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In this issue:
August 9, 2004
Picnic for Kids Who Have Witnessed Violence
Verizon Tuition Assistance Program
Our Secrets for Better Computing
Computers for People with Disabilities
The Jim Mullen Foundation (JMF) distributes free computers to individuals who have a disability through their Computer Giveaway program. For more information about Jim Mullen’s organization, check out the video "ENABLE: People with Disabilities and Computers."
To request a free computer, download the Computer Giveaway Application form available at www.jimmullen.com, tell them about yourself and the nature of your disability, and they will attempt to provide you with a free computer and possibly adaptive hardware and software.
WITAN is a self-sustaining non-profit woman’s service organization founded in Akron in 1943. Since its inception, the members of WITAN have volunteered more that 2 million service hours, and through fund-raising efforts have granted over $1 million to the community.
Up to ten projects are funded each year by WITAN. Recipients are non-profit agencies or organizations serving the needs of the greater Akron area. WITAN makes an effort to share our funding donations among projects representing health, education, preservation, and the arts. WITAN’s annual gifts to community are usually between $40,000 and $50,000
There are two ways to apply for funding:
- If your project request is for funds of $600 or less, simply provide a description of the project on letterhead with the requested funding amount and submit it by October 30, 2004.
- If your project request is for funds greater than $600, please go to www.witaninfo.org and print a Project Summary Form. Deadline is September 30, 2004.
If you do not have web access, call Project Connect for a time when you can use our computer lab.
Requests for funds for projects of $600 or less may be received at any time and are allocated on an as-needed basis between September and the following May. Project funding requests greater than $600 are reviewed between September and January. If needed, site visits will be made during January and February. Up to 10 projects are recommended to the general membership and are voted on in May 2005. Agencies or organizations approved for funding are notified in May.
For more information, visit www.witaninfo.org or send an email to .
Have You Been Phished?
from AppRiver.com
There has been an increase in fraudulent "Consumer Fraud" emails being sent out in the past week. Please be aware that NO company will ask you to verify your credit card, online account, bank account, or anything online with an email.
These emails look very realistic, and most domains they use to redirect you are very similar to the company they are attempting to impersonate. NEVER put your account name, password, bank account, credit card number, etc into any site you're taken to via an email asking you to verify your account. This technique, known as phishing, is well known and its basic premise is to get you to hand over something that can be used to impersonate you directly. Even something you think is as trivial as your ebay account can be used to harm you.
Visit www.antiphishing.org for more information.
Give Kids a Firm Foundation ... and Food and Music and Fun!
If you know any children who have been victims of crimes, or who have witnessed violence, let them know about the 4th annual K.N.A.F.F. Picnic on August 20th from 10:00 - 4:00! Children can go fishing, meet and touch animals from the Akron Zoo and Whistler’s Glen Alpacas, listen to music, and enjoy a cookout. The picnic is held at the FOP Lodge on Ley Drive in Akron, Ohio.
K.N.A.F.F. (Kids Need a Firm Foundation) is a collaborative project between the Community Oriented Policing System (COPS) of the Akron Police Department and the Victim Assistance Program. The goal is to be able to provide a fun filled-day that is free of violence to children who have been victims and/or witnesses to violence/crime.
The criminal justice process sometimes objectifies child victims of crime: in the course of achieving justice, the system loses vision of a child as a child. The picnic is an opportunity to show the youngest members of society that they are more than the sum of the crime/violence committed against them. Children are invited to spend a day with members of law enforcement and victim advocates outside of the courtroom, police department, or office setting. As a result, the coming together in a simple picnic serves to remind us all of our connection above and beyond the violence in our society.
Victim Assistance Program would gladly accept any and all donations that you or your group would be willing to contribute for these kids. For more information, contact Mary Wilson of Victim Assistance Program at or 330-376-0040.
Planning for Your Financial Goals
Women’s Network members, representing various area financial planning firms, will present a panel discussion on “Planning for Your Financial Goals” at the August 13 luncheon. This is part of the Women’s Network monthly luncheon series featuring speakers and panel discussions that address a variety of topics focusing on professional development. August's meeting will be held at Peg’s Catering, 440 Grant Street, Akron (parking and entrance off Wheeler St.). Networking begins at 11:45 a.m.
Representatives from Legg Mason in Akron, MetLife Resources in Uniontown, and American Express Financial Advisors, Inc. and Sirak Financial in Canton will discuss the different types of accounts available, contribution limits and tax benefits. They will also share strategies on how to achieve financial goals like retirement, college or a second home through proper planning.
The cost is $12 for Women’s Network members, $15 for non-members. Reservations are requested by Wednesday, August 11. For more information or to make a reservation, call the Women’s Network office at 330-253-6131.
CSI 2004: Network, Learn, and Network Some More ...
The North Central Ohio Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals is hosting the 2004 Career Success Institute on August 30th. Topics were designed to interest development officers, executive directors, board members, and other fundraising professionals:
Morning session ...
