Getting Started & FAQs

INTRODUCTION
HOW TO JOIN THE SITE
MEMBER FUNCTIONS
CLASSMATE DISCUSSIONS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)


INTRODUCTION  

If you are new to the website please read this page as it will answer all of your questions on how to get a password, make a profile and how to use the website.  If you have already joined and are comfortable using the website, you may still find it useful and/or interesting to check out the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

Please note that this website will be used to manage our class’s information and send info on events in the future. It is easy to use, secure, and monitored by the site administrators, Tim and Jill (Keeler) Steele. It is supported entirely by classmate donations and is free of advertisements. Individuals have complete control of the personal information that they may choose to include on the site. There are no hidden social networking pitfalls or annoying popups such as you may have encountered or heard of on Facebook, Classmates, etc.

The Class of ‘68 website is for everyone that was in our class of ‘68. You will be able to keep up with friends, send messages to one another, post pictures, etc.

To view the content of Classmate Profiles and certain other pages on the website you must first join the website as a member and be verified by Tim or Jill.  You have the option of restricting your personal Profile to only fellow Classmates, which blocks the general public and search engines from accessing your Profile details.  Once you create a Profile, you will also be able to see all Profiles of your fellow classmates and interact with them.

All contact information that you enter into this website will be kept confidential.  It will not be shared or distributed. Your contact information is private:  your address and phone number can't be seen by classmates unless you grant permission on your Profile. When someone clicks on your name, the only contact information they will see is your city and state and whatever information about yourself you choose to put on your Profile. Your email address is not visible, although an email can be sent to you using the contact box at the bottom of your Profile page. Note, however, if you send a message to someone through their Profile page, the Classmate will not be given your e-mail address.  They will need to log in to the website to read and respond to your message.


HOW TO JOIN THE SITE  

If you have not already done so, you will need to create your individual Profile in order to access any password protected pages on this site.

  1. Start by clicking on the Classmate Profiles link. This will take you to a page with all Classmate names, including yours.  (If your name is not on the Classmate Profiles link, use Contact Us to notify an administrator.)
  2. Find your name and click on it.
  3. Click the link at the bottom of the page to join the site, and follow the prompts to create your Profile.

The password that you enter during this process will be used as your login password. You can personalize your page with information such as what have you been up to since graduation in 1968, school memories, your family, and photos.  Carefully read through the choices when you complete your profile page; you can select an option to keep your information private for registered classmate users and to choose, specifically, what is visible. Before you will be able to access any protected pages, your profile will be reviewed and compared to a spreadsheet of known information about you to see if you are really a classmate.  If the profile cannot be verified in this way, special trivia questions will be asked about MHS.  If the profile cannot be verified, you will not gain access to the protected pages.

We welcome Classmates who went to school with us but did not graduate with us. If you feel more associated with this class than your own, we can provide you with a guest account. Contact us if you wish to obtain guest access for this site.

You may need to whitelist the email address noreply@classcreator.net in order to receive e-mail from this website (for example, reunion notices).  FYI: "Whitelist" is the general term for allowing an email to come through from a specific email address every time, regardless of the content contained within the email. Whitelist is also sometimes referred to as a "Safe List" or an "Approved Senders List." If you whitelist noreply@classcreator.net, messages that may not ordinarily get through will now be received and read every time.  Please note that this system does not send spam mail of any kind.

If you change your email address, snail mail address, or phone number, please update those in your Profile so we have your correct information at all times.

Always check back with the Home Page, where main information and announcements are made.  Also, make sure to explore all your "Member Functions" that are always available further down on the left-side menu of the website.

Most of all, enjoy and have fun with the website! 


MEMBER FUNCTIONS  

Part way down on the left side menu of the website are links to administrative and messaging functions you can use when you are logged into the site.

Notify Me
Message Center
Edit Contact Info
Edit Profile
Edit/Upload Photos
Change Password
Log Out

MEMBER FUNCTIONS:  Notify Me

Allows you to select a large number of options for notifying you of changes on the website.  For instance, you can receive notifications by email when events like this happen on our site:

  • You receive a new personal message
  • Someone leaves a comment on your profile
  • Pictures have been added to a photo gallery
  • A Classmate has been added to “In Memory”
  • A Classmate posts an “In Memory” comment
  • A new reunion or event is being planned
  • A new announcement has been posted
  • A new Classmate joins the site
  • Pages on the site have been added or updated
  • A Missing Classmate has been found

You can also set "Profile Subscriptions." This is a feature that sends you an email anytime a classmate adds new or changes information on his or her Profile Page. This is the easy way to keep up with your classmates.  To do so:

  1. Click on Profile Subscriptions and a list of all classmates and guests will appear. Next to each name is a box.
  2. Click on the box, or boxes, of those you wish to subscribe to. Their name(s) will appear in the area to the right of the original list.
  3. There is no need to save anything; you now have all the subscriptions you desire. Go on to another page by clicking another topic.

