Reporting System

[Allyse]

Hi All,

I am looking to improve our reporting system. Does anyone know of a
program that will let the VISTA fill out a report online then compile
all those reports into one document?

Thanks for the help in advance!


--
Allyse Vander Plaats
VISTA Leader
Iowa Campus Compact
515-235-4686
Pappajohn Education Center
1200 Grand Ave, Suite 200
Des Moines, IA 50309


Iowa Campus Compact (IACC) is a statewide association of college and
university presidents who are committed to fulfilling the civic
purposes of higher education by educating students for active
citizenship and building strong communities. This is accomplished by
integrating community service, service-learning and community
engagement opportunities into student's academic and co-curricular
activities.

[Kyle Patrick Williams]

I would suggest using Google Documents - I have just migrated out reporting system there.  However, if the responses are open-ended/narrative, they get really messy in the Google spreadsheet that it automatically formulates.  There is also no way to save progress, leave, come back to it within the form apart from saving the entire thing as a web page.  If anyone has experienced these issues and has resolution, I welcome advice.  Thanks!

-KP-

KYLE PATRICK WILLIAMS
kyle...@gmail.com
859-802-4672

[Jennifer Simek]

Hi all - Here at Siena College, our VISTA program uses Qualtrics to do our monthly progress reports. It's a sophisticated online resource that may take some training (there are some great online video resources through their website). We have also used PB Works Wikis in the past, or you could look into using SurveyMonkey. 

Good luck!

Jennifer, Siena VISTA Leader 2010-2011, 2011-2012

--
jas...@gmail.com
calyp...@gmail.com

[Del Bharath]

Hey,
     We use SurveyMonkey where you can create and distribute surveys online for free. Here is a link for our report that they fill out online. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?PREVIEW_MODE=DO_NOT_USE_THIS_LINK_FOR_COLLECTION&sm=h0DsDgkoQJJd%2f7K3iCzaXWadxSNo%2f3Ifnvp8JTrUCUI%3d  We have the free version so cannot download the results but if you have a budget that allows you to get a pro account, it's super helpful
Del

[Ryan Mitchell]

 

Ryan Mitchell
704.650.9260
LinkedIn Profile

---

From: Ben Hastil <ben.h...@gmail.com>
To: vista-leader...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Friday, October 7, 2011 10:34 AM
Subject: Re: Reporting System

Hi Kyle,

Instead of using a Google Docs Form, you could try using a Google Docs Spreadsheet that all your VISTA members have editing access to (maybe with a separate sheet for each VISTA member's report?). This would allow members to fill-in answers to some questions and then come back later to finish their report.

Best,
Ben

VISTA Leader
Corporation For Ohio Appalachian Development
419-566-1691
ben.h...@gmail.com

[Ashley Wolter]

Me too!

I'm no longer a Vista Leader

Ashley Wolter

[Knox, Kelly]

Hi all-

We spent a lot of time working on this in our office and eventually came to Adobe Forms as our solution. We send out a form every month, which the VISTA can fill out and save as they complete it. It’s helpful that they can keep a copy of their reports as well. The completed reports are submitted through Adobe and automatically compile in a spreadsheet. We found Adobe gave us more options in terms of design and question formats, as well. The only drawback is that when forms are submitted through Adobe, they have to email any attachments like asset maps.

 

Good luck!

Kelly

---
Kelly Knox
AmeriCorps VISTA Leader | Wisconsin Campus Compact
608 262 4584 | fax 608 890 3222 | cell 585 507 7876

www.wicampuscompact.org | https://sites.google.com/site/wiccvistapage
432 N. Lake Street, Room B121B | Madison, WI 53706

 

 

Wisconsin Campus Compact is a coalition of college and university presidents and chancellors who are committed to strengthening civic engagement and service-learning partnerships between Wisconsin's postsecondary institutions and the communities they serve.

[Ryan Mitchell]

Oh whoops!  So according to google help page all I had to do was put "REMOVE ME" in the subject and I'd be removed.  It seems like they are revamping google groups to integrate with google+   so it's not working.  Sorry if that came across rude!  I have struck out into the job market and don't wish to receive these emails any more. 

