Eric started with us as an independent consultant in July of 2007.  We soon realized that we wanted Eric to become part of the GroundWork group team, and on January 1, 2008, Eric became a full time IT Specialist, working directly with our member organizations assisting them with their day-to-day technology needs. 

Since July of 2007, Eric has spent time with many of our member organizations.  Lately his focus has been with Vision & Vocational Services, United Methodist Children's Home, Columbus Urban League, Southside Settlement House, Habitat for Humanity, KIPP Journey Academy, and the Delaware office of People In Need.  He has assisted and filled in with many others along the way, and wherever he went, he completed any task that was given to him and made many friends while doing so.

Eric did not spend much time "in the office" as he was always in other offices doing his job.  When he was in the office, you knew he was there.  He always greeted everyone, asked them how they were doing, and normally shared a story.

Whether the story was work related or, more often than not, grandchild related, it was described in great detail.  Eric's daughter Erika blessed Eric with a granddaughter, Lillianna Suarez-Carey.  Eric loved being a grandfather, and, as with most grandparents, always had an updated photo to share to go along with his story.  The smile, the glistening of his eyes, and the laughter in his voice told everyone who heard his stories how proud he was to be a "Grandpa."  Of course, he did give his daughter credit for making it all happen!

When he wasn't talking about work or his granddaughter, he was sharing about his volunteer time spent in the Linden Eagles Aerie 2252 FOE and Worthington Moose Lodge 1427 LOOM, where he served as Past Governor.  Eric's joy of cooking and being in the kitchen enabled both of these organizations to be beneficiaries of his talent.  He not only prepared meals for events, but also for many families of those members who were ill, in the hospital, or had passed away.  He helped organize fundraising events to benefit children and adults.  After losing his father at an early age, Eric dedicated his volunteer efforts to making a difference in children's lives wherever it was needed.  He and his life partner, Beth, were always somewhere, doing something to raise more money through his membership in the Eagles and Moose Lodge, to benefit children.

A couple of weeks ago, Eric reiterated to me how much he believed in our organization and what we are doing for the nonprofit community.  He added that GroundWork group was "the best place he ever worked."

That "love of his job" translated into the friendships Eric made with the executive directors and staff from the organizations he met with on a weekly basis.  They have told us they cannot believe they will no longer hear that voice, listen to the laughter, and have him around to keep them up and running.  Eric, again THANK YOU.  We will continue your good work!!!

-John Hrusovsky, CEO, GroundWork group

• As a reminder – be very careful when you receive emails "needing your attention" such as updates to Microsoft or to passwords, etc.  First, please check the validity of the email.   Currently, there is an email circulating about a Microsoft Outlook update that says it comes from "Support" at Microsoft and that you have new messages in Outlook.  In order to get those messages, it urges you to open the attachment and install the file, which happens to be a "Zip" file.  Please DO NOT do this.  Microsoft will never email attachment updates.  Additionally, there is an email going around about a Conflicker virus infection, again sent with a Zip file. 
• Do you host your own website internally?  Do you have forms on your site for visitors to fill out?  If so, are you aware that both scenarios present a high probability that hackers can scan your website?  Weaknesses can exist on websites and servers that can potentially be very harmful.  If you haven't had a scan done on your website to find out if it is safe, contact GroundWork group to find out how we might be able to help, info@groundworkgroup.org.

We all know that technology impacts business, but to what extent is the effect on the nonprofit sector?  What can be done to improve nonprofit organizations and their services to the community?  GroundWork group is conducting a research project; the end result will be a comprehensive report to the community detailing the state of current IT capacity among nonprofits and providing an in-depth analysis of the impact technology tools have on nonprofit service delivery and operational success. 

