• Pop-up Help -- On any data entry screen, the pre-defined values for a field will pop up when the user presses F2, clicks the down arrow next to the field, or right clicks the mouse. Scroll down to the desired value, press the enter key or click the mouse, and that value will be placed in the code field. Nothing could be easier or more accurate.
• On-Line and Context Sensitive Help -- Assistance with specific procedures or definitions is available from the toolbar. Almost the entire MARKS Manual is available in this way, completely indexed, and "hyperlinked" for cross-referencing topics
• Data Validation -- During data input, MARKS will check the validity of the contents of certain fields, and notify the user if the value is either incorrect or impermissible.
• User Aids -- Various user aids throughout the system facilitate data input and enhance the over all functionality of MARKS for Windows. Examples of this are a pop-up calendar, pop-up calculator, pop-up Hebrew keyboard and automatic telephone dialing from within MARKS.

The Basic MARKS Membership and Fund Raising System - Synagogue Management Edition includes, but is not limited to, all of the following files and features:

MASTER NAME AND ADDRESS FILES - The Master Name and Address Files (Figure 1) may include all members or non-members, current and recent donors, and prospects and participants in your various events, activities and fund raising campaigns. Every account includes a "person" record for each person associated with the account. Each account, as well as each person in the account, may be associated with one or more address records ("business," "vacation," etc.). A date file contains dates associated with an account or person, with the type of date identified by code.

FIGURE 1

In addition to standard demographic data, each of the various demographic files may contain extensive user-definable code fields enabling you to define, then select records based on values in the fields. Different name formats may be maintained for salutation and for label purposes. Records may be accessed either by last name or account number. Preset reports, labels, envelopes or other special forms may be generated, quickly and easily, for selected groups of accounts. Filtering and sorting criteria may be modified and saved by the user as a new report for future use. Personalized letters and forms may be generated via the built-in link to a standard word processor. All output may be previewed on-screen. Envelopes and labels may be formatted to include a postal bar code. For all printed reports and word processing link files, data may be selected by a wide variety of criteria, based on the contents of related files.

PHONE/E-MAIL/EMERGENCY CONTACT FILE - Each person and each address may be associated with one or more phone numbers (business, fax, cellphones, beepers, etc.) or e-mail addresses. A phone number's "type" is designated by code and "emergency" numbers may be highlighted in color.

COMMITTEES AND OTHER ASSOCIATE GROUP FILE - A file may be maintained for various groups within the organization (e.g. board of directors, committees, individual interests, participation in events). Groups may be further defined by subgroups (e.g. officers of the Board, committee chairpersons, Spring Auction). The file also contains a date and comment field. This file may be used to create lists and/or mailing labels or envelopes for any of the defined groups/subgroups. Letters to members of a specified group may be generated via the built-in link to a standard word processor.

RELATIONSHIP FILE - With this file you may relate any person in the MARKS System with any other person in the system. Thus, Sarah Jones may be identified as the granddaughter of Tom Collins (at another account). Clicking on a button shows the inverse relationships, e.g. Tom Collins is the grandfather of Sarah Jones. Similarly, the file may be used to track solicitor/prospect relationships.

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE SYSTEM - We have designed an Accounts Receivable System especially geared to a not for profit organization's membership and fund raising needs. The Accounts Receivable System keeps track of all dues, pledges, fees and donations that are pledged, owed or paid to your organization. A facility is available for recording and automatic billing multi-period charges or pledges. Every money item, debit or credit, may be recorded as a transaction. Current as well as prior years' transactions are maintained permitting multi-year comparisons.

Thousands of charge categories may be user-defined to designate and track income by source or by campaign (e.g. Building Fund, Dues, School Tuition and Fees, etc.). Every charge category may also be associated with a charge year, allowing you to define and isolate income items by year, as well as by category. Among the benefits of this powerful feature is the ability to produce reports or, via the built-in link to a standard word processor, personalized letters targeting accounts who have participated in a campaign or event last year but not this year or in one campaign but not another. Thank you letters, or receipts for monies received, or reminder letters for past-due items or unredeemed pledges, may also be created. Statements may be generated whenever desired. In addition, aging reports, cash receipt journals and various other transaction reports, such as year-to-year comparisons by income category, may be generated on demand. MARKS also greatly facilitates the record-keeping and the production of receipts and reports your donors require to comply with IRS regulations.

