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| |  Posted 2/12/2007 8:31:23 PM | |
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Forum Expert
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Last Login: 6/19/2008 12:08:18 PM
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| OOO..... Why didn't I think of that!? Most of our kids (about 85%) are return VBSers and it would help so SO much to have them formated where I could just print it out every year instead of having them fill out new registration forms every time. Great IDEA!! Has anyone ever found a great address program that you can put in addresses and save them or print them on labels easily? I am a little clueless about that.
 Sheli in AR |
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| | | Posted 2/12/2007 10:15:43 PM | |
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| Well, Access would probably be your best bet for keping it organized- I've never tried to print labels from it though. Some of the Avery label sheets have a software called Design Pro included that I think has an address manager- but I'm not sure.
Check out VBS Groupies for resources to help with the planning of your VBS. |
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| | | Posted 2/13/2007 7:36:23 AM | |
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Last Login: 8/18/2007 9:02:25 AM
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| Hi Y'all!
I hope you don't mind me jumping in. (This is my first post here)
I wanted to comment on making labels. A MS Word table is good. I like to use Excel just because I can have ALLOT of columns w/o running off the page. But I usually copy and paste addresses I want to use into MS Word because it makes the 'MAIL MERGE' easier (for me). I use this for EVERY type of mailing I do from Sunday School newsletters to my personal Christmas cards.
Access is another great program for keeping a data base. I lost my files in a hard drive crash and just never started using Access again.
Wherever you do your table have the top row be the headings. I like:
Last name; First Name; Address; City; State; Zip; Attends my church (for quick in-church or outreach mailings)
My Excel table also includes their age; grade; VBS group; Daily attendance; what years they have attended. Then I can sort by whatever I need (1st graders that only came on Wednesday in 2005...got it).
I will end up with a line for each child in the family (another reason for using a copy, I can edit). If you have a newer version of MS Word it is really easy.
I have MS Word 2000 so it is not as easy:
Go to TOOLS - Mail Merge - New document - open data source (your table) - set up your document by picking the labels you will be using - when asked to fill in the fields use the drop down menu to choose from you head lines, add additional text
the *LAST NAME* family
*ADDRESS*
*CITY*(,) *STATE* *ZIP*
Merge to a new document and format.
Sorry I am trying to write this quickly from memory so I am probaly missing something.
This is from MS Support:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/212034
http://support.microsoft.com/word2kmail
IT is worth starting - then you can do form letters (a registration form can be a form letter).
Boy, I do seem to ramble on -
TrinityJen  |
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| | | Posted 2/13/2007 7:45:28 AM | |
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Last Login: 6/19/2008 12:08:18 PM
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| Hey, thanks for the info! I am printing it out as I speak. I'll probably be back on with a question or two though. 
Sheli in AR |
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| | | Posted 2/13/2007 6:00:44 PM | |
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Last Login: 7/3/2008 4:53:14 AM
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| On-line registration is the best! We started using it 4 yrs ago and it makes everything much easier. For the first couple of years we even offered an incentive for registering by a certain date so that day 1 went smoother. Now we don't have to offer the incentive anymore. We only have a certain # of slots for certain groups and people (including members of our church) know that if they want to come they shouldn't wait until the last minute because their children won't be able to attend.
First Church PA |
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