VMB-613 "SEMPER FIDELIS" AWARDS PROGRAM
Pre-Submission Inquiries. Applicants having a question pertaining to any aspect of this awards program are encouraged to submit pre-submission inquiries to: awards@vmb-613.com.
Submission. Following a thorough review of the policies, criteria, and processes contained herein, applicants will proceed to the application form using the link provided on the last page of this awards program.
Applicants must complete all items on the application, including our special Application Validation Code otherwise the application will be rejected. Once all items have been entered, the application may be submitted for consideration by depressing the "Submit" button. Following submission. you will receive a confirmation page acknowledging that your application has been forwarded.
Should your browser not support forms, you may e-mail your application by depressing the "Submit via E-Mail" link at the bottom of the application page. Should you submit an application in this manner, take special care to ensure that all required information is included in your e-mail application. Upon receipt of an e-mail application, you will receive an e-mail conformation acknowledging that your application has been received.
Evaluation Process. Following submission, your site will be promptly examined and evaluated by our Awards Board. Your site will first be reviewed by the awards program administrator to determine if it meets the submission criteria, specified herein. Once this has been satisfactorily completed, each member of the Awards Board will visit your website at east once and conduct a detailed review. Sites will be evaluated in five (5) categories and scored based on a system of 100 possible points as indicated below:
1. Content - Maximum 40 Points. As the most important part of any website is the content being presented to the viewer, content is heavily weighted. At least three (3) pages of quality content is required. Pages containing external links, website awards, forums, guestbooks, and/or items for sale do not count towards the required minimum.
2. Ease of Navigation - Maximum 20 Points. The ability to move between pages in a logical manner is essential to the viewing any website. Navigation menus should be well-organized and consistent throughout. All external links should open in a new window to ensure that visitors don't loose their place on your site when they visit an external link. Internal links in most cases should open in the same window and should contain a consistent navigation menu. This will prevent visitors from having to use their browser's "Back" button. The exception to the latter are pages within your site that do not contain navigation structure, such as photographs or guestbooks. In cases such as these, it is permissible to have these links open in a new window.
3. Color Scheme and Design - Maximum 20 Points. The color scheme and design of your site should pleasing to the eye and consistent throughout. The color, size, and font of the text should be such that the text is plainly legible over any background images or colors that are used. The design of the website should be uncluttered and demonstrate good use of space. Additionally, the design should be such that each page can be viewed without excessive downloading time.
4. Browser Compatibility - Maximum 10 Points. Since viewers to your website may use a variety of browsers, cross-browser compatibility is essential to ensure your site is presented in the manner intended. Websites will be viewed in at least two (2) of the following web browsers to ensure cross-browser compatibility: Internet Explorer; Netscape; Opera, and/or; Firefox.
5. Screen Resolution - Maximum 10 Points. Your site should be optimized to be easily viewed with screen resolutions of 800X600 and 1024X768, as these are these are most popular with viewers on the Internet. At a screen resolution of 800X600, it should not be necessary to use the horizontal scroll bar.
