 What we've doneHope Chapel’s humble internet presence is going through some changes. What has been affectionately referred to as Dot Com is now bowing to the march of technology. We’re going Google. All of Hope Chapel’s web-based entities (email, intranet, website and administration tools) are being phased into our new Google Apps for Education account.
The “cloud” refers to a virtual office space that’s already furnished with the tools needed to run various organizations, and for Hope Chapel it’s a perfect fit.
Now that the Hope Chapel San Pedro website has ascended to the Cloud, we'd like for everyone to join us to experience all the benefits that our new membership provides.
Why we did itFor Hope Chapel's purposes, our Google Apps account provides exactly what we need to communicate to our leaders, volunteers, church family and prospective members. Here are just a few of the benefits we now share: - As a non-profit organization, Hope Chapel can use this awesome web tool for free.
- All features are accessible from any computer with internet access; Mac, Windows, whatever.
- Built-in applications that emulate the Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) as well as a PDF converter. You only need a browser to run the whole thing.
- Security is assigned to any and all areas and documents by individual or group.
- Subscription-based announcements (new posts, comments and update notifications come straight to your inbox).
- Shared contact data
- Plug-in architecture for "Gadgets" to provide sermon player, photos, slideshows, video and much more.
- Collaboration through commenting, forms and surveys
- Intra-personal exchange of needs, services and tips
- Interactive task delegation
We've already completed the first two phases of our Google migration: - Staff email
- Church website
Although we've been working on the website for a couple of months now, the site needed to be made live early and some areas are still under construction. Eventually, the site will automate: - Scheduling of volunteers
- Facility and resource booking
- Check-in of children's church
- Much more
| Why you should create your own Google AccountNo one has to create a Google Account to access our site or receive notifications of announcements. However, there's a level of interaction that Google Account-holders will enjoy that others will not.
CalendarsThe main benefit is shared calendars. Any calendar we provide can be plugged right in to your own set of personal calendars. Individual events can be synced with your own schedule so you can instantly see time conflicts. Below is a screen grab of a calendar view for Dave Snow. He has four children with busy schedules at multiple sources: church, school, sports, scouts, etc. Click it to see the potential for your own time organization.  With your own Google Account, you'll be able to generate unlimited calendars for activities, appointments, meetings and even meal planning, auto maintenance...whatever you want. Many subscription-based calendars are available to automatically see sports team schedules, TV listings, school itineraries, local weather and more.
More importantly, any groups you are associated with at Hope Chapel can keep you instantly advised of their respective events with invitations, RSVPs, reminders, maps, supporting documents, email notifications of any changes to events, and more.
But that's only one benefit to signing up for your own Google Account.
Gmail With your Google Account, you also get a powerful online email program that's sync-able to your existing email software (Outlook, Apple Mail, etc.), and even your smart phone. It's accessible anywhere and very secure.
Other Apps Available You also get:
- A task manager
- Contact manager
- Document storage
- Sites
- Online chat
- Many helpful "gadgets"
- Picasa photo albums (you can share with us)
- Your own phone number with Google Voice
- Access to online applications which emulate the Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- more...
Who should sign up?We'd like everyone to be able to share the benefits listed above by obtaining your own Google Account, but especially those who have any level of involvement with our many ministries.
If you are in a position of leadership or management, an account within our Google Apps account will be generated for you, and you will have your own " name@HopeSanPedro.com" account. The table below shows sample positions reflecting whether or not you need to sign up on your own. If it says "You@gmail.com", you should sign up on your own by clicking here. "You@HopeSanPedro.com" will be assigned to you automatically.
| Position | Google Account | | Hope@Home Leader | You@HopeSanPedro.com | | Hope@Home participant | You@gmail.com | | Worship Team co-leader | You@HopeSanPedro.com | | Worship Team guitarist | You@gmail.com | | Hope Harbor co-leader | You@HopeSanPedro.com | | Hope Harbor volunteer | You@gmail.com | | Usher Team leader | You@HopeSanPedro.com | | Usher | You@gmail.com |
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