Ever want to see what nice TCS pages might look like?  We'll many of yours are now online... take a look by going to this link: http://Directory.ChamberNation.Com

• Executive & Staff Training THIS WEDNESDAY 11am (PST)
• QuickBooks Integration? Is that Possible?
• Want to See How Your Member Levels Stack Up?
• Joomla Training Resources
• WIFI Hotspot Indicator and Mapping System
• Expanding your Event Promotion through Basecamp
• Email System Upgrade for Members
• Improved Member Optimization Report
• Improved HYBRID Calendar
• Going Green Automation Now Open for Local Providers
• Sample TCS Pages
• Suggestions from last Chamber Executive meeting
• Newsletter Library for Past and Current Issues
• Now You Can See the FINDS too!
• Chamber Business Plan
• ChamberOrientation.Com

Richard Scully

Jim from Duarte Chamber asked if their could be a way to select from a ALL member list in addition to a category list when sending out leads, contacts or referrals to members?

DONE

Several asked to have the HYBRID calendar sort by event type.

DONE

Michael from Crenshaw Chamber would like links to Joomla Training.

DONE

I love this new calendar; however, for us it looks anemic b/c we are not laden with a lot of events.  Can we choose the days to include? 

NOT DONE

Also, can the outlook/vcalendar link be shown on the hybrid page view next to the event, so that members don’t have to do several clicks to find it & add it?

IT IS THERE (requires selection in MMS configuration area)

Richard Scully

 If you would like to view current or past newsletters please go to:

http://newsletters.chambernation.com

Many of you now depend on the SEARCH & NO FINDS REPORT to be sure all of your members are being found when searched, but how about having the ability to see what people are finding?

We'll it is now added, but history is limited since it is a new feature.

NEW FUNCTION: You can now sort results in both reports for easier analysis.

Richard Scully

Just a reminder to view www.ChamberBusinessPlan.com to see if you are taking advantage of all of your included resources. 

Richard Scully

 We have updated our www.ChamberOrientation.com website to help you explain to new members how the services work.  Please visit this site and let us know what you think.

Here is your REMINDER that our monthly training and system update discussion is this week.

TRAINING WEDNESDAY at 11am (PST)

 Call in number is: (218) 844-0840   ACCESS#: 580307#

Screen sharing location: http://Training.ChamberBusinessPlan.Com

Engineering Team

For some time now engineering has been working on a secret project that will enable users of Quick Books Online to fully integrate their MMS / Chamber Organizer systems.

1) Sync- take transactions and push them over to QB
2) Change detection - determine if any of these transactions, once pushed to QB, have been changed after the fact in QB or in the MMS, which would cause the two applications to be out of sync

Engineering has made considerable progress over the past few weeks.  There is still a lot of polishing to do on the new user interface, but we are getting much closer.

We expect to have a full release sometime in the first quarter of  2010 once testing locations report positively on the system results.

We'll provide another update during our January meeting.  

--

* Note: We will be only supporting the  www.QuickBooksOnline.com edition so that we can assure proper server-to-server communications.  Most will find it easy to migrate from the desktop edition... you will never have to worry about local accounting data backups as this would be handled automatically for you by Intuit!
 

We have created a new report that shows you how membership levels are trending across the country.  This is PRIVATE information so NO Chamber of Commerce information is disclosed on each trending chart.

View the report here >>>  http://www.chamberorganizer.com/trend_graphs.php

 

Richard Scully

Michael from the Crenshaw Chamber asked for access to formal Joomla training.  Per Brian in support he suggested these links:

Videos
http://help.joomla.org/ghop/feb2008/task167/index.html

PDF QuickStart Guide
http://help.joomla.org/ghop/feb2008/task048/joomla_15_quickstart.pdf

Richard Scully

Susan Brynar of the Chester Chamber of Commerce (www.LakeAlmanorArea.com) partnered with us to create a new WIFI Hotspot TCS page indicator and mapping system for their entire area.

If you would like to add FREE WIFI indicators for member business locations and automated WIFI Google mapping please let us know. 

Most of you may know that we often connect Chamber of Commerce calendars together to form regional event portals to help our customers and communities promote their areas.  Tom fromBaseCamp will be joining us during our meeting to spend a few minutes on his idea for helping Chambers promote their events beyond facebook, twitter and our regional portals.

Please take a look at this link http://1.cal.basecampbusiness.com/checkevents/learnmore/818
and let us know if you would like to add this automation to your website.  If so, Tom at www.BaseCampBusiness.com will be happy to help you.

We have completed our initial testing and your systems should work well with Base Camp Business.

RGS

In brief: The new and improved 1&1 Webmail 2.0

In a few weeks, all member e-mail accounts who ordered custom domain names will be using the new 1&1 Webmail 2.0.  They may take advantage of the new features and use the new Webmail 2.0 as their default e-mail program or in addition to your local e-mail client.

read more...

 Chambers of Commerce who are taking the process of placing their entire community online will appreciate the newest update to the member optimization reporting screen.

Click on "Member Optimization Status" from the main menu to see your progress and as you view and approve you can remove completed members from the list.

Last month Patty in Walnut Creek suggested a number of changes to the new "Hybrid" calendar.  

If you click on an day , it will now display on the right... then on the right, you can click on the individual events and that will take the visitor to the details for that time.

Richard Scully

 As many of you know we have developed a formal Going Green system with a company called GRC-PIRK.  This is the best system for a FORMAL solution.  But... 

We have also learned that many of you have their own ideas on how to manage this program locally.  For this reason we have decided to open this automation up to all of you at NO COST!

If you are interested in using this part of the system and will assure that a formal process is in place and won't be abused we will be glad to activate this program for you. All of your participating members will be included in the NATIONAL GREEN BUSINESS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE at NO additional charge!!!

read more...