Overview

Pre-launch review meeting for the VCEDC website redesign. The session focused on finalizing homepage structure, configuring Stripe and PayPal for the December fundraising campaign, refining the Leadership page, placing sponsor logos, and setting a board review deadline of December 10.

Attendees:
- Melissa Cusumano (Asymmetric)
- Mark Hope (Asymmetric)
- Isalia Ramirez (Asymmetric)
- Kathy Schmitz (VCEDC — client)
- Tracey Pilsner (VCEDC — client)
- kmitzie@gmail.com (VCEDC — client)

Key Decisions

• Homepage restructured to mirror main menu. The current homepage has an 8-second average visit time, indicating users can't find what they need. All sections will be reorganized to map directly to top-level navigation items, creating a clear user path.
• Donate page will include both Stripe and PayPal. Stripe was previously used only for event ticketing; it will now be added to the main donate page alongside the existing PayPal button.
• "Donor covers fees" option will be enabled in PayPal. This setting was missing and costs VCEDC an estimated $150–$200/year in lost donations. Tracey will enable it in the PayPal account backend.
• Leadership page menu item stays as "Leadership" to preserve the existing URL and avoid broken links. Page content will be restructured internally.
• Board draft review deadline: December 10. Melissa will send the board a draft site link before their December 10 meeting for early feedback and bug identification.
• Brad's Stripe admin access removed post-launch. He is currently inactive (no login in 90+ days) but will be formally removed once the new site is confirmed live.
• Jim's photo and access removed January 1. Jim is the outgoing board chair; his photo will be removed from the donate page now and from the Leadership page on January 1.

Action Items

Melissa (Asymmetric)

• [ ] Implement all homepage content and structural changes (see details below)
• [ ] Build out remaining pages, including Leadership, with final copy
• [ ] Add Stripe to the donate page and confirm PayPal button linkage
• [ ] Add Incredible Bank logo to the Broadband page
• [ ] Add Associated Bank logo to the Education page
• [ ] Send board a draft site link before December 10

Tracey (VCEDC)

• [ ] Add self as admin to the Stripe account to manage 2FA during Kathy's recovery
• [ ] Enable "donor covers fees" option in the PayPal account
• [ ] Coordinate with Kathy to remove Brad's admin access post-launch
• [ ] Confirm PayPal bank transfer linkage to People's Bank (working with treasurer)

Kathy (VCEDC)

• [ ] Provide a new, non-pixelated photo for the homepage
• [ ] Send updated video list for the Business Success page (needs Vilas County-wide representation, not just Eagle River)

Homepage Restructuring Details

Problem: The current homepage has redundant content, unclear user paths, and an average visit time of only 8 seconds. Sections don't map to the main menu, leaving visitors confused about where to go.

Solution: Restructure every section to match the main menu and create a single clear call-to-action per section.

Section-by-Section Changes

Remote Workers column: Vanessa's photo is the preferred image. Copy TBD; will align with the Remote Workers page.

Donate Page & Payment Setup

Stripe

• Melissa now has login credentials (shared securely via text during the meeting)
• Tracey will be added as a Stripe admin to handle 2FA while Kathy recovers from surgery
• Brad will be removed as admin post-launch (currently inactive)

PayPal

• Existing PayPal button/link will be carried over to the new donate page
• Tracey will enable the "donor covers fees" option in the PayPal account settings — this was missing and costs ~$150–$200/year on smaller donations; impact is larger on big gifts (e.g., a $1,000 donation can carry a ~$65 fee)
• VCEDC is working to re-link PayPal payouts from U.S. Bank to People's Bank (their primary account); the People's Bank VP on the board confirmed they now accept PayPal

Leadership Page Refinements

• URL/menu item: Stays as "Leadership" — changing it would break existing links
• New headline: "Meet the business experts leading the VCEDC."
• Structure: Separate Executive Director section from Board of Directors section
• Outgoing chair (Jim): Photo removed from donate page now; removed from Leadership page January 1
• Board member Roger Wolfe: Listed as "not pictured" — submitted photo is unusable

Sponsor Logo Placement

Goal: Publicly recognize corporate sponsors to attract additional corporate support.

Launch Timeline

• Contract go-live date: December 15
• Annual fundraising campaign launch: First week of December (snail mail ~Dec 2, email blast to follow)
• Board draft review: Before December 10 board meeting
• Earlier launch possible if pages are ready ahead of schedule

Related

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