Using Mail Merge in Outlook

Sending out loads of emails? Faffing about with distribution lists or putting contacts into A-F, G-M folders? Well you can stop doing all that, and start sending out personalised emails using mail merge in Outlook 97-2003 or 2007. Your emails go out one at a time (large numbers in seconds) and you no longer have to worry about the issues of bulk emailing. Check this out.

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How to make Word 2007 compatible with Word 97 – 2003

Sharing information is great, but sending a file in a format which can’t be read by others is frustrating and a waste of time. So if you are using Word 2007 you have a responsibility to share those files in a format compatible with Word 97 – 2003. Yes I know 2003 users can download a compatibility reader from Microsoft but most of my clients don’t. So here is a quick instructional video showing you how to set preferences in Word 2007 so that it automatically saves in a compatible format for Word 97 – 2003 users. Enjoy.

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Christmas Draw Winner

Congratulations to Julie Nichol and Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Mind who signed up for the Improving Reach program before Christmas and as a result was the winner of our Christmas Prize Draw. They have won a wonderful laser printer plus of course, all the other Improving Reach benefits.

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To find out how your organisation can benefit from Improving Reach click here.

Poll

New netgain website

netgain from ruralnet have launched a new website at www.net-gain.org.uk 

The new site provides more information including access to toolkits and templates as well as the Test Drive area for netgain delegates to test out new technologies.

netgain is a brilliant funded program designed to support voluntary and community organisations with the development of their ICT by using a strategic approach, thereby helping them to become more effective, efficient and sustainable. 

The Yorkshire and Humber netgain centre is www.electroville.org.uk

Electroville team up with North Yorkshire Forum for Vol. Orgs

Electroville team up with NYFVO to deliver ICT program to Voluntary and Community Organisations (VCOs) across the whole of North Yorkshire.

On 13^th November at the NYFVO annual conference Helen Black, CEO, announced the partnership with Electroville who are rolling out a new Capacity Builders funded Improving Reach project – ‘Take Control with ICT’. This opens the gates for a much needed program of subsidised ICT strategy and support for VCOs, many of whom struggle to make the best use of ICT.

‘Take Control with ICT’ will help organisations to properly plan both their current and future use of ICT to link into their overall aims, thereby helping them to achieve their goals whilst also becoming more efficient, effective and sustainable.

The program includes both services and support and consists of:

• attendance at an ICT strategy workshop,
• a visit to the organisation from an ICT consultant (including ongoing support and advice throughout the year),
• a further Website in a Day workshop plus 50% off a technical support contract which provides a free ICT check up and tune up visit,
• unlimited telephone and remote support and
• 50% off the cost of any further onsite visits.

Eligibility

The program is open to all VCOs with a turnover of under £250,000 last year and who work within one or more of the following fields – BME, Rural, Faith, Disability or Asylum Seekers/Refugees. VCOs who don’t meet these criteria are eligible for a similar funded program (net:gain) – details available from the electroville website at www.electroville.org.uk  If you are unsure of your eligibility please contact Simon Duncan at Electroville who will be happy to answer any questions that you may have.

As an added incentive Electroville are adding all those VCOs who sign up from ‘Take Control with ICT’ before the end of November, into a prize draw where you can win a fantastic laser printer retailing at £475 + VAT, or a free place on the program.

Costs

VCOs with a turnover of under £25,000. Cost = £39 + VAT

VCOs with a turnover of between £25,000 and £250,000. Cost = £99 + VAT

Technical support contract (before discount) £6 per pc per month + £12 per server per month

Sign up for the program now to have all your ICT planning and technical needs taken care of.

Vacancy at Electroville

An exciting opportunity for a special individual who wants both a work and technical challenge as well as the desire to make a difference.

Electroville is a young social firm set up to provide high quality ICT services to the voluntary and community sector, with a remit to employ a high proportion of disadvantaged individuals. We plan to grow our web services and are looking for somone who will set up and develop this aspect of the company; resulting in a team of individuals who are able to work with and provide web services to voluntary and community sector organisations.

Electroville especially welcomes applications from individuals on incapacity benefit, DLA, lone parents, or those with a serve disadvantage. As a social firm, we were set up to with an aim to provide employment to such individuals, and a requirement of the web services department will be to take on people with a disability or other severe disadvantage and design appropriate jobs to suit, while providing an excellent service.

This is a challenging role which offers a considerable amount of freedom and will suit those who wish to “make a difference”.

