Finally set up the "official" signature. Not too happy with how it looks

Started by Майор Хаткевич, September 14, 2015, 03:47:47 PM

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Майор Хаткевич

For reference, here's the old one:



And here's the new official one:



What really bugs me, from a visual perspective is
QuoteThe assigned unit and duty assignment should be on one line and written out per CAPR 20-1 and/or eServices.  (NOTE: Standardize unit name by always spelling out name; refer to CAPR 20-1 for assistance)



It might work fine for a short unit name, but for most? Not really.


Even the examples given show the variance, which would have an easy fix by breaking down position and unit into two lines:
QuoteFollow these examples of duty titles:
Pacific Region Commander
New Mexico Wing Inspector General
Florida Wing Group 5 Cadet Programs Officer
South Oakland Cadet Squadron Aerospace Education Officer
Outside of that...setting up the images and hyperlinks took a good 10-15 minutes, and I'm pretty good at this "interwebz" thing.

kwe1009

Yep, it looks bad and frankly not very professional to me but we are stuck with it for now.  Not sure why we can't follow the AF guidance a little more closely.

Capt Thompson

Quote from: Capt Hatkevich on September 14, 2015, 03:47:47 PM
Outside of that...setting up the images and hyperlinks took a good 10-15 minutes, and I'm pretty good at this "interwebz" thing.

If you highlight someone else's sig block and paste it into your email, it transfers the images and links. I copied and pasted the example from NHQ and then changed the name, title and cell phone. I agree having it all on 1 line looks bad, the regs for the sig block should follow the business card model.

http://www.capmembers.com/cap_national_hq/member_services/business-card-templates/
Capt Matt Thompson
Deputy Commander for Cadets, Historian, Public Affairs Officer

Mitchell - 31 OCT 98 (#44670) Earhart - 1 OCT 00 (#11401)

Майор Хаткевич

Quote from: 1st Lt Thompson on September 14, 2015, 06:32:47 PM
Quote from: Capt Hatkevich on September 14, 2015, 03:47:47 PM
Outside of that...setting up the images and hyperlinks took a good 10-15 minutes, and I'm pretty good at this "interwebz" thing.

If you highlight someone else's sig block and paste it into your email, it transfers the images and links. I copied and pasted the example from NHQ and then changed the name, title and cell phone. I agree having it all on 1 line looks bad, the regs for the sig block should follow the business card model.

http://www.capmembers.com/cap_national_hq/member_services/business-card-templates/

Didn't work on chrome for Yahoo mail. Had to hyperlink myself and find a special way of pasting the images. Given that a lot of CAP members barely use email as is,  it's not an easy task.

SARDOC

I think for starters to make it more "professional" everyone should have a @(yourwing).cap.gov email address.

I don't really care about the images and the links.

But I feel that the format should appear as

First M. Last, Rank, CAP
Duty Position
Unit Name
(xxx)XXX-XXXX (C)

TheSkyHornet

Quote from: SARDOC on September 14, 2015, 07:37:37 PM
I think for starters to make it more "professional" everyone should have a @(yourwing).cap.gov email address.

I don't really care about the images and the links.

But I feel that the format should appear as

First M. Last, Rank, CAP
Duty Position
Unit Name
(xxx)XXX-XXXX (C)

Agree 100%. I really don't like sending emails off to @aol or @gmail because I don't know if the person will even check it. And for official correspondence outside of CAP, I don't think it gives off the professionalism you would expect from the opposite side.

What gets to be a pain is when you have multiple duty positions under one person. If you had to pick, which would it be?

Technically, I'm Cadet Activities Officer, Leadership Education Officer, and Testing Officer. My duty position line reads "Cadet Activities / Leadership Education Officer." When I provide a brief duty position, I say "Leadership Officer" to be short on it.

I set up the org chart on our squadron website so that it shows no more than two duty positions per person, even if they hold 5. I take the top two that I feel are most important in respect to the rest of the squadron knowing who to contact and for ease of public understanding of what this person does. For example, someone who may be the Recruiting and Retention Officer, Finance Officer, and Public Affairs Officer, Assistant Testing Officer, and Information Technology Officer, I set them up to show as the Public Affairs Officer and Recruiting Officer for quick understanding of what this person does. The rest isn't important to the entire squadron as a whole on knowing who's responsible for the remaining duties.

