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Blue Ribbon & Servers, Chapter 2

Good thing I mentioned that there is lots more that I think, or think I know, than what I really KNOW. But, thanks to you, now I KNOW something new.

I did not know that Cougar Mountain was totally web-based. When I got the tidbit about the internet changing, I was reassured that since Cougar Mountain has to continue to exist, so that's the same as Blue Ribbon. Not necessarily.

HOWEVER, with a dandy little program named VPN, available thru ISU, you CAN access any of the ISUE servers from any computer. That's how I do it at home. I can see/access the S drive, the X drive, and the web server. Speed is dependent on your internet provider speed. That will be one option for continuing Blue Ribbon on the X drive, unless there's something else in the works that I'm not privy to.

Sue reminded me that the counties were also offered the option of having a "local server", meaning a shared drive located in your office, presumably not connected to ISU. That would be another option for relocating your own Blue Ribbon data, but it still means you have to send backups. Should speed up the access time, will allow multiple users, but doesn't give me access like I have now.

The big deal will be switching to a new program, which will be totally web-based, meaning that you can use it from anywhere. That access is even more important now than it was in the beginning of the search.

Jill was the first one to volunteer to try whatever new system we get, which I think is admirable, but cause for concern about her mental stability... nonetheless, it's in ink, Jill. No backing out now. I still just have to find the money!!

Keep responding. Some comments I'll post, and others, like this one, I'll just answer as a batch with a new posting.

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Comments

Good morning!
Becky... you may have some fun with my ideas... : )

I would love to have blue ribbon be web based. Provided it can be user friendly. ; )

By going to web based would our 4-H'ers be able to enroll on line? How about pay enrollments directly to state office online? OR even applying for financial aid. Could it be something that could lead to our volunteers signing up in a volunteer database ... which would lead to some kind of automatic background checks.

How about the ability to sign up for camps, conferences, etc... online.

The less places we have to go to set things up the better...

Could this site be for enrolling 4-H'ers, recording leader training, recording FSQA,generate group emails... etc...

How about reports? Mailing labels... etc?

I would enjoy web based! It would also open up the possibility of taking a labtop computer to my enrollment day and completing online enrollments and printing out the kids enrollment right there.

THANKS Becky!!!
Andrea

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