CAP PAO live web stream

[RiverAux]

Going on right now at www.cappao.org meeting at NB

briefing by our friend Al Pablon
- Revising PAO specialty track
- draft 52 page how to guide (sort of like old 190-1).  STudy pamphlet, work with mentor, take tests and it will replace the old PAO correspondence course.  Also 25 question test for senior rating.  Under review by NHQ for release in a few months.
-MIO quals being ramped up to meet NIMS standards.  Maybe out by end of year (no promise).
-Recent change to 60-3 is a major problem for PAOs.  Requires all AFAM press releases be coordinated with NHQ and AF.  Really meant for major missions, even though it applies to every SAREX, but really for high-profile missions.   
-cappao.org will have great CAP pao resources.  powerpoints, templates, etc

[RiverAux]

NHQ following PAO plan just like everybody else. 
NAT PAO Academy to be held in 2010.  Details unknown right now. 
Basic PAO training course to come out to be conducted at Wing/Region levels.  More info in a few weeks.
Will try to do more online training (extra stuff. 

[RiverAux]

Can't hear anyone asking questions.

[Eclipse]

Another domain name?  Coordination was impossible on this?

We talking about a department that is charged with external identity and we can't even decide internally whether we as a .gov, .mil, .com, or .org?

[RiverAux]

No plans for a content management system for web sites nationwide.  Working on compiling best practices.  See NCR pao web site for some helpful tools.

[RiverAux]

Its over.  If anyone saw the first half hour or so, an update would be nice. 

[Lancer]

Its over.  If anyone saw the first half hour or so, an update would be nice.

It was mostly introductions. Maj Al Pabon spoke, Astronaut Eric Boe was there and said a few words. Julie Debardelaben spoke, and then called up Col Skrabut for a bit to speak on social media briefly. Jim Tynan also spoke.

Julie unveiled the new online news URL, dubbed 'Volunteer Now', http://capvolunteernow.com

Jim said there was a new domain name purchased that will redirect to the Cadet program section of the website. http://capcadets.com

My only problem with these new URL's is the use of the .com TLD (Top Level Domain, for all you non-computer folks). As far as I am concerned, if we're going to be buying new URL's, they should have .org TLD's - since we are a non-profit organization, and not a business.

[Eclipse]

Who's making these decisions?  Incorrect use of the TLD, seperating the data instead of consolidating it,
and NO RSS, which to me is the worst part.

We need a single source of information and community, not 12.  Its 2009, nobody surfs from page to page anymore, its all about feedburners and tweaked information consolidation.

And if they are really trying to be "where its at" where are the Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter pages?

[Fubar]

My only problem with these new URL's is the use of the .com TLD (Top Level Domain, for all you non-computer folks). As far as I am concerned, if we're going to be buying new URL's, they should have .org TLD's - since we are a non-profit organization, and not a business.

I wholeheartedly agree with you on principle, however it seems InterNIC threw the com/org/net delineation out the window when they started charging for domain names back in the mid 90's.

The numerous domain names does suggest an overall lack of internet strategy by NHQ, but in my experience that's common with volunteer organizations.

[Fubar]

And if they are really trying to be "where its at" where are the Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter pages?

Someone has taken up the CAP torch on twitter in an un-official capacity and does a great job: http://twitter.com/CAP_USAF_AUX

There are numerous Facebook groups dedicated to CAP, in fact suffering from the same duplication and disorganization as CAP does with websites.

But to your point, those CAP social network efforts are ground-level implementations and not NHQ endorsed or operated.

[Eclipse]

The web is the one place that for very little to no money we can stand with the big boys in content and capabilities.  It only takes the know-how in bolting together the graphics and the content, and I've got 5 or 10 guys in my Group alone who do it for a living.

At the national level we should have hundreds, and because its all remote, no one has to move or transfer to work on those teams.

[Lancer]

Who's making these decisions?  Incorrect use of the TLD, seperating the data instead of consolidating it,
and NO RSS, which to me is the worst part.

We need a single source of information and community, not 12.  Its 2009, nobody surfs from page to page anymore, its all about feedburners and tweaked information consolidation.

And if they are really trying to be "where its at" where are the Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter pages?

Bob, the RSS feed is back, in fact there are a few different ones; if you dig in enough, you'll see them.