Bottom line---
Many hats makes for giant 10' x 2" business card :P

JeffDG

Quote from: SARDOC on September 14, 2015, 07:37:37 PM
I think for starters to make it more "professional" everyone should have a @(yourwing).cap.gov email address.
Everyone in my wing does.  <10% use them.
Quote from: SARDOC on September 14, 2015, 07:37:37 PM
I don't really care about the images and the links.
IMHO, images have absolutely zero place in an e-mail signature.  That said, because I sometimes use mobile devices for e-mail, and in the spirit of consistency, I use the "mobile" image-free signature for all mail.

JeffDG

Quote from: TheSkyHornet on September 14, 2015, 08:07:20 PM
What gets to be a pain is when you have multiple duty positions under one person. If you had to pick, which would it be?

Technically, I'm the Wing CS, Asst ITO, Asst DOST and Group ITO, spelling that all out would be...challenging.

However, I can select different signatures for an e-mail, so when I'm doing something with respect to my job as CS, that's what it is (that's default).  If I have a different hat on, then I'll select a different signature.

TheSkyHornet

Quote from: JeffDG on September 14, 2015, 08:14:05 PM
Quote from: SARDOC on September 14, 2015, 07:37:37 PM
I think for starters to make it more "professional" everyone should have a @(yourwing).cap.gov email address.
Everyone in my wing does.  <10% use them.
Quote from: SARDOC on September 14, 2015, 07:37:37 PM
I don't really care about the images and the links.
IMHO, images have absolutely zero place in an e-mail signature.  That said, because I sometimes use mobile devices for e-mail, and in the spirit of consistency, I use the "mobile" image-free signature for all mail.

Everyone in our wing has an OHWG email. It's default with membership.
We mandate that our squadron uses OHWG as the only official source of email communications. Now if only people would check their email as often as they check their Facebook...  ::)

Майор Хаткевич

I have a group22.net email. To be honest, not too pleased with gmail and how it works in mobile/layout on desktop. I also get to check my direct email faster.

SarDragon

Dave Bowles
Maj, CAP
AT1, USN Retired
50 Year Member
Mitchell Award (unnumbered)
C/WO, CAP, Ret

Майор Хаткевич

Quote from: SarDragon on September 14, 2015, 09:02:25 PM
I just left out the images. Sue me.  >:D


I've seen incorrect sigs from National all the way down, so I don't think it's working as well as people hoped it would.


They certainly LOOK the same (colors/images). But not as written in the reg.

SAREXinNY

How do you even register/obtain a @(yourwing).cap.gov email address?

PHall

Quote from: SAREXinNY on September 14, 2015, 11:24:45 PM
How do you even register/obtain a @(yourwing).cap.gov email address?

That's a question for your wings IT folk.

JeffDG

Quote from: SAREXinNY on September 14, 2015, 11:24:45 PM
How do you even register/obtain a @(yourwing).cap.gov email address?

Wing sets up an e-mail system and provisions accounts.

My wing, it's all automagic, new member gets an account, expired member gets account disabled.

Phil Hirons, Jr.

I'm working on a page for our wing web site to generate the HTML from user inputs. We're hosting the images as png files which I got from http://nc052.org/how-do-i/create-a-cap-email-signature

