CAP Business Cards

[Stonewall]

There is an old thread about business cards from almost 4 years ago that, like a lot of threads, got side tracked, etc.  I didn't find any harm in creating a newer discussion about the topic in an effort to share ideas and resources.

After this past weekend I realized I was down to about 20 cards from my previous order.  I usually buy 250 at a time and that seems to last me for a couple of years.

I have been using www.vistaprint.com for years for both CAP and Air Guard cards and am 100% satisfied with the ease of creating cards and their quality of service. 

I never looked to see if there is an official regulation on CAP Business cards, so I'm sure someone will comment on my card and how it doesn't meet some sort of guideline, but guess what, IT WORKS.

#1 is my current card.
#2 is my previous card from about 2009.

[Stonewall]

And because I love digging out old CAP crap, here are some rellicks.

[Майор Хаткевич]

Who is your main target audience? Cadets or Parents or both?


While I'm no Marketing guru, I can say from a limited experience doing so, that a COLORFUL card (background color/design/picture like in your sig type deal) is always more eye catching and less prone to end up in the trash can two months later when they find it in their coat pocket.

[Stonewall]

I use my CAP business cards for everything from recruting to ES missions.  In my mind, it's a means to simply share my contact information.  It is not solely a recruiting tool or anything. 

Last weekend when a former ORWG cadet (circa late 90s) asked me about CAP in the Tampa area, I told her to check out gocivilairpatrol.com for the local units in the area, "and if you don't find what you're looking for, here's my card, let me know how I can help."

On ES missions I've left them with people following interviews, "thank you for your time, if you remember anything else, please don't hesitate to call [as I hand them a card]."

Also, at CAP functions like CLC or SLS, I'll pass them out to network purposes.

[Майор Хаткевич]

Are your cards currently UV coated (gloss) or plain?

I've been thinking to make a background based card for recruiting/hi-viz purposes, but for most of the listed purposes you listed plain white probably works best.

In the past, when I was a cadet, 14, and loved messing around on the computer, I had made my own cards which >I< thought were awesome (and they were). I did make sure to list all three CAP missions on there. I noted that one of your earlier designs replaced AE with Leadership. Just a thought.


I like adding the National website info on the back.

[krnlpanick]

These are the cards that I designed for our squadron - everyone especially loves the QR Code on the back. Scanning it from your phone will add me as a contact in any modern smartphone.

Edit I would be more than happy to share the PSD Template for this card with anyone who wants it.

[Eclipse]

I like the idea of the QR on the back.

I do mine on Avery Clean-Edge as needed.

[Stonewall]

Are your cards currently UV coated (gloss) or plain?

I didn't want the cost to outweigh the cards so I opted for standard card stock/matte finish.  The only extra I put on there, for a few bucks more, was the backside website.  My cost would have been under $15 had I not done that.  In fact, the basic shipping fees adds $7, more than half the cost of the cards.

Vistaprint.com has all sorts of easy-to-use options, but like I said, I wanted it simple.  I have seen some high quality cards with images and gloss finishes and they're great.  But if I'm paying for it, it's going to be simple and inexpensive.

[Woodsy]

Stonewall,

Give me a call or an email tomorrow.  We both know a guy (polo and grey's we discussed last night) that is a professional printer and has kicked me out some of the best looking CAP cards I've ever seen for about 8 bucks a 250...

[West MI-CAP-Ret]

Speaking of cost.  I download fm the Nat'l website, the OfficeMax paper card; comes with CAP account number and scan line.  CAP managed to get govt pricing (i just printed black/wht manuals, instead of .10c a pg, with cap discount, it came to .02c).

OfficeMax does a lot of different printing.  The only standards for card printing is that it is professional, clean and reflexes the mission of your unit.  Stay out of trouble by only using approved logos, etc.

Dave fm West Michigan

[West MI-CAP-Ret]

How does one make a QR symbol? 