Anyone have any ideas?

 

Ryan Mitchell
704.650.9260
LinkedIn Profile

---

From: Ashley Wolter <awol...@gmail.com>
To: vista-leader...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Friday, October 7, 2011 10:52 AM
Subject: Re: REMOVE ME

[Emily Oppenheimer]

It's been fun. Best of luck to everyone!

--
Emily Oppenheimer

Habitat for Humanity International

Charleston, SC

[Nichole Kermen]

My time with VISTA has come to end. Best of luck!

---

Date: Fri, 7 Oct 2011 07:54:51 -0700
From: ryan1...@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: REMOVE ME
To: vista-leader...@googlegroups.com

[bseel...@aol.com]

Hi, everyone!  I am out of Georgia and with an AmeriCorps national program this year in Ft. Lauderdale. I love being in direct service.

Actually, since our VISTA training was the August class last year, I should thing everyone would be gone unless a few came back for a second year as a Leader in the same place or another Leader position.

All the best to you all!

[Kapila Wewegama]

Dear Leaders,

Greetings and Happy Autumn!  It is so encouraging and fascinating to see how some of you have been sharing your thoughts, tools and resources to help each other - A true demonstrated trait of an effective leader!

As some of the leaders in this Google group have completed their service, I would like to kindly suggest using the great resource sharing functions  that is set up on the new VISTA Leaders Page on the VISTA Campus.  The new Leaders page with these great functions was just unveiled yesterday and please check how you could take this conversation or future conversations to the "Can I get a Copy of That" and/or "Leaders Open Space" forum on the New VISTA Leaders Page.

Thank you for the meaningful and productive work you do as Leaders!

Have a Relaxing and Energizing Weekend!

Thanks and Best Regards!
Kapila

Kapila Wewegama
(312)391-9545
***************
"Whether erecting a building, constructing a dam, paving a road, or helping one to achieve higher status or capacity in life; true individual empowerment is not only in the results themselves, but also in the process of achieving them."

[Chris Anderson]

My reply to this thread also appears on the VISTA Open Space forum here: http://vistacampus.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=2047 . I'd like to give VISTA Campus a shot in being a good place to communicate and share resources. It's definitely not perfect yet, but it's only a few days old!

I'm also figuring out the best system for reporting.  I am certain that I want information collected via surveys or forms via the web, and not with word documents.

I feel that *SurveyMonkey is a great resource, if you can access the cheaper Pro Account.*  

• There is no limit to the amount of questions (free version only allows ten),
• You can easily track who has/hasn't submitted
• You can add attachments with the survey
• Exports to spreadsheets

If I can't get the funds, $200/yer for SurveyMonkey, then Google Forms might be my next plan of attack. There would need to be a lot of tweaking within the spreadsheet to meet my needs, but the outcome could be a very easy, quick way for vistas/supervisors to submit information. Has anyone written any fancy formulas or scripts before?

I would suggest for anyone using any type of web-based reporting, for users to write all their information in a word processor and then copy and pasting into the form/survey to safeguard from any internet connection/computer crash issues!

-Chris Anderson

ch...@as220.org

[Rose, Ryan M. (Vista)]

Hey Team!

 

Quick question.  Does anyone have a VISTA on their team that is the sole staff member at their site?  I have one and she seems to struggle with it a bit.

The organization is approx. 20 board members and her.  The org is an art gallery right now that is building a community center and housing for artists in Albany, NY.  It’s called Albany Barn. 

 

Does anyone have anything like this happening where you are?

 

Peace!

 

Ryan M. Rose '10

AmeriCorps*VISTA Leader, Coordinator of VISTA State & National Partnerships, Tech Support

Office of Academic Community Engagement

Siena College

515 Loudon Road

Loudonville, NY 12211

518 782-6963 phone

518 786-5080 fax

rmr...@siena.edu

www.siena.edu/ace

 

Siena College is a learning community advancing the ideals of a liberal arts education, rooted in its identity as a Franciscan and Catholic institution.