This sample uses the jpeg files available from NHQ

NOT my real phone numbers!  >:D


<p><img title="CAP Banner" alt="CAP Banner" src="http://riwg.cap.gov/sig/CAP.png"><br><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(5, 83, 155); font-weight: bold;">
Lt Col Philip G. Hirons, Jr., CAP</span><br>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: gray;">
Rhode Island Wing Inspector General<br>
(H) 401.555.1212<br>
(C) 401.555.3434<br></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(5, 83, 155);">U.S. Air Force Auxiliary</span><br>
<a href="http://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(5,83, 155);">gocivilairpatrol.com</span></a><br>
<a href="http://riwg.cap.gov/"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(5, 83,155);">riwg.cap.gov</span></a><br>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Civil-Air-Patrol/107647995924164"><img src="http://members.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/FB_398D3C47C7E93.jpg"></a>&nbsp;
<a href="http://instagram.com/civil__air__patrol"><img src="http://members.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/IG_4FC9A8085DFEC.jpg"></a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://twitter.com/civilairpatrol"><img src="http://members.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/TW_925642F74B908.jpg"></a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/civilairpatrol/sets/"><img src="http://members.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/FLK_631DBC2D84F4A.jpg"></a>

Storm Chaser

I hate the new signature block. It looks unprofessional. I'm using the alternate one without images and it still looks bad. If CAPR 10-1 didn't make its use mandatory, I wouldn't be using it.

Fubar

The two line signature isn't bad. It's the one I use when I email the one guy in the wing that worries about email signatures  ;)

Maj John Doe, XYWG/DO
Civil Air Patrol

Eaker Guy


TheSkyHornet

Quote from: JeffDG on September 15, 2015, 01:17:16 AM
Quote from: SAREXinNY on September 14, 2015, 11:24:45 PM
How do you even register/obtain a @(yourwing).cap.gov email address?

Wing sets up an e-mail system and provisions accounts.

My wing, it's all automagic, new member gets an account, expired member gets account disabled.

Same here. The day I got my CAP ID, I had an @ohwg.cap.gov email along with it.

Storm Chaser


Quote from: Fubar on September 15, 2015, 04:57:59 AM
The two line signature isn't bad. It's the one I use when I email the one guy in the wing that worries about email signatures  ;)

Maj John Doe, XYWG/DO
Civil Air Patrol

It may not look as bad as the other ones, but it's bad. It's using military elements in a non-military way. An organization and office symbol should never be used on the same line after the name.

John Doe is a Maj in CAP not in XYWG/DO. A better way to display this would be:

Maj John Doe, CAP
XYWG/DO
Civil Air Patrol

And I'm still not crazy about that one either. Now that we're "Airmen" and part of the Air Force "Total Force", why can we use a similar signature block to the one the Air Force uses?

JeffDG

Quote from: Fubar on September 15, 2015, 04:57:59 AM
The two line signature isn't bad. It's the one I use when I email the one guy in the wing that worries about email signatures  ;)

Maj John Doe, XYWG/DO
Civil Air Patrol

May not look bad, but it is in violation of CAPR 10-1.

Майор Хаткевич

Quote from: JeffDG on September 15, 2015, 01:24:22 PM
Quote from: Fubar on September 15, 2015, 04:57:59 AM
The two line signature isn't bad. It's the one I use when I email the one guy in the wing that worries about email signatures  ;)

Maj John Doe, XYWG/DO
Civil Air Patrol

May not look bad, but it is in violation of CAPR 10-1.


That's what NHQ says to use for mobile: http://www.capmembers.com/cap_national_hq/public_affairs/branding_resource_guide/sample-signature-bloc/

winterg

Even using the Mobile signature block is cumbersome when you are in a squadron and not assigned to Wing.

Capt John Smith, Anywhere Composite Squadron/DOS
Civil Air Patrol

Or

Capt John Smith, FL-999/DOS
Civil Air Patrol

It is too much for a single line.

TheSkyHornet

I'm not sure why the mobile signature has to differ. In most cases these days, you could send a mobile email and nobody would know it was from a mobile device. My signatures for my PC and my phone are identical.

Question---
Does everyone here include the Social Media links in their signature?

THRAWN

Quote from: TheSkyHornet on September 15, 2015, 03:02:50 PM
I'm not sure why the mobile signature has to differ. In most cases these days, you could send a mobile email and nobody would know it was from a mobile device. My signatures for my PC and my phone are identical.

Question---
Does everyone here include the Social Media links in their signature?

