Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.s)
PASSWORDS, REGISTRATION, PRIVATE MESSAGES
Why do I need a password?
Everyone entering the RodsandWheels.com Web site may view much of the information contained on the site and the information about each car club. Only RodsandWheels registered users may have full access, enhanced by club membership status and some registration criteria.
Registration on the site is free, as are all site services. User name must be unique and is not case sensitive. Password IS case sensitive and cannot have any spaces.
How do I register for the site?
Navigate down the Home Page to the red tab on the right which says "Register Today". When the register page opens you will need to choose a User Name, which may be both upper case and lower case and may have spaces. You will also need to enter your name and address and an email address, if you have one. An email address is not required; however, we can not send you a registration confirmation without a good email address.
We need just a couple more things: You need to create a password, which IS case sensitive and must have no spaces. You also need to tell us if you belong to a car club already on the site. If you don't know if your club is on the site, you can change it later.
Note: Your club may submit an excel formatted list of the information for all of your club members and RodsandWheels can populate the registration step for the club all at once.
How do I change my password?
Log in to the RodsandWheels site, with your Username and Password. Once your sign-in is accepted you will see "View/Edit my Profile" immediately below your user name on the top right of the Home Page. Click on "View/Edit" and you will see your information displayed and three boxes below to enter and change your password. Enter your current password, and then enter a new password. Confirm your new password by entering it again. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on "Submit".
What do I do if I forget my password?
Click on the link, underneath the login area, that says "I Forgot my Password." It will take you to a page where you will give it the email address you originally logged on to the site with. This will send you and email, giving you your new, randomly generated password. You can login with that password, and change it to something you like.
How do I send a private message?
Once you have entered your Login, you will see "Private Message Archive" under your Login. You may click on "Private Message" and send a private message to any club member. Questions about private messages can be answered by using the Forum FAQs at the top of the message page. Users can find club members from this page by clicking on "Find Username". Please turn pop-ups on to use this search function. Type your message in the box and hit send. You will be reminded that you have unread Private Messages with your next login. If you check the circle "notify on new private message" on your profile and you have an email address listed, you will be sent an email notice of private messages.
Note: All messages must have a subject line. From the forum page, users will have a message on the top of the page, if they have private messages pending.
SITE NAVIGATION
What information is on the Home page?
The Home page is ever changing information about RodsandWheels.com, its mission and its current direction. From the Home page users can view the current issue of RodsandWheels eMagazine and sign-up for full site access.
How do I view the eMagazine?
The eMagazine navigation tab takes site users to the directory of previous eMagazines and launches a summary window of the stories appearing in each magazine. Clicking on the summary will launch a window with the entire story text.
How do I find my club?
Navigate to the "Club Directory" tab. Choose from site drop down menu to navigate to club listings or scroll down to your club's name. Left mouse click on the club name. This section reflects your car club information, current member list, the club Web site, the club forum, your club newsletter history and the club events calendar.
If the user is designated the club administrator, a tool box will appear below the club description, as a gateway to the Club "Tool Box".
How do I create a club?
Navigate down the Home Page to the red tab on the right which says "Build Club Page".
Read the page instructions, and confirm that your car club does not already exist, then if you are ready to create a club, click on the blue highlighted words that say "Create a New Club".
Enter the club name in the first box and then a description of the club and its activities. Don't forget to enter contact information so web viewers may contact you to join your club. Choose the proper state for your club from the drop down box, and enter. If your club operates in more than one state, list the state that you are in. Next, choose the "Joining permissions". This choice will determine the amount of interaction you will have with individuals asking to join your club. In either choice you may delete a person who has joined, however, the first choice "Anyone can join" is the least work for you and the club, and may help build your club. Finally, enter the name that you would like to appear on the Club Forum heading. Generally this is your club name, but may be whatever you would like. Once you are done click "submit" to create the club.
Note: Please check over you typing before you hit submit. If you spell your club name wrong, you will need to contact RodsandWheels for assistance.
The individual setting up a club is automatically the "Moderator". Once you have hit "create the club", the club page will be built containing the club description that you just entered and a tool box, which contains the abilities to change things on the site that are assigned only to the moderator. Other items that are automatically created are a discussion area for the club "Our Forum, a place for the club to enter past and current club newsletters, "Our Newsletters" and an opportunity to build an external free website, "Our Website". Finally, you will see a list of club members, "Our Members", and an Events Calendar that will permit the club to include club events on its own web page and on the national events calendar.
Note: At the time of set up, the only member listed on the member list, is the moderator.
The moderator only has a few more steps in club set up. The word newsletter will appear in a box, until the moderator assigns the date of the first newsletter. If you don't know, or don't have one, you should still click on this box, and enter the current date. You can always go back if you wish to load a newsletter and change the date.