- In Support of Donor-Focused Fundraising: The Art & Science of Major Giving Research presented by Catherine Smyth Zajc, KnowPro Consulting
Afternoon sessions ...
- Energizing The Board presented by Stephen Kahnert & Sheila Cawley, PARTNERS/Mission & Money
- Building Healthy Relationships between the Board, Executive Director, and Development Officer presented by the Community Leader Panel: Sandy Auburn, Akron Community Foundation (moderator); Ann Brennan, Brennan Family Foundation; Theresa Carter, OMNOVA Solutions Foundation; Phil Maynard, ASW Services; Dick Norton, formerly of FirstMerit; Diane Sarkis, St. Hilary's Parish
Attendees can select from the full day session, the morning session and lunch, or the afternoon sessions and lunch.
More information is available at http://www.acorn.net/afp/csi2004.htm. If you have any questions about the event, please contact Rochelle Fisher at .
A generous benefactor donates a variety of used 3-ring binders to Mature Services on a regular basis. If you would be interested in seeing what is available, contact Stephanie Jaeger at
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:
Make your documents ultra-professional with Watermarks (and save money on letterhead too!)
Ever wondered how people got those really great looking documents that have their logo in the background, or DRAFT printed across them in soft gray? Watermarks are the answer.
The term watermark actually refers to a recognizable image or pattern in paper that appears lighter when viewed by transmitted light or darker when viewed by reflected light, atop a dark background (Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watermark, 8/2004). Watermarks can be used to identify the paper manufacturer, display a company logo, or discourage counterfeiting. Applications like Microsoft Office define a watermark as any graphic or text, such as "Confidential," that when printed appears either on top of or behind existing document text (Microsoft Office Help).
Adding a watermark to a document:
Word XP and 2003 (predefined list)
- From the Format menu, select Background.
- Select Printed Watermark.
- Choose Text Watermark and select the text you want from the drop down box.
- Choose a font, size and color (be careful not to make it too dark - you want to be able to read the document text that overlaps it).
- Select a direction (diagonal or horizontal) and click OK.
Earlier versions, and custom text for XP/2003:
- From the View menu, select Header and Footer (the Header and Footer toolbar will appear).
- Turn on the Drawing toolbar (View > Toolbars > Drawing).
- From the Drawing toolbar, select the Text Box tool.
- Click and drag in the center of the document to create a text box.
- Enter your text and format the font, size and color.
- Format the text box to remove the line, if necessary: use the paintbrush on the Drawing toolbar and select No Line.
- Click Close on the Header and Footer toolbar.
Voilà! Type your document as usual, and you now have a professional looking document. You can also insert pictures instead of text, but remember to select Washout/Watermark on the Picture toolbar color setting.
Hints for good watermarking:
- Choose simple images or single-word text watermarks for clarity.
- Be sure to use light colors (or light shades of gray) for text images and Wingdings, and to select Washout as the color scheme for pictures. This ensures that your text will still be legible.
- View your document in Print Layout mode (View > Print Layout) to see any watermarks you've inserted.
In 2003, Project Connect received a grant to connect 25 child care providers in low-income neighborhoods to our network so that they can run their business, use our meal planning software to serve nutritious meals, and increase their children’s readiness for school. Everything is in place: the network has been prepared, Cisco has given us $20,000 worth of firewall equipment, and the meal software has been beta-tested successfully. Now all we need are the 25 computers!
These computers can be used. All we ask is that they be able to run school readiness software like Reader Rabbit. Minimum requirements are:
- Pentium 166 MHz or faster processor (Pentium II 300 MHz or faster processor required for use with Microsoft Windows XP)
- Microsoft Windows 95, 98, 2000, Me, or XP
- 32 MB RAM minimum (128 MB RAM required for Microsoft Windows XP)
- 100 MB hard disk space
- 8x or faster CD-ROM drive
- 16-bit video display
- Soundblaster 16 or compatible sound card
- Modem for internet access
We are looking for options. Do you have any idea as to where we can get these computers? Do you know companies willing to donate older computers? Vendors who would like to benefit from the publicity of this program?
Any help you can give for this program will be GREATLY appreciated!!
Please let us know. Thanks!!
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.
Microsoft Word
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Document Basics 9/16/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon |
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Tables, Merges & Macros 9/23/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon |
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Forms & Advanced Tools 9/30/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon |
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Graphics & Brochures 10/7/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon |
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Newsletters 10/14/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon |
Microsoft Excel
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Spreadsheet Basics 8/4/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon |
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Formulas 8/11/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon |
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Advanced Tools 8/18/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon |
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Data Analysis Tools 8/25/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon |
Website Development
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FrontPage 1:Themes & Shared Borders
9/8/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon -
Photoshop:Graphics for the Web
9/15/04 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon -
FrontPage 2: Formatting Your Web Pages
9/21/2004 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon -
FrontPage 3: Cool Tools
9/29/2004 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
Microsoft Access
- 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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