There are just 2 of us in our office who have rights to add information to constituent records, and we struggle with the best way to have others provide data to us for entry. We created a form, but staff resist using it as they say it is too complex. Our reasoning for the complexity was to show a complete list of the information we'd like to have. Does anyone have a form or process they use that they'd be willing to share? Karen Crosland Clark College Foundation 1800 E. McLoughlin Blvd. Vancouver, WA 98663-3598 360-992-2301 [Email Removed]

I am in the same situation--my coworker and I are the only ones to add info and we are just beginning to talk about creating a form. With so many pieces of info to ask for, I was thinking of just having spaces for bio 1 info and then a larger area for "any additional info you have on this consitutent". Carol Yesalonis Ms. Foundation for Women 120 Wall Street, 33rd floor New York, NY 10005 [Email Removed]

Good Morning, You will always have a problem with them wanting to use any form whether it is complexed or not. I searched on RE website under documentation and selected shared documents where other user have shared there forms. I even tried not excepting the information unless they filled out the form, that worked for a while, it is like training a child to walk. Try having the document in a word document where they can fill it out an email it to you. If you have Outlook I believe there is away in Outlook where you can do that. That seems to work as well. Hope this helps. Adrienne L. Rowe Development Specialist Planned Parenthood of Georgia (404) 688-9305 ext 325 [Email Removed]

In my past job and in this one we use an e-mail address that's only to be used for record changes or updates. I check that mailbox in the AM and PM and give the changes to the data entry staff or take care of the change myself. I then save the requested changes in a "completed" folder for future us if needed. I've tried the forms and as you know even if they have a form half the time it's not filled out right. If I have a question about the change I mark up the printed e-mail and put it in the person in-box and I do nothing until I hear back from them again. Training a baby to walk is easier - I'm doing that right now at home *LOL*. Susan Susan E. Zolbe Database & Stewardship Mananger Capital Hospice Fairfax VA 22031 703/460-9215 Email: [Email Removed] [i]--- Edited at 9/1/2004 9:26:18 AM by Susan Zolbe[/i]

At my current position everyone when someone needs me to add/edit something to RE I always ask them to email it to me so I have a copy of it somewhere. I've tried the forms at previous jobs and it never works. No one wants to take the time to fill it out completely and I always end up with "Can you just do this really quickly for me?" which is why I ask for the emails now. I don't do anything until I receive the email from them. Oh and training a baby to walk is at least fun. Maybe we should compare it to toilet training? :)

LOL--Ladies you are absolutely correct when you say training a child to walk is easier and fun. But you are also correct in saying that the easier way is through email, they seem to respond better. The whole idea is to have some type of documentation that you have as a back up for your changes/additions to the database. Have fun Adrienne L. Rowe Development Specialist Planned Parenthood of Georgia (404) 688-9305 ext 325 [Email Removed]

Can your users add actions?

Ours can and most of my users (I am trying to get all of them) create actions when they want me to do something. Create the action with a type of Task. Put the instructions in the note. Add me to the users to notify (most iportant step!). I get it in my action reminders and I mark them as completw when I do it. Pretty good system so far.

This creates a "paper trail" right in Raiser's Edge of who asked you and why you were to make the change and it is visible to all users who can see actions. So no one needs to come ask you - why did you change this person's solicitor? The actions should explain it all. Melissa S. Graves
Manager, Development Database & Direct Mail
Planned Parenthood of Connecticut
[Email Removed]
203-752-2804

ooh, that is good Melissa. I really like that procedure. Thanks for sharing! I also have the same dilemma of filling out forms. Although I do have the forms created, I usually get an email instead. The thing I like about the forms is that it prompts the user with things to think about (indirect RE training). I find with an email I am forever replying with more questions. I guess it is just one of those things that you have to live with....every field has it's challenges! Good Luck! Ann McCallum