for easy use of the ABTC Websites

By your Website Committee

Since the ABTC Website started in 1996, it has grown to two sites with over a hundred pages, including the separate site dedicated to National Specialty shows.  This abundance of materials has caused some users to have problems locating the material they want to view. We will explain the several ways to find and use things on the ABTC Websites.

ABTC sites in your Favorites or Bookmarks

Add www.abtc.org to your browser’s “Favorites” or "Bookmarks" list. This will take you directly to the Main Website’s home page whenever you want.  Also, add www.tervspecialty.info to your Favorites or Bookmarks as your permanent address for National Specialty information.  Starting in 2004, the Specialty Information Brochure and Premium Lists were available through the National Specialty website, as well as the schedules, host hotel information, regional weather, pictures, and results.

Start at “Home”

At the top of the Main site’s home page, immediately under the Club's name,  you will see a row of “buttons” linking to the five major sections of the Website, plus a constant invitation to "Contact Us" with your questions or comments.

We will explain these major sections below.

Major Sections

The “Find a Tervuren” section is mostly for the general public.  It describes the Breed and answers many of the common questions from people who think they might want a Terv.  Members might refer to this when presented with questions, too.  One of the most important links is to the Breeder Information Contact - volunteers all over the country that can help locate an available Terv.

“Join the Club” is for people who are considering membership.  It briefly describes the ABTC, the procedures for applying, and provides membership application forms that may be downloaded. Current members should also use these forms when enrolling new members because they change occasionally, and obsolete versions might not be accepted.

"Rescue" is a central source for information for people who need or want to help a Terv in distress.

“Activities” provides summary schedules of ABTC National and Area Club shows. This will mostly be of interest to Terv owners who want to participate in AKC and ABTC-sponsored events.  It further links to suites of pages describing the six AKC events, plus a few non-AKC ones.  Top ranked Tervs in each event are listed.  The ABTC National Specialty has a separate website, which may be reached by links on the Activities page.

The “Club Information” section branches into a variety of materials mostly for current ABTC members. These include Club contact information, suites of pages prepared by several committees, pictures, reference materials such as the Breed Standard and much more.  A suite of pages on Breed Type for conformation judges has extensive material of interest to any conformation fancier.

Search Aids

Following a brief welcome message on the home page, you are provided alternative methods for going elsewhere:

“What’s New” reports all changes and additions to the Website for the past several months. These generally occur monthly, depending on what there is to update and the urgency. The most common changes are show schedules by Area Clubs, and the phone number or e-mail address of ABTC members who volunteer as “contacts” for various kinds of information and services.

The “Site Map” really is a table of contents for the entire Website. It, and the Website, are organized like an outline. You may go directly to any page simply by left-clicking on it. Once on a page, related pages are linked in a hierarchy that may be followed using the link to the [next page] at the bottom of each page.  The Site Map on the Main Website does not cover the National Specialty site.

You may search by keyword by going to the "Search Our Site" page and inserting a word into the “Search for” space.  The system will list each page where that word appears, sorted by the number of occurrences.  You then may left-click on a page to view it.  A search from the Main Website does not cover the National Specialty site.

Navigation Tools

At the top of each page, a "header" bar provides links back to the Home page, and to the other major sections.

At the bottom of each page, you will find a footer with links to the Home page, to the preceding page, and to following pages in the current page hierarchy, if any.  It also provides links back to the Site Map and Search page.

“Hyperlinks” may appear anywhere in the text of a page.  They are in color with an underline (hyperlink).  These link to other ABTC Website pages or to other websites that provide further detail on the subject being discussed. Just left-click once on the colored word to immediately view the linked material.

Contact Us

In the footer of each page, we offer a link to a page to contact the ABTC via e-mail. The page presents a simple on-line form to compose an e-mail message. Links to answers to many frequently asked questions are provided lower on the page.

Inquirers must select a topic from a menu. Each topic automatically links to an ABTC volunteer that is an authority on the topic. The inquirer must also provide an e-mail address to reply, and is given a space to type in the message or question.

Members should use this page to send in changes to their postal address, telephone number, or e-mail address.

Download Forms & Documents

The Website uses “pdf” files when it provides something that viewers will need to print, such as forms, premium lists, and brochures. National Specialty websites usually distribute their Information Brochure and Premium Lists this way. You must install Adobe Acrobat Reader, or one of its competitors, on your computer in order to view or print pdf file materials. 
 

This file format was originated by Adobe in their Acrobat software, and it has become a very widespread and popular format.  It works automatically with your web browser.  Installation is simple and safe.  Pdf files have never been involved in any harmful worm or virus.  The Acrobat Reader is free, and the ABTC Website provides instructions and links for installing it at www.abtc.org/download.htm.  This is the way you download forms to save or print.

Help Us Improve

Please use the Contact Us page, or other specific links, to notify the Website Committee of any problems you encounter, and of improvements and features that you would like added. The ABTC Website is always evolving, and you can influence the direction.

Problems or Comments? Use our Contact Form
Copyright © American Belgian Tervuren Club, Inc. 2006. All rights reserved.
For permission to reprint, copy, or otherwise use materials on this site, use our Contact Form