Finally, an external web page needs to be built. By clicking on "Our Web Site" the moderator will be given the choice to either connect the RodsandWheels club materials to the external web site the club already has built, or build a new "Free" web site hosted by RodsandWheels.
If you wish to link to an existing web site, enter this url (Web address) in the box provided. Please note that the http:// already exists, and therefore the Web address should begin with www. and then the name.
If the moderator wishes to build a RodsandWheels hosted site, he or she must tap on "Make a Web Site". An enter screen will appear permitting the moderator to provide the text of a club slogan, mission statement, note the types of cars the club is organized to support, assuming a car type is a club limiter, record any and all charities that your club is supporting, choose a visual theme for the site and check one of three boxes to include or exclude links to your car club's Car Photos, Events Calendar, and Discussion Forum.
Note: All of these choices are endlessly changeable by the moderator at anytime, so don't be concerned about getting it all right the first time.
The last thing the moderator must determine at the time the RodsandWheels hosted web site is created is if the club wishes to include the name of a person and contact information on the web site. RodsandWheels strongly recommends that you provide complete contact information with address, phone and email.
Note: If you fail to enter something at the time of set up, the moderator must use the Tool Box tools to fix or change any club or Web site information. The tool box will appear below the club description, once the Moderator logs on. Only the moderator can see or use the Tool Box tools.
Where can I find car club newsletters?
Navigate to the "Club News" tab. Click on the car club name and then choose the club newsletter that you would like to read. What information can I find in "Car Club Links"?
"Car Club Links" has information on more than 500 car clubs in the U.S. and Canada. If the club has a web site, you can click on the link and go to the club page. Contact information is also available here, and clicking on the contact line will launch an email that is properly directed to the club.
Does RodsandWheels recommend the companies or products in the "Rod Resource" section?
NO! In fact we do not have ANY advertising on the Web site or in our eMagazine. This capability has been created to assist registered RodsandWheels users to add recommendations of their own. If you are a registered club or club member you may add anything you wish to the resource list.
We recommend that should you not find services to your liking, from a listed "Resource", you should send an email to the RodsandWheels webmaster, and we will take appropriate action.
What is the "Rod Talk Forum"?
The forums were created to permit club members to create discussion on any subject of interest to car club members. In general, the forum discussions are open to all clubs; however, your club may restrict discussion only to members. A forum thread can be a great help to many other car enthusiasts. While you may be accustomed to sending an email to a friend and asking a question or answering one, that question and answer will be valuable to many other people if placed on the forum. The forum preserves these questions, opinions and answers for all to see and participate. You might be surprised by the help you get from unexpected places.
Special Note: Rod Talk Forum has its own FAQ section. Log in to the RodsandWheels site, with your username and password, navigate to the "Rod Talk Forum" and choose "FAQ" from the top page banner. All of your questions about how to use the forum are answered here.
How do I use the event calendar?
Navigate to the "Event Calendar" tab. This calendar represents car shows and events all over the U.S. Users may click on any of the blue column heads to sort the data based on that column. Registered users may enter events on the national calendar even if they are not a member of a registered car club.
CAR CLUBS
How do I build a club page?
Navigate to the "Build Club Page" tab. Users registered on the site may build a car club by clicking on the words "Create a New Club". User will need to complete the questions to create the club page. Be sure to choose the club's "state" as well as choose one of the three options as to how others may join the club. The two restricted choices are, "Anyone can Request to Join", and "Moderator Must Invite".
With "Anyone can Request to Join", the moderator will receive an email asking that the requestor be permitted to join and membership will be approved before the requester may use the site. The moderator may also send invitations for club membership. RodsandWheels recommends that the club use, "Anyone can join", as the Moderator can delete the request if the requestor does not pay club dues, or is already on the site.
Note: "Anyone can join" is the default setting.
The club forum description is one of the most important items for the person setting up the club to enter at the time of club establishment. Even though the box looks small, it is possible to enter up to 1,000 words about your club in this box. RodsandWheels.com recommends typing this information in your word processor before starting your club set up and copying and pasting your prepared text in this box.
Who is the club moderator?
A club moderator is established at the time the club is established on RodandWheels.com. The person entering the "Build Club Page" information will become the moderator for the club, and is the only person who may subsequently edit the club information. The club moderator may be changed by the Rodsandwheels.com administrator. Please send an email to RodsandWheels.com, and let us know that you would like to have moderator functions given to another person. Please give us the name of the current moderator and the new moderator's name.
Special note: Clubs may consider registering an additional member of their car club on RodsandWheels for the purposes of being the moderator. We recommend this unique "non-member" name and password be used to set up the club page. This will permit the club President and other officers to use this name to do club maintenance, while preserving their own identity on the site and without having to provide their password information to other members.
How do I add a club event to the club calendar?
All club members may enter events on "Our Events Calendar". Click on the "Add an Event" button and fill in the questions. Don't forget to enter the state and check the bottom if you want the event added to the national events calendar.
