Project Connect ... Technology Solutions for Ohio Nonprofits

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*Please route to the appropriate persons ...* TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS FOR OHIO NONPROFITS
JANUARY 2007		The Electronic Newsletter of Project Connect 330-315-1335 800-780-8299 infolineinc.org/connect.htm
In this issue:	NEWS FOR NONPROFITS TRAINING NEWS TECHNICAL SUPPORT NEWS
Focus is on training and technical assistance Join Akron's reading crusade Fundraising tips from THE expert Register for Upcoming Classes Classes in our Training Lab Online classes How online training works PC Tip Answers for sale!! Are you getting the best deals for your technology dollar? How can Project Connect help you?	Project Connect adds new services for 2007 Focus is on training and technical assistance Greetings! Here's wishing 2007 is productive and satisfying for all of you!! Project Connect's goal is to be the first point of contact for all technology needs in the Ohio nonprofit community. To accomplish this, we are strengthening our training and technical assistance services. The first major change is the elimination of the membership program. Survey results indicated that nonprofits preferred to pay as-you-go for services instead of a large up-front fee. In addition, we are adding online training to our repertoire so that nonprofits throughout Ohio — including Cuyahoga, Mahoning, Lucas, and Franklin counties — can get the training they need without incurring traveling expenses. Finally, we are heavily promoting our online technical assistance program, www.pclivehelp.org, so that nonprofit staff can get the help they need when they need it ... without frustration!! The key is flexibility. If you need anything dealing with technology—a database, a network, purchasing assistance, or even a sounding board for ideas—contact us!! RETURN TO THE TOP This City Reads! searching for partner organizations Join the fun!! Be part of something BIG! On February 14th, 2007 join your neighbors, family, friends and co-workers as we try to reach our goal of 100.000 readers across the county. This City Reads! — an alliance of organizations dedicated to working together to improve the literacy skills of our county — is looking for your help. We are looking for groups and organizations to pledge to read on the 14th. You can even make your location an Official Reading Site. Visit the website at www.thiscityreads.org to find out how easy this is. Whether your group is big or small, you we need you all. We are also looking for organizations to join us in our efforts throughout the year and become Official Partners. Join our diverse group at http://www.thiscityreads.org/partners.asp ... we already count AMHA, Akron Children’s Hospital, Barnes & Noble and the United Way among our Official Partners. You can see the complete list on the web site. Partnership is free and all the details are on our newly designed web site, along with electronic forms to pledge for February 14th and for becoming an Official Partner. For more information, contact Carolyn Burrier at 330-643-9185 or . RETURN TO THE TOP Jody Bacon shares her fundraising experiences with Leadership Akron Jody Bacon, President of the Akron Community Foundation, received the inaugural Outstanding Professional Fundraiser Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals in November 2006. Having grown the assets of the Akron Community Foundation (ACF) from $17 million in 1990 to over $130 million today, Jody’s achievements as a leader and a fundraiser are self-evident. In a recent interview with Leadership Akron, she offered reflections on a career in philanthropy which are applicable to all of us involved in the nonprofit community ... How can fundraisers work effectively with board members to achieve success? Not everyone is a fundraiser or wants to be, but everyone can be a “door opener” and I think that’s a significant responsibility of a board member of a nonprofit organization. And, you need to take time to educate the Board on the issues, and help them catch the passion for the organization’s mission. Fundraisers need to be enthusiastic about their work and share that with the board members. more ... RETURN TO THE TOP TRAINING NEWS Register for Upcoming Classes ... Project Connect now offers classes "on demand": just call 330-315-1335 or e-mail to have your name added to the list, and as soon as we have enough folks registered, we'll schedule the class. This way, we can run whatever classes you need, when you need them! Classes in our Training Lab at 703 South Main Street #211, Akron OH 44311: Click here to register for Training Lab classes Click on the class name for a description of the class ... Microsoft Word 1: Document & Formatting Basics 1/16/07 - 9:00 AM - Noon Learn how to set your options, use toolbars, format your text, change your page set-up, set tabs, use headers and footers, and more. After this course, you will be able to enter, format, and print letters, reports, proposals, etc., using tabs and page set-up. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Introduction to Computers 1 & 2. Microsoft Word 2: Tables, Merges & Macros 1/23/07 - 9:00 AM - Noon This course is designed for those who feel they aren't using Microsoft Word to its full potential. Learn how to insert, format, and manipulate tables, as well as complete a mail merge. We'll also cover recording and using macros. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Microsoft Word 1. Microsoft Word 3: Forms & Advanced Tools 1/30/07 - 9:00 AM - Noon Learn how to design forms which you can send to staff, clients, volunteers, etc., to complete and return to you for tabulation. We will also cover advanced finds/replaces, special characters, and headers/footers. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Microsoft Word 1 & 2. Microsoft Word 4: Graphics & Brochures 2/6/07 - 9:00 AM - Noon There's no need to buy an expensive desktop publishing package if you have Microsoft Word. Learn how to insert and manipulate graphics, use columns, and other cool tools. After this course, you will be able to develop professional-looking flyers and brochures. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Microsoft Word 1, 2, and 3. Microsoft Word 5: Newsletters 2/13/07 - 9:00 AM - Noon A nonprofit's communication strategy should always include ongoing communications with its clients, client families, volunteers, donors, funders, etc. The most professional way is through newsletters. This course will focus on what you need to know to develop newsletters that get read. Prerequisite: skills covered in Word 1, 2, 3, 4. Microsoft Excel 1: Spreadsheet & Chart Basics 1/11/07 - 9:00 AM - Noon Learn how to set your options, use toolbars, navigate through a spreadsheet, fill down and across, AutoSum, and more. After this course, you will be able to create a basic spreadsheet from scratch, write basic sum and average formulas, and create simple charts from your data. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Introduction to Computers 1 & 2. Microsoft Excel 2: Formulas 1/18/07 - 9:00 AM - Noon Learn how to enter and edit formulas-such as right and left, date and time, lookup, and IF statements. Also covers essential spreadsheet tools: grouping, naming, freeze/unfreeze panes, and references to other worksheets. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Microsoft Excel 1. Microsoft Excel 3: Advanced Tools 1/25/07 - 9:00 AM - Noon Learn essential spreadsheet tools: grouping, naming, freeze/unfreeze panes, and references to other worksheets. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Microsoft Excel 2. Microsoft Excel 4: Data Analysis Tools 2/1/07 - 9:00 AM - Noon For those of you who are ready to go the next step: subtotals and pivot tables! These tools consolidate your data and point out critical relationships. Also, advanced chart techniques will be covered. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Microsoft Excel 1, 2, & 3. RETURN TO THE TOP Online classes click here for more details click here to register for online training classes Click on the class name for a description of the class ... Microsoft Outlook 1/10/07 - 9:00 AM - Noon Learn how to take advantage of Outlook's powerful features … including managing contact lists, scheduling appointments, arranging meetings, and using notes. Emphasis is placed on organization techniques. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Introduction to Computers 1 & 2. The Database Developers Series Microsoft Access 1: Database Planning & Set-Up 1/18/07 - 9:00 AM - Noon This first session will focus on identifying what needs to be included in a nonprofit-related database and how to structure it so that the database will be easy to use and easy to retrieve useful information. Attendees will plan the database they need for their own organization. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Microsoft Excel 2. Microsoft Access 2: Database Tables & Relationships 1/25/07 - 9:00 AM - Noon In the second session, we will actually set up the database planned in the previous session. Tables will be closely examined, especially field properties. We will also do quick searches, filters, and sorts. Relationships between tables will be a major focus. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Microsoft Access 1 and completion of homework. Microsoft Access 3: Database Queries & Basic Forms 2/1/07 - 9:00 AM - Noon Queries are used to analyze data, combine data from different tables, and retrieve data from one or more tables using criteria you specify. Forms can be created to "pretty up" your data, make data entry easier, and combine data from different tables and queries. We will also integrate the data into Microsoft Word and Excel for file exchange and publication. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Microsoft Access 2 and completion of homework. Microsoft Access 4: Database Forms & Reports 2/8/07 - 9:00 AM - Noon More extensive work on the forms will be covered. We will also cover creating and editing reports, which present your data in meaningful ways. Sub-forms and sub-reports will be discussed. Skills covered in Microsoft Access 3 and completion of homework. Microsoft Access 5: Troubleshooting the Database 2/15/07 - 9:00 AM - Noon This class will focus on troubleshooting the database and other useful tools. Also covers the important compact-and-repair tool. Prerequisite: Skills covered in Microsoft Access 4 and completion of homework. RETURN TO THE TOP How online training works ... Learn from your office -- no travel involved!! In response to myriad requests for training throughout Ohio, Project Connect is implementing ONLINE TRAINING!! Here's how it works: Visit http://projectconnect.webex.com and click on the [Registration] button for whatever class you want to register for. Enter your information into the form and click on the [Register] button again. Click [ok] and exit. You will get a confirming email with all the information: date, time, session number, phone number, etc. Copy this to your calendar for that date starting at 8:45 AM. On the day before the class, I will send you the handouts for the class. Please print them and have them with you on the day of training. You must have the software you are training in loaded on the computer that you use to connect to the training session. On the day of training at 8:45, sit comfortably at your own desk with the handouts and any necessary refreshments. Go to the email link that you pasted in your calendar. Fill in the information (the password is also in that information you pasted) and then join the session. Once you join, you will be given a phone number to call. Call that number and enter the codes from the screen. You will see my screen on your computer and be able hear me from your phone! We'll keep the class to three hours with a break in the middle. Get ready to have fun!! Other details: Online training is limited to 12 students per class. Classes fill quickly, so be sure to register early. Cost is $60 per person. We will invoice you or you can call 330-315-1335 and pay by credit card. The registration deadline is 2 business days before the class. Payment must be made by the date of the class; checks, cash, and Mastercard/Visa are accepted. Cancellations must be received by 4:00 pm two days before the class in order to be eligible for a refund. Those who register for a class but do not attend will be charged for that class. If you attended a class previously in the past year, you can repeat the class at no charge. RETURN TO THE TOP TECHNICAL SUPPORT NEWS Ryan's PC Tip: Show secure and non-secure items ... This page contains secure and non-secure items. Do you want to display non-secure items? This is a very time-consuming message -- not only do you have to take the time to read it, you have to take the time to click [Yes] or [More Info] (no one clicks [NO]!). To make this message stay away, do the following: In your web browser go to Tools/Options. Click on the /Security\ tab. Click [Custom Level]. Scroll down to find the heading Miscellaneous. Find the sub-heading Display Mixed Content. Click [Enable] and then [OK]. When it asks "Are you sure you want to change the security settings for this zone?" click [Yes]. Click [OK] to close the Internet Options box. RETURN TO THE TOP Answers for sale!! You and your staff have more important things to do than fight with your technology! Instead of spending hours of frustration trying to do it yourself, let us help you! Project Connect offers Live Help for staff of all Ohio nonprofits! If you are having problems with a Microsoft Office or Adobe product, simply go to www.pclivehelp.org and complete the form. Follow the directions, and then we'll be able to see your computer from our office. We can then walk you through the problem. Cost is $15 per increment of 10 minutes. RETURN TO THE TOP 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! www.techsoup.org/stock/ www.giftsinkind.org www.techfoundation.org RETURN TO THE TOP How can Project Connect help you? 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!

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