Hello All,

One of our campuses is in the middle of a phonathon. We are finding that although the addresses are bad some of the phone numbers are still active and good. Since RE has phone numbers under the address tab, and checking the "no valid address" would generally exclude constituents from a data pull does anyone have any ideas as to what a best practice would be for this case?

This happens to our database a lot, especially if they are only moving a few blocks away. My solution is: go to ADDRESS tab, click on current address, go to Address in toolbar, copy/share address. You will now have 2 versions of the same address. I mark one "inactive" in the address type, and uncheck the mail to box. Which keeps all the old address info. Then on the other one I remove the address and add "for info purposes only" or "need new address" - - also uncheck the mail to box. But mark it as "PREFERRED". This will put in into BIO 1 tab, then mark the BIO 1 tab as has no valid address... this way you can keep all the phone/email links.

Why not simply include those with no valid addresses in the query? [i]--- Edited at 3/17/2004 1:28:16 PM by [Email Removed][/i]

well because then that will mess up our mailing, right? We don't include no vaild address in mailings.

Thanks Charmaine,

I think we'll use a piece of your idea and make a separate phone type of "good phone info only" or something like that (maybe not so long) and leave the address in tact with the no valid address checked.

Maybe this is a dumb question but if you have called them and found out that this is still a good phone number then why are you not getting the new address from them while you have them on the phone?

If you simply want to include them in phone-a-thons but not mailings to try and see if their phone numbers are still okay then simply don't exclude Has No Valid Address from your data. Once you have tried that once and you confirm that that is no longer their phone # then maybe add an address attribute to each record (Callled Old Phone No.?) and then next time you do a phone-a thon exclude those you have already tried (those with the attribute) so you don't waste your time.

Melissa
Melissa S. Graves
Manager, Development Database & Direct Mail
Planned Parenthood of Connecticut
[Email Removed]
203-752-2804

We do as much as possible. I figure we are only making contact with 50-60% of our dbase. The remainders are considered unable to contact—but for whatever reason we think the number is still viable (answering machine, etc.). If the answering machine has a different name, we mark the record as wrong number…not unable to contact. Thanks Melissa

Charmaine Desmeules:

This happens to our database a lot, especially if they are only moving a few blocks away. My solution is: go to ADDRESS tab, click on current address, go to Address in toolbar, copy/share address. You will now have 2 versions of the same address. I mark one "inactive" in the address type, and uncheck the mail to box. Which keeps all the old address info. Then on the other one I remove the address and add "for info purposes only" or "need new address" - - also uncheck the mail to box. But mark it as "PREFERRED". This will put in into BIO 1 tab, then mark the BIO 1 tab as has no valid address... this way you can keep all the phone/email links.

I know it's been a while since you posted this (5 years!), but I'm having the same trouble and wanted to follow your advice.  However, when I try to copy/share address, it only allows me to share with another constituent, not create a copy of the address in the same constituent's record.  Am I doing something wrong? Thanks!

The function you are looking for is not part of copy/share address.  You will find this function on the constituent record as part of the drop down menu when you choose "Constituent" (File - Edit - View - Constituent... across top of screen).  Click on  "Copy Preferred Address to Alternate" and it will automatically create a second copy of the same address.

Interesting work around the situation.

know it's been a while since you posted this (5 years!), but I'm having the same trouble and wanted to follow your advice.

 It is a most relevant issue though, especially considering the development of e-mail communication in the recent years.  E-mails are even less linked to a geographical location.  People can move to the other end of the country and keep their Hotmail or Yahoo account. "Has no valid address" kills the record and most of the records are indeed useless.  You do not want them on your lists.    It is also a strong visual cue for users as to why this record was removed from mailings.  You have not even reach the level where you deal with which address you need.  But I suppose that with an attribute or solicitation code "HNVA but e-mail still valid" could keep them away from your kill files.

Hello,

I was wondering if some one could help me with the following:

When a person moves, his/her address changes and a new (preferred) address is automatically added in our data base.
Unfornately e-mail addresses and mobile phone numbers (that are indeed not linked to the geographical locations) remain linked to the old address and not shown with the new preferred address.
When you want to create a new Action, you can no longer choose these e-mailadresses, when you want to send an e-mail.

Can somebody help me?

Kind regards!