Only if you want to be compliant with the guidance.
Strup-"Belligerent....at times...."
AFRCC SMC 10-97
NSS ISC 05-00
USAF SOS 2000
USAF ACSC 2011
US NWC 2016
USMC CSCDEP 2023

jeders

Quote from: TheSkyHornet on September 15, 2015, 03:02:50 PM
Question---
Does everyone here include the Social Media links in their signature?

Nope. According to the wing PAO, the national PAO says those are optional. Even if they weren't, I still wouldn't use them because they make the sig look even worse.
If you are confident in you abilities and experience, whether someone else is impressed is irrelevant. - Eclipse

JeffDG

Quote from: Capt Hatkevich on September 15, 2015, 02:48:59 PM
Quote from: JeffDG on September 15, 2015, 01:24:22 PM
Quote from: Fubar on September 15, 2015, 04:57:59 AM
The two line signature isn't bad. It's the one I use when I email the one guy in the wing that worries about email signatures  ;)

Maj John Doe, XYWG/DO
Civil Air Patrol

May not look bad, but it is in violation of CAPR 10-1.


That's what NHQ says to use for mobile: http://www.capmembers.com/cap_national_hq/public_affairs/branding_resource_guide/sample-signature-bloc/

I stand corrected.

Storm Chaser

It's also possible for a regulation to be wrong. "Maj John Doe, XYWG/DO" may be authorized by CAPR 10-1, but it implies that Maj Doe is a Major in XYWG/DO, which is not the case. He is a Major in CAP and it should be reflected as such in the signature block.

Tim Day

Quote from: TheSkyHornet on September 15, 2015, 03:02:50 PM
I'm not sure why the mobile signature has to differ. In most cases these days, you could send a mobile email and nobody would know it was from a mobile device. My signatures for my PC and my phone are identical.

Question---
Does everyone here include the Social Media links in their signature?
I use the authorized plain text version because I work with local military bases and government organizations which convert the html into plain text versions of the code, leaving unattractive gibberish. It's also the closest in resemblance to the Tongue and Quill format email signatures that the rest of the Air Force uses.

Tim Day
Lt Col CAP
Prince William Composite Squadron Commander

Brit_in_CAP

Quote from: Tim Day on September 15, 2015, 06:22:42 PM

I use the authorized plain text version because I work with local military bases and government organizations which convert the html into plain text versions of the code, leaving unattractive gibberish. It's also the closest in resemblance to the Tongue and Quill format email signatures that the rest of the Air Force uses.

Likewise; I find the plain text to be more user friendly.  I'm also determined to get as many people as possible to use the official email addresses for their CAP email; in my first year with CAP I had a lot of email that went into my "Junk" folder due to the odd personal email addresses that people use.  One - and I joke not here - was Fluffy@....., and another was clearly an account shared between spouses.  Most unprofessional.

Lt Col Day has gotten a decent system running in VAWG - I simply wish people would use it more!

Antony Davies
Capt, CAP
VA-002

(edited for spelling)

Chappie

Quote from: Brit_in_CAP on September 16, 2015, 04:01:53 PM
Quote from: Tim Day on September 15, 2015, 06:22:42 PM

<snip>
Lt Col Day has gotten a decent system running in VAWG - I simply wish people would use it more! 


Antony Davies
Capt, CAP
VA-002

(edited for spelling)
<snip>

Last year Chaplain, Capt Tim Miner of the VAWG got the CAP Chaplain Corps all on one page when it comes to email.  Using Google, we have an email system where it is first initial/last name@hc.cap.gov. It is professional looking/standardized.  For staff positions at Wing, Region, National there is a special designation that will go with whoever is appointed.   Then of course since it is Google, there is access to various Google apps.

I would imagine that Chaplain Miner had something to do with VAWG setup :)
Disclaimer:  Not to be confused with the other user that goes by "Chappy"   :)

A.Member

Quote from: Capt Hatkevich on September 15, 2015, 02:48:59 PM
Quote from: JeffDG on September 15, 2015, 01:24:22 PM
Quote from: Fubar on September 15, 2015, 04:57:59 AM
The two line signature isn't bad. It's the one I use when I email the one guy in the wing that worries about email signatures  ;)

Maj John Doe, XYWG/DO
Civil Air Patrol

May not look bad, but it is in violation of CAPR 10-1.


