I just finished adding all the forms required by Posts and Legion Members to out Web site. It was a challenging project, as I have yet to find a source of National forms in PDF or Microsoft Word format. Without the source documents for many forms, I simply had to scan the forms. The PDF files resulting from scanned forms are much larger than those generated from source documents.
Making the forms available on the Web site makes them more quickly available, and reduces the postage cost for sending out forms. However, it is a long way from the ideal solution.
When we talk about using technology, we often forget the more mundane topics. Yet,, for everyday functioning of an organization, forms just as important, if not more so, than social networking. While computers do a great job of generating paper, they can also be used to save trees and reduce costs.
When available, I also made the Microsoft Word version of the form available. Yet, both the Word document and the PDF document can be improved. With both formats, a form can be designed to fill-in fields. For example, PDF has the capability to have fill-in fields. The resulting PDF file can then be send back to the Department without ever have to print and mail the form. Email could replace the FAX, saving paper in the process.
Ideally, every form would be a fill-in the fields type of document, which is electronically submitted. If we get real fancy, we can even complete the form on-line. All this is possible with today's technology. It would be both environmentally friendly and cost effective. In the meantime, it sure would be nice to have the source documents of National forms, and not just printed forms.
Bill Anderson
Webmaster
American Legion of Montana
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Do not post messages/items that are unlawful, harassing, defamatory, or abusive.
Do not post Hate Speech, defines as "any comments intended to degrade, intimidate, or incite violence or prejudicial action against a person or group of people based on their race, gender, age, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, language ability, moral or political views, socioeconomic class, occupation or appearance.
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No impersonating. Impersonating someone is not acceptable (however, impersonation of comical intent will be tolerated with reserved right to censor and/or reject base on our interpretations).
Links. Do not post stupid random links.
Copyright and the law. You own the copyright in your postings, but you also agree to grant to The American Legion a perpetual, royalty-free, non-exclusive, sublicenseable right and license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, perform, play, and exercise all copyright and publicity rights with respect to any such work worldwide and/or to incorporate it in other works in any media now known or later developed for the full term of any rights that may exist in such content. In other words, if you post a good comment, we may use it in our publications. If you do not wish to grant such rights, do not post to this site. You may not violate, plagiarize, or infringe on the rights of third parties including copyright, trademark, trade secret, privacy, personal, publicity, or proprietary rights. Phew.
Standing Orders:
Constitutions and By-laws. The American Legion is a resolution based grassroots organization. As such, The American Legion National Commander is the only spokesperson of the organization. Although personal comments and voices of dissent are welcome, any posted messages/items, implicitly or explicitly denoting representation of the whole organization not adhering to the resolutions passed by the National Executive Committee will be removed without notification.
1 comment:
the national office is looking at the options of making dynamic PDF and MS documents... there may also be interest in shared documents for the purpose of post/district/department projects for multiply contributers..
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