USSVI Bremerton Base

⚓ Introduction: Launching Our New Digital Flagship

Thursday, May 29, 2025 1830 on ZOOM

Welcome aboard to a new voyage—one that does not involve ballast tanks or reactor startups, but still requires precision, teamwork, and a shared mission. Today we begin the process of bringing our USSVI Gertrude Check Base into a new era of communication, connection, and community through the power of WordPress.

WordPress will now serve as both our Base Website and the home of our digital newsletter, The Puget Soundings. That might sound like a big leap—especially for those of us more comfortable with grease pencils than keyboards—but it is the right mission at the right time.

We are not abandoning the values and traditions that got us here. We are building on them.

For years, The Puget Soundings has been a staple—something you could hold in your hands, tuck into a rack, or clip out for a memory board. But as costs rise and readership expectations change, so too must our methods. With WordPress, we can publish faster, reach further, and preserve better than ever before.

Why WordPress?

WordPress is not just a blogging tool—it is a Content Management System (CMS), trusted by millions, including universities, military organizations, and major media outlets. It gives us full control over what we post, how it looks, and when it goes live.

What does that mean for us?

• Our Base Website will now be dynamic, not static. No more waiting for quarterly updates. If there is a meeting change, a memorial announcement, or a photo gallery from an event—it can go live in minutes.
• Our newsletter becomes evergreen. Instead of sending out a quarterly packet and hoping it lands in time, we can now share stories, tributes, and updates as they happen. Articles can be posted by authors throughout the month, and archived issues can be browsed or downloaded easily.
• Members will stay informed in real time. Whether they are around the corner in Bremerton or retired in Florida, every shipmate will have access to the same information, the same updates, and the same connection to the Base.

And perhaps most importantly, we own our story. WordPress gives us the tools to preserve our legacy—our tributes, photos, documents, and even oral histories—on a platform that we control. No middlemen, no print delays, and no barriers to access.

The Excitement (and Challenges) Ahead

Let’s be honest: this will not be without its challenges. Not everyone is comfortable with web tools, and some shipmates will need a little more time to get used to the dashboard. There will be moments when the formatting gets wonky, or the photo does not upload just right, or someone clicks “Save Draft” instead of “Publish.”

But this is not the first time we have had to learn new systems. From analog sonar to digital charts, from sound-powered phones to satellite comms—we have always adapted. This is no different. It just comes with fewer pressure hulls and a lot more menus.

Fortunately, you are not doing this alone. We will train together, practice together, and support one another. Whether you are posting stories, managing site content, or just logging in to see what is new, you are part of the crew now.

Where We Are Going

By the end of this first session, you will know how to log in, navigate the WordPress dashboard, and create your very first post. That is no small thing.

In the coming weeks, we will expand your skills:

• Learn how to manage Pages and Menus
• Create an organized archive of past issues of The Puget Soundings
• Customize our newsletter homepage for visitors and members alike
• Empower Base Officers and members to contribute directly to the life of the site

We are not just building a website. We are building a living, breathing, digital extension of our brotherhood—one that honors the past while embracing the tools of the present to secure our future.