MEMBER FUNCTIONS:  Message Center

This feature lists all the emails you have received (IN BOX) as well as those you have sent (OUT BOX) through this web site. Your messages will remain in their respective boxes until you delete them.

A KEY at the top of both the IN BOX and OUT BOX shows symbols representing the status of an email. You will find one of these symbols to the left of each email listed.

Each listed email shows: (1). A box to check, (2). Its status; (3). Either who sent it to you (IN BOX) or who you sent it to (OUT BOX), (4). Subject and date of email, and (5). A red "X."

In both the IN BOX and OUT BOX settings, clicking on sender's name brings up that person's profile page and clicking on the subject brings up the actual email.

Clicking inside the box on the far left or on the red "X" on the far right, will turn the background red. This means that the email can be deleted by choosing the tab at the bottom of the page that says DELETE CHECKED THREAD.

MEMBER FUNCTIONS:  Edit Contact Info

Choosing this feature will allow you to view all of the contact information you entered into your contact information page. You can change your contact info anytime it is necessary.

Be sure to click the SAVE CHANGES tab at the bottom of the page when you have finished.

MEMBER FUNCTIONS:  Edit Profile

Choosing this feature will allow you to change the information that shows on your Profile page. Be sure to click the SAVE CHANGES tab at the bottom of the page when you have finished.

MEMBER FUNCTIONS:  Edit/Upload Photos

To add photos to your profile, follow the directions provided here in the FAQs section of this page.

MEMBER FUNCTIONS:  Change Password

If you wish to change your password, click on "Change Password" under MEMBER FUNCTIONS. A page with three sections for you to fill in will appear.

  1. Type in your PRESENT password.
  2. Type in your NEW password.
  3. Type in your NEW password a second time.
  4. Click on SAVE button.

If you forget your password, click on the “forgot password” below your log-in email name, and it will be emailed to you.

MEMBER FUNCTIONS:  Log Out

The majority of our classmates select the "stay logged in" option when they log in. Therefore, they will always be logged onto the site until they click the "Log Out" link under MEMBER FUNCTIONS.  When somebody selects the option to stay logged in, the system allows the user to bypass the login screen when they come back to the site.  If you Log Out, the next time you will need to enter your email address and password to get into the site. Also, if you access the site from a different computer, you will need to re-enter your email address and password next time you use your main computer.


CLASSMATE DISCUSSIONS  

On the top-menu of our website is a tab, Classmate Discussions, that takes you to a page for having interactive dialog with multiple classmates over time on topics of interest. Its design is that of what is commonly referred to as a user-forum system. A user-forum is a place where classmates can hold conversations in the form of posted messages. It is a three-tiered system consisting of Forums, Topics and Messages (or replies).

A Forum is a top-level, administrator-set category of discussion, within which classmates can post new topics for discussion, or reply to posts within an existing topic. Topics are focused thoughts posted by classmates within a forum to share a point of view and/or invite further discussion through Message replies from other classmates. Over time, some topics may accumulate many back-and-forth message replies, and may become what are called discussion threads.

To add to a topic already started, click on "Reply." Type your message and click "Save."  Once saved, you can edit or delete your own message. If you want to quote something someone has said in order to emphasize and clarify what your comments may be in response to, click on "Quoted Reply." This will copy the message that you are replying to into the text editor. Type in your reply at the top and edit the original message below to pare down the content that your reply is in reference to. When your message is saved, the edited content of the original message will appear in a grey box below your reply.

More Details

Once on the Classmate Discussions page, click on a Forum title (Reunion Thoughts, Interesting Stories, Website Comments, and General Discussion) to see the Topics classmates have posted under it.

Click on a Topic to see all the messages posted there. If you click on the "last post," you will get to the most recent page of postings. Otherwise you will have to click through the pages of the topic to get to the most recent post.

Note: The first time you post on a Forum, you will be asked to set up a profile. This consists of three short items, all optional: 1) your Signature, if you desire one; 2) your location; and 3) your time zone. You will be able to edit your settings later in "My Settings," at the top of the Forum page.

Your "signature" is anything you may want to appear at the bottom of each of your messages. For example, your name, a short proverb or witty saying, smiley faces, etc.

You can subscribe to receive new forum posts by email. Look for this feature at the bottom of your "My Settings" page, on every message you post, and at the bottom of every Forum page. (You can later unsubscribe through your "My Settings" page.)

