WOW Platform

The WOW platform is a class of software called a "Content Management System", which permits you to concentrate on the content of your website, rather than the programming. The WOW Platform has been specically developed for Auxiliary Flotillas and Divisions to automatically provide up-to-date unit information (such as staff officers, meeting locations, or public education courses) in the context of a familiar, branded U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary look and feel. Your unit may add content - whatever you desire - with a simple point, click and type paradigm that even permits the inclusion of photos and graphics!

A basic unit website can be generated in less than 25 seconds - even by the unit Commander or Vice Commander! For this reason, if your unit is WithOut a Webmaster ("WOW"), without a CS officer, or without anyone having "classical" website design/programming skills, your unit can nonetheless have an immediate web presence with a "push of a button".

If your unit has one or more members with classical website design/programming skills, the WOW platform gives them complete freedom to focus on page content, using a powerful, built-in editor, while letting the system attend to all the details, such as a database-driven menu system.

Requesting Access to the WOW Platform

Websites based on the WOW Platform are subject to the following storage limits:

• 15 megabytes (MB) for Flotillas
• 20 megabytes (MB) for Divisions

There is no request procedure for acess to the WOW Platform; it is completely "self service". Simply log on to the WOW platform at http://wow.uscgaux.info (using your Member ID and password) and then enter your unit number.

Assistance

The National IT staff encourages the use of the WOW Platform by all Auxiliary Divisions and Flotillas, so they have provided many very good resources, among them:

• WOW! "Pushbutton" Websites Presentation
• 1 Hour Conversion Application Note
• WOW Platform Quick Start Guide
• WOW Platform User‘s Guide
• WOW Platform Checklist
• National Help Desk

You can also download a copy of the WOW! "Pushbutton" Websites PowerPoint Presentation and modify it with information specific to your unit for use in presenting the WOW Platform to your unit membership and leadership.

Your main resource is DSO-CS Scott Gensemer who serves as the WOW Platform expert and evangelist for the Ninth District Western Region. Scott can assist units with the development of a new website using the WOW Platform or converting an existing website based on the Classic Platform to the one that uses the WOW Platform.

Accessing Your Unit Website

Your unit's WOW Platform-based website is located at the following URL:

• For Flotillas: http://a095ddff.wow.uscgaux.info
• For Divisions: http://a095dd.wow.uscgaux.info

where you replace:

• "dd" with your two-digit Division number (for Divisions and Flotillas)
• "ff" with your two-digit Flotilla number for Flotillas only)

For example:

          http://a0953302.wow.uscgaux.info

is the Michigan City Flotilla's website based on the WOW Platform. Michigan City is Flotilla 02 in St. Joseph Division 33.

Although the URL displayed in your browser will be different from the one shown above, the above URL is the permanent URL for your website and is the one that should be publicized.