Normally I wouldn't start a thread over something like this, but this website is OUTSTANDING in presentation and design! Whoever made this knows what they are doing.
Hawker Squadron, CA-128
http://sq128.cawg.cap.gov/flash/index.html
It looks nice and would give gocivilairpatrol a run for its money as a generic CAP recruiting site, but I would consider it a failure as a squadron website. It has no local content at all that I can find other than directions to the meeting site -- but nothing on meeting dates or times.
I agree, that why I said it was great in presentation and design (visa vi aesthetics). Realistically that could be fixed with just a little tweaking.
I think it is a great public facing website. Very professional and purrrty. Nicely done!
Great outstanding job!!
Wow, when does it hit theaters?!!!
Heh, it reminded me of a movie PR website. But about showing local content...
Does anyone have any suggestions as to what content to use without fear of becoming rapidly obsolete? I mean with the exception of having some photos that only we can pick out as non-local. Perhaps a message from the current squadron commander - that's all I can think of.
If the intention of that website was to inform the prospective members and the general public and to direct them to the unit's meeting time and location for joining, it is very apropriate. Links to regulations and announcements of what uniform to wear next month don't support that goal.
So, it obviously doesn't serve unit members and current membership, but maybe they have a second off-site website that isn't for general public for that.
Kudos to them for not just linking everything off to their wing or national websites. I think it's very professional and really cool representation of what Civil Air Patrol - and their squadron - is.
QuoteIf the intention of that website was to inform the prospective members and the general public and to direct them to the unit's meeting time and location for joining, it is very apropriate.
I see that as the main function of a squadron website. However, you've got to do a little more than repeat stuff about our basic programs from the national web page. How does the squadron fit into the local community? Is this a cadet squadron? senior squadron? Is it actively involved in ES or not? What has the SQUADRON done lately? However, unless updated frequently, squadron "news" can quickly get outdated so I don't always recommend it.
Keeping squadron websites updated and maintained can be tricky. You need a dedicated webmaster, who is willing to put several hours into keeping it current, and working out bugs that appear.
I have seen some pretty nice sites fall apart at the seams because the webmaster got bored or lazy and stopped caring for it..
To combat this I would make a minimum of information that must be updated..
On a squadron website I think there should be a members area for squadron members to get informamation relevant to them, a password protected area of info that might be FOUO. A seperate recruiting area, with meeting information, FAQs, and lots of pretty pictures...
As for current publications and stuff like that, I would just link to cap.gov, much simpler than trying to keep that mess up to date...
Give this one a try!
http://www.ashevillecap.org/
Those guys really know what they are doing and I love working with them.
...believe it or not there are actually people in this universe who believe flash-based websites are a minus.
Most of the features on this site would not work properly in some browsers and most mobile devices - an increasingly large percentage of web access...
^ Yep, that site crashed firefox (twice).
While it is flashy and fancy, there is no real content that can't be found at gocivilairpatrol.com.
As for the ashville site. It is better, but it's interesting to me that they have pictures of the cadets with their full names, but don't have pictures of the senior's :-\
[derail]but I'm still evaluating how I feel about making cadets come in early to test.[derail/]
What I like the most out of the Ashville squadron is that they are very strict and disciplined.
I too don't understand why they don't have pics of the seniors but who am I to argue.
I personally love that page and what they've done with it! :D
There isn't a whole lot to ours, but it serves it's purpose. Check it out!