For further information Click here

Win a £500 laser printer

Sign up for the Improving Reach program – Take Control with ICT – before Christmas and you will be put into a prize draw to win a brand new network enabled laser printer for your organisation, or a free place on the program. 

That’s right. We’re giving away a fabulous laser printer by Konica Minolta which retails at £475 + VAT to one lucky organisation in the Yorkshire and Humber region. As long as you sign up for Take Control with ICT before Christmas then you will be entered into the draw. In addition we are also giving away one free place on this fantastic Capacity Builders funded program and footing the bill ourselves. We are so keen to help you to Take Control of ICT and thereby to save money, be more efficient and effective that we are literally giving a place away. We’ve seen what it can do for VCOs in the region. Now it’s your turn. Even if you’re not planning on taking up the program immediately, that’s ok. You have a full year to realise the potential that’s on offer, so you may as well sign up now and take advantage of our introductory offer. 

Just give us a call on 01924 488725 before Christmas. We’ll register you onto the program and enter you into the draw. 

I look forward to hearing from you.  Simon Duncan

Take the ICT Strategy Challenge

For Voluntary and Community organisations in the Yorkshire and Humber region only.

See how you fare by answering our questionnaire specifically designed for Voluntary and Community Organisations of all sizes in the area. So if you are a charity, a not-for-profit or other VCO then try it out. You will receive a free report from Electroville on completion of the survey. The results may surprise you.

Click Here to take survey

Take Control with ICT

 

Electroville have recently launched a new package which brings together the netgain and Improving Reach programmes – aimed at helping voluntary and community organisations (VCOs) achieve their missions more effectively by the use of ICT.  It’s called Take Control with ICT.

Also this programme introduces reduced prices for the net:gain element.

 

 

Capacitybuilders  funding means that front-line organisations are offered professional ICT advice and consultancy and technical services at a fraction of the normal cost.


Net:gain

Participating VCOs will receive the following benefits as part of the basic (net:gain) programme:

• Attendance at the net-gain Planning Workshop (full day). This helps Senior Managers create an ICT strategy for their organisation which enables the organisation to deliver its core objectives more effectively.
• 12 months membership of Experts online (http://www.expertsonline.org.uk/ ). This is designed as a resource for voluntary sector organisations on a wide range of issues: (Business Planning , Community Engagement, Computers & Communications, Employment Issues , Finance Management , Grant Funding, Legal Issues, Rural Services, Board Recruitment, Project Planning)
  Users are able to ask questions, which are promptly answered by one of a panel of real people with specialist expertise who will interpret and understand your question, and reply usually within 24 hours. Experts Online has been running since 2002.
• An on-site visit (up to 3 hours) from an ICT strategy consultant plus 12 months telephone support from the consultant.
• Either: Attendance at a “Website-in-a-Day” workshop. At the end of the day organisations will have a fully controllable website.
• Or: 25% off 12 months contract for technical support: This consists of:
  • Telephone & Remote Support normally priced at £6 plus VAT per month per PC and £12 + VAT per month per server. It includes an annual on-site health check of the systems. This consists of a basic hardware and software audit, a check up and tune up of each PC.
  • On-site support: Up to 1 hour per PC per year may be pre-purchased with 25% off. (Normal on-contract price £40 plus VAT per hour).

Improving Reach

Organisations which are eligible also get extended benefits under the scheme. Eligible VCOs must cater for clients in one of the following areas:

• BME,
• Faith,
• Asylum Seekers and Refugees,
• Rural or
• Disability.

They must also have an annual turnover of less than £250,000

Such organisations will receive all the net:gain benefits above plus:

• Both the website-in-a-day course and the technical support
• Graphical enhancement of their website
• 50% off technical support in year 1, 25% in year 2.

Prices

 

Organisations with a turnover of less than £25,000	£39
Organisations with a turnover between £25,000 and £250,000	£99
Organisations with  a turnover between £250,000 and £1m (only eligible for normal net:gain offer)	£229
Organisations with a turnover of over £1m	Call

Booking

Planning workshops are arranged for:

• Voluntary Action Leeds – 21st October
• Voluntary Action Kirklees – 26th November
• Priory St Centre, York CVS – 11th December
• Claremont Community Centre, Bradford – 6th January 2009
• Voluntary Action Leeds – 5th February 2009

For more Information or to book a place, ring Electroville on 01924 488725 or email info@electroville.org.uk