Some Things You Should Know...

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Background

  1. The Xcellent Directory was created as a way to shift the onus for maintaining class contact data from the reunion committee, to the individual.  Conceptually, this approach is one of empowering individuals to provide and share their information as they see fit.  Rather than a handful of individuals frantically trying to gather a large block of marginal quality contact information in a few short months before a reunion, this approach facilitates the ongoing, hassle-free, collection of small amounts of highly accurate data during the entire time span between reunions.
  2. The online Xcellent Directory approach has also been designed to be persistent and always available to a small team that will actively maintain the class database.  Unlike in the past when the class's contact information existed only in printed format, or was stored on one person's personal computer, going forward class contact data will be readily available to that team in a backed up, web based, electronic database if something happens to the principal owner of class records.
  3. Contact information shown in the Xcellent Directory at initial release in September 2022, was derived from two primary sources:
    1. A 10-month research project which began in October 2021.  This effort sought to determine the location of every individual in the class.  A valid address was considered to be the minimum level of data for an individual to have been "found". Other contact information elements were added as they became available.  Any individual that this research effort was not able to definitively find is listed as a "Ghost" in the Xcellent Directory.  All other individuals whose records are based only on research but are considered valid, have been identified across the Xcellent Directory as "Researched".
    2. Information as submitted to the 50-year reunion committee through the "Where You At" form available on the WHS72.org website through early September 2022.  Data submitted on this form is considered to be the gold standard because it was provided by the individual.  Throughout the Xcellent Directory, this type of data is labeled as "Submitted".

Contact Map Versus Profile Directory

There are two parts to the Xcellent Directory:

1. Contact Map

This feature is meant to replace the address listings previously provided in the class reunion booklets.  With it, contact information a classmate has opted to make available to other classmates is only a few clicks away.  There is a search by name capability, as well as the ability to search by location.  An instructional slide show has been provided which demonstrates functions and capabilities of this part of the Xcellent Directory.  The slide show is available through a link found on the Xcellent Directory Home page. To advance or return to a previous slide in the show, there is a ghosted button feature which becomes visible when the mouse pointer is placed in the lower left-hand corner of the screen.

 

2. Profile Directory

This feature is meant to augment the basic contact information available in the map interface and provide a robust way for classmembers to tell their life story.  It effectively replaces the two or three sentence allotment typically found in reunion booklets with a personal webpage worthy of nearly 70 years of life.  Like the Contact Map, there is an instructional slide show available which demonstrates how to effectively use this part of the Xcellent Directory.  Slide show access is via a link on the Xcellent Directory Home page and #3 below.  And again, like the Contact Map instructional slide show, slides are advanced or returned to a previous slide through use of a ghosted button feature which will become visible when the mouse pointer is placed in the lower left-hand corner of the screen.  An example profile - Jim Example - has also been provided for instructional purposes.

  1. In the Profile Directory, an individual can load as little or as much information as they would like, to include text, pictures, video links, Social Media and YouTube information.
  2. Although a newly opened profile may look like it will take a long to time to complete, through use of selectable radio buttons, check boxes, and by allowing nearly all entries to be optional, a meaty profile can be created in as little as 3 -5 minutes.  Entry information help buttons are available across the form if assistance is needed.
  3. Before logging in for the first time, you can review the instructions for editing your profile by clicking here.

Login Notes

Before attempting to login for the first time, please read the notes below:

  1. Usernames cannot be changed, but passwords can be by using the Change Password feature of My Account after logging in.
  2. Usernames must be entered exactly as they appear to include CAPITALIZATION. Also, do not add a space between your first and last name as this will also cause the system to reject the username.
  3. All letters in the passwords are CAPITALS. Each initial password follows a six-character (6) format of two letters (2), then three numbers (3), then one letter (1), for example: BG123F. Knowing this can be helpful in discerning the difference between the capital letter “I” and the number “1” in your unique password.
  4. After logging in you should arrive at the Xcellent Directory Home page. From the available selections, middle column, bottom of the page, it is HIGHLY recommended that you read “Contact Map instructions”, and “My profile - Editing instructions” if you have not done so already, before using these two features of the directory.
  5. Be aware the system cannot accept two different people using the same email address.  Thus, whenever married classmates are using the same email address, that email address has been assigned to the individual whose graduation last name comes first in the alphabet.  The other individual's user account will not have an associated email address. The only exception to this rule is when the email address clearly aligns with the name of one spouse or the other.  Regardless of this circumstance, both individuals will receive unique usernames and passwords, and will be able to log in using their usernames and edit their individual profiles.

