Over the past few years, your Board of Directors has been managing our membership database, our conferences, our monthly meetings  and the annual Battle of Atlantic Gala dinner through several different tools.  For example the Membership Director keeps the membership list (almost 500 strong) up to date on an Excel spreadsheet .  This is a daily activity that is almost handraulic, taking several hours a week to maintain.  It's just missing the steam fitting.  We have been searching for a smarter way to do the business of running the Ottawa Branch for over a year and believe that we have found a tool that will be less onerous, smarter, simpler and more capable.

Commencing 1 September, your Board will start the transition to a software management tool called Wild Apricot.   It will allow members to self-service in order to update their information, membership renewals, register for events, and make the email & contact list readily available to all.  It will integrate with online payments, automated invoices and tax receipts.  It will do this securely and enable only members to view content and membership directories.  Members will be able to view their membership status, event registrations, donations made, and much more using a quick search capability.  If you want further information on this new tool, go to:  https://www.wildapricot.com/

The transition will start by 1st September by taking the current information in the Membership Database and uploading it to the new tool.  There should be no work required on the part of the members, including those not on-line.  It may surprise you, but there are only 16 members who do not have an email address.  Their correspondence will continue via the traditional mails and telephone.  The new system will be fully in place for your individual access by 1st October.  The 2018 membership renewal, which commences 1st November, will use this system.  

Stay tuned.  We will keep you informed as to transition progress in the next President's message.