Setting Up Your Contacts List

If you're considering CME to help you handle your broadcast communication needs, you may be wondering how you can collect the contact information of all of your contacts. The answer is easy. We can display a sign up form on your alert notification Web site (which is free for CME customers) where your contacts can input their own contact information and indicate how they would like to receive notifications. Another option might be to include a sign up form in any regular mailing or newsletter. The information would then need to be entered by someone designated by you.

Once your contacts' information has been loaded into your CME account, messages can be sent in 1 or more modalities. For non-critical messages, you may wish to simply send out an e-mail notification, but in times of emergency, you may send the message out in 2,3,or all 4 ways.

Furthermore, all message recipients get an individual account so they can set up their own communication preferences. They have the ability to log in and set up their preferences of how they would like to receive their communication (via Web, e-mail, text and/or auto dialer) even after the account has been initially set up by you. If you plan on sending out non-critical messages mainly by e-mail, you would want to be sure to advise your residents to enable their account to receive the messages sent via e-mail.

This is all done automatically by our propriety software...you won't ever have to set up the account log ins or passwords for your recipients. Yet another advantage to having CME as your broadcast communication service. We take care of all of the hard work - you just send out your messages with the confidence that you will always have immediate access to your contacts!

Bill Grubner, Jr., works as a manager of government emergency solutions for Genesys Labs, a developer of contact communications software. He recently wrote an article entitled, Emergency Communications Systems: 5 Do's and 5 Don'ts, for CRM Buyer, a Web site dedicated to customer relationship management. In his article, he talks about the need for local, state, and federal officials to respond to a wide variety of emergencies and discusses how best to communicate with citizens in these circumstances.

One of his "do" pieces of advice to governmental agencies is to "incorporate multichannel capabilities." He lists five channels as the most important ones for broadcast communications systems to support - e-mail, SMS text, voice self-service, live assisted serivce, and proactive automated outbound calls. "The advantage of an integrated multichannel approach," writes Grubner, "is that it enables citizens to enter the system from a variety of touch points while still receiving consistent information and instruction."

Communications Made Easy is a service that can meet these demands under this multichannel approach, using e-mail, SMS text, and automated outbound calls. We have the ability to serve these governmental agencies and make it affordable to do so. Grubner says, "While many agencies are much better prepared than they were only a few years ago, the majority are still looking to evolve their approach." CME's mission is to be part of this approach, helping to provide a coordinated emergency communications plan with the technology that will quickly reach a significant number of people.

You can read more of Grubner's article here. His advice clearly points to services like CME to be the answer to emergency communication systems, and CME intends to be part of the solution, especially for rural communities and school districts.

Choosing Between Expense and Student Safety

Earlier this month in Austin, Texas, school district officials had to close seven schools because of the threat of two armed men running from police near an elementary school. Administrators didn’t want students walking to school in this potentially dangerous situation. They implemented their emergency communications system, which involved notifying the media, posting a notice on the district’s Web site, and providing information to the schools’ switchboard operators.

Fortunately, the armed robbery occurred early enough to notify most parents through television and radio. But what would have happened if it had occurred only 15 or 20 minutes before school. Many students would have already been on their way to school, either walking or in the car. And media outlets wouldn’t have had time to warn most people.

The school district has looked into using an automated phone system that could send messages to cell phones or home phones in less than an hour. But, officials said the district can’t afford to spend the money.

This is exactly why Communications Made Easy has worked so hard on developing a system that is affordable to all users, no matter the size or scope. When it comes to our kids, we shouldn’t have to risk putting them in dangerous situations when the technology is available to keep them safer. We think a more direct approach is needed to notify parents. Text messages and automated phone calls to home and cell phones would be much more efficient and reach more parents quickly, especially those who are already on their way to school. CME intergrates all of those options into one simple Web site interface to facilitate fast distribution of important information.

Loaded Gun Alert

On November 14 in Powell, Wyoming, a dispute between two men resulted in a gun shot. The suspect initially ran from police but fortunately, surrendered later without incident. The hand gun, however, was not recovered with the suspect, so emergency officials used their broadcast communications system to notify residents.

The Powell Tribune reported that the police were still searching for a Colt model 1911 semi-automatic .45 caliber handgun, and used their emergency communication system to call 106 households to notify them of the missing handgun. They believe the gun was discarded somewhere in the area, and they not only want to recover it for evidence, but for safety reasons as well. The gun could still be loaded.

The emergency communication system in this instance provided a quick and easy way to warn parents about the possibility of a loaded gun within easy reach of their kids. It allowed officials to get the word out sooner than the media could broadcast the information, and by calling households directly, they could target specific people and ensure that each household was contacted.

We know that rural areas of the United States are not immune from serious crime, but sometimes those areas aren't as equipped to warn residents about impending danger. That's where an emergency communications system comes into play. Communications Made Easy is especially focused on bringing this technology to rural communities who may not have a broadcast media outlet that can immediately warn residents of dangerous situations. And we do it at an affordable price, which is especially important these days, when budgets are being tightened all across the board.