YAHRZEIT SYSTEM - Every Yahrzeit to be observed by a member or non-member may be recorded on this file which may contain either the English or Hebrew date of death or both, along with the relationship of the deceased to the account holder and other information. For Yahrzeit notification purposes, an internal Hebrew/Secular calendar automatically converts the Hebrew date of death to the contemporary date on the secular calendar. This Hebrew/English calendar may also be accessed via a pop-up menu during data entry. A list of upcoming Yahrzeits, including a memorial plaque identifier, may be produced along with customized personal letters of notification. Yahrzeit donations may be recorded and maintained by the Accounts Receivable System.

LINK TO WORD PROCESSING - A link file of names and addresses, in DBF, ASCII delimited or other standard format, may be created from various MARKS files, including: Master Name and Address; Groups; and other related demographic data, and/or from the Accounts Receivable files. This link file may then be used by word processing packages (such as Word or WordPerfect) for word processing purposes in the preparation of receipts, personalized solicitation letters, reminders, thank you letters or special forms. Link files may be used with such other types of software as spread sheets, desktop publishing, communications software, (faxing, e-mail, phone dialers, etc).

An array of optional modules designed to meet special needs enables you to build on the basic MARKS system according to your own requirements. Optional modules are fully integrated with the basic system. They may be purchased now or added-on at a later date.

COURSE REGISTRATION (SCHOOL MANAGEMENT) MODULE - This module (Figure 2) is especially helpful in the administration of Synagogue schools, by facilitating the registration process and providing expanded record keeping and reporting functions (e.g. multiple classes per child). Class rosters may be generated. An automatic promotion procedure will enable you to globally promote all children in the school at the start of a new school year according to a user-defined promotion table.

FIGURE 2

Tuition, registration and other school related fees may be globally generated and recorded automatically via the built-in link to the Accounts Receivable Module. This module is also useful in tracking participation in other activities, programs and classes, such as adult education, and youth department activities.

PHOTO MODULE - Photographs may be stored in MARKS which may be used to identify any person (member or non-member, or parents and children of your school) on your system. Various reports may be produced which include these photographs. Membership cards, including photos and/or bar codes, may be printed for use in security and attendance tracking systems.

DINNER AND SPECIAL EVENTS RESERVATIONS MODULE - Enables you to manage multiple dinners, luncheons or other events where reservations are taken and/or tables are assigned. Standard fees per event may be pre-defined, speeding up data entry. A history of attendance at such functions may be maintained for each account holder. Alphabetical lists and/or lists by assigned table numbers may be generated on demand, reflecting last minute changes simply and expeditiously.

To simplify the procedure of assigning table numbers, the system allows you to produce index cards for each reservation made. The billing for the dinner reservations may be globally generated and recorded automatically via the built-in link to the Accounts Receivable Module.

JOURNAL ADS MODULE - Journal ads, including the actual text, may be recorded and maintained on the system. Ad text may be stored and viewed in a format that preserves font type, size, color, left or right or center alignment (Figure 3).

FIGURE 3

Furthermore, the text file may be transmitted with such format codes intact. This greatly reduces the amount of handling of each ad text record. Lists of ads, or index cards with each ad, or lists by ad size or by solicitor may be generated. Ad texts may be transmitted electronically or by diskette to the typesetter for computerized typesetting. The billing for the journal ads may be globally generated and recorded automatically via the built-in link to the Accounts Receivable Module.

EVENT/HIGH HOLIDAYS SEATING MODULE - Records for special events, where seating is theater style, e.g. concerts or theater parties (either on or off premises), may be maintained on the computer. This module permits you to define multiple individual inventories of seats for an unlimited number of special events. For any venue a seat inventory may be created and maintained for multiple events and reservation records may be saved for historical purposes. An initial inventory of all seats in your facility where events are held may be custom-built into your Event Seating Module. Seats may then be assigned to individuals with provisions made to prevent duplicate assignment. Lists of seat holders, both alphabetical and by seat number, may be generated. Lists of vacant or unassigned seats may also be printed. The system also enables you to print seat tickets via a link file to word processing. Charges for seat reservations may be globally generated and recorded automatically via the built-in link to the Accounts Receivable Module.

FIGURE 4