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Martin J. Citardi, MD.
ARS Information Technology Officer
Note: This article presents a guide for navigating the ARS web site. Members are encouraged to review the article while navigation the ARS web site.
The past 18 months have seen significant improvements to the ARS public web site as well as on-line ARS Member Services. As part of the 2004 updates, a new interface for web site navigation was introduced, and the strategy for the web site's organization was revised to reflect the growth of the entire web site.
Both the public web site and the password-protected Member Services portal may be accessed through a common URL:
www.american-rhinologic.org
 Figure 1
A quick view of the ARS home page illustrates the new navigation interface (Figure 1). Last year, the public web site was reorganized into these categories:
- About the ARS (information about the history of the ARS, its officers and its committees)
- News (archive of news articles from the NoseNews and its predecessor publication)
- Patient Information (information designed to answer common questions from patients)
- Membership Info (details on how to join the ARS)
- For ARS Members (information about ARS Meetings and Special Events, ARS Awards, ARS-sponsored Research, Patient Advocacy, and other ARS activities)
- Links (links to other web sites)
On the ARS home page, these basic categories are at the top of the header (labeled A, in Figure 1).
In addition, links for popular pages have been designed as Quick Links (labeled B, in Figure 1):
- Abstract Submission
- e-Abstract Module
- Instructions for Presenters & Authors
- Meeting Information
- Scientific Meeting Registration
- Special Event Registration
These links allow the user to jump directly to these specific web pages, without navigating down the hierarchy of the web site.
Two additional navigation menus are present on the home page. On the left side, this menu (labeled C in Figure 1) highlights important pages:
- Contact Us
- Disclosure Statement
- e-Survey Module
- Member Login
- Quick Links
- Site Map
Note the location of the Member Login link in this menu.
On the right side of the home page, this menu (labeled D in Figure 1) presents direct links to other popular web pages. It is anticipated that the content of this menu will be adjusted to highlight specific web pages.
At the center of the home page is introductory material and contains links to specific areas of interest.
From the ARS home page, users may access each category within the public web site, by clicking on the appropriate button with the header (labeled A in Figure 1). This action will then open a new page specific to that category of information. Each of these pages shares a similar organization and contains a variety of subheadings. In Figure 2, the introductory page (known as a landing page) for the category, For ARS Members, is presented. The basic categories of information are again presented in the page header (labeled A, in Figure 2) - so that navigation to other areas of the web site is easy. The navigation menu from the left side of the ARS home page (labeled B in Figure 1) appears as a horizontal bar on other public web pages (labeled B in Figure 2). The menu on the left side of web page (labeled C in Figure 2) is a list of subheadings; these subheadings are context-specific. In this example, the subheadings reflect pages that fall within the section designated as For ARS Members.
 Figure 2
Members may access password-protected areas of the ARS web page from any page on the public web site. Links for the Member Login page are present on the home page as well as all other public web site pages. The page for Member Login is also listed under Quick Links.
 Figure 3
The Member Login page appears in Figure 3. If a member cannot recall his login and password information, clicking the button for I forgot my user name/password will access a web tool that will selectively release this information.
 Figure 4
After a successful login, members can access the ARS Member Services, a web-based portal for a variety of critical functions, including on-line dues payment. This portal for members is presented in Figure 4. Note the menu on the left (labeled A in Figure 4). This menu is defined by the privileges assigned to each member. For instance, an individual who is assigned to an abstract review committee will see a button that will permit abstract review. In this example, the basic level of privileges is presented:
- Abstract submission (online abstract submission)
- My Member Profile (tool for updating a member profile and paying dues)
- e-Abstract Module (link to the public page for the e-Abstract Module)
- Meeting Registration (tool for registering for meetings on-line)
- CME Tool (new feature that will summarize CME credits earned at ARS-sponsored meetings)
- Sign Out
It should be noted that registration for ARS Scientific Meetings and Special Events can be started from public web site (ARS home page and Quick links) as well as from the Member Services portal. Members can qualify for on-line discounts through either pathway; however, it is necessary to indicate "ARS member" and supply a valid login/password, when accessing the pathway from the public web site.
This brief guide has presented introductory information about the ARS web presence. Members are encouraged to explore the entire web site.
If you have any questions, please contact us at arsinfo@american-rhinologic.org.
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