Going to Get to Know You Better by David B. Walls, CAE, CMP
How do you feel about technology?
Do you embrace the change or long for the good old days? You may be like me and have a love-hate relationship. I love that new technology makes my life easier, but I hate learning how to use it. I’m a bit impatient that way. I recently rented a car that had all the
cool buttons and navigation tools. After signing the paperwork, I immediately jumped into the car and took off. About three minutes into the ride, I must have pushed a lever, switch or button, and turned on the automatic windshield wipers. No matter what I did, I couldn’t turn them off. There I am, riding down Route 70 on a bright sunny Saturday, fluid splashing on the windshield, wip- ers flapping as fast as they can, and me trying to sneak a peak at the console, trying to push every combination of lever and switch in an attempt to figure out what button would stop the show. My daughter Victoria was riding with me; she was laughing so hard she was crying. Luckily, she was able to control herself long enough to read the owners manual and tell me how to shut them off.
Another “Mensa moment” from dad.
Trust me; I got a million of them. In May, MTLA acquired new database
software with the data conversion com- pleted in June. This new technology is something that we are both going to love. It is easy, direct and has no windshield wipers. The new system is from a company
called Avectra, and chosen with the assistance of the Database Ad Hoc Com- mittee and Choice Technology. The committee consisted of staff and MTLA members John J. Cord, Janet, Jenner & Suggs, LLC, Lawrence S. Greenberg, Greenberg Law Offices, and Gregory L. Lockwood, Pope & Hughes. Steve Rutko-
Summer 2008
vitz, President of Choice Technologies, Inc., an MTLA Gold sponsor, provided us with the consulting services of their technical guru Benjamin Schmerler.
change is made instantly and automati- cally. Even if you change firms, simply go to your record and make the change. You don’t have to remember to call the
The new database will be integrated and overlaid onto the MTLA Website. This “skin” has the same look and feel as our Website, so you will hardly notice the change when you are on our site or in the database.
Now, here is where I could bore you
with the intricacies of the technol- ogy, and the highlights of the bells and whistle and the system integration, but I won’t. What I will do is explain how this technology is going to make life easier for you and I. But before I do, I want you to know that new technology comes with tremendous security levels and backup systems. Also, the infrastructure used to run the system at the office was installed by our Silver sponsor, Byte Right Sup- port, LLC, and has additional security and backup features. The new database will be integrated
and overlaid onto the MTLA Website. This “skin” has the same look and feel as our Website, so you will hardly notice the change when you are on our site or in the database. So whatever transac- tion or change you make, the database will be updated instantaneously. Over the next year, you will be directed and encouraged to use the Website more and more. That way, benefits and resources can be delivered to you quickly. So, how is it going to make your life
easier? First of all, you will have com- plete access to your membership record; so the moment your address, phone number, or e-mail changes, simply go to the Website and make the change. The
Trial Reporter
office and have someone change it for you. Next, registering and paying for semi-
nar and events will be quicker and easier. You will also be sent a confirmation message as soon as payment is received. The confirmation will have the pertinent details of the meeting (time, location, address, etc.). You can send a copy of the confirmation to your accountant or bookkeeper for reimbursement or reconciliation. Your record will have a history of all
your transactions, purchases and at- tendance. You can refer to this area as a reminder of the courses you took, events you attended and CLE’s you earned. The system started creating your history in June; anything prior to then would be stored in the paper files of MTLA ar- chives. For the staff and I, the new system
allows us to have your information updated instantaneously and shared collectively with the entire staff. We will also be eliminating duplicative efforts on some internal process. It reminds me of the song Anna sings
in Rogers and Hammerstein’s The King and I − “Getting to Know You, Getting to Know all about You.” This is where you can help.
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