Online Volunteering Tips, Tools and Technology by Randy Tyler

Free Two-way Video Conferencing, Collaboration and VoIP with Business-grade Security

Free Two-way Video Conferencing, Collaboration and VoIP Allows Non-Profits to Have Secure, Rich Communication with their Online Volunteers

Targeted at Small Non-Profits/Businesses, Consultants and Home Office Users, Nefsis Basic (Free) includes:

• Video Conferencing: Two party (Webcam input)
• Web Collaboration and Sharing: Basic
• VoIP: Two party
• Subscribers (Nefsis Basic is currently available to subscribers in the U.S. and Canada) can initiate a live two-way online video conference with another party who can be located anywhere in the world.
• Only the meeting host needs a Nefsis account to start and run their own online meetings. Participants can join a conference at any time with a Web browser by just clicking on a link.
• Both parties can see each other clearly while sharing presentations, documents and desktops.
• Nefsis Basic includes two-party Voice over IP (VoIP) audio, so meeting participants can save on the cost of phone calls.

Requirements:
Windows 2000+ and a broadband Internet connection

For additional requirement details, please see:
https://www.nefsis.com/Support-Video-Software/conferencing-system-requirement...

Video Conferencing Guide and Online User Manual
https://www.nefsis.com/manual/user-manual.html

Notes:
1. Upon initial launch, the Professional level online service is offered for a limited time period (currently 10 days) before reverting to the Basic level.
2. If you are using Firefox, the LoaderFF Addon is required, which you will be prompted to install (if you want to install this extension manually, LoaderFF is available for direct download from:
https://uscentral-v3.nefsis.com/LoaderFF.xpi
3. During the initial set-up, Nefsis will also prompt you to download additional software, which among files, includes the Nefsis Conference Client (cc.exe). On my XP Pro machine, a folder was created at:
C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Local Settings\Application Data\WiredRed\CC\

Sign-up for Nefsis Basic (free):
https://www.nefsis.com/aspx/BasicRegistration.aspx

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.

How to Insert Images into a Gmail Message Body from a URL or Your Desktop

(download)

Click here to download:

How_to_Insert_Images_into_a_Gm.zip (54 KB)

Enable Google Labs Feature to Easily Insert Images into Your Gmail Message Body

In the recent past, Google allowed images to be dragged and dropped into the body of an Gmail message (without enabling the "Insert Image" Google Labs feature. However, enabling the said Google Labs feature will allow you to insert an image into your Gmail message body from your desktop as well as from a posted image (via a URL).

How to Enable and Use the Google Labs Insert Image Feature

• With your Gmail account open, click on Settings and then Labs
• Scroll down about a third of the page to the "Inserting images" option and select "Enable"
• Scroll to the bottom of the page (or to the top) and save your changes.
• Click on Compose (a new message)
• In Gmail's menu, a square green icon will now be present, which indicates the insert image option (see the above screen capture image, which also shows an inserted image).
• Clicking on the green icon reveals a window with the following two insert image options (see the above screen capture image): 1. My Computer (click on the browse button to upload an image from your computer) 2. Web Address (click on the words "Web Address" and provide the specific, full URL to a hosted image). If you have provided the correct URL, your image will be viewable.

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.

Only Google's Web-Based E-mail Service, Gmail, Retains a Secure Connection After Log-in

Of the three major free Web-based e-mail services (Yahoo, Windows Live/Hotmail and Gmail), only Gmail retains an encrypted (secure) connection after log-in. Each mail service's secure Web site connection is identified by https (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) and verified by a Certificate Authority: VeriSign (Windows Live), Thawte (Gmail) and Equifax (Yahoo).

Yahoo mail provides an SSL (secure) connection by default but reverts back to a unencrypted http (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) connection after log-in. Windows Live, by default, is not an encrypted connection.Windows Live Mail requires a user to click on the "Enhanced Security" link (before logging-in) to connect via an https connection. After log-in, Windows Live reverts back to an unencrypted (http) connection. Gmail (Google Mail) has now enabled an encrypted (https) connection by default and remains secure while the user is logged in.

Do you use one of these free Web-based e-mail services? Do you use a public, unencrypted wireless network? If you sign in to a Web-based e-mail service via a non-secure (http) Internet connection, such as a public wireless or a non-encrypted network, you are more vulnerable to unauthorized people viewing your account information.

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.

CBC TV Newsworld Interviews Randy Tyler About Online Volunteering

(download)

Click here to download:

CBC-TV-Interviews-Randy-Tyler-About-Online-Volunteering.flv (15.04 MB)

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.

For further information www.mys.ca/volunter or contact Randy Tyler directly via pioneering online volunteer program developer and presenter or e-mail RandyTyler@gmail.com

How to Use iTunes to Play Podcasts - An Instructional Video for Non-Profits

Click here to download:

How-to-Use-iTunes.wmv (17.55 MB)

MYS announces the release of an iTunes instructional video entitled "How to Subscribe to and Play Podcasts Using Apple's iTunes". Podcasts, which are downloadable audio or video files, are a productive way to learn about trends and issues that impact online volunteering within non-profit organizations.  iTunes, the dominant free podcatcher available for both Windows or Macs, allows the non-profit user to easily subscribe to a podcast publisher's feed and then have the episodes delivered automatically to their desktop-based podcatcher (iTunes) where they can be played when released. Whether the consideration or concern is, for example, Internet security or the use of an application, free podcasts are available to assist a non-profit organization develop their online volunteer program.

MYS extends their thanks to Ireland-based Online Volunteer Becky Heaman for  producing the video and to Alberta-based online volunteer Gail Drinnan for video distribution.

Download the "How to Use iTunes Instructional Video" from the above link, now.

For further information, please contact Tandy Tyler www.mys.ca/volunter or directly via Online Volunteer Program Developer, Trainer and Presenter or RandyTyler@gmail.com

Five Ways to Use Video Mail with Online Volunteers

Five Ways To Use Eyejot Video by Peter Drew

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Using-Video-Mail-with-Online-Volunteers.mp3 (6.68 MB)

How to Use Skype with Online Volunteers - An Instructional Video

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How-to-Use-Skype.wmv (6.65 MB)

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.

CTV Canada AM Interviews Randy Tyler About Online Volunteering

(download)

Click here to download:

CTV-Interviews-Randy-Tyler-About-Online-Volunteering.flv (11.24 MB)