[Webmaster_forum] Website Requirement #11
WMMILLER@aol.com
WMMILLER@aol.com
Sun, 14 Aug 2005 11:08:24 EDT
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To all USPS webmasters.
There has been considerable correspondence concerning the purpose and
interpretation of rule #11. It states;
#11 Web site must be kept up to date - required
Any web site, which contains meeting, activities and/or pubic boating course
information that is 90 days or more out of date, may be removed from linking
to the national site. It is extremely important to keep websites up to date.
Any website found not current in their schedule dates for events and
educational programs will not be considered in any awards evaluations. Note there is
no grace period for the awards program. If past dates are listed on websites
they should be identified as past events, such as by change in font style or
color or within a shaded background such as in a calendar format. Items that
are date referenced, such as the VSC Decal should show the present years
version.
The purpose of the rule is two fold. First it is to promote websites that
are current and be of interest to prospective members who are visiting the
website. The second purpose is to close a loop hole that existed several years
back where this matter was not considered and some really out of date
websites received web awards as the item was not part of the evaluation criteria.
The second purpose was the driving force behind the development of the present
rule.
That being said, let's look at the rule to determine just what it says. The
first sentence indicates that any website containing information concerning
meetings (schedules and locations), activities (social and boating) and
public course information (dates and times and locations) be up to date. If they
fall behind by 90 days from the date of the site visit, no matter when in the
year, the linkage between the subject website and the USPS website listing
of squadron and district websites may be eliminated. Prior to such
de-linkage, the website coordinator will contact the ITCom contact that is listed on
the squadron maintenance record to try to resolve the situation without removal
of the linkage. The no tolerance situation concerns the websites
qualification to be considered in the current Webawards program. The evaluation sheet
indicates that if the website is over 30 days out of date that it will not be
evaluated. Less than 30 days will result in a reduction of the points
awarded.
A message was sent the first of this month to all webmasters advising them
to freshen up their websites as it was only thirty days till the Webawards
evaluations will begin.
Many websites have an entire year long calendar of events displayed. That
is certainly allowed in this rule, as long as there is some indication of what
events have already transpired. Many websites have come up with innovative
means to make such a distinction. This presentation of past and future dates
has two benefits. First it gives visitors to the website some idea as to
the depth of activities available to members of the organization. Second it
provides information about future events yet to occur, and should provide an
appropriate contact for the various events.
Public Boating course information should provide some information as to when
and where the next available course will be available. At times a date may
not be known, but some general information as to a general time of year and a
contact to allow access to further information should be provided. This is
where we get new members.
How about websites that have pictures of past events and copies of past
newsletters. Both of these items are by nature historical in nature and are not
covered by rule #11. Both of these items provide a better insight for
prospective members as to the type of organization the website represents. Dates
and information contained in the newsletters are not considered in the
evaluation process. So don't rely on your newsletter, that is available for viewing
in the website, as a substitute for a separate calendar in the website.
Items that are date sensitive, such as the VSC decal should be kept up to
date. Your website should have the 2005 decal if you display any decal on the
website. Don't follow the GC Aux website which has the original 1999 or 2000
decal displayed. The decal graphic for the 2005 decal is available on the
USPS VSC website.
The squadron is the front line when it comes to enticing new people to join
the USPS. We, as webmasters, need to give them all the reason and
encouragement we can to join. So a vibrant, up to date website is one tool that can be
used to get this accomplished. Use common sense and err on the side of too
much information rather than too little.
This email is being sent to all webmasters of record on the usps-webmasters
mail list and on the webmaster_forum mail list. If you wish to discuss any
part of the rule or this letter do so on the webmaster_forum mail list so
everyone may gain by the dialog.
