[Chapter-delegates] Chapter Website(s)

Fri Apr 24 12:27:09 PDT 2026

If we want to defend an open, interoperable and global Internet,
we should try to avoid centralized proprietary solutions.

	Julf

On 24/04/2026 2:10 pm, Eduardo Diaz via Chapter-delegates wrote:
> @All:
> 
> A few years ago, the Internet Society Puerto Rico Chapter decided to 
> move our website from Joomla to Google Sites. The main reasons were 
> simple: it is free, there is no need to maintain the underlying software 
> or databases, and Google automatically provides SSL/security 
> certificates at no additional cost. We have also found it much easier to 
> manage and update content using Google Sites.
> 
> 
> Given the WordPress issues being discussed, I would encourage chapters 
> to at least explore Google Sites as an alternative. We intentionally 
> avoided WordPress because of the ongoing need to apply security patches 
> and updates, as well as the risks associated with third-party plugins. 
> In many cases, websites become vulnerable because of poorly maintained 
> plugins that introduce security weaknesses.
> 
> 
> Eduardo Disz
> 
> ISOC Puerto Rico
> 
> 
> Just sharing our experience in case it helps inform this discussion.
> 
> 
> 
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> 
> On Thu, Apr 23, 2026 at 9:16 PM Andrés Gómez via Chapter-delegates 
> <chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org <mailto:chapter- 
> delegates at elists.isoc.org>> wrote:
> 
>     __
> 
>     This is Andrés from the Aragon chapter.
> 
>     Our site was looking perfect until we had to update PHP and the
>     theme to the new version. That’s when everything went haywire, and
>     we’ve had to start from scratch again. We’re working on it.
> 
>     Andrés Gómez
>     FETERAND SRL
>     CTO
>     AMS's Aragon Chapter Internet Society
>     +34 656.904.544
> 
>     Lo urgente casi nunca deja tiempo para lo importante
> 
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> 
>     El 23/4/26 a las 11:27, Klaus Birkenbihl via Chapter-delegates escribió:
>>
>>     Dear Chapter Leaders, (especially those responsible for the websites),
>>
>>     /I'm not sure if this is the right place to bring up this topic.
>>     On the other hand, websites are an important part of our public
>>     relations, and we at ISOC.DE <http://ISOC.DE> don't seem to be the
>>     only ones having issues. If you have an answer but don't want to
>>     leave it here, feel free to send me a private email at
>>     Klaus.Birkenbihl at ISOC.DE <mailto:Klaus.Birkenbihl at ISOC.DE>./
>>
>>
>>           Initial Situation:
>>
>>     After several attempts in recent years, ISOC.DE <http://ISOC.DE>
>>     has decided to seriously undertake the relaunch of its website.
>>     After all, ISOC is providing support and guidelines for the
>>     relaunch in the form of the "Genesis child theme for Internet
>>     Society chapters". This should make switching a WordPress site by
>>     changing the theme manageable with reasonable effort.
>>
>>
>>           Expectations:
>>
>>     Besides all the dazzling, great features that make a theme
>>     attractive, there are a few basic requirements:
>>
>>      1. The most important components of a WordPress blog—posts and
>>         pages—should be recognizably displayed,
>>      2. There should be acceptable default styles for frequently used
>>         elements such as forms (form controls) or tables,
>>      3. The remaining elements (menus, sidebars, categories, archives,
>>         etc.) should be easily customizable via CSS and, if necessary,
>>         a few scripts.
>>
>>
>>           Experience:
>>
>>     So far expectations 1 and 2 were a disaster. After just installing
>>     the theme, the site looks like this: https://www.isoc-german-
>>     chapter.de/ <https://www.isoc-german-chapter.de/>. (Before:
>>     https://www.isoc.de/ <https://www.isoc.de/>). Apparently, even the
>>     structure hasn't been preserved. Forms and tables are displayed
>>     unusably. Well, maybe we just make dumb mistakes and don't get the
>>     glue.
>>
>>
>>           Learn from the winners:
>>
>>     We thought we simply should take a look at how others managed it.
>>     So I investigated: who is using the theme? I examined 114 chapter
>>     sites (source: https://www.internetsociety.org/chapters/#find-
>>     your-chapter <https://www.internetsociety.org/chapters/#find-your-
>>     chapter>). Of 93 sites I could access, 5 are using the theme. Of
>>     these 5 sites, 3 look kind of successful. Congratulations to
>>     https://isoc.nl/ <https://isoc.nl/>, https://www.isoc.cat/
>>     <https://www.isoc.cat/>, and https://isoc-ontario.org/ <https://
>>     isoc-ontario.org/>. https://isoc.mk/ <https://isoc.mk/> seems to
>>     be under construction without existing content.  (Fun fact:
>>     https://www.isoc-aragon.org/ <https://www.isoc-aragon.org/> looks
>>     pretty much like https://www.isoc-german-chapter.de/ <https://
>>     www.isoc-german-chapter.de/>).
>>
>>     So 3-5 out of 93 Chapter websites use the Theme? Doesn't sound too
>>     encouraging. Were my investigations wrong?
>>
>>
>>           Open questions:
>>
>>       * Did I miss a Website using the "Genesis child theme for
>>         Internet Society chapters"? Which one?
>>       * Who tried using the theme but then gave up? If so—why did you
>>         give up?
>>       * To those who are successful:
>>           o Would you recommend using the theme (migrating a lot of
>>             existing content)?
>>           o Do you have any tips or tricks on how to affordably switch
>>             a regular WordPress site with traditional structure
>>             (chronological posts, pages, menus, some forms,
>>             categories, archives, etc..,) to this theme?
>>
>>     Best regards
>>
>>     Klaus
>>
>>
>>
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>     _______________________________________________
>     As a Chapter Leader, you are automatically added to the Internet
>     Society’s Chapter Leaders Community Group and the Chapter Delegates
>     e-list, which is regularly synchronized with the Internet Society
>     Chapter Portal (AMS): https://community.internetsociety.org
>     <https://community.internetsociety.org>.
>     The Internet Society has a legitimate interest to communicate with
>     its chapter leaders, you will therefore remain subscribed for the
>     duration of your term and will be unsubscribed automatically when
>     your term ends.
>     Please note that the archive of this list is publicly accessible and
>     may be viewed by anyone. By submitting information to this list and
>     contributing to the communications, you acknowledge that the
>     contents will be publicly visible.
>     View the Internet Society Code of Conduct: https://
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> _______________________________________________
> As a Chapter Leader, you are automatically added to the Internet Society’s Chapter Leaders Community Group and the Chapter Delegates e-list, which is regularly synchronized with the Internet Society Chapter Portal (AMS): https://community.internetsociety.org.
> The Internet Society has a legitimate interest to communicate with its chapter leaders, you will therefore remain subscribed for the duration of your term and will be unsubscribed automatically when your term ends.
> Please note that the archive of this list is publicly accessible and may be viewed by anyone. By submitting information to this list and contributing to the communications, you acknowledge that the contents will be publicly visible.
> View the Internet Society Code of Conduct: https://www.internetsociety.org/become-a-member/code-of-conduct/
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