WithinReach is a Seattle nonprofit whose mission is to serve as the foremost catalyst for improvements in maternal, child and family health. For 22 years, WithinReach has worked to ensure optimal health for Washington State families by connecting them to the programs, resources and information they need to build healthy families. Major programs include:

• Information and Referral Services through 4 statewide hotlines and ParentHelp123.org
• Nutrition Outreach Program for Basic Food (Food Stamps), First Steps, WIC
• Statewide Coalitions including Immunization Action (IACW), Breastfeeding (BCW), Hepatitis B
• Public Health Materials placed in doctor’s offices, schools, and health clinics

From NPower’s perspective, one of the key assets at WithinReach is a team of long-term staff members who are forward thinking about technology and who have worked with the same NPower consultant for the past nine years. One of the staff referred to the NPower consultant as “my hero” and all agreed that he is a trusted partner and honorary staff member.

With NPower’s assistance, WithinReach has navigated various organizational expansions and shifts over the years, and has built out their technology infrastructure in a thoughtful way. They have a stable and secure infrastructure with planned upgrade and replacement schedules, including budgeting realistically for the total cost of ownership. As a result, they are able to provide reliable and far-reaching services statewide, including:

• Internal hosting of a call center providing statewide service.
• Managing the call center and ParentHelp123 website thanks to a consolidated database.

Looking forward, WithinReach plans to stretch into new areas with advice and assistance from NPower along the way, including learning more about social media at an upcoming NPower training, exploring mobile broadcast to support virtual attendance at their annual fundraising event, and more sophisticated use of email communications to remind clients when their public assistance benefits have expired.

Thank you WithinReach for the pleasure of serving you for the past nine years, and for your work on behalf of families!

For more examples of the impact in the community of NPower’s services for nonprofits, see our library of TechImpact profiles.

As we have all come recognize, the Internet can be a hazardous place.  As a result, you likely have different types of filters in place that help to ensure potentially dangerous email is blocked.  However no filtering mechanism is 100% reliable and malicious messages will get past this line of defense.

As a result, we as individual computer users need to be attentive to the email arriving in our Inboxes.  If something does not look right, then it probably is not.  Although the people sending these messages are smart and clever, there are some common clues that are dead giveaways:

• Security Updates: Be particularly aware of any messages that contain either an attached security patch or a link to download such a patch.  Security updates and patches are not distributed in this manner.  Your computer is likely configured to automatically update itself with minimal or no user interaction required.
• Misspellings/Odd Grammar: Messages that contain misspellings or oddly constructed grammar are likely to be malicious.  Many of these emails originate from places where English is not the primary language so, for once, our ridiculously complex grammar rules can be beneficial.
• Generic Messages: While we all send out form letters from time to time, there is typically some sort of personalization.  A common clue that the message might not be from the named sender is the lack of a signature (or the expected/standard signature).  Even mass form letters will be signed in a standard manner that should be familiar.  That said, be wary of messages that are signed by official, but anonymous, sounding people (e.g. “The IT Support Administrator”) of whom you have never heard.

The folks over at SonicWALL have collected a few examples of phishing attempts.  It is worth taking the quiz (there are only ten examples) and reading the explanations.  You can get there from here: http://www.sonicwall.com/phishing.

Let’s be careful out there …

How to order donations, and where to find how-to videos:

• Are you considering upgrading to Windows 7, but have already used your MS donation for the year? No worries! Through TechSoup, Microsoft is allowing nonprofits an extra donation for Windows 7. You need to place your order by June 30th, and you can read the other “fine print” here .
• Thank you to Microsoft Community Affairs for assisting with our Windows 7 presentation last month. If you missed the presentation, check out Microsoft’s helpful Windows 7 How-To videos  .

The Confluence Gallery and Art Center has flourished since 1988 as a hub of the arts community in Twisp, Washington. The nonprofit gallery holds seven group and individual exhibits each year, showcasing the work of local and regional artists from North Central Washington. Special exhibitions draw from farther afield, highlighting noteworthy artists from the Pacific Northwest.

As participants in NPower’s statewide training and technology support program funded through the Greater Everett Community Foundation in 2008 and 2009, Confluence Gallery completed a Stable and Secure Assessment which pointed to a severe need to upgrade aging hardware. NPower consultants assisted Gallery staff in selecting a new desktop system, provided funds to cover the purchase (thank you GECF!), and procured software donations (Microsoft Windows and Office — thank you Microsoft!) to support key accounting and grant writing functions. In an “extreme makeover” story, Executive Director Sybil Macapia says Confluence Gallery is now in a much stronger position to support the administrative needs of the organization, and recently procured a much-needed grant that she links directly to the availability of that single new computer system.

