Simply place this code in the membership header to get alerted of new messages.
<script type="text/javascript">
/*<![CDATA[*/
if ([new_messages] >= 1){
if (confirm("You have [new_messages] new message(s).\nDo you wish to view them now?")) {
window.location="messaging.php";
}
}
/*]]>*/
</script>
These ideas came from someone else, but they were modified for AcornRack use.