Remarkable Squadron Website (GA-045)

[Майор Хаткевич]

I like it. All a Squadron site needs is the basic info, and a clean layout. That site qualifies.

[JC004]

...
Here's one of my favorite CAP unit sites.

http://www.cachevalleysquadron.org

It could use some little tweaks here and there, but the over look is gorgeous and and is rather functional.

WordPress.   

[HGjunkie]

Nitpicks:
C/CC is missing his Earhart ribbon

The Life Saved document has poor grammar.

Overall a good website.

[Майор Хаткевич]

The life saved document has poor grammar.

[SarDragon]

The life saved document has poor grammar.

KACHING! 

[HGjunkie]

 

[Snoopy Squadron PAO]

As the website developer for the Sandy Springs Cadet Squadron, I am humbled and impressed by the number and quality of recommendations this forum has offered. I can assure all of you that many of these suggestions have been well received by our unit and are in the process of being addressed or at least pursued. Others will take a little bit of time. Try to keep in mind that the overriding issue here is that the website developer, namely myself, is a Lockheed Martin Engineering Director by profession and not a professional website developer. Everything you see on that website resulted from a self-taught effort using MS Expressions and CorelDraw as the graphic medium to produce the site. As such, the effort leaves much to be learned and a great deal of ignorance following in close trail.

It is important to note that the purpose of this website differs than that typically presented by other unit websites. While other unit websites intend to 'inform' the public about the CAP and their unit, this website was developed primarily as a retention tool to show the cadets in this unit what they have been able to accomplish each year and to afford them the capability of displaying to their friends what they actually do in CAP far exceeds that experienced in other venues like JROTC, sports, or Middle/High School. The website has served this purpose well, gaining 2008 Balsem Award recognition and effectively eliminating the need for further unit recruiting drives. But as you all point out, it's not perfect. Of special recognition are the 10 points offered by 'Lancer'. We found these particularly valuable and quite specific enough to provide avenues for corrective action for us to pursue. So, let's address those one at a time, shall we?

1) IE Viewability – This is definitely a HUGE problem, and was not understood until after the new site was developed in MS Expressions. Apparently, Microsoft embeds HTML code in the development of its HTML files that restrict other non-Microsoft web browsers from viewing those pages accurately. We only discovered that after the website was hosted live. Short of developing the site in another development tool we don't have a resolution for this problem. (Advice from the Gallery is requested here)

2) Aaah The F-22 Header – Allow me to provide some information not readily apparent here. The Snoopy Squadron is a 'Cadet' unit that has about 74 members of which roughly 30 are Senior Members, most were former cadets. Of those, half were former cadets in this unit, ranging from the 1960's to the 2000's. About 6 of those SMs are currently Senior Engineering Managers and Directors working for Lockheed Martin and were involved in the development and testing of the F-22 Raptor over the past 20 years. We helped design that bird. And several of us are involved in the upgrades being planned for it. This allows the unit to be placed in the unique position of promoting its Aerospace Education Program via F-22 cockpit simulator rides and assembly plant tours not typically available to cadets of other squadrons.  So, the Snoopy Squadron is definitely bound to the F-22 Program and thus the significance of the F-22 image on the webpage header. But we certainly understand the sentiment by those unfamiliar with the unit. We aren't too fond of posers either.

3) Browser Scalability – This is an excellent point! I just wish I knew how to do that in MS Expressions. (Advice from the Gallery is certainly welcome here)

4) Internal Links Using New Windows – Ooops! My bad. I just wasn't familiar with the webpage developer protocol on this. We can fix that. Thanks.

5) CAP History Link – Hmm, you have a good point. We can fix that too. Thanks.

6) HTML Page Titles – Another good Point. Actually, these use to be accurate before porting to 'Expressions' but I haven't been able to find out how Expressions lets me do that. When I do, these will change to become more accurate. (Advice from the Gallery is welcome here)

7) PDF File Naming Convention  -  I didn't know that either. We can fix that one too.

8) No META Data -  Yep, the old site had them but we lost the Meta Data when porting to Expressions and re-hosting on GO DADDY.COM. We plan to rep-identify those again. Although, I don't think we'll be much competition with CAP national HQ or Wikipedia for the number one Google spot.

9) CSS Style Data – The problem here is; I have no idea how to use CSS style sheets. The entire website is a group of linked CorelDraw developed graphics on a single HTML page. If you can effectively teach how to use CSS sheets, there's a beer in it for you. (Advice from the Gallery is welcome here)

10) Visitor Tracking – The website use to incorporate a free visitor tracking utility from Two Cows that proved quite effective. But is didn't make the re-host so we need to get it back on there. Good recommendation.

