All events should be created or approved by a Hub Leader and assigned to a group so that Hub Members have the ability to RSVP using the Bookings feature. Hub Members do have the option to Contribute new events but only a Hub Leader or Sitewide Editor can approve them.

Creating an event is different from creating a blog post and this document hopes to create a format used for all New Events so we have uniformity in the available calendars. the Events tab in the left hand navigation of the Site Admin section offers the options for adding new locations and events.

When you Add New Event you will have the option to enter your Location information. If you are using an existing location it will appear in a drop down menu when you begin typing if you are adding a new location you must provide a street level address for the map to function. In the Event Details section you have the choice to Upload/Insert photos, videos and audio files which are great for sharing content related to an event. Below the Event Details section is another section for Image which should be used for an event Flyer or Logo describing that event. This second image option is used as the main image and thumbnail for that event so this is the preferred image location.

The steps to create a new event are as follow

1. Add Descriptive Title with Event name and Hub Location so Calendar viewers know where the event is taking place
2. Add Event Dates and Times – Note that for times feature you must use the arrow keys to change time.
3. Select Event  Location – Always use a complete street address unless for a private residence
4. Add Event Details – Provide as much detail as possible for attendees including phone numbers, emails or links to Facebook events.
5. Add Event Image – use this for Event Flyers if available or use the Hub Logo/Photo but don.t leave it empty or an icon will be substituted
6. Enable Bookings – this is the events RSVP tool and all Hub Leaders should use this to manage RSVP’s

//// Note about Bookings: Please chose the correct number of Bookings available before you  Submit Event because a glitch in the system will not allow them to be changed after the event has been created.

Before you Submit Event check the items listed in the right hand navigation including the following:

• Is this a recurring event? If yes check the box, if not ignore it
• Who is the event contact person? Should be the Hub Leader so they receive all event communications!
• Group Ownership – Assign all events to a Hub so members can RSVP or discuss in the Forums.
• Categories: Assign your event to a Hub category if possible otherwise leave as the generic Meetings

Once you create or approve a new event with Bookings available the Hub Leader will receive notification for all RSVP Bookings made by Hub Members.

The website uses a plugin to create and manage events. What that plugin does is create a special type of blog post and then it establishes some management tools for those Events posts. The design is fairly efficient but not perfect and there are some quirks. When an event is created it is basically a blog post and when you click on and event from the “Month at a Glance” Calendar you are looking at the blog post without the control of the plugin. If you are logged in as an editor, when you click on edit from the event page it allows you make changes to that entry within WordPress interface at the post level. So for example if we wanted that particular post to have a special theme format with different colors or some other custom feature like that it can be controlled from there.

In order to Edit or manage an events using the plugin interface and it’s special functions we have to reach the individual calendar entries from within the administration panel. So login to the site and go to the  administrative Dashboard at http://aieseclife.org/wp-admin/  and look for Events on the left hand navigation. Click on Edit and it will take you to a listing of events which you can then modify using the special functions of the Events plugin.