10
Federation Star
JEWISH FEDERATION
May 2021
www.womensculturalalliance.com / 518.852.3440
WOMEN’S CULTURAL ALLIANCE
WCA’s new online membership system earns raves By Emily Berkowitz, Coordinator-at-Large
“I
just used our new registration system. It’s so good and very easy,” wrote Sonya Bloom, Ted Talks group facilitator. That was the goal of WCA volunteers, who worked for more than a year to find and implement an easy-to-use, online membership management system for WCA. It’s known as Wild Apricot (WA), and according to the early reactions from members, it’s terrific. But, while using the new system to update one’s profile, register for a program or find another member’s contact information is now easy, the process of finding and implementing WA took many hours over many months. Previously, Maureen Schaab had solely managed technology for WCA. But as WCA grew, then-President Elaine Soffer recognized the need for a more comprehensive system. In early 2020, Soffer assembled a multidisciplinary committee of amazing women with the knowledge to address the organization’s needs. Each member brought special experience to the task. Hannah Goodman earned a master’s degree in Computer Science and had her own business developing database applications for her clients. Ann Cowen, with an MBA in Finance, was previously the Vice President of Human Resources for a large insurance company and was always seeking to make technology as user-friendly as possible. Cathy Lone-Dawson was an executive management consultant at IBM with a focus on technology package selection to support new operations. Toby Kosloff managed systems development and Jackie Paulson managed the accounting and finances of a private company. Louise Forman, with two master’s degrees, brought her extensive familiarity with databases as a university business manager to the effort.
Soffer was a chemist and project manager in the pharmaceutical industry, where she learned about database capabilities. As President-elect, Patti Boochever joined the committee in the spring of 2020. The team developed and sent a request for proposal to several companies, studied specifications and tested systems at length. Goodman and Cowen recommended WA, and after extensive examination, this platform was selected. Goodman explained that WA provided the modern technology and tools that will be very useful to WCA. Cowen was in favor of WA because of its more updated security and its user-friendly capability. The ample support appealed to Boochever, a self-described non-techie; she found the coaches/consultants very helpful and accessible. And WA was the most economical system, too. Boochever lauds the entire team, offering “kudos to them” for all the time they devoted to this undertaking, thanking MCA member Larry Israelite for all his help as well. Now that a secure, easy-to-use, costeffective system with ample support was found, a new WCA website was needed. Meeting numerous times weekly and trying various versions, the key element was finally provided by Robin Mintz. “Robin made a critical contribution,” Boochever noted,” by communicating to our website consultant the topics and webpage design we wanted with eye-catching graphics.” It was introduced
100% FREE REFERRAL SERVICES
Call Us First!
®
Honest, caring and knowledgable advice about senior living options in SWFL With over 30 years of experience, we provide a personalized service to eliminate the guesswork in choosing the right senior living community. We look beyond the fancy décor and evaluate facilities on: • Quality of care and services • Operational stability • Financial viability • Resident satisfaction • Health care violations • Overall lifestyle Locally owned and operated since 2008, we are familiar with all the options in the area and the pros/cons of each. Let us use our expertise to help find the right solution! Bruce B. Rosenblatt, Owner
239.595.0207
seniorhousingsolutions.net
in mid-March to the WCA community through the weekly e-blast. After more than a year of intense work, the new system is up and running! WCA members are already delighted with the numerous benefits, which include: • Each member has their own WCA account, based on their email and personal password. • Members can create, edit and update their member profile. • Members can choose to disclose personal information, or not. • Members have access to all events and an event calendar. • Members can register for events, add them to their calendars and see all their registrations, easily canceling, if necessary. • Members can renew their membership online. • Members can see their invoices and make payments online. • Members have access to volunteer opportunities. • An online, searchable directory is available. Members no longer have to worry whether they paid their dues, as WA will show if there is a balance. In addition, the new system will eliminate duplicate program registrations, which is welcome
news for members on program waiting lists, eagerly awaiting openings. In short, every WCA member now has easy access to the full gamut of WCA programs, activities, news, calendar and community. For those volunteers “behind the scenes” who send Zoom links, register and lead groups, and create the weekly e-blast/newsletter, these processes are now much simpler. Cowen, who has been setting up events in Eventbrite for the last two years has found creating events, sending reminders and Zoom links in WA much easier. WCA Communications Director Nancy Kahn created the weekly e-blast for the last 12 years, without the benefit of WA. Though she always enjoyed the work, it was a multistep, labor-intensive endeavor. Carol Sherman, now creating the weekly newsletter, can do it entirely through WA, which has streamlined the process, reduced the amount of time needed, and easily links events for registration. And now, when members register for events, the event gets added to their profile and they can choose to add it directly to their personal calendars! Members have responded enthusiastically to the introduction of WA. For example, member Nancy Armocida wrote, “I love the new website. It’s fast, self-explanatory and very user friendly. Thank you.” Also expressing gratitude was Jane Shaw, who called it “outstanding” and offered “thanks to all the women who have made this available.” At present, it may be hard to imagine WCA’s new system for members being any easier, yet technology is always evolving. Perhaps one day we will all peer at our cellphones and see a WCA app.
Senior Housing Expert Naples Daily News Columnist
Certain conditions apply. Please contact us for more information.
It’s time to RENEW your WCA Membership! WHAT? You’re not yet a member? To
JOIN or RENEW go to
WCA’s new website: WCANAPLES.ORG and click on MEMBERSHIP. (You can pay by credit card or check.) Your membership will continue through August 2022. QUESTIONS? Contact Membership Chair Harriett Kleinman at hmkleinman@gmail.com