 

 

 

 

From: vista-leader...@googlegroups.com [mailto:vista-leader...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Chris Anderson
Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2011 11:04 AM
To: vista-leader...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Reporting System

 

My reply to this thread also appears on the VISTA Open Space forum here: http://vistacampus.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=2047 . I'd like to give VISTA Campus a shot in being a good place to communicate and share resources. It's definitely not perfect yet, but it's only a few days old!

[Rita Crimmin]

Hi Ryan:  There is a VISTA in Providence RI who runs a program for artists…the agency name was a number.  I had breakfast with him one morning and I think he was in the same position as your VISTA.  I am waiting for my meeting to start otherwise I would look up the name for you.

 

Best,

 

Rita

 

Rita C. Crimmin

AmeriCorps*VISTA Leader

United Way of Central Massachusetts

Volunteer Center

484 Main Street  Suite 300

Worcester, MA  01608

Phone:  508 757 5631 x223

Fax: 508 757 2712

Email:  RCri...@unitedwaycm.org

 

...connects people and resources to improve the community....

[Jean Carroccio MPA, MSW]

Hi Ryan: I know another VISTA who operates alone (although she has a national network) in Denver at Social Venture Partners. Her name is Aileen Blair. In the past Social Venture Partners had a VISTA Leader who was operating out of Seattle. The Leader I knew completed her service, but perhaps you could see if there is another VLeader for that program If so, she/he is leading a VISTA in Denver who is alone in her site.

 

You probably already thought of this, but I would also suggest the lone VISTA find out if there is a network of Vs in Albany. Siena College usually has quite a cadre of Vs. I know in Denver those who are interested participate in a VISTA group although they serve for different sponsors.

Jean

Website JeanCarroccio.com

[Marina Fleming]

Hey Ryan,

This is a tough one! I do have someone who has been the only person at her site and we were just informed by the OR state office that this is a BIG no no as VISTAs are not allowed to staff an office. I would double check. 

Hope that helps,

Marina

Sent from my iPhone

[bseel...@aol.com]

Hi, Ryan,

Whether the VISTA  position is "legal" or not, your VISTA is in a very isolating situation since nobody on that Board  probably really knows what the VISTA is supposed to do, trust me.  I do not know how the Corporation validates such an assignment from the "get go".

Last year I was a VISTA Leader in Atlanta with 11 VISTAs as my team remotely all over the state who were the only VISTAs in sight in each of their offices, and even in their sponsored offices where there were no other VISTAs, but other state government people,  no one knew the expectations, and I spent hours on the phone nurturing them....every day.  

This year I switched to an AmeriCorps national position, and am the only 1 AmeriCorps in my office with my Executive Director. This is still a difficult situation.  Members need reinforcement and catalyzing and connections. 

You will need to help enable that for your VISTA.  The project sounds exciting, and I hope there is the experience in the background of the VISTA for such an adventure. 

Does this person's VISTA assignment step outside all the "position expectations"  of the rest of your team???  Doesn't relate?  That should be another piece of craziness on the part of the Corporation.

You have Kapila Wewegama and Jean Carroccio  responding to you..  They are the BEST of the BEST  mentors, and Elaine, as well.  Please utilize them!

Best regards, Bonnie Roberts

[Chris Anderson]

 The organization with 20 board members is a structure I have not yet encountered. If a VISTA is only one person at the site, they need to make sure they know that it is OK to set limits. It would be smart if they were to document their daily tasks and clearly state what roles they can and cannot do.  Now in response to waht was said in the last email...

 I do not know how the Corporation validates such an assignment from the "get go".

   This is something I continue to realize during my year here.  A new VAD has just arrived in my inbox for a new program to increase exposure to the arts among teens in custody of the state. The activities specifically say that the VISTA will "engage you in creating content for their website and magazine" as well as "train youth how to edit audio/video files for the website".  These are year-long activities which can take away the time needed to keep this brand new program sustainable.

   On the other hand, the same activities will create a permanent website and lay out the expectations and deadlines needed for the program. It also provides increased visibility for the program into the community.

  Is this job description an issue that should be addressed/revised?

   

Chris Anderson

ch...@as220.org