GCNN Workshops
A central program of the Garden Conservancy Northwest Network is a series of spring and fall GCNN workshops, each one tailored to the needs of members organizations and each hosted by a member organization. The latest program was held in Portland, Oregon, on March 16 - 17, 2019.
Spring 2019 Garden Tour, Workshop, and General Meeting
S A T U R D A Y, M A R C H 16
The Steering Committee Meeting, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.
At the Wakefield/Grossnickle garden and residence,13510 NW Old Germantown Rd, Portland, OR 97231.
Garden tour and Dinner, 4:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Bruce Wakefield, one of our hosts from the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon, invited workshop participants and their guests to tour his garden in the Portland hills and to join him for dinner. Bruce Wakefield has been involved with the HPSO for a number of years and his garden has been included in many of the regions open garden tours.
S U N D A Y, M A R C H 17
GCNN Workshop, 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Computer technology for your organization: Selecting useful software, evolving your website, and securing your data
Location: The Hardy Plant Society of Oregon office, 4412 Barbur Blvd, Suite 260, Portland OR 97239 (See below for driving directions and suggestions for lodging.)
Presenter: Andrew Hundt, a principal and the owner of Pro Activist Computer Support, which opened in 2000, will lead a discussion of how your organization might use technology productively. Since he started the business, Hundt has worked extensively with nonprofit organizations in the Portland area, empowering them to better use computers in their effort to realize their missions. Hundt has had decades of hands-on experience in enabling people harness technology to good purpose, helping them with everything from password management and security to software choices, from equipment management to network management. A conscientious professional and a leader in the computer professional community in the Portland area, Hundt will share his knowledge of the developments in software and hardware that keep us all on our toes while they evolve our capacity to communicate, keep us well informed about our membership and donors, and aid us in supporting our volunteers.
Morning session part I: 10 - 10:45 a.m., "What is information technology good for?"
Sometimes a newer and more expensive tool isn't worth it. Hundt will review the most popular tools currently available to increase ease of use and productivity such as cloud-based file services, email, databases, backup, remote access, networking, workstations, and security. There will be a quick review of which new technologies are valuable and which you might want to avoid.
Morning session part II: 11 - 11:45 a.m., "Ultimate Guide to Security"
Thinking through the implications of our current lack of security and building a solid defense with recommended tools for password management, two-factor authentication, desktop and device security, app security, firewalls, and backups.
Morning session part III: 11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., "The Paradox of Choice"
How do you winnow a crowded field of software options down to two or three contenders? Using Customer Relationship Management software (CRM) as an example, Hundt will illustrate how you can find the sweet spot between cost and functionality. When is free too expensive? When full price is too cheap? Hundt will provide a closer look at the complicated field of CRM offerings with the intention of coming to decision that works for the community involved in using the software. There will be breaks for activities, some movie clips and a round of voting.
Afternoon session part I: 1:45 - 2:30 p.m., "Websites - Still working on that perfect snare"
Considers new methods of reaching “our people.” Hundt will offer insights on social media strategy and what makes a website effective and compelling. He will also discuss incorporating your website into your fundraising and volunteer efforts and will demonstrate cloud-based Customer Relationship Management software programs, SalesForce, and CiviCRM. Lastly, Hundt will discuss why people are moving away from using inhouse style databases like Access, FileMaker Pro, and Raiser's Edge.
Afternoon session part II: 2:30 - 3:00 p.m., Discussion and questions
This session offers the opportunity to ask questions of other participants and Hundt about the software you are using and to offer comments you have about its strength and weaknesses. Please use this time to describe and compare the security practices you have, how you are using your website, and compare what you are using and doing to what others are using and doing, and determine what improvements might be available for you.
Click here for a PDF one-page summary of the weekend schedule.