Develop a Productive Online Volunteer Program through the Use of Appropriate Technology
About
Randy Tyler is a recognized pioneer and expert in Online Volunteer program development. Since 1998, his work has been noted by numerous news sources from The New York Times to CTV's Canada AM, and shared with non-profit organizations through provincial, national and international conference presentations and published articles. Randy provides training, workshops, presentations and consultation for non-profit organizations. He is a Gold Medallist graduate of both the University of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba. For further information, please visit: http://www.RandyTyler.org
The following content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License.
Do You use the Same Password in Different Places? If you use the same password for your e-mail account, Twitter and your online banking, cracking your Twitter account, for example, makes your other accounts vulnerable to cyber criminals. A recent study by Trusteer (which I cited in an earlier post) based on a sample of more than four million users, many of whom are customers of leading North American and European banks, of the Rapport browser security service found that passwords were being re-used in surprising numbers (73 percent). Although creating a number of different, strong passwords for each of your accounts may at first seem cumbersome, Trusteer's findings suggest that many online users are leaving themselves more vulnerable if they do not. Thus, the first question seems apparent: How does one create a strong password? How to Create a Strong Password
Create a password that is easy to remember but difficult to guess
Your password should not contain words found in a dictionary or other personal information that prying eyes may guess, know about you or can easily find (such as your birth date, address, telephone number)
Your password should contain a minimum of 14 random characters combining upper (A-Z) and lower case (a-z) letters, numbers (0-9) and special characters (@#$%^!)
Your password should be different for each place (whether your e-mail, your Facebook account or computer log-in) requiring a password .
To test the strength of one of your current passwords (or to create one to secure 100 passwords at one time), please read about the free Secure Password Generator below.
Free Secure Password Generator PC Tools, the developer of Registry Mechanic and Spyware Doctor offers a free PC desktop-based Secure Password Generator (see the screen capture above) and a password strength tester to test your current or created passwords (see the screen capture above). The 392 KB application, which does not require installation, can be downloaded from the following URL: http://www.pctools.com/guides/password/ PC Tools also offers a Web-based Secure Password Generator if you do not want to download the aforementioned desktop application. Use the SSL connection (which provides an encrypted connection between your computer and PC Tools' Web server) when if you decide to create a secure password via their Web site so your password is not created in the clear. Their online password generator, using a secure (https) connection is located the following URL: https://secure.pctools.com/guides/password/ Whether using the online or desktop version, the password generator can create up to a 64 character password with an accompanying Phonetic Pronunciation (to possibly assist with recall). Using the online password generator, you can create one to 50 passwords at one time and one to100 passwords with the desktop program. For further information about how a non profit organization can develop a productive virtual volunteering program through the use of appropriate technology, please visit this Online Volunteering Resource.
When e-mail is too slow and inefficient to plan an event or fundraiser or collaborate on a project, consider a free Web hosted microblogging tool. Yammer, similar to Present.ly, offers a private, efficient way for employees to stay connected through the posting of messages, file sharing and the creation of groups (based on, for example, department, project or team, fundraiser). SMS integration, e-mail as well as iPhone and BlackBerry applications along with an Adobe Air-based desktop application ensures employees keep updated whether on or off their work site. To allow quick and easy identification of your colleagues' expertise, each employee can create a photo-based profile. Although Yammers' free level of service lacks the administrative functions Present.ly currently offers without charge, all users are required to confirm they have a valid organizational e-mail address (from the same domain) in order to sign-up. Along with requiring users to have a valid organizational e-mail address, the ability to suspend former employees allows a measure of privacy. To easily create your non-profit organization's free Yammer microblogging tool, visit: https://www.yammer.com/ For further information about how your non profit organization can develop a productive virtual volunteering program through the use of appropriate technology, please visit this Online Volunteering Resource.
As part of a day long special about volunteering in Canada called the "The Kindness of Strangers", CBC TV Newsworld Interviewed Randy Tyler About Online Volunteering.
With an inexpensive Web camera, Video mail can now be easily created via free Web-based services. In his audio narration, MYS Connecticut-based online volunteer Peter Drew describes five ways a non-profit organization can effectively use video mail within their online volunteer program. Download the mp3 audio file at the above link. For further information, please contact RandyTyler@gmail.com or visit: Online Volunteer Program Developer, Trainer and Presenter, Randy Tyler.
Most not-for-profit organizations still rely (only) on face-to-face volunteers to help plan, organize and execute their special events. However, Canadian-based charitable organization, Macdonald Youth Services (MYS), has demonstrated that Internet-based volunteers can play a key role in the success of special events. "I have worked on a number of events in the past, but this is the first time that I have been able to work with virtual volunteers and it was an absolutely amazing experience", stated Event Co-ordinator, Julie Fine. "I had no idea the quality of work that was available and the variety that the virtual volunteers could provide, and I was constantly amazed as I worked over the past eight months on a number of projects, " continued Fine. MYS extends their thanks to New York-based online volunteer Richard Wagner for editing the video. The 90 second Video is available for download from the above link. For further information, please contact Randy Tyler www.mys.ca/volunter or directly at RandyTyler@gmail.com or visit: About Online Volunteering by Pioneering Online Volunteer Program Developer, Presenter and Trainer, Randy Tyler.
Although Skype states their VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) application is relatively "easy to download, install and use", a visual tutorial may help those with installing and using this program for the first time. As apart of the best practises publication about Online Volunteering being developed by Randy Tyler, MYS has facilitated the creation of many how-to videos.
MYS is pleased to share a video tutorial that provides an overview of how to download, install, configure and use Skype for Windows. MYS extends their thanks to online volunteer Yu Cheng, who now lives in China, for creating the approximate nine minute video.
Download the "How to Use Skype with Virtual Volunteers" instructional video from the link above, now. For further information, please contact RandyTyler www.mys.ca/volunter or directly by visiting Online Volunteering or e-mail RandyTyler@gmail.com.
Pioneering Online Volunteer Program Developer, Randy Tyler, is interviewed by CTV's Canada AM.Watch or Download the video about online helping, now.For further information, please contact RandyTyler@gmail.com or visit:About Online Volunteering by Online Volunteer Program Developer, trainer and presenter, Randy Tyler.
The potential of the Internet to help non-profit organizations in one of the most challenging of tasks was demonstrated by MYS Online Volunteer Program Developer Randy Tyler. Online volunteers from Detroit, Michigan; Toronto, Ontario; Clinton, New York and Portland, Oregon joined virtual hands to produce a 30 second, 75 year time capsule TV PSA about MYS. MYS extends their thanks to online volunteers Kibben Miller, Richard Wagner, Gerard Doyle and Rebecca Webb for producing the video. For further information, contact Randy Tyler www.mys.ca/volunter or visit pioneering online volunteer program developer Randy Tyler or e-mail RandyTyler@gmail.com