Using our Continuum of Technology Maturity, GroundWork group has developed a survey instrument that measures how nonprofits use technology to support all of their business functions from daily operations & service delivery to communications & marketing to donor management & tracking records.  From September to January, we are compiling technology data on nonprofits, by sector: human services, education, healthcare, arts & culture, youth, social issues/advocacy, community, housing, foundations, environment and science & technology.  GroundWork group will work directly with local funders to analyze the results and publish our detailed report.  In addition to the state of current IT capacity among nonprofits and the in-depth impact analysis, the report will present Actionable Items on how the funding community, service providers and nonprofits can work together to further align technology resources to have the greatest positive effect on nonprofit business processes: service delivery to clients, constituent/records management, strategic planning, business continuity, staff & volunteer training, fundraising, IT network functionality & security, equipment needs, reporting, communications & marketing and daily operations.

GroundWork group representatives will contact nonprofit organizations over the phone and in person.  We thank you all in advance for your cooperation and help on this project.  Look for the report in spring, 2010.

Business Productivity Classes – Microsoft Office
Monday, November 9
Platform Lab, 1275 Kinnear Rd., Columbus, 43212
8:30 - 11:30 a.m. Microsoft Excel 2003, Intermediate Level
12:30 - 3:30 p.m. Microsoft Word 2003, Intermediate Level

Microsoft Excel 2003, Intermediate Level
In Excel 2003, Level 1, you created, edited, formatted and printed basic spreadsheets. In this course, students will learn to enhance spreadsheets with templates, charts, graphics and formulas, streamlining repetitive tasks and displaying data in more visually effective ways. Target students are those who desire to gain the skills necessary to create templates, sort & filter data, and import, export & analyze data. Instructor: Stephanie Eirich.

Microsoft Word 2003, Intermediate Level
This course will teach users about creating and editing documents, the Word interface, navigating, editing, formatting, styles, templates, borders, tables, columns, lists, and using images in a document.  Students should already have a basic understanding of Word before attending this class. Instructor: Stephanie Eirich.

Cost for each session: $30 for Full Members; $40 for Associate Members; $50 for Non-Members.
Please RSVP by Friday, November 6 to Brenda Grosse: bgrosse@groundworkgroup.org or 614-884-7780, ext. 101.

Nonprofit IT Forum – Roundtable Discussions
Tuesday, November 10 – Noon to 1:30 p.m.
Jewish Family Services, 1070 College Ave., Columbus, 43209

Kelly Budros, Director of Programs at The Women's Fund of Central Ohio will share the successes they have had with Facebook and will talk about how easy and fun it can be to enact within your own organizations.  This will be an interactive conversation, and those of you who also have had success in social media activities are invited to come and share how you "made it work" within your organizations.  There will be time for questions throughout the discussion.

The second part of the Forum will be a discussion around The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 which includes the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) which alters HIPAA privacy & security.  In addition to this discussion, GroundWork group is conducting a half-day workshop in December.  See the announcement below, and stay tuned for further updates.

There is no cost to attend the Nonprofit IT Forum, and a pizza & salad lunch will be provided courtesy of the Tony R. Wells Foundation.  Please RSVP by Friday, November 6, to Brenda Grosse: bgrosse@groundworkgroup.org or 614-884-7780, ext. 101.

SAVE THE DATE!
Health Information Privacy and Security: Regulatory, Management and Technical Overview
Tuesday, December 1 – 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., Location TBD.

Does your agency collect, process or store client health information? Are you aware of the new HITECH provisions passed into law with the stimulus package? Are you aware that some of those provisions include increased civil and criminal penalties for neglecting your responsibilities to properly protect information? Do these changes apply to your nonprofit?  How should you respond? Join GroundWork group in this workshop with Anthony D. Shaffer of Schottenstein, Zox & Dunn Co., LPA and Douglas Davidson of Jacadis.

More information will be coming through our Education Blast Email.

Continuing Education at Franklin University
Franklin University's Center for Professional Training & Development (CPTD) offers classes, most of them for free, to help you boost your career and capabilities.  Follow this link for more information: http://www.franklin.edu/continuing-education/upcoming-events/