APEX News Interview - December 2009
Disclaimer: Interviews published express the views of the contributing parties and are not necessarily those of the APEX Board of Directors and / or the APEX Newsletter Editor.
Introducing Master Colby and Lady Callie Russell - the canine partners at Casey's Celtic Charm
Interviewer - Hi Colby and Callie - welcome to the APEX interview room and thank you for giving our members the opportunity to learn a little about you. To begin, can you tell our readers a little bit about yourselves? (You may include any personal information you wish to share.)
Colby - Since I am the older of the two us I will speak for my little sister Callie. My name is Colby Russell (AKA Lexwyre Jumping Jack Flash), I am 4 ½ years old. Callie Russell (AKA Scanwyre Topsy Turvy) will be 2 years old March 12, 2010. I was born in Langley, British Columbia, Canada, but my ‘fur-mummy’ was born at the same place where Callie was born in Northern Ireland. Callie came to be part of our family on June 30th, 2008. It was sure a long day waiting for that airplane to land in Canada and we were all excited about her arrival. I went to the airport and greeted her personally as I felt it was ‘my role’ to show her the ropes. Callie became a ‘Canadian citizen’ the very next day on July 1 which is a special day called ‘citizens day’. She sure made our home very lively that much is certain! Our human parents’ are very committed to us both with no shortage of love for the both of us. We have learned how to share the affection. They make sure we are well behaved - we actually ‘had’ to go the school. They make sure we are healthy - we have to go the dog doctor regularly, and mom insists that we look nice so she does all our grooming. They both seem to know a lot about the kind of dog that we are and what we need to be well-adjusted and healthy. We wondered how they knew just what to do all the time? Mom and Dad what often talk lovingly about another dog called Casey. We didn’t know who Casey was but Callie and I knew he was someone very special.
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Interviewer - Can you tell APEX what was it that initially stirred your parents interest and convinced them to create a web site wrapped around yourselves?
Colby - Mom and Dad sat us down and explained to us that it was because of Casey that they created the website. It was a very long time ago and they shared the story with us, which we will now share with your readers.
Our mom has always been a huge lover of all animals but especially dogs. Both Mom and Dad had always had a ‘family dog’ in their homes. When they got married, and got their own home they also wanted to have a ‘family dog’. What kind of dog shall we introduce into our new family? They began to research the breeds for their temperaments, and personality traits to make sure we ‘matched up’, to be sure they are doing the right thing and making the best choices for them and for us. They decided that the Wire-Fox terrier was the breed for them and to make a long story short Casey became their first ‘fur-baby’. They realized they had so much to learn and so did Casey. It was not all as easy as they thought it would be. They felt that by sharing their experiences with others interested in this particular breed that they would be helping others to understand what to expect before making a choice that may not necessarily be the best one for them. In doing so preventing a ‘mismatch’ and having a dog going to a home that may not be a ‘forever home’. Because mom and dad loved animals so much, they thought this effort might prevent this from happening so they ‘got on the ‘information highway’ and shared Casey’s story with the web world, and continued sharing ‘our stories as well’ in hopes that all dogs will find their forever homes.
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Interviewer - How long has your parents web site been online and what benefits have you observed them experience by owning a web site?
Colby - Mom and Dad first began building Casey’s Celtic Charm in 1999 on Geocities. It was in 2000 that they got their .com and the website then became known as Casey’s Celtic Charm.com, named so as this was Casey’s registered name. As they were learning all about our breed and our personality development they were also learning about the ‘how to’ of developing and building a website. You might say we were all intrinsically tied together, two passions intertwined for the benefit of the many. The benefits both Callie and I experience are that Mom and Dad are continually ‘networking and learning’ with and from others with the similar interest, namely ‘wire-fox terriers.’
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Interviewer - What (if anything) do you consider being the positives and / or negatives for yourselves and your parents through having a web site?
Colby - We are for ‘positive thinkers’ so we will begin there.
Positives
- • Knowledge and education is always the goal, both for others and us. The more we learn and understand the more we can prevent. The saying ‘an ounce of prevention, is worth more than a pound of cure’.