Yours for safe boating and better websites
Bill Miller
Website Coordinator, ITCom, USPS
8-14-2005
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<DIV>
<DIV>To all USPS webmasters.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>There has been considerable correspondence concerning the purpose and=20
interpretation of rule #11. It states;</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><EM><FONT color=3D#0000ff><STRONG>#11 Web site must b=
e kept=20
up to date - required </STRONG></FONT></EM></DIV>
<DIV><EM><FONT color=3D#0000ff><STRONG></STRONG></FONT></EM> </DIV>
<DIV><EM><FONT color=3D#0000ff><STRONG>Any web site, which contains meeting,=
=20
activities and/or pubic boating course information that is 90 days or more o=
ut=20
of date, may be removed from linking to the national site. It is extremely=20
important to keep websites up to date. Any website found not current in thei=
r=20
schedule dates for events and educational programs will not be considered in=
any=20
awards evaluations. Note there is no grace period for the awards program. If=
=20
past dates are listed on websites they should be identified as past events,=20=
such=20
as by change in font style or color or within a shaded background such as in=
a=20
calendar format. Items that are date referenced, such as the VSC Decal shoul=
d=20
show the present years version.</STRONG></FONT></EM> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM><FONT color=3D#0000ff></FONT></EM></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV>The purpose of the rule is two fold. First it is to promote websi=
tes=20
that are current and be of interest to prospective members who are visiting=20=
the=20
website. The second purpose is to close a loop hole that existed sever=
al=20
years back where this matter was not considered and some really out of=20=
date=20
websites received web awards as the item was not part of the evaluation=20
criteria. The second purpose was the driving force behind the developm=
ent=20
of the present rule.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>That being said, let's look at the rule to determine just what it=20
says. The first sentence indicates that any website containing informa=
tion=20
concerning meetings (schedules and locations), activities (social and boatin=
g)=20
and public course information (dates and times and locations) be up to=20
date. If they fall behind by 90 days from the date of the site visit,=20=
no=20
matter when in the year, the linkage between the subject website and the USP=
S=20
website listing of squadron and district websites may be eliminated. P=
rior=20
to such de-linkage, the website coordinator will contact the ITCom contact t=
hat=20
is listed on the squadron maintenance record to try to resolve the situation=
=20
without removal of the linkage. The no tolerance situation concer=
ns=20
the websites qualification to be considered in the current Webawards=20
program. The evaluation sheet indicates that if the website is over 30=
=20
days out of date that it will not be evaluated. Less than 30 days will=
=20
result in a reduction of the points awarded.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>A message was sent the first of this month to all webmasters advising t=
hem=20
to freshen up their websites as it was only thirty days till the Webawards=20
evaluations will begin.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Many websites have an entire year long calendar of events displayed.&nb=
sp;=20
That is certainly allowed in this rule, as long as there is some indication=20=
of=20
what events have already transpired. Many websites have come up with=20
innovative means to make such a distinction. This presentation of past=
and=20
future dates has two benefits. First it gives visitors to the website=20=
some=20
idea as to the depth of activities available to members of the=20
organization. Second it provides information about future events yet t=
o=20
occur, and should provide an appropriate contact for the various events.</DI=
V>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Public Boating course information should provide some information as to=
=20
when and where the next available course will be available. At times a=
=20
date may not be known, but some general information as to a general time of=20=
year=20
and a contact to allow access to further information should be provided.&nbs=
p;=20
This is where we get new members.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>How about websites that have pictures of past events and copies of past=
=20
newsletters. Both of these items are by nature historical in nature an=
d=20
are not covered by rule #11. Both of these items provide a better insi=
ght=20
for prospective members as to the type of organization the website=20
represents. Dates and information contained in the newsletters ar=
e=20
not considered in the evaluation process. So don't rely on your=20
newsletter, that is available for viewing in the website, as a substitute fo=
r a=20
separate calendar in the website.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Items that are date sensitive, such as the VSC decal should be kept up=20=
to=20
date. Your website should have the 2005 decal if you display any decal=
on=20
the website. Don't follow the GC Aux website which has the original 19=
99=20
or 2000 decal displayed. The decal graphic for the 2005 decal is avail=
able=20
on the USPS VSC website.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The squadron is the front line when it comes to enticing new people to=20=
join=20
the USPS. We, as webmasters, need to give them all the reason and=20
encouragement we can to join. So a vibrant, up to date website is one=20=
tool=20
that can be used to get this accomplished. Use common sense and err on=
the=20
side of too much information rather than too little.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>This email is being sent to all webmasters of record on the usps-webmas=
ters=20
mail list and on the webmaster_forum mail list. If you wish to discuss=
any=20
part of the rule or this letter do so on the webmaster_forum mail list so=20
everyone may gain by the dialog.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Yours for safe boating and better websites</DIV>
<DIV>Bill Miller</DIV>
<DIV>Website Coordinator, ITCom, USPS</DIV>
<DIV>8-14-2005</DIV></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>
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