The price of convenience: online registration software isn't necessarily cheap, but definitely helpful

Parks & Recreation, Nov, 2004

"I agree with some of the other comments on the relative need for online for some agencies. But for a larger agency, real time, online registration will become a necessity. I believe that in time all agencies will need to go this way, Our experience with RecWare Safari has been outstanding. I learned only today that the system is so detailed that it will allow our seniors to choose which meal they want for a trip that includes a lunch when they register online. We find new 'hidden treasures' in the software almost on a daily basis. The first time we used the online registration, we saved $2,700 in part-time staff costs traditionally utilized to manually process registrations that had been e mailed in, but had to be entered in the system. We have preschool morns who have 'registration parties' and get online the minute the system will allow them. This past spring, we processed more than $1,000,000 in registrations without any problems in just one day: Our agency serves the 265,000 residents of Howard County, a suburban area near Baltimore, Md. We are the largest agency in Maryland currently using Safari and our registration staff are extremely pleased with it. We have used the software are for years but upgraded to Safari two years ago with dramatic results. My wife is a director of a smaller agency near Harrisburg, Pa., and her agency has a very long association with RecWare and just moved to a more limited Safari option. A commercial for Recware? You bet. We're sold on it. Comments by our registration staff, my wife and myself are in an article in NRPA's Parks arid Recreation, June 2004."--Columbia, Md.

NRPA's Discussion Board Boasts Online Opportunities

For those of you not familiar with eCommunities, it is NRPA's newest tool to keep in touch with fellow colleagues in the park and recreation field. If you ever have a question, or need advice on a project in development, then eCommunities is your must-have resource. And the best thing about it is that if you're already a member, it's your benefit with no extra fees! Just register online at www.nrpa.org, by entering your five-digit membership identification number on the right-hand side of the home page. Your default password is your last name. Even if you're not a member, it's easy to join online by clicking "Join Now." Follow the instructions to receive your identification number. Then, click "Go" and you will soon enter a world of NRPA member-exclusive benefits. Become knowledgeable on a host of issues that are found on eCommunities including parks and planning, partnerships/collaboration, sports and health, aquatics and special event planning.