The wealth of recommendations we found on this forum was very insightful and we certainly plan to use it. It should be noted that because of the philosophical approach taken by the unit on this website, its appearance will certainly not mimic those more professionally traditional sites found on the web. This is not to disparage those other websites as I've seen several outstanding ones with more on the way each year. The Snoopy Squadron website is focused on motivating the unit's cadets into being proud of their status as CAP Cadets. Our position on them is that if we're going to train them hard to fly, and then drag them into the woods to look for potentially serious crashes, then they're not kids anymore, they're Cadets. And our webpage intends to turn them into frigging movie stars. But your recommendations come well received and we thank you for them. Should you find your way into Atlanta in the future, look us up. We'll be happy to provide the food and drinks for your webpage advice.

Best Regards,

Mike Reed
Director, Lockheed Martin

:clap:

[SarDragon]

Advice from the gallery: abandon the M$ product. Similar to other M$ products, there's an internal "conspiracy" to suck you into M$ black hole, never to exit.

I understand that it might be a bit of a hardship, but after all the mentions you gave about its shortcomings, it would be well considered to make the switch. I use Dreamweaver, and after a bit of a learning curve, I'm pretty comfortable with it. It has a feature that helps you get rid of the bloated M$ code, and the CSS tutorial is good.

Give it a thought or two.

YMMV.

[Майор Хаткевич]

Mr (for lack of knowing grade) Reed,

.CSS sheets are very simple to do, and give you the ability to change the website as a whole/in part as needed.

I've taken only one online class though my university, but I've found the web itself a perfect teacher.

Sites like this helped a lot:
http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/present/styles.html


This was a LIFE saver:
http://www.w3schools.com/css/default.asp


A part of developing sites these days also includes getting away from developing graphics, and using the languages themselves to do it.

If that's too much time, and for me it did turn out to be so, yahoo hosting will do wonders in a pinch: mbsmfg.com

[davidsinn]

Advice from the gallery: abandon the M$ product. Similar to other M$ products, there's an internal "conspiracy" to suck you into M$ black hole, never to exit.

I understand that it might be a bit of a hardship, but after all the mentions you gave about its shortcomings, it would be well considered to make the switch. I use Dreamweaver, and after a bit of a learning curve, I'm pretty comfortable with it. It has a feature that helps you get rid of the bloated M$ code, and the CSS tutorial is good.

Give it a thought or two.

YMMV.

Here's a free alternative http://net2.com/nvu/ I've used it just playing around. It's not too shabby.

[Stonewall]

Mr. Reed,

I am the originator of this discussion and I could care less about all of the html vs whatever else is being used.  As a person who enjoys a professional easy to view CAP squadron website, I still say it's top notch.

I also have a close friend in the upper ranks of LM in the Northern Virginia area.  So I know the site comes from good blood 

[davidsinn]

I am the originator of this discussion and I could care less about all of the html vs whatever else is being used.  As a person who enjoys a professional easy to view CAP squadron website, I still say it's top notch.

It's important though. I can't see the page at all. I will not use that POS, bloated, infection vector that is IE.

[Майор Хаткевич]

I am the originator of this discussion and I could care less about all of the html vs whatever else is being used.  As a person who enjoys a professional easy to view CAP squadron website, I still say it's top notch.

It's important though. I can't see the page at all. I will not use that POS, bloated, infection vector that is IE.

^ That's the main thing. I didn't even think to try IE...because, well, it's a non-factor.

[Lancer]

Of special recognition are the 10 points offered by 'Lancer'. We found these particularly valuable and quite specific enough to provide avenues for corrective action for us to pursue. So, let's address those one at a time, shall we?

I'm glad you found my points useful. Again, only trying to be helpful. Unit's of your obvious caliber, deserve to have a web site that  shows the world your accomplishments. It can be a huge matter of pride for your members, cadets and SM's alike.

1) IE Viewability – This is definitely a HUGE problem, and was not understood until after the new site was developed in MS Expressions. Apparently, Microsoft embeds HTML code in the development of its HTML files that restrict other non-Microsoft web browsers from viewing those pages accurately. We only discovered that after the website was hosted live. Short of developing the site in another development tool we don't have a resolution for this problem. (Advice from the Gallery is requested here)

As others have stated, Microsoft products will get you pretty much nowhere in the internet world. Even from a developer standpoint, .NET and .ASP aren't preferred, but used because corporations are so ensconced in the 'Microsoft World', they pretty much have no choice. But that's neither here nor there in this thread.

If you're going to develop from scratch, the best route to go is Adobe Dreamweaver, but the learning curve for someone unfamiliar to web development can be rather daunting.

As Colgan has pointed out, another option is Wordpress; but unless you're going to get someone to create a custom template for you, for considerable $$$, then you'll only end up with a site that lacks the pizazz you're looking for.