Congratulations, Confluence staff! And thank you to the Greater Everett Community Foundation, Microsoft and our other supporters who make miracles like this one possible for nonprofits in Washington state.

The New York Times ran an article earlier this week indicating that 20% of online users choose a simple, easily guessed password to protect their data.  Imperva, a data security vendor, examined a list of 32 million passwords that were stolen from a social network software company.  According to their analysis, the five most popular passwords are 123456, 12345, 123456789, password, and iloveyou.

While it is preferable to have a different password for each Web site or account, this is difficult for most to implement and track.  To help minimize the risk of a stolen password, experts suggest “at least two different passwords — a complex one for web sites where security is vital, such as banks and e-mail, and a simpler one for places where the stakes are lower, such as social networking and entertainment sites.”

For more information on establishing good password policies and practices, check out the following resources:

• TechSoup’s Security Corner: Tips, articles, blog posts, and resources on securing your information.
• NTEN: Suggestions and resources for creating strong passwords and establishing a password policy.  (Although this is an older post, it still offers relevant advice.)
• Microsoft Security: Tips and resources to keep online activity as secure as possible, including a password checker.
• Slate Magazine: General password tips and an algorithm for developing strong passwords.
• Vassar Computer Center: Basic rules and examples for creating strong passwords.

The New York Times article is available on their website.  In addition, you can read Imperva’s full analysis in their white paper on Consumer Password Worst Practices.

Happy New Year!  Hope that 2010 is off to a good start for everybody.

Before all the decorations are packed away and the last of the eggnog has been drunk, here are December’s most viewed posts from the NPowering: Nonprofit Technology blog:

• The Hierarchical Nature of Data: Discussion on how to take advantage of data hierarchy when using accounts and campaigns in Salesforce.
• Snow Day: Here are Suggestions for readying yourself for a work from home day due to inclement weather.
• Choosing a Future of Rejuvenation: Takeaways from Paul Light’s presentation at October’s Nonprofit Governance Conference in Tacoma.
• The Path to End of Year Fundraising Success: Resources and advice for improving the message and strategy of your end-of-year appeal.
• Windows 7 Evaluation & Upgrade Resources: Online nonprofit resources for evaluating and planning a Windows 7 upgrade for your organization, including guides from TechSoup, TechFlash, and Lifehacker.

P.S. Remember to check us out on Facebook.

Interested in hearing about new trainings, recent nonprofit Web site launches, opportunities to work or volunteer at NPower and the latest on our 5th Annual Nonprofit Technology event? We’d love to share the news and hear from you on Facebook.

Become a fan on our Facebook page!

Oh the weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we’ve no place to go,
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

If there was still any room for denial that winter is upon us, the recent cold spell has certainly caught our attention.  In our house, that has resurfaced fond memories of last year’s snow and the prospect of more snow days.  Unfortunately, the grown up realities of work take away much of the associated magic.  In fact, a snow day can actually turn out to be a stressful affair when there is work to be done back at the office and you cannot get there to do it.

So what can be done to help prepare for this possibility?  Borrowing from the wisdom of Benjamin Franklin, an “ounce of preparation can prevent a pound of frustration.”  Below are some suggestions for readying yourself for a work from home day:

• Get Ready: Before you actually need it, make sure that you are setup for remote access to your work’s network and have the instructions for how to do so.  If you are unsure about either, check with the IT manager, network administrator, or whoever wears that proverbial hat within your organization.
• Trial Run: Once you are setup and know the process for connecting remotely, give it a try … preferably before you actually need it.  This will allow you to work out the kinks, especially if there is any assistance or support you need to get it working.
• Be Prepared: Now that you have successfully connected to your office remotely, make sure that your essential work is accessible, including email, documents, and databases.  Also, make sure that you have access to any applications required for working with your data.  If you have a laptop, make sure that you have all the accessories available, in particular a power adapter and/or extra batteries.
• Know the Policy: Before the snow arrives, make sure that you know your organization’s inclement weather policy.  How will an office closure be communicated?  What is the expectation for working if the office is closed?  What if the weather is fine at your house, but not at the office (or vice versa)?  Are there any exceptions or restrictions to the policy?
• Communicate: If your office is closed due to weather, do not necessarily assume that your customers or partners will be closed also.  So start the day by confirming or rescheduling any meetings or appointments on your calendar.  To make this easier, make sure that your contact list is readily available.  Keep in mind that everybody might not have access to email, so you might want to make a phone call instead.
• Have Fun: Despite your best effort to be productive, sometimes it’s just not in the cards.  No power at home?  Unable to connect to the office?  About to go stir crazy?  Put the keyboard down, grab your kids, spouse, partner, neighbor, and/or dog, and reacquaint yourself with the fun and promise that a snow day once held.

