keeps event costs low.  Financial or in-kind sponsorships are welcome.  Contact @ahockley or @dalechumbley if you would like to be a sponsor or have leads for sponsors. For WordCamp Portland updates, subscribe to the WordCamp Portland blog or follow @wordcampdx on Twitter.

    We then discussed the recent WordPress 2.8 release (see WordPress 2.8 Overview for an outline).

    As noted above, next meeting 7/23 at 6:00 p.m. at Webtrends, 851 SW 6th Avenue, Suite 1600. Hope to see you there!

     

  • Kathleen McDade 10:26 pm on June 23, 2009 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: ignite portland, Meetings, , ,   

    July Meeting Date/Place 

    The third Thursday in July (July 16th) is also the date of Ignite Portland 6, so we will NOT be meeting then.  Instead, we will meet on Thursday, July 23 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

    We also have a new meeting location! CubeSpace, sadly, has now closed, so from now on our monthly meetings will be held at Webtrends, 851 SW 6th Avenue, Suite 1600.  Webtrends will also be the site of WordCamp Portland in September.

    We’ll post an agenda for the July meeting later, as soon as it’s confirmed.

     

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