Another College Activates Emergency Communications System

A college in North Carolina put its students on alert on Monday after law officers began a high speed pursuit of a suspect in a car jacking. The suspect was believed to be armed with a 9 mm handgun. Mars Hill College administrators instituted their campus wide emergency communication system to alert students, staff and faculty.

This is the perfect example of how an emergency broadcast message can be used to warn people of possible danger. It's a quick and easy way to encourage people to become more aware of their surroundings and watch for unusual or suspicious activity, and take extra steps to keep themselves safe. Those preparing to get on the road had the information they needed to avoid getting caught in the middle of a pursuit.

That's what an emergency communication system is all about - giving people enough information in a timely manner so they can make decisions about their activities. It's a necessary tool for those responsible for public safety, and that's why CME believes its services are so valuable and so important.

Millikin Regional Entrepreneurship Network Clients Participate in Innovate Illinois Competition

Two Central Illinois businesses competed as semi-finalists against 30 other Illinois businesses in the Fourth Annual Innovate Illinois Competition held in Chicago on September 26. The Springfield businesses were selected from among other Central Illinois applicants to represent the Millikin Regional Entrepreneurship Network (MREN) in this program designed to recognize high-growth small businesses in Illinois that have launched or will soon launch an innovative product or service.

Innovate Illinois is a highly selective entrepreneurial competition where local companies compete for a total of $100,000, with the two top honorees (one early stage company and one later stage company) each receiving $40,000. The program is jointly administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and the Chicagoland Entrepreneurship Center. The Millikin Regional Entrepreneurship Network provides small business consulting services and training through Millikin University’s Center for Entrepreneurship, an integral part of the university’s Tabor School of Business.

Michelle Tjelmeland and Mark Roberts of Communications Made Easy™ and Larry Davsko of Electric Vehicle Technologies (EVT), LLC were accompanied to the competition by Connie Beck, MREN director. Each business owner made a five-minute “fast pitch” presentation in front of a panel of judges. Twelve finalists (six in each track – early stage and later stage) were announced at a reception following the presentations. EVT was invited to join five other companies to compete in the “later stage” finals in Chicago on November 18.

“We were very proud to be represented by two such innovative businesses from our region in the competition,” said Beck. “As current clients and previous MREN Challenge Grant Award recipients, it was an honor to have these two potential high-growth businesses compete against companies representing the state’s other 15 entrepreneurship centers. Our staff looks forward to our continued relationship with both businesses as well as EVT’s participation in the finals next month,” Beck concluded.

Communications Made Easy™ is a broadcast communications system that allows customers to send one message in four different ways simultaneously—web, e-mail, text message and phone. It is an affordable, easy-to-use product that addresses the communication needs of many different organizations, including school districts, government agencies, colleges and universities, churches, non-profit organizations, employers and many more. There is currently no one else pursuing the company’s target customers with a four-in-one communication model. Some customers can be up and running in as little as five minutes.

“Being a semi-finalist for Innovate Illinois was an amazing experience for Mark Roberts, co-founder, and me,” Tjelmeland explained. Being in a room with 31 other like-minded entrepreneurs and seeing the incredible things they are doing in the State of Illinois was extraordinary,” continued Tjelmeland. “We learned so much from our experience and developed several business relationships which are certain to help us gain the national exposure necessary to bring our product, Communications Made Easy™ - The Original 4-in-1 Communication System™, to market.” For more information, visit www.communicationsmadeeasy.com or call 800-605-0082.

Founded in early 2006 after two years of research, EVT was formed for the purpose of commercializing its electric motor technology. EVT has taken electric motor and generator technology to a new level with unique designs utilizing the latest in material science, major advancements in electro-magnetism, and decreasing costs in controls and sensors. The design’s key attribute, maximum torque at any operating speed, has gained the attention of various industry leaders because it can eliminate the need for transmissions, gearboxes, axles and differentials in agriculture and construction heavy equipment applications.

“EVT was honored to have been selected by MREN to represent Central Illinois as one of the 16 ‘later stage’ semi-finalists from across the state,” stated Davsko. “We were especially pleased to have been chosen as one of the six finalist in our category to compete for a $40,000 prize in November. Our association with MREN, in addition to our exposure to other innovative businesses and venture capitalists through this process, will certainly benefit our company as we continue testing and refining our prototype motors over the coming months,” Davsko emphasized.

In addition to its Decatur campus location, MREN has a satellite entrepreneurship center located at the Lewis & Clark Community College Macoupin County Community Education Center in Carlinville. Fund by DCEO, the centers administer a Challenge Grant Award program for potential high-growth small businesses. Businesses can apply for up to $5,000 in matching grant funds in order to acquire outside professional consulting services that will help them “grow their businesses.”

For more information about MREN, its services and training programs, or the grant program, contact Connie Beck in Decatur at 217-424-6267 or cbeck@millikin.edu, or Art Knippel in Carlinville at 217-854-9652 or aknippel@millikin.edu. Information about the Millikin Regional Entrepreneurship Center can also be found at www.millikinren.com.