Personally, I don't like frames, java, or flash because not all browsers deal with them well (or at all) or may have them disabled. For example, the java applets you use for your menu don't work in my linux/netscape but work fine in windows/IE. And of course, IE is not available on linux. It's one of the first issues I had to deal with...making pages compatible with different browers (mostly netscape and IE) and different versions of each browser (the last 2-3 versions).
In writing my association's site, I used server-side includes to have the same menu, header, and footer to be visible in all pages. To the browser, it comes out as a simple html page. There is different content available depending on who is logged in (public, coaches/ADs, members, commissioner, officers, evaluation chairman, administrators)
Have a look at it:
Portland Basketball Officials Website
The public can only see about 1/3 of the site. Once a member is logged in, the menu adds several items. Check out the schools page with links to three mapservers. The games, roster and school information content is database driven. Each of them are cross linked to the other. From your games, you can get to your partner's data (email, phone, etc.) or you can get to the school's data (address, map, etc.) You can find out who is working the game before/after you. You can submit evaluations online (which get immediately emailed to the evaluation committee and the official).
Updates to the master database are just dropped into place and are immediatly reflected on the web. With 342 members and 210 schools, that is really needed.
Menu items added beyond the publicly visible items:
Member/Coach/AD Menu
* Member Photo Album
* Member Ethics Guidelines
Member-only Menu
* Member Roster
* My Games
* Prob/Assoc Evaluation
* Regular Evaluation
* Ejection Form
* PIL Sportsmanship Form
* Game Situations
* Commish's Notes
* Events
* Board Members
* Committees
* Bylaws
* Constitution
* Game Fees
* Edit Registration
Limited-Access Menu
* Email To All Members
* Upload New Database
* Evaluation Game Table
* Reconcile Roster
* Count Members
[Edited by Camron Rust on Nov 21st, 2002 at 06:20 PM]