Policies

Through implementation of the Xcellent Directory, the 1972 Wausau High School reunion committee has gone to great lengths to protect the privacy of class member contact information.  At the same time, classmates will now have access to a contact database that is being continuously updated, and where release of each person's contact information is controlled by the respective individual. As such, several policies have been put in place which will hopefully ensure the integrity of the system.

The following individuals WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY GRANTED ACCESS to the Xcellent Directory, effective within 48 hours after date of release:

  • Anyone who previously completed the “Where You At?” contact data submission form as hosted on the WHS72.org website, AND agreed to full release of their personal contact information,
  • Anyone who previously completed the “Where You At?” contact data submission form as hosted on the WHS72.org website, AND agreed to at least partial release of their personal contact information, and
  • Anyone who, after directory release, completes the WHS72 Contact Information Form, AND agrees to share their contact information with their classmates.

The following individuals WILL NOT BE GRANTED ACCESS to the Xcellent Directory, or as appropriate in the future, have that access removed:

  • Anyone who previously completed the “Where You At?” contact data submission form as hosted on the WHS72.org website, AND did not agree to release any of their personal contact information,
  • Anyone who is not a member of the class,
  • Anyone who is determined to have used contact information in the system for illegal, commercial or spamming purposes,
  • Anyone who, after October 31, 2022, does not share their Xcellent Directory contact information with classmates as defined in the next subsection below, and
  • Anyone who, after directory release, does not complete the WHS72 Contact Information Form, AND agrees to share their contact information with classmates.

Sharing of Contact Information

Definition of contact information sharing:

In recognition that every class member will not have the same range of contact information available to submit, for the purposes of the terms "share/shared/sharing" when used in connection with personal contact information, the following definition applies:

"Sharing of personal data has occurred when an individual has made available in the Contact Map at least two of the three following elements of information:

    1. A complete and current home address,
    2. A current personal home email address, and/or
    3. A current personal mobile number capable of receiving text messages."

Qualifying contact information as "shared"

The determination of when contact information has been "shared" is a function of what data is displayed when an individual's expanded information in the Contact Map is viewed.  The committee can selectively edit the Contact Map information, whereas all information entered in the My Profile feature is either on or off as selected by the individual.  Therefore,

  • Individuals who have previously authorized full release of their contact information and do not change that decision are considered to have shared their data.  No further action is required by them to retain access to the Xcellent Directory.
  • Individuals who have previously authorized partial release of their contact information need to review that information in the Contact Map by October 31, 2022.  If that data meets the two of three rule as described in the passages above, no fiuther action is required.  If their data does not meet that rule, then authorization to release additional information needs to occur.  That action is accomplished by submitting the WHS72 Contact Information Form.  If a required update does not occur, Xcellent Directory access will be terminated.
  • Individuals who, subsequent to directory release, complete the WHS72 Contact Information Form, AND agree to share their contact information with classmates by marking the corresponding share entry on the form.

Startup

  • Any individual being granted automatic access will receive an email with a dedicated Xcellent Directory username and password. The individual will not need to do anything to make this happen.  Upon logging in to the system, the individual will have immediate access to the database.  The list of individual receiving immediate access can be reviewed by clicking here.
  • Individuals who would like to obtain access or change a previous "no sharing" of contact information indication:
    • Need to complete and submit the WHS72 Contact Information Form,
    • Within 48 hours of submission, a reunion committee member will review the request to ensure the individual is a member of the class. If the individual is indeed a member, an email with the person's Xcellent Directory username and password will be sent. If the individual is not a member of the class, the request will be denied.
  • Basis of information shown in the directory on startup is as follows:
    • For individuals who completed a contact form on this site prior to September 6, 2022, only that information which was authorized to be released will be displayed.
    • For individuals who did not complete a contact form, information that the reunion committee pulled together will be displayed.
  • Changing the display of personal contact information:
    • Contact map data changes are accomplished by submitting the WHS72 Contact Information Form as previously described.
    • Individual users can add to or restrict access to their individual Profiles using the editing techniques as described in a slide show linked out from the Excellent Directory Home page.
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