[Eclipse]

How does one make a QR symbol?

http://www.the-qrcode-generator.com/

[Stonewall]

Speaking of cost.  I download fm the Nat'l website, the OfficeMax paper card; comes with CAP account number and scan line.  CAP managed to get govt pricing (i just printed black/wht manuals, instead of .10c a pg, with cap discount, it came to .02c).

OfficeMax does a lot of different printing.  The only standards for card printing is that it is professional, clean and reflexes the mission of your unit.  Stay out of trouble by only using approved logos, etc.

Dave fm West Michigan

Was that a text message?

[krnlpanick]

http://www.the-qrcode-generator.com/

Another missed opportunity to use the [lmgtfy]LMGTFY[/lmgtfy] macro...

[wuzafuzz]

My cards are printed on Avery 5871 or similar.  I stick with small batches because my job roles have changed so often.  They are only printed on one side.  A second pass through a laser printer can get ugly.

Since I play in communications, I added my CAP radio call, in addition to my email and Google Voice number.  My cards are usually given to other CAP members, plus the occasional person in public safety.  I like the idea of adding a QR code.

[a2capt]

Another missed opportunity to use the [lmgtfy]LMGTFY[/lmgtfy] macro...

It's a rude and obnoxious response thing anyway. Kinda funny, all the harping about the Membership CoC, and that very function is used so many times in ways that clash directly with it.

[Fubar]

A few of the cards posted here are a lot like the cards I frequently get:

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AUXILIARY
Civil Air Patrol

Uh, one's our name and the other is a role we (sometimes) fulfill. Which one should get top billing?

[Майор Хаткевич]

Being the smooth type I am, at the end of Freshman year I snuck my card into the yearbook of the girl I liked. The next day when she signed mine, she wrote that she had found it, doesn't call guys, but wrote her number in. Score.

[James Shaw]

Here is a design I did for the local squadron that the cadets can put their name on and give to their friends or other rerutiing opportunities.

[Eclipse]

A few of the cards posted here are a lot like the cards I frequently get:

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AUXILIARY
Civil Air Patrol

Uh, one's our name and the other is a role we (sometimes) fulfill. Which one should get top billing?

By reg CAP should get the top or more prominent location.

[James Shaw]

I will be more than happy to send the PPT to others that would like to use the card I did.

[West MI-CAP-Ret]

No.  This info can be found on natl website, under benefits.  Search for OfficeMax

[Private Investigator]

I think most people should have a CAP business cards. Some law enforcement know CAP, others do not. So when you are out at oh dark thirty chasing an ELT you do not want the cops to think you are homeless people / drug addicts looking for copper wire to steal   

[krnlpanick]

Sadly - this is pretty true. In my experience - showing a picture ID (CAPID) does not carry the same weight as flashing someone a business card. I wish I was joking but sadly I am not. Business cards are the most cost effective way to gain access to any restricted area or closed doors and it isn't like anyone could ever fake a business card. 

I've had people question my various identification cards (even my DoD issued DBIDS before but I have *never* had my business cards questioned... 

[NCRblues]

gain access to any restricted area

must not work at a nuke base then 

[Eclipse]

Business cards are the most cost effective way to gain access to any restricted area or closed doors and it isn't like anyone could ever fake a business card. 

I've had people question my various identification cards (even my DoD issued DBIDS before but I have *never* had my business cards questioned...

[krnlpanick]

gain access to any restricted area

must not work at a nuke base then 

Although things have gotten a bit tighter in the last 10 years or so you would be surprised where you can still get with a well designed or well researched business card... I teach about that in my social engineering class

[Eclipse]

gain access to any restricted area

must not work at a nuke base then 

Although things have gotten a bit tighter in the last 10 years or so you would be surprised where you can still get with a well designed or well researched business card... I teach about that in my social engineering class

All hail Joel Bauer!

[Blues Brother]

those cards done on here look really nice.   the folks that do them on vista print or similar services,  do you just cut and paste the CAP shield logo and put it on the design? or does vista print have that artwork on file and you just select it from a list on their site?   