- • Any education and information they glean as a result of the networking, is shared on the website. As a result we are healthier, eat the best foods available, prevent illness, share grooming techniques, and we have many wonderful friends all over the world.
- • Mom and Dad are not only learning about this breed, they are also learning continuously about improving their webmaster skills. You cannot learn without putting theory into practice.
Negatives
- • The only negative Callie and I can think of is perhaps Mom and Dad could be walking us a little more often and longer instead of working on the computer. It is a small price to pay for the benefits that the educational value brings to prospective wire-fox terrier owners.
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Interviewer - Who, if anyone, influenced your parents the most when they began to create their web site or when their web site initially went online and how did this person or these persons influence them and have either of you been influenced in any way by having an online persona?
Colby - Callie and I like to think it is the two of us who continually inspire the website content development. However, if the truth is to be told – it was Casey! He was the seed and we are the nurturing ‘sunshine and rain’ that continue to provide the content for the ‘lived experience’ which mom and dad write about.
As far as the website technique development, there are number the dedicated webmasters whom inspired and mentored mom and dad as they learned, many of them are APEX members. They both became involved with APEX, first as evaluators, then as board members. Dad was Director of Memberships for many years, and Mom Director of Operations. During this time they both learned so much from those far more experienced then themselves. More than that, they upheld the ethical values long associated with APEX.
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Interviewer - In your opinions, what is the biggest mistake a non-professional web site designer might make?
Colby - When mom and dad do website evaluations there are a few things which often disappoint them. These are the biggest mistakes they comment on:
- • Poor navigation within the website – if they can’t find it easily, they can’t enjoy their visit as much nor can they gain as much information as might be offered, they may never know for sure. Rule of Thumb - WebPages should be created for the youngest users to the most sophisticated user.
- • Too much to look at on one page, this often distracts from the content. After all, isn’t the message just as important as how it is presented?
- • Busy background choices combined with font color selection/ and font size. Eyes should not be strained during a website visit.
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Interviewer - What tips can you give to web site owners who are looking to improve their web sites?
Colby - What mom and dad really love is visiting a web site that has a few simple elements:
- • Informative content – ‘teach us something.’
- • Simple and intuitive navigation – ‘don’t lose us in a maze.’
- • Beautiful and interesting does not have to be complex – ‘less can be more.’
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Interviewer - Do you consider accessibility and validation of coding to be important? Whether yes or no please tell us why.
Colby - Yes, the greater accessibility the web site has on the ‘information highway’ the better the opportunity that your site will be visited. That is the goal; get your message out to as many people on the Net as possible. Isn’t this the definitive reason we as webmasters spend so many hours creating them!
Interviewer - Your parents are the owners of an APEX Member web site. Can you tell us why they decided to join APEX originally and what benefits this membership has provided to them over the years?
Colby - Oops, Callie and I got ahead of the interview questions. We kind of answered this a little earlier in question 5. However, there are a few more things that were important to mom and dad as it relates to APEX membership. What does APEX mean to them:
- • Maintaining a standard of ‘ethical conduct’ in dealing with all visitors with whom we interact on our website. Whether it is our award program or in general communication, it is important our visitors know that by association with APEX we will uphold this ethical mission and pledge.
- • Membership and Association = credibility and professionalism.
- • Applicants to our awards program can be assured that they will be treated with fairness, respect, and due diligence of our stated rules.
- We will treat all our visitors to our ‘home on the web’ as if we are welcoming you into our ‘actual’ home – welcoming, warm, heart-felt, and hope that you enjoyed your visit.
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Interviewer - Is there anything further you would like to add?
Colby - On behalf of Mom and Dad, Callie and I would like to thank APEX for this opportunity to share our family’s experiences with the Membership. Mom and Dad have been long-time members of APEX and they are very proud of their continued Membership. Mom and Dad have said “there have been other Ethical Organizations in the past however it is APEX who remains– which speaks volumes.”
Interviewer - Thank you Colby and Callie. The time you have given is much appreciated.
Acknowledgement: The above interview is Copyright © Wendy, David, Colby and Callie Russell 2009 - 2010 with sole publishing rights being held by APEX and may not be republished and / or redistributed without the written permission of the Authors.