| The Back Office is a free service of Google otherwise known as "Google Apps." As a non-profit we qualify for the 'Educational" version and it provides us with functionality and benefits we would otherwise pay good money for. Click here to learn more about the power in Google Docs |
|
|
|
|
| The Back Office can be accessed directly by its link location http://partnerpage.google.com/anws.org or by visiting the Help page of the Association website, locating the "B" section and clicking on the Back Office link. Once on that page please create a favorite/bookmark in your browser for convenient access. |
| For members of the Executive Committee your user name is the first letter of your first name and your last name in its entirety (ex:nritchie). For chapter presidents it is the chapter name followed by a dash followed by president (ex: albany-president). For chapter treasurers it is the chapter name followed by a dash followed by treasurer (ex: albany-treasurer). In the instance where a chapter name is more than one word it will be the words combined (ex: molallariver-president), (ex: tommccall-president), (ex: sandyriver-treasurer).
Nothing follows those words in that box, only your username and not "anws.org" Your initial password will be emailed to you upon request. On your first login and then quarterly you will be asked to supply a new password. |
| No. Currently you must use your assigned username. |
| Yes. A variety of mail client software including many versions of Outlook & Outlook Express for Windows, Apple Mail, Windows Mail, Thunderbird, and wireless devices including BlackBerry, iPhone and Windows Mobile.
Click here for configuration instructions for the Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) Preferred: IMAP peeks into your mail, keeping it on the server but lets you use it on your computer. Click here for configuration instructions for the Post Office Protocol (POP) POP downloads all your mail to your computer • Do not use SSL Encryption |
| When you go to the Back Office web page you will see instructions. The instructions inform you to contact the administrator who can reset your password. You can help by writing your password down in a safe place as the administrator is not always available or by a computer. |
| We use a variety of services and open source software that, as a board member, you should familiarize yourself with. The theme is that they are generally "free" of charge.
OpenOffice is a free suite of cross platform tools similar to Microsoft Office. Only the newsletter editor is missing. Freeconference is used to schedule and conduct conference calls over phone lines. It's important to know that as the caller, you will pay long distance charges. Therefore it's a good idea to use this service from a phone with an unlimited long distance service. Alternately, you or your chapter may elect to purchase a calling card through the office (or at Costco) which runs about 3 cents per minute. Skype is a free voice over IP (VOIP) service for teleconferencing. It uses the internet for voice and picture transmission and gives us the ability to see and hear those who would otherwise not be able to participate do to time or travel constraints. This service is best used in conjunction with broadband internet services such as DSL or high speed cable. Many people also use Skype as their phone service instead of the traditional POTS. A list of all officers who use Skype is posted in the Back Office in the Document "Skype Users". If you wish to teleconference in association activities you should notify the webmaster of the email address you use to subscribe. |