I also put this at the end of navbar template so members know when they have new mail.
PHP Code:
<!-- vBMS new mail notification -->
<if condition="$vbulletin->options['vbms_enabled'] and $vbulletin->options['vbms_headernotification'] and $vbms_newmessages['newcount'] > 0">
<br />
<table cellpadding="$stylevar[outerborderwidth]" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="tborder" width="$stylevar[tablewidth]" align="center">
<tr>
<td>
<table cellpadding="$stylevar[cellpadding]" cellspacing="$stylevar[cellspacing]" border="0" width="100%">
<tr>
<td class="thead" colspan="2">$vbphrase[vbms_you_have_new_email]</b>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2" style="width:30px; text-align:center; overflow:hidden; padding:1px; vertical-align:middle">
<span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight:bold; font-size:xx-large">!</span>
</td>
<td valign="top" class="alt1">
<b>
<if condition="$vbms_newmessages['newcount'] == 1">
$vbphrase[vbms_one_unread_message]
<else />
<phrase 1="$vbms_newmessages[newcount]">$vbphrase[vbms_x_unread_messages]</phrase>
</if>
</b><br />
<span class="smallfont"><phrase 1="/forums/vbms.php?$session[sessionurl]">$vbphrase[vbms_to_read_your_email]</phrase>
</span>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</if>
<!-- / vBMS new mail notification -->