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In this issue:
FREE Government Grantwriting Training
Make the Time to Protest the Do-Not-Fax Rules
Verizon Tuition Assistance Program
Our Secrets for Better Computing
Our next Quickies topic is Going from Word 2000 to Word 2003: Tips & Tricks to Deal with the Differences, offered July 21 from 2-4 pm.
Quickies are down-and-dirty, learn-the-ropes-then-get-out-of-here-and-do-it-yourself courses. Costs are $20 for Project Connect Members, $35 for non-members.
Call to register today! 330-315-1335
Governor's Office of Faith-Based & Community Initiatives Offers Free E-Mail Updates
The Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives provides a single point of contact for organizations wanting information about funding and partnership opportunities. The Office partners with state and local agencies, as well as President Bush's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, to ensure that groups providing public service have a level playing field to access public funding. Their directives are:
- Make it easier for faith-based and community organizations to compete for public funding.
- Encourage partnerships among and between public agencies, faith-based organizations, and community-based organizations who share a common mission.
- Measure the impact of these partnerships to reduce the suffering of citizens in need.
Their website contains excellent information about funding, training, and partnership opportunities: http://www.governor.ohio.gov/fbci/Index.htm. They also have a listserv which you can join which will send announcements of upcoming funding and partnering opportunities. To sign up for this listserv, visit http://www.governor.ohio.gov/fbci/MailingList.htm
Free Government Grantwriting Training
Because of the huge demand for the first phase of grant writing training for faith and community-based groups, the Department of Housing and Urban Development is conducting free, two-day, workshops between July and September in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. These workshops will train non-profit organization to secure Federal, as well as private funding.
Sessions include:
- The Art & Science of Grant Writing
- Organizational Development
- Legal Do's & Don'ts, Factors for Awards
- Performance Measurements
- How to Prepare a Budget,
- Correct Application Submission
The first session is scheduled for next week in Cleveland (July 13, 14), and in Columbus on August 2-3. Space is limited to 2 representatives per organization.
More information can be found at: www.hud.gov/local/index.cfm?state=oh. Click on the grant writing training feature, and you will be taken to the instructions for registration.
OANO's Offers Outcome Measurement Training
OANO is sponsoring a five-city training program focused on Outcome Evaluation. Presented by The Ohio Community Action Training Organization (OCATO), the full-day seminar will focus on maximizing the benefits of the outcomes measurement and reporting process. Regardless of program or funding requirements, participants will receive useful tools to implement, manage, and track customer and agency outcomes. This workshop is designed to create an "outcome mindset."
Workshops will be held in the following cities:
- July 15, Columbus
- July 20, Lima
- July 22, Dayton
- July 23, Zanesville
- July 27, Youngstown
Space for each session is limited to 30, so be sure to reserve your spot soon. Cost is $99 for members, $119 for non-members. For more information, visit www.oano.org or contact Adam Weiss at .
Congress Revisits Do-Not-Fax Legislation
Association of Fundraising Professionals Promotes Letter-Writing Campaign
Legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate that would restore the “established business relationship” provision governing fax communications that was repealed last year by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
In 2003, the FCC promulgated regulations that ban all unsolicited advertising sent by fax unless recipients have provided senders with written consent that includes the recipients’ signature and the fax number they use. A charity must have explicit permission for each individual fax number. If an individual or organization changes fax numbers, then the charity must receive permission all over again.
Under the regulations, having an established business relationship with the recipient does not constitute permission. In addition, membership in an association, such as AFP, does not provide permission for fax advertising.
While the FCC has bowed to pressure from nonprofits and Congress and delayed implementation of the regulations, the regulations will take effect in 2005 without legislative action.
Without the legislation, charities would have to receive explicit permission from donors just to fax them solicitation forms, legal documents, information about programs or services, special event invitations and donor or membership data.
Nonprofit professionals are strongly encouraged to write letters to their representatives and senators urging them to support the bill. More information can be found on AFP's website: www.afpnet.org, including a sample letter.
Are you getting the best deals for your technology dollar?
Don't buy anything technology-related until you've visited these three websites first!! They offer significant discounts for nonprofits with Microsoft, Dell, CDW, Adobe, and more!
Amy's PC TIP:
Going on vacation? Use Outlook to manage your emails while you’re away!
There’s nothing quite so depressing as returning from a relaxing vacation to find your mailbox crammed with messages from folks who’re wondering if you’ve dropped off the face of the earth. Fortunately, Outlook has a tool that can make you appear responsive and proactive – all while you’re sunning yourself on a beach!