That's what NHQ says to use for mobile: http://www.capmembers.com/cap_national_hq/public_affairs/branding_resource_guide/sample-signature-bloc/
Good god. 

Quote from: TheSkyHornet on September 15, 2015, 03:02:50 PM
I'm not sure why the mobile signature has to differ.
This.  To add to that, it doesn't need to differ from written correspondence either.

I try not to get to wrapped around the axle about little things unless they're particularly stupid.  This is one of those instances where I'll make an exception.  I've stated it before and I'll state it again:  National has no idea what they're doing when it comes to this.  They've taken a simple topic (one that didn't require a change to begin with) and made it unnecessarily complex with absolutely no value added.   Like many of our regs, CAPR 10-1 did not need an update, it just needed enforcement.

I've got an idea....let's also add animated .gifs to our signature blocks.  After all, who doesn't like a good video?!  Here's mine:
"For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return."

Panache

Quote from: Brit_in_CAP on September 16, 2015, 04:01:53 PM
Quote from: Tim Day on September 15, 2015, 06:22:42 PM

I use the authorized plain text version because I work with local military bases and government organizations which convert the html into plain text versions of the code, leaving unattractive gibberish. It's also the closest in resemblance to the Tongue and Quill format email signatures that the rest of the Air Force uses.
Likewise; I find the plain text to be more user friendly. 
Add me to the "uses the plain text signature" crowd.  It's an authorized alternative, and all the social media icons just look too busy and unprofessional to me.

Eaker Guy

Quote from: Panache on September 17, 2015, 06:36:41 AM
Quote from: Brit_in_CAP on September 16, 2015, 04:01:53 PM
Quote from: Tim Day on September 15, 2015, 06:22:42 PM

I use the authorized plain text version because I work with local military bases and government organizations which convert the html into plain text versions of the code, leaving unattractive gibberish. It's also the closest in resemblance to the Tongue and Quill format email signatures that the rest of the Air Force uses.
Likewise; I find the plain text to be more user friendly. 
Add me to the "uses the plain text signature" crowd.  It's an authorized alternative, and all the social media icons just look too busy and unprofessional to me.

+1

Also, they sometimes glitch up. Sometimes, when I send an email with the social media icons, they will appear fine on my computer, but will appear as huge icons on other devices. :(

Paul Creed III

Lt Col Paul Creed III, CAP
Group 3 Ohio Wing sUAS Program Manager

TheSkyHornet

Quote from: A.Member on September 16, 2015, 08:36:52 PM
Quote from: Capt Hatkevich on September 15, 2015, 02:48:59 PM
Quote from: JeffDG on September 15, 2015, 01:24:22 PM
Quote from: Fubar on September 15, 2015, 04:57:59 AM
The two line signature isn't bad. It's the one I use when I email the one guy in the wing that worries about email signatures  ;)

Maj John Doe, XYWG/DO
Civil Air Patrol

May not look bad, but it is in violation of CAPR 10-1.


That's what NHQ says to use for mobile: http://www.capmembers.com/cap_national_hq/public_affairs/branding_resource_guide/sample-signature-bloc/
Good god. 

Quote from: TheSkyHornet on September 15, 2015, 03:02:50 PM
I'm not sure why the mobile signature has to differ.
This.  To add to that, it doesn't need to differ from written correspondence either.

I try not to get to wrapped around the axle about little things unless they're particularly stupid.  This is one of those instances where I'll make an exception.  I've stated it before and I'll state it again:  National has no idea what they're doing when it comes to this.  They've taken a simple topic (one that didn't require a change to begin with) and made it unnecessarily complex with absolutely no value added.   Like many of our regs, CAPR 10-1 did not need an update, it just needed enforcement.

I've got an idea....let's also add animated .gifs to our signature blocks.  After all, who doesn't like a good video?!  Here's mine:


Welcome to politics, where the solution to an unenforced issue is making it a new issue