Master Photo

If you would like to have a photo of yourself or a special photo of something you like to appear to the left of your messages, click on "Forum Photo" at the top of the Forum page (or on "Edit/Upload Photos" on the left navigation panel).

If the picture that you want to use is already uploaded to your profile page, just click "Make This My Master Photo." If your photo is not already there, you will need to upload it (see "Edit/Upload Photos" guidance on this page).

Using the Text Editor

Experiment if you want with the editing tools. Changing the size and color of your font is fairly easy. Use the Preview button to see how your message looks before saving it. After saving your post, you will still be able to edit or delete it.

Posting pictures in a message is easy!

  1. Click on the Image icon (the little scenic square in the editor, at the top left, to the right of the word “Source”).
  2. In the Image Button pop-up, click "Browse."
  3. Find your picture in your files and click (or double-click) on the picture.
  4. Click on "Upload Now."
  5. Click "OK" when it tells you it's uploaded. You can now see your image in the preview box.
  6. Click on "OK" at the bottom of the Image Button box, and your picture will appear in your message box.
  7. Complete your message (any text you want to add), then click on "Save." You can also preview your message if you desire, before clicking Save.

To change the size of your picture click on the picture and then click on the image button again. At that time you should be able to view your image. Click on image information. You can then change the top number to a smaller or larger number. (This is if you think the picture is too large once you post it. It is not how you resize it for efficient uploading.) Should your picture not upload, it may be too large. You will need to make the picture smaller. You may have a feature for making the picture smaller for web use in your picture software.

Be sure to preview your posting. If the picture breaks up your text, you need to cut the text and paste it back where it belongs.

Attaching Files to a Message

Click on "Browse" at the bottom of the message box, then locate and click on the file you want to attach. After you save your message, your file will appear as a link at the top of the message. (Note: Do not click on Preview after attaching your file because your attachment will be lost and you will have to attach it again. Also, DO NOT add empty spaces or lots of one letter, like ZZZZ or ****, to create text separations. Adding these may cause the message to display improperly.

This looks harder than it really is, so feel free to experiment. Remember this is how we learn things. And if you have any problems contact us, all mistakes can be corrected.


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)  

This is my first visit to the website.  How do I login?
I forgot my login information and/or password.  What should I do?
Who has access to my "Classmate Profile" and personal contact information?
Can I be notified if other Classmates update their "Classmate Profile"?
Does the public or other Classmates have access to my e-mail address?
What are examples of the e-mails that I may be sent?
Can I post my own photos or videos on the website?
How do I upload photos?
Does this website rent, sell, or in any way profit from having our Classmates' names, addresses, and personal information?
What is the purpose of this website?
Can I join the site even if I don't plan to attend the reunion?

This is my first visit to the website.  How do I login?

Please click on Missing Classmates, and then click on YOUR NAME to set up a FREE member account.  Provide your work or home e-mail address, select a password (which you can change at any time), and tell us about your life since Meadowdale High School.  Add your married name, if applicable, photos, etc.

If you click "Remember Me" when you log in, you will not need to log in the next time you go to the site. Note that there is a password retrieval feature to click on, "Forgot Password?," in case you need to log in sometime and can't remember your password; the password will be sent to your email inbox. You can login from computers other than your home computer but you will need to enter your password.

I forgot my login information and/or password.  What should I do?

You login with the e-mail address you provided during your member account set up (include domain name, such as @hotmail.com).  If you have several e-mail addresses and cannot remember which one you used or if you no longer have access to that e-mail address, click on Contact Us and provide your new e-mail address.  Jill or Tim, as site administrators, will make the change and then e-mail you a temporary password.  Once you've logged in using your new e-mail address and temporary password, change your password by clicking the "Change Your Password" link under the Member Functions menu on the home page.

If you remember your e-mail address but you forgot your password, click on the "Forgot password?" link right above the green "Log On" button, and the website will automatically e-mail your password to you within a few minutes.

Who has access to my "Classmate Profile" and personal contact information?

You can choose whether your "Classmate Profile" is publicly viewable on the website (e.g., by other classes, friends, and the general public) or restricted to registered Meadowdale High School 1968 Classmates only. If restricted, search engines and the general public will be blocked from accessing your Classmate Profile page.  You can also choose whether or not your mailing address and phone number are displayed; otherwise, only the City and State/Country where you live will be listed.  Click on the "Edit Profile" link under the Member Functions menu in the side column, and then scroll down to the bottom of the page to make your choice.

Can I be notified if other Classmates update their "Classmate Profile"?