The Out of Office Assistant – like having your own personal assistant for free!
- From the Tools menu, select Out of Office Assistant.
- Enter a standard reply to be sent once to each person who sends you mail while you’re away. (You can enter this message at any time, but when you get ready to leave, open the assistant again, check I am currently Out of the Office and click OK.)
- For more detailed mail handling, click the [Add Rule] button.
With Rules, you can direct messages based on the sender, the address they were sent to, whether or not you are the main recipient or cc’d, or containing specific text in the subject or message body.
- Enter the specific details to look for in each incoming message. If you have a problem with your mailbox filling up often, click the Advanced button and create a rule for large messages (if you opt to delete them, send a reply to the sender asking them to resend after your return).
- Specify what you would like Outlook to do with this information – move to a folder, forward to another e-mail address, reply with a special message (different from your default on the first screen), or create a custom action. You can check more than one option.
- When you’re all done, click [OK], and it will be added to the rule list at the bottom of your Out of Office Assistant and performed for all messages which match the criteria.
- Turn the assistant on (refer to #2) and enjoy your time off!
Hints for successful auto-replying and rule usage:
- Let the sender know when they can expect a live response from you (I will return on….)
- Give them an alternative contact in case of panic (For immediate assistance, contact…)
- Create rules where useful, but don’t get crazy. If you have a link on your website that e-mails you with the subject “Request for Brochure," create a rule that automatically responds with the brochure attached or linked (use the Reply With Template option). On the other hand, don’t create a rule for every single person who might possibly send you mail.
- Use combination rules to good effect. If you are forwarding certain mail to someone else to handle while you’re away, consider creating a folder labeled Vacation mail and direct those messages to it (use the Move to and Forward options simultaneously). The messages will still be available for you to follow up on, but they’re not cluttering up your main Inbox when you get back.
- Turn off the Out of Office Assistant when you are back in the office. The first time you open Outlook back up, it should prompt you to do so, but if you cancel that or hit [No] by mistake, just select it again from the Tools menu and choose I am currently In the Office.
Happy Vacationing!
Verizon Revises Tuition Assistance Program ... Get it While You Can!
Verizon is continuing to offer one eTraining grant per year to nonprofit organizations interested in technology training.
To apply for this tuition assistance, visit infolineinc.org/connect/verizon.htm. If you have any questions, please call us at 330-315-1335 or e-mail .
Register for Upcoming Classes
Attend by applying to the Verizon Foundation:
infolineinc.org/connect/verizon.htm
Join us this summer for a refresher course, or learn something entirely new! Call 330-315-1335 or e-mail to register or receive a copy of our summer schedule. Cost is $40 per person for staff and volunteers of member organizations;$60 per person for staff and volunteers of non-member organizations.
Don't know whether your organization is a member? Visit our members page to find out: Project Connect Members
Not a member? Join Project Connect today and save! Visit infolineinc.org/connect.htm for more info.
Introductory Courses
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Intro to Computers 1: The Basics |
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Intro to Computers 2: Increasing Your Efficiency |
Microsoft Word
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Document Basics 7/13/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon |
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Tables, Merges & Macros 7/20/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon |
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Forms & Advanced Tools 7/27/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon |
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Graphics & Brochures 8/3/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon |
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Newsletters 8/10/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon |
Microsoft Excel
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Spreadsheet Basics 06/16/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon |
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Formulas 06/23/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon |
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Advanced Tools 06/30/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon |
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Data Analysis Tools 7/7/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon |
QuickBooks
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QuickBooks 1: Setting Up Your Company
7/8/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon -
QuickBooks 2: Working with Budgets and Grants
7/15/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon -
QuickBooks 3: Beyond the Ledger
7/21/2004 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
Microsoft Access
- Intro to Access: Data Entry & Other Basics
8/5/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
- The Database Developers Series
8/12/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
8/19/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
8/26/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
9/2/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
9/9/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
Visit infolineinc.org/connect/training.htm to see our latest training schedule. Or call us at 330-315-1335 and we'll fax you a copy.
As always, we are interested in hearing from you to learn how we can best meet your technology and connectivity needs. Give us a call at 330-315-1335 or e-mail us at .
Enjoy!
Be sure to include your fax number!
Want to see previous newsletters? Go to infolineinc.org/connect/updates.htm
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