2) Aaah The F-22 Header – Allow me to provide some information not readily apparent here. The Snoopy Squadron is a 'Cadet' unit that has about 74 members of which roughly 30 are Senior Members, most were former cadets. Of those, half were former cadets in this unit, ranging from the 1960's to the 2000's. About 6 of those SMs are currently Senior Engineering Managers and Directors working for Lockheed Martin and were involved in the development and testing of the F-22 Raptor over the past 20 years. We helped design that bird. And several of us are involved in the upgrades being planned for it. This allows the unit to be placed in the unique position of promoting its Aerospace Education Program via F-22 cockpit simulator rides and assembly plant tours not typically available to cadets of other squadrons.  So, the Snoopy Squadron is definitely bound to the F-22 Program and thus the significance of the F-22 image on the webpage header. But we certainly understand the sentiment by those unfamiliar with the unit. We aren't too fond of posers either.

Very Cool. I'm sure there are a ton of us that are envious of the opportunities afforded to your members because of this relationship. I for one am among those who would love to sit in a Raptor simulator. ;-) If this information isn't available on the site, it should be. My primary reason for calling this out is because your website is, and should be primarily a tool for the public to learn about your squadron and generally, putting aircraft like this into graphics for your site can sell something a unit shouldn't be. In your case, there is a valid correlation, but it should be explained; and to your unit's benefit is a prime selling point for new membership.

My first recommendation would be to poll your rather large membership for anyone that does have skills around creating websites, that is, if you haven't done so already. If that proves to be futile, then my suggestion would be to use a service called 'Weebly'. Basic use is free and the 'Pro' service is really inexpensive, IMHO.

Weebly is a browser based web site design and hosting service that is all 'drag and drop', but don't let that fool you into thinking it's not capable of producing a quality site. Each element they have available is very customizable. The best part about it is, it's easy and quick to use. You can bang out a new website for your unit in a matter of a week or two (of course that all depends on the free time you have available).

http://www.weebly.com - Check it out.

Here is one example that I am aware of for a CAP unit that uses Weebly effectively - http://www.foxcitiescap.org

PM me if you have any questions, I'll shoot you my e-mail address.

[A.Member]

I am the originator of this discussion and I could care less about all of the html vs whatever else is being used.  As a person who enjoys a professional easy to view CAP squadron website, I still say it's top notch.

It's important though. I can't see the page at all. I will not use that POS, bloated, infection vector that is IE.

^ That's the main thing. I didn't even think to try IE...because, well, it's a non-factor.

^ And that is huge issue you need to get over because, like it or not, the fact is that Microsoft still has over 60% of the market share.

[davidsinn]

I am the originator of this discussion and I could care less about all of the html vs whatever else is being used.  As a person who enjoys a professional easy to view CAP squadron website, I still say it's top notch.

It's important though. I can't see the page at all. I will not use that POS, bloated, infection vector that is IE.

^ That's the main thing. I didn't even think to try IE...because, well, it's a non-factor.

^ And that is huge issue you need to get over because, like it or not, the fact is that Microsoft still has over 60% of the market share.

Which means you leave out 40% of the market.

[Pylon]

Well, in CAP, we're rife with recruits, donors, and mission clients so we can afford to leave out 40% of potential ones. 

[AlphaSigOU]

Mr (for lack of knowing grade) Reed...

IIRC he's an SM major, unless he's taken the gold tarnish off his bottlecaps. (Mike and his sister were cadinks together with me in GA wing back when dinosaurs roamed the earth - though I was a member of their friendly rival squadron.  )

[Майор Хаткевич]

I am the originator of this discussion and I could care less about all of the html vs whatever else is being used.  As a person who enjoys a professional easy to view CAP squadron website, I still say it's top notch.

It's important though. I can't see the page at all. I will not use that POS, bloated, infection vector that is IE.

^ That's the main thing. I didn't even think to try IE...because, well, it's a non-factor.

^ And that is huge issue you need to get over because, like it or not, the fact is that Microsoft still has over 60% of the market share.

http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp

You were saying?

2010 July:

IE 8/7/6 - 30.4%
Firefox -  46.4%
Chrome - 16.7%
Safari - 3.4%
Opera - 2.3%


IE only is 1/3 of the market these days.

[HGjunkie]

I am the originator of this discussion and I could care less about all of the html vs whatever else is being used.  As a person who enjoys a professional easy to view CAP squadron website, I still say it's top notch.

It's important though. I can't see the page at all. I will not use that POS, bloated, infection vector that is IE.

^ That's the main thing. I didn't even think to try IE...because, well, it's a non-factor.

^ And that is huge issue you need to get over because, like it or not, the fact is that Microsoft still has over 60% of the market share.

http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp

You were saying?

2010 July:

IE 8/7/6 - 30.4%
Firefox -  46.4%
Chrome - 16.7%
Safari - 3.4%
Opera - 2.3%


IE only is 1/3 of the market these days.

Nope:


http://www.netmarketshare.com/browser-market-share.aspx?qprid=1&sample=32