Springtime often brings severe weather, especially in the Midwest. Strong thunderstorms with gusty winds, large hail, dangerous lightening, and even tornados can pop up quickly without much warning. This can create ominous situations for people who work outdoors and don't have the benefit of watching radar or hearing weather alerts every 5 minutes.
If you are an employer with employees performing duties offsite, Alerts Made Easy can play a significant role in keeping them safe. By simply entering the cell phone numbers of all your employees into your AME contact list, you have an instant noficiation system that will reach your employees whereever they happen to be, indoors or out. Your employees can decide whether they prefer to receive text messages or phone calls. Then, when severe weather is approaching your area, you can send an announcement to everyone at once by logging on to our Web site. This gives them the opportunity and the time they need to find a stopping point, put tools and equipment away, and seek shelter is necessary. If you had to call each individual or team out on the road, you might not warn them in time.
There's a definite advantage to having every employee on the AME system. Supervisors or team leaders won't always get the message, but if you distribute it to all employees, you're mostly likely to deliver the important warning to someone in every group. Even if you have another means of communication to keep in touch with your offsite employees, there's no guarantee that your first plan will work or be completely effective. AME provides another reliable way for you to keep your employees up-to-date on changing weather conditions and allow them to protect themselves from severe weather.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Changing Cell Phone Policies
So I would think this could go without saying, but it's worth bringing up. Actually, it's essential that college and university administrators and faculty consider this: If you're going to broadcast emergency text messages to students, you have to allow students to check their text messages during class.
I mention this because I recently read an article by the Daily Eastern News, the newspaper of Eastern Illinois University (my alma mater). According to the paper, the university's Vice President for Academic Affairs said a new statement of principle would be initiated this semester to ensure that an emergency text message could get into classrooms in a timely way.
"'This principle', he said, 'would recognize the faculty's responsibility for setting the classroom protocols and ground rules for decorum. The statement would also make sure faculty could not be in a position of making it impossible for a text message to get through to the class.'"
We certainly understand how disruptive cell phone use can be, especially in a classroom setting. On the other hand, if there is a campus emergency that endangers the lives of students and faculty, the message needs to get through, whether class is in session or not. That's the intent behind emergency text messages and a campus safety policy. Students in classrooms aren't able to easily find out about threats to safety because, in the classroom, they typically don't have access to television, radio, or telephones. That's why sending messages to cell phones is so important.
Students and faculty have the capability to put cell phones on vibrate mode. If it becomes apparent that several phones are vibrating at the same time, then it's worth allowing the students to check.
What do you think? Do emergency text messages require a nullification of a "no cellphone policy" in college classrooms? What's you suggestion to allow emergency messages through while still preserving an undisturbed learning environment?
I mention this because I recently read an article by the Daily Eastern News, the newspaper of Eastern Illinois University (my alma mater). According to the paper, the university's Vice President for Academic Affairs said a new statement of principle would be initiated this semester to ensure that an emergency text message could get into classrooms in a timely way.
"'This principle', he said, 'would recognize the faculty's responsibility for setting the classroom protocols and ground rules for decorum. The statement would also make sure faculty could not be in a position of making it impossible for a text message to get through to the class.'"
We certainly understand how disruptive cell phone use can be, especially in a classroom setting. On the other hand, if there is a campus emergency that endangers the lives of students and faculty, the message needs to get through, whether class is in session or not. That's the intent behind emergency text messages and a campus safety policy. Students in classrooms aren't able to easily find out about threats to safety because, in the classroom, they typically don't have access to television, radio, or telephones. That's why sending messages to cell phones is so important.
Students and faculty have the capability to put cell phones on vibrate mode. If it becomes apparent that several phones are vibrating at the same time, then it's worth allowing the students to check.
What do you think? Do emergency text messages require a nullification of a "no cellphone policy" in college classrooms? What's you suggestion to allow emergency messages through while still preserving an undisturbed learning environment?
Saturday, March 28, 2009
"Rain Out" Alerts for your Team
Spring is finally here, which means the start of spring and summer outdoor activities for your kids. With outdoor events, the weather always plays a factor, and unfortunately, a little rain can put a real damper on your day.
If you have kids on a sports team, or have ever coached and been in charge of kids' sports activities, you've probably made dozens of phone calls to announce a game cancellation or change in practice schedule because or rain or mud. What a pain that can be! Not only do you have to ensure that you have all of the phone numbers available and within reach, but you also have to spend time dialing each number and talking with each parent or kid. You could rely on a calling tree, but there's no guarantee the message will make it to the last few names on the list.
Alerts Made Easy is a much more convenient solution! It is affordable and you can set it up quickly, easily, and just one time at the start of practice season. Put all of your team members' phone numbers and e-mails in the system, and you'll have instant access to your list. Plus, you record one voice message or send one e-mail (or both simultaneously) and you're done! Everyone finds out at the same time within minutes of your call that a game has been cancelled due to bad weather.
As a coach, how many times have you made it to the field for a Little League game, only to find out an afternoon rain shower has left the field too muddy to play? Now, it's back home to find your phone list tell players there's no game. Or, you can pull out your cell phone while still at the field, call AME's concierge desk, and have them send out the message for you. And you're done! Parents appreciate the advance notice because they save a trip to the ball field and have more time to make other arrangements or plans.
When you have decided on a day and time to reschedule that game, you can let your players know that information with a quick log-on to the Web site to initiate the message. AME makes coaching or participating in spring and summer sports that much easier, taking away some of the headaches and making it more fun for everyone!
If you have kids on a sports team, or have ever coached and been in charge of kids' sports activities, you've probably made dozens of phone calls to announce a game cancellation or change in practice schedule because or rain or mud. What a pain that can be! Not only do you have to ensure that you have all of the phone numbers available and within reach, but you also have to spend time dialing each number and talking with each parent or kid. You could rely on a calling tree, but there's no guarantee the message will make it to the last few names on the list.