[EMT-83]

Download the high-res image from eServices; upload to Vista Print while designing the card.

[arajca]

I've long believed that National should provide a template or wizard (for Word) or three for members to print their own business cards. Maybe even work with Vistaprint/FedEx/OfficeMax, etc so they have a standard template or three that member can choose from instead of everyone designing their own.

[Pylon]

I've long believed that National should provide a template or wizard (for Word) or three for members to print their own business cards. Maybe even work with Vistaprint/FedEx/OfficeMax, etc so they have a standard template or three that member can choose from instead of everyone designing their own.

Would be nice is these resources existed for a lot of things.  But we're only a national organization with more than 60,000 members, so really we're just too small of an organization to bother with non-profit best practices, standardization, or just plain ol' worrying about presenting a professional image.

[/sarcasm]

[johnnyb47]

I've long believed that National should provide a template or wizard (for Word) or three for members to print their own business cards. Maybe even work with Vistaprint/FedEx/OfficeMax, etc so they have a standard template or three that member can choose from instead of everyone designing their own.

Would be nice is these resources existed for a lot of things.  But we're only a national organization with more than 60,000 members, so really we're just too small of an organization to bother with non-profit best practices, standardization, or just plain ol' worrying about presenting a professional image.

[/sarcasm]

"I'm picking up on yer sarcasm."
"Well you should because I'm laying it on pretty thick."

[arajca]

I've long believed that National should provide a template or wizard (for Word) or three for members to print their own business cards. Maybe even work with Vistaprint/FedEx/OfficeMax, etc so they have a standard template or three that member can choose from instead of everyone designing their own.

Would be nice is these resources existed for a lot of things.  But we're only a national organization with more than 60,000 members, so really we're just too small of an organization to bother with non-profit best practices, standardization, or just plain ol' worrying about presenting a professional image.

[/sarcasm]

"I'm picking up on yer sarcasm."
"Well you should because I'm laying it on pretty thick."

Welllllllll...
For those who don't believe National reads CAPTalk, check this out: Official CAP Business Card Templates. They are ten cards per page templates.

Additionally, they're working to get Vistaprint to carry the CAP templates.

According to Jim Tynan (Deputy Director of Creative Services, CAP-NHQ), he got this idea from this very thread and figured it was a great idea.

[abdsp51]

Business cards are the most cost effective way to gain access to any restricted area or closed doors and it isn't like anyone could ever fake a business card. 

I call bull a business card will not get you into a restricted area.... And if it does then that is a direct violation of AFI.

Here is the card I created for use;

[krnlpanick]

I call bull a business card will not get you into a restricted area.... And if it does then that is a direct violation of AFI.

While things have certainly tightened up over the last few year, all it takes is finding the guy - every group has one, be they military or civilian organization. It may take more than *just* a business card (these days) but I work pretty closely with teams of people that make a living exploiting human weakness during assessments to gain entry to secure and restricted areas from the expensive car dealership that sold Nick Cage his Ferrari to multi-national quasi government installations.

However, I think the real point is that a well-designed business card expresses a great deal of professionalism and lend credence to you in the eyes of other organizations that we work with.

[Private Investigator]

I call bull a business card will not get you into a restricted area.... And if it does then that is a direct violation of AFI.

While things have certainly tightened up over the last few year, all it takes is finding the guy - every group has one, be they military or civilian organization. It may take more than *just* a business card (these days) but I work pretty closely with teams of people that make a living exploiting human weakness during assessments to gain entry to secure and restricted areas from the expensive car dealership that sold Nick Cage his Ferrari to multi-national quasi government installations.

However, I think the real point is that a well-designed business card expresses a great deal of professionalism and lend credence to you in the eyes of other organizations that we work with.

As a P.I. I have one business card that just has my name and a phone number. It is on stock that appears to be 'organic, bio-friendly' and it gets me in everywhere including to serve a high price attorney who had been dodging a lawsuit. I got to his penthouse office while others could not access the property much less even enter the building. BTW, he still is crying