Don't let the name Class Creator fool you. The name is simply insight into how it all began. Yes, there are class, multiple year and school association sites; yet on Class Creator there are:
- Families
- Homeowner associations
- Veteran groups and
- Fishing Clubs, to name a few!
Though Professor O wrote about this in his May 15th blog "Can I Use Class Creator To Build A Site For Our School, Or Other Purpose...", I am here to share the admin's view. As one who has built and maintained four sites, I will be building another and most likely - another. Don't take my word for it, take a look at the Featured Sites on Class Creator's home page. When you do, move your mouse over each thumbnail to read what the admin running the site had to write about their experience. As I did, I recognized some of the names; yet there were others I did not. One comment just about says it all:
"We joined ClassCreator soon after it was established several years ago. I
can only say, it's been a great ride....Brad and the ClassCreator staff
are attentive, receptive to new ideas, forever improving and adding
features, offer exceptional support. Dealing with ClassCreator is almost
like calling your neighbor to come over and help. ....... no I'm not
getting paid to say these nice things. I just appreciate a well run
operation and ClassCreator it just that."
If you are looking for a place to host your site, stop and give the 7-day free trial on Class Creator a try. When you do, you will find others who started just like you in the Help Forums listed under your Admin Functions. Do not hesitate to come to the forums to ask for help. We'll be happy to see you!
Love surprises? I
do. Not long ago, I received one via email. It was an invitation to
share my experiences as a site administrator here - for Class Creator.
Would I accept? Certainly, it is a honor to be a part of this. Yet,
every journey has a beginning and this opportunity took me back to how
it all began.
How did I get here? Well, "You will be a leader of
your high school class in a place you will not be able to see" was never
in my fortune cookie. The Chicago area psychic didn't predict it after
graduation and she did not say that my high school class would some day
be in my computer. Back then, did I know what a computer was?
In
2009, I had a surprise request from a classmate... would I plan our 40th
reunion? Though I had experience, I had not been to one class reunion. I
recalled who planned the 30th reunion and began searching for his email
address.
Immediately, I started a class group page on Facebook.
That led to a free site - thanks to one of technology’s major companies.
I jumped right into building the site. Yet, I was unable to do all I
wanted. I wanted instant messaging, a map and more. My list of wants
grew and my success at finding free plug-ins failed with each search.
The
person who planned previous reunions was located, planned our dinner
and began taking registrations. I decided to add a school tour and
gathering at a local bar the night before the dinner. Everything was
going well and I should have been pleased as punch that soon the web
site and all would be finished, but no – not me.
Less than two
months before the reunion, I ramped up for another search. Into the
search bar I keyed free maps for web sites. Once again, I began
checking the results from the top. Four or five links into it, I found
myself on a host of class sites – Class Creator. I had no
intention of moving the site for less than sixty days but I had to see
the map. I saw the map and… oh my, there was everything I wanted and
more! Maps, the ability maintain classmates' contact information,
birthday announcements, instant messaging, and online classmate
registration! I sat staring at the features offered by Class Creator and knew I wanted to move our class site right then!
So
it began. Soon our class name, school colors and mascot were in place.
I copied a few pages into this new site and wanted to share it with
friends. Not yet, I had two more things to do. I added the donation
button and sent an email invitation to all classmates asking them to
visit the site, look around and donate to the site’s subscription if
they liked what they saw.
Did my classmates like what they saw on the temporary site hosted by Class Creator? YES! They donated on the site and the first year subscription was paid
in full. Not only that, as soon as I added our reunion details into the
Reunion Planner module, classmates began registering for the reunion on
the site!
It didn’t end there. In the midst of the holiday
shopping season that year, I sent out another email asking classmates if
they would like to extend the site through our 50th reunion. Within
days, they clicked on that donation button until we were paid through
2020! They paid for ten years! Who is the best? Well, my classmates for
sure, but Class Creator is right there alongside them!
We all have our stories. It has taken some of us a few years before finding Class Creator.
But, today, we are settled in! We welcome new administrators weekly in
the Help Forums and online chats to discuss what is happening and ask
each other for a 'tool' to solve something when needed. We are neighbors
in this online community and give our time to provide an online home
where classmates can reconnect.
Beyond the many tools available
in building and using our sites, there is one main reason we stay: the
unmatched customer service. In the forums, responses are
received in a timely manner and there is a willingness to meet our
needs, when possible. In addition, forum posts are answered by staff as
if we are all friends. This special place for our sites is Class Creator.