Alerts Made Easy is a much more convenient solution! It is affordable and you can set it up quickly, easily, and just one time at the start of practice season. Put all of your team members' phone numbers and e-mails in the system, and you'll have instant access to your list. Plus, you record one voice message or send one e-mail (or both simultaneously) and you're done! Everyone finds out at the same time within minutes of your call that a game has been cancelled due to bad weather.
As a coach, how many times have you made it to the field for a Little League game, only to find out an afternoon rain shower has left the field too muddy to play? Now, it's back home to find your phone list tell players there's no game. Or, you can pull out your cell phone while still at the field, call AME's concierge desk, and have them send out the message for you. And you're done! Parents appreciate the advance notice because they save a trip to the ball field and have more time to make other arrangements or plans.
When you have decided on a day and time to reschedule that game, you can let your players know that information with a quick log-on to the Web site to initiate the message. AME makes coaching or participating in spring and summer sports that much easier, taking away some of the headaches and making it more fun for everyone!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
AME Helps Churches Communicate with Members
A church may not be the first organization that comes to mind when you think about broadcast communication, but actually, there are many ways that churches can use Alerts Made Easy as a quick and simple communication tool.
One of the most obvious and helpful is prayer requests. Churches are often notified of illnesses, hospitalizations, accidents, and other events where spiritual support from the community is greatly appreciated. With a broadcast communication system, a pastor or church secretary can quickly send e-mails, voice messages, text messages, and post notices on the church Web site to let members know of individuals and families who could use extra support during a difficult time.
On a related note, church communities are known for their quick response in times of emergencies, whether in a community or a family. AME could quickly mobilize volunteers to help families displaced by fires, tornadoes, floods, and other disasters when time really matters. Requests for food, clothing, personal toiletries, transportation, and other immediate needs are common at this time, and a broadcast alert can facilitate gathering these items quickly.
AME is useful for a church at times other than emergencies as well. It's common for churches to have a number of different groups involving, Bible studies, mission and outreach, teachers, leaders, councils, elders, deacons, choirs, and youth groups. A church can set up each of these groups in AME to easily send out messages to the appropriate people. This is useful for sending reminders for meetings, events, practices, activities, and outings. With so many youth carrying cell phones and "texting" these days, a youth group is sure to get a response by sending text messages about youth group events!
Other convenient AME uses:
One of the most obvious and helpful is prayer requests. Churches are often notified of illnesses, hospitalizations, accidents, and other events where spiritual support from the community is greatly appreciated. With a broadcast communication system, a pastor or church secretary can quickly send e-mails, voice messages, text messages, and post notices on the church Web site to let members know of individuals and families who could use extra support during a difficult time.
On a related note, church communities are known for their quick response in times of emergencies, whether in a community or a family. AME could quickly mobilize volunteers to help families displaced by fires, tornadoes, floods, and other disasters when time really matters. Requests for food, clothing, personal toiletries, transportation, and other immediate needs are common at this time, and a broadcast alert can facilitate gathering these items quickly.
AME is useful for a church at times other than emergencies as well. It's common for churches to have a number of different groups involving, Bible studies, mission and outreach, teachers, leaders, councils, elders, deacons, choirs, and youth groups. A church can set up each of these groups in AME to easily send out messages to the appropriate people. This is useful for sending reminders for meetings, events, practices, activities, and outings. With so many youth carrying cell phones and "texting" these days, a youth group is sure to get a response by sending text messages about youth group events!
Other convenient AME uses:
- Sunday school leaders can remind parents of special childrens' events or programs
- Youth leaders can recruit adult volunteers to chaperon youth outings or trips
- Bible School coordinates can recruit teachers and activity helpers
- Bible study leaders can send out meeting reminders
- Pastors can send a daily Bible verse or inspirational message to parish members
- Administrators can notify members of changes in a church schedule or cancellation of meetings due to weather or power outages
And the best thing about AME - it's totally affordable for churches big and small! It's also easy to use, which is helpful in churches because leaders and volunteers can change frequently.
I'm sure you can think of other ways that your church could put AME to use for your members. Let us know what they are by adding your comments to our blog.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Officials in Australia Implement Text Message Warning For First Time
Earlier this week, officials in Victoria, Australia took advantage of cell phone technology by sending the first SMS text message to every mobile phone in the state to warn citizens that weather conditions were conducive to wildfiles. After the tragic fires that devasted areas of Australia last month, it's no wonder that government officials are now asking citizens to be extra alert.
It's unfornate that it took such a horrible event to bring attention to the usefulness of broadcast text messaging. But in this most recent situation, Victoria officials realized the property and life-saving potential and used this tool as a pre-emptive measure. This is a lesson that all emergency management officials here in the United States should embrace as well. Simple preparation now can put a system into place that can save lives and property. Broadcast text messaging allows officials to maxmize the number of people who will not only be warned in the event of an emergency, but also increase the number people who are consciously aware of their surroundings and on alert for potential problems.
For more on the story from Victoria, Australia, click here.
It's unfornate that it took such a horrible event to bring attention to the usefulness of broadcast text messaging. But in this most recent situation, Victoria officials realized the property and life-saving potential and used this tool as a pre-emptive measure. This is a lesson that all emergency management officials here in the United States should embrace as well. Simple preparation now can put a system into place that can save lives and property. Broadcast text messaging allows officials to maxmize the number of people who will not only be warned in the event of an emergency, but also increase the number people who are consciously aware of their surroundings and on alert for potential problems.
For more on the story from Victoria, Australia, click here.
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