Regarding your inquiry regarding social media outlets. That is in a holding pattern right now, but should shake loose soon. NHQ did start a Twitter page, months after CAP_USAF_AUX was up and running. I'm assisting in administration of that particular twitter account. Between myself and the creator of the account, we implored NHQ to cease trying to build up the account they created due to the fact that a growing following was already following the 'un'official Civil Air Patrol Twitter account. The same thing with the Civil Air Patrol Facebook group that was started as an 'experiment' by Rod Rakic, publisher of CAPblog. Albeit slowly, progress is being made towards 'handing off ownership' of these account to NHQ, with the understanding that it's creators still be involved in the administration and planning of how they are used.

Now that Al Pabon has been chosen to be the new PA Advisor, he'll be working to get PA teams in place to tackle not only these, but other topics related to how the public see's the Civil Air Patrol. Trust me when I say progress is being made in bridging the gap between NHQ and it's civilian volunteers efforts to aid the organization.

[Eclipse]

Bob, the RSS feed is back, in fact there are a few different ones; if you dig in enough, you'll see them.

((*sigh*))  Can you publish the feed URLs?

Most pages with an RSS put the subscribe link prominently on the home page and/or it appears in the URL bar.

As to the social media nonsense, I'm by no means a fan, but my people insist this is the way of the universe today.  I would not expect NHQ to "follow" anyone else (that would be silly), or indulge in all the messaging nonsense on the FB/MS areas, but one-way presence is a simple deal.

[dwb]

I was sad when they said they were phasing out cap.gov.  I thought that was the perfect domain name; short, easy to spell out, and allowed for a lot of possibilities for subordinate web sites.

capmembers.com isn't terrible, and it allows them to do all their links again (capmembers.com/cadets, etc.)

It's a big mess, and frankly, I'm glad I'm not the one that has to sort it out.  And even though I get annoyed with the domain-name-of-the-month, that's small potatoes compared to the HUGE disparity in quality of subordinate unit web sites.  Now THAT is a gigantic mess.

[Lancer]

((*sigh*))  Can you publish the feed URLs?

Most pages with an RSS put the subscribe link prominently on the home page and/or it appears in the URL bar.

For each news 'group' when you click on the 'more' link, you'll go to a page that has the RSS link prominently positioned. It wasn't that hard to find, really.

http://capvolunteernow.com/news.cfm?show=rss
http://capvolunteernow.com/todays_features.cfm?show=rss
http://capvolunteernow.com/headline_news.cfm?show=rss

As to the social media nonsense, I'm by no means a fan, but my people insist this is the way of the universe today.  I would not expect NHQ to "follow" anyone else (that would be silly), or indulge in all the messaging nonsense on the FB/MS areas, but one-way presence is a simple deal.

I agree with 'your people' since I talk to them regularly about the topic. 

[RiverAux]

It seems like you can get easily lost in the Volunteer Now site without a clear way back to the home page. 

[Lancer]

I was sad when they said they were phasing out cap.gov.  I thought that was the perfect domain name; short, easy to spell out, and allowed for a lot of possibilities for subordinate web sites.

capmembers.com isn't terrible, and it allows them to do all their links again (capmembers.com/cadets, etc.)

It's a big mess, and frankly, I'm glad I'm not the one that has to sort it out.  And even though I get annoyed with the domain-name-of-the-month, that's small potatoes compared to the HUGE disparity in quality of subordinate unit web sites.  Now THAT is a gigantic mess.

They had to get away from .gov - As an organization, it's hard for us to raise money using that TLD; it makes it look like the government is looking for a handout from the public. That's why.

[Lancer]

It seems like you can get easily lost in the Volunteer Now site without a clear way back to the home page.

Yeah...it's hard to click on 'Home' on the top menu bar. 

[Eclipse]

((*sigh*))  Can you publish the feed URLs?

Most pages with an RSS put the subscribe link prominently on the home page and/or it appears in the URL bar.

For each news 'group' when you click on the 'more' link, you'll go to a page that has the RSS link prominently positioned. It wasn't that hard to find, really.

http://capvolunteernow.com/news.cfm?show=rss
http://capvolunteernow.com/todays_features.cfm?show=rss
http://capvolunteernow.com/headline_news.cfm?show=rss

Kudos to whomever for getting these up and running (finally)...

[RiverAux]

It seems like you can get easily lost in the Volunteer Now site without a clear way back to the home page.

Yeah...it's hard to click on 'Home' on the top menu bar. 

Because this looks so much like the regular page I ASSumed that the Home button took me back to the regular home page and didn't even click it.