The Concrete Foundations Association World Wide Web site underwent its first major modification since its inception over the past summer. If you haven't visited the site in awhile, spend some time looking around at the new features. Additional improvements continue to be made.

The first thing you will notice is the background design and navigation buttons. The background was designed to coordinate with the newsletter and new publications as they are produced. It features a blueprint in the background with navigation buttons that look amazingly similar to the CFA logo. The diamond-shaped navigation buttons are the key for moving through the site. Click on the diamond representing the area you want to visit and you are immediately transported to the respective page. The information on the home page is constantly updated and new postings are easily accessed from the home page. A few highlights are described below.

EVENTS
You can now register for events "on-line" through a secure server. Events include the World of Concrete show, the CFA Winter Meeting, and the Foundation Fundamentals seminar. Click on the "Events" button, then on the button for the respective event.

MEMBERS
The membership directory works as it previously did. Click on the "Members" button and you will be transported to a map of the U.S. and southern Canada. If you click on an individual state you get a listing of the members in that state. Check to make certain you are listed and that the contact information is correct. If it isn't, give us a call and we'll correct it. If you have a web site, let us know and we will "hot link" from your listing in the directory to your web site.

CALENDAR
The "Calendar" button is a listing of all CFA sponsored events. In the near future you will be able to link from the event listed on the calendar to the registration form. For now you must return to the "Events" button to register.

RESOURCES
The "Resources" area is where you can order CFA and related publications. Documents or publications that are currently available are listed. After deciding which publications you want you can order by filling out a simple order form which is automatically emailed to CFA headquarters.

NEWS
Do you lose track of old newsletters (you shouldn't with the fancy new binders for saving old issues we sent members)? If you do, we plan to keep stories from back issues archived on the CFA web site. The story headline will be listed along with the issue and date so you can pull up and print any story that was printed.

RELATED SITES
If you click on the "Related Sites" button you can quickly navigate to CFA national associate members who have web sites. You don't have to remember complicated URL's - just click on the company logo and you will be instantly taken to their site.

What Does the Future Hold?

We have lots of planned improvements for the CFA web site. Some will be internal and others will be member benefits. Among the planned features will be availability of CFA documents "on-line". Depending on the document it will be in electronic format (i.e. Microsoft Word), PDF format, or both. If you need a brochure now and can live with slightly reduced quality you will be able to download it from the CFA web site.

The Forum segment of the site will be an area where you can post a question to all CFA members on a variety of topics and get their input. It won't be "immediate" like a chat room but will allow you to enter your questions and others to answer them at your convenience. This is a "future" item and is dependent on a greater number of members using the web.

The site will eventually be divided into a public area to provide information to the general public on foundations and the association, and a private area for members. The latter two features mentioned above will eventually be "member only" features.

If you have features or ideas you would like to see incorporated into our web site just let us know. Who knows, it might happen sooner than you think. Contact Jim Baty at 866-232-9255 or email jbaty@cfawalls.org.