In which case, get out the sled, build a snowman, or enjoy a cup of cocoa in front of the fire … and let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Following up on last week’s Windows 7 release, below are some online resources for evaluating and planning an upgrade for your organization.

As always, our friends at TechSoup have a wealth of information available, including upgrade guidance, migration checklist, and product donation.  Their Windows 7 homepage is a great starting point, but here are a couple of things to call to your attention:

• Special Extra Donation: Microsoft is allowing qualified nonprofits to place an extra donation request for Windows 7 or Vista.  (Much better than double secret probation.)
• Software Compatibility: A consolidated summary of Windows 7 compatibility statements from the companies that provide desktop software donations through TechSoup.

As referenced in my earlier Windows 7 post, Microsoft has helpful tools for upgrade evaluation and preparation:

• Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor: A downloadable program that will scan your PC for potential issues with your hardware and software and provide recommendations on how to proceed.
• Windows 7 Compatibility Center: A collection of compatibility information for popular devices and software titles to help you easily identify what will or won’t work with Windows 7.
• Windows 7 Features: Explore Windows 7’s new features and functionality through online videos.

In addition, TechFlash and Lifehacker have both assembled very comprehensive Windows 7 guides:

• TechFlash Windows 7 Resource Guide: Includes a plethora of links to reviews and other resources.
• Lifehacker’s Complete Guide to Windows 7: Includes an extensive review of new features and mouse/keyboard shortcuts.

Hope you find this information useful.  If you have come across other helpful Windows 7 resources, please share them with the rest of community.

Happy weekend!

Yesterday Microsoft released Windows 7, the latest version of their flagship operating system.  While this has taken place without all of the fanfare associated with its predecessor, Window Vista, you have probably been hearing and reading about this for some time now.  Now that is has arrived, you may be wondering whether or when you should take the plunge.

The early reviews and word of mouth have been positive, which is encouraging.  However, most are not advocating an “update immediately” philosophy.  In fact, a common theme is that there is not a critical reason to upgrade or replace a Windows Vista or XP computer if you are happy with its performance and capabilities.  Given the limited budgets and resources of most nonprofits, we concur with that assessment.

Our recommendation to customers is to “walk (slowly), don’t run” to upgrade.  Let the early adopters find the glitches and work out the kinks.  A guideline we like to use is the availability of the first Service Pack, as this will include the initial round of fixes and improvements designed to make the product more stable and reliable.  This walk slowly approach seems to be echoed by the business sector.  According to a report from Information Technology Intelligence Corp., 19% of the companies surveyed plan to upgrade within the first three months, while 41% plan to hold for a while, including 11% waiting for the initial Service Pack.  The remaining 40% do not currently have a definitive migration timeline.

As you examine the circumstance within your agency, make sure to take into account your existing environment – computers, software, and staff.  If you are looking to upgrade your existing computers, keep in mind that the performance and user experience will be affected by the age and specifications of the equipment.  Also, check to make sure that the software applications and peripheral devices used by your agency are compatible with Windows 7.  If you find that a critical program is not certified or tested for Windows 7, contact the manufacturer to see what the issues are and their timeline for addressing.

As with any new operating system or application, there will be a learning curve involved.  For Windows 7, the changes will be more dramatic if you are coming from Windows XP (or earlier), instead of Windows Vista.  Depending on your staff’s appetite for change and self-discovery, you might consider investing in training upfront to acquaint everybody with the new operating system and effectively use its features and functionality.  To help manage your internal support demands, it is always helpful to standardize on a common version.  So if possible, upgrade everybody in your office when you are ready to make that investment.

Let us know what your organization is planning for Windows 7.  And if you are one those early adopters, share that experience with us.