What is the Club Tool Box?
If you are the club administrator, the Club Tool Box will appear on the top of your car club page. The tool box includes, "Edit Member List", "Edit Club Information", "Print Labels" and "Enter/Collect Dues".
How do I add a car club photo gallery?
To get a club gallery just send us an email at support@rodsandwheels.com and tell us what you would like the name to be. We create the gallery (folder) and you (the moderator) can then upload all of your car photos to your new gallery.
It may appear to the car club moderator that they can add a gallery from the same menu in which a car photo is added; however this will add a sub-gallery within the club gallery already created for your club. If the club would like to have sub-galleries for special projects or events, please feel free to add them.
How do I load pictures to my car club photo galleries?
From the RodsandWheels home page choose the photo gallery tab on the right side navigation bar. When the photo galleries appear on your screen, be sure that you are signed in on the page. If it says "Log Out" on the top right, you are already logged in. If not, please log in before attempting to upload pictures. You will not be permitted to load pictures to a club gallery if you are not a member of that car club. Every registered member of a car club may load pictures to the club gallery.
Look through the galleries and find your club gallery. Double left mouse click on the master club photo (the image being displayed). You will then see the menu on the left and you should choose "Add items". This will permit you to see four "File" and four "Caption" entry fields. The caption that you would like to appear under the picture should be typed in the "Caption" field.
Click the "Browse" button, and you will be permitted to find the photo on your system to upload. Click on your photo file name, and chose "Open". Your photo address for the download will be transferred to the site download page and you will see the address entered in the "File" field. Once four items are entered, or you are ready to upload, you will need to make two more choices. At the bottom of the page you must choose "Set Item Titles". Unless you want the name of your photo file to appear on the Web Site, you need to choose either "Blank" or "Caption". Blank will be the caption you have typed and nothing else, and Caption will include the file name. Finally, you need to choose if you want a thumbnail created for the photo at the time of the upload. If you check the box, it will take longer for the photos to upload; however, users will see the photo more quickly when they log on to the site.
Depending on the speed of your internet access, your computer and the size of the image you are loading, it may take some time for the loading process to finish. Please be patient and when it finishes the screen will change and note "Upload Complete" It will return the reply "Successfully Added" and it will list the file names. If this number and the names are what you expected, you are done. You may repeat the process to add more photos, however remember to refresh your screen or you will not see the photo, even though they are on the site.
Photo Gallery Tip: If you are going to be loading a number of pictures to a club gallery at one time it is best that you have the entire photo set in the same folder on your computer. The reason is you will only be able to load four images at a time, and when you repeat the process, your system will return you to the same folder each time, making the process much easier.
Secretary Pages
By choosing Club directory from the tabs on the right side of the home page, and by choosing your Club, you may see a small red tool box below the clubs description. If "The Tool Box" is displayed, you have Secretary Privileges, if it is not, you do not have Secretary Privileges, and you should ask you club moderator (generally the person who set up the club) to grant you Secretary privileges.
If you are not the club Moderator, the functions discussed below will not appear on your screen. A club may designate as many individuals to have the "Secretary Functions" as the club would like, however, it is up to the "Moderator" to grant these Secretary privileges to other club members. (We will discuss how this is done, in the sections below.)
What are the "The Tool Box" tools?
The Tool Box tools are designed to assist in Club Management activities, such as adding members, editing information on members, establishing club dues( if the club has dues), recording dues payments, deleting members, and printing labels.
In addition, the tools permit all information about the club to be changed and edited. This includes changing the information about the club, linking to an existing web site, or creating a new Web site at RodsandWheels.
What are the Secretary Functions?
The purpose of this page is the management of member lists and dues. It is important to differentiate between the "unofficial" member lists, derived from people who sign up through this website, and the "Official" member list kept by a club secretary for the purposes of keeping track of dues, and mailing lists, and other "official" club business.
NOTE: the club moderator's name will never appear on this list. Only the RodsandWheels adminstrators can change the club moderator's status.
Note: none of the following options will be available until the club secretary or moderator creates the "official" memberlist.
How do I download my clubs membership addresses to create Mailing Labels?
Downloading addresses can only be done by the Club Moderator, or someone to whom the Moderator has granted Secretary Privileges. If you have such privileges, you should sign in of the RodsandWheels home page, and chose Club Directory and then your club.
By tapping on The Tool Box, you can enter the Secretary Functions, and you should choose Secretary Functions. Next chose Output Options, and then the type of output file you wish to use. If you are going to use Microsoft Word, your choice should be CSV a (Comma Separated Values file). You should see something similar to the follow script:
- Your file addresses30_060507.csv has been created. Right click and save the file to your computer.
Note that the numbers following the "addresses" in the file name have meaning: your Club Number (each car club has a unique number), the underscore, and then the date the file was created (YYMMDD).