Yes!  Click on "Classmate Profiles", and then click on the name of the Classmate you'd like to keep track of.  Once he/she has registered, his/her profile will be displayed.  Scroll down to the bottom of his/her profile page, click on the box that says "Notify me whenever [Classmate's] profile is updated", and click on the "Notify Me" button.  You will be notified by e-mail.  You can also subscribe to multiple classmates by clicking Notify Me under the Member Functions Menu (that is always available on the left side of the web page), and scrolling down to the "Profile Subscriptions" section.

Does the public or other Classmates have access to my e-mail address?

No.  To protect your privacy, your work or home e-mail address is stored only within the website, so Classmates can send you a Message.  You can decide who you want to provide your own e-mail address to.  To check if you've received any new messages, click on the "Message Center" under the Member Functions menu in the side column.

What are examples of the e-mails that I may be sent?

You will be e-mailed information about new website features; details about upcoming class reunions, fundraisers, or events; general announcements about classmates; and other important news.

Can I post my own photos or videos on the website?

Yes!  You can upload a current photo of yourself, your family, pets, vacations, old photos from days gone by, etc. -- anything you want to share -- by clicking on "Edit/Upload Photos" under the Member Functions menu on the left.  There is no limit on the number of digital photos that you can store on your "Classmate Profile" page.  Each photo is automatically resized to fit on your Profile page.  You can also upload your own videos that you've posted to YouTube.com by clicking on the "Classmate Profiles" link, then following the instructions.  And yes, you can add, delete, or replace your own photos or videos at any time.

In addition to uploading photos to your Profile page, we've added a left-menu function, labeled "Classmate Uploads," for uploading photos that may be of more general interest beyond your personal Profile.  This function is intended to be used for uploading photos taken while we were still in high school of MHS events that may be of interest to Classmates, for example, school dances, sporting events or club activities.  Any Classmate can create his or her own unique photo gallery within this master gallery. All photos uploaded by Classmates will be credited to them!

How do I upload photos?

These instructions apply to adding photos to your Profile. As noted in the answer to the previous question, photos can also be uploaded to a more general location through a link on the left-menu lableled "Classmate Uploads." The process is essentially the same but will result in the creation of a slideshow.

  1. Be sure you are logged in on the home page. In the links on the left side under MEMBER FUNCTIONS, click on the link: Edit/Upload Photos.
     
  2. The Photo page will appear and you’ll see a gray box titled: Upload New photo. Click on this box and you will be at the Add Photo page.
     
  3. The Add Photo page gives basic instructions for uploading your photos. There are 3 places on this page to make entries.

    Sort: The sort number controls the order in which photos display on your page. By default your pictures will appear in the order you entered them, so this isn’t important for your first picture. But later if you want picture #5 to appear as #1, you will have to change the sort numbers on your pictures. If you delete a picture, the sort numbers for the remaining pictures do not change (e.g., if you delete picture #2 out of 4 pictures, you will show pictures #1, #3, and #4.)

    Caption: Caption is the description you write for your picture.

    Browse: This is the most important one, for this is how you find the picture on your computer and get it to appear on your page.
     
  4. Your first picture will automatically be Sort Number 1.
     
  5. Now click the Browse button. A list of folders on your computer will show up. Locate the folder that holds your picture. For most classmates this will be the My Pictures folder located in the My Documents folder. When you have clicked through to your picture file, click the view button at the top to show icons as pictures. This makes it easier to find the specific picture you want to upload.
     
  6. Select the picture you want to upload by clicking on it once, and then click Open at the bottom of the box.
     
  7. Now you will be taken back to the Add Photo page and in the Upload Photo box you will see the path to your picture.
     
  8. Enter the Caption for your picture in the box.
     
  9. Click the SAVE CHANGES button.

Now go to your Profile page and look for your picture and caption.

Shortcut for multiple pictures:  If you are uploading several pictures that are in different folders, you can copy them to your desktop, and then delete them later. Make sure you COPY, not move, your pictures, so you won’t delete the original.

Does this website rent, sell, or in any way profit from having our Classmates' names, addresses, and personal information?

No.  Neither this website nor its host rents or sells any Classmate information or engages in any marketing or solicitation to Classmates.  All personal contact information is held strictly confidential.  There is no advertising on the website or display of banner ads or pop-up windows.  Our website is owned by our Reunion Committee.

What is the purpose of this website?

This site was originally created to more efficiently collect and maintain MHS Class of ’68 alumni contact information for the purpose of planning and executing reunions.  However, the purpose has expanded in three additional directions:  1) to facilitate classmate connections and communications, regardless of reunions, 2) to store and publish archival information of interest to classmates (such as reunion photos), and 3) to publish memorial information on classmates that have passed away.

Can I join the site even if I don't plan to attend the reunion?

Yes.  As noted in the prior question’s answer, joining the site has benefits for classmates even if they are not attending the latest reunion.