Support The Troops Online

Forgive me for deviating from the regularly scheduled programming of OTW. I want to share some Web sites that may be awfully important to you.

I read a column titled “Support the troops: Enlist Whole Nation To Help War Effort” in this morning’s local paper by Thomas L. Friedman of the New York Times. The premise of this piece is to acknowledge the recent scandal alleging poor treatment of returning troops at the Walter Reed military hospital. Now, I’m not sharing this with you to advocate any political viewpoint, and that includes the overall push of Mr. Friedman’s column. In it, he shares links to organizations that are committed to aiding our returning troops and their families. If you’re so inclined, pay these sites a visit and offer some support: Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes (www.saluteheroes.org); The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund (www.fallenheroesfund.org); The Fisher Houses (www.fisherhouse.org); and The Walter Reed Society (www.walterreedsociety.org).

OEM Fab Named Manufacturer of the Year 
OEM Fabricators, Inc. (www.oemfab.com), an engineering, fabricating, machining, welding and finishing company with headquarters in Woodville, Wisconsin, has been named Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year for a medium-sized company. Selected from among 16 other nominated companies with 50 to 299 employees, OEM Fabricators received its award at the “Oscars” of Wisconsin’s manufacturing industry.

Learn To ‘Write’ For Your Web Site
Gerry McGovern is a guru of Web site usability, format and function. His work and observations sometimes venture into areas of less interest to manufacturers and machining businesses, but he often hits really close to (our) home.

For example, his article “Links Are The Grammar Of The Web” draws distinctions between how to write for traditional media and how to communicate through a Web site. The differences he cites can help you, especially because your site serves technically-minded, purpose-driven researchers looking for solutions to problems—not flowery prose. In short, the adage applies here —“People don’t go to the Web to read; they go to the Web to work.”

If you’re at all involved in the maintenance or management of your business’ site, then read this article, and share it with others in your organization.

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