Communicate En Masse Via Text, Email Or Mail

SeekerWorks.NET™ empowers you to quickly send SMS Texts to all or selected cell phones, and receive texts as well. If you'd rather, send mass emails to all or selected email addresses, or print labels and use 'mail-merge' printing with Microsoft Word to print personalized letters newsletters or special correspondance:

Text all or selected cell phones… (skip ahead, if desired):

The (Texting) menu option, which is on the 'People' menu, is used when you want to send SMS Texts to all or selected cell phone numbers.

The "Texting" screen is a scratch-pad table in which each user can load cell phone numbers for all or selected people:

Use the (Clear Texting List) button to reset your Texting list when you want to start fresh. Then, choose one of the buttons on the right to load cell phone numbers for people based upon your requirements. The filters "Gender", "Exclude Inactive Names" and "Exclude Visitors" apply to whatever button you choose as well.

For example, if you choose the (Load Age Group) button, then choose " - (All)" Age Group, all names who have a cell phone number are loaded to the Texting list. Use the (Load Selected Names) button to choose each name when one of the other options doesn't fit your needs (see below). Use the (garbage can) button to remove a name from the list. Then, use the (Send Texts) button to fill in the text of the message you want to send. See the "Send Pending Texts" screen below.
The "Select Names To Text" screen is used to choose names with Cell Phone numbers:

Click or touch a name on the left to link the name to the Texting list. Click or touch (Done) when you've finished selecting all of the names. The previous screen will then re-appear.
The "Send Pending Texts" screen is used to type in the Message Text:

Since SMS texts are generally limited to 160 characters each, the number of characters left before the text is too long appears below the Message Text box. Click or touch (Send) when you are ready to send the text to the Cell Phone numbers selected above.
The "Send Progress" screen appears next:

This screen shows you each cell phone number to which the text is being sent. Click or touch the (Continue) button at the bottom when all texts have been sent.
The "History" screen shows a list of all texts sent or received:

Use the (eyeball) button to Review a text message.
The "Review" screen shows the contents of the Text:

The Twilio Message Status shows whether the message has been received yet. In this example, "Queued" means it is waiting to send the text to the carrier, which is expected using a phone number with test credentials (in this example).
The "Twilio Settings For Texting" screen is used to provide the Twilio account information along with your unique Texting phone number.

Texting will not work unless you create a Twilio account, which also makes receiving texts possible. The received texts appear on the Text History screen as well as with the 'My Messages' option on the 'Manage' menu for the primary user(s). Twilio provides a pay-as-you-go monthly charge for the 'from' phone number, currently $1.15 per month, and a charge per text of $0.0079 (less than a penny each) in the US. However, always check with Twilio for current pricing (https://www.twilio.com/sms/pricing/us). In our experience, the texts are generally received after a few seconds.

Email to all or selected email addresses… (skip ahead, if desired):

The (Email) menu option, which is on the 'People' menu, is used when you want to send emails to all or selected email addresses.

The "List Of People To Email" screen is a scratch-pad table in which each user can load email addresses for all or selected people:

Use the (Clear Email List File) button to reset your Email list when you want to start fresh. Then, choose one of the buttons on the right to load email addresses for people based upon your requirements. The filters "Gender", "Exclude Inactive Names" and "Exclude Visitors" apply to whatever button you choose as well.

For example, if you choose the (Load Age Group) button, then choose " - (All)" Age Group, all names who have a email address are loaded to the Email list. Use the (Load Selected Names) button to choose each name when one of the other options doesn't fit your needs (see below). Use the (garbage can) button to remove a name from the list. Then, use the (Send An Email) button to fill in the text of the message you want to send. See the "Send An Email" screen below.
The "Select Names For An Email" screen is used to choose names with Email addresses:

Click or touch a name on the left to link the name to the Email list. Click or touch (Done) when you've finished selecting all of the names. The previous screen will then re-appear.
The "Send An Email" screen is used to type in the Subject and the message Text:

Notice that you can also attach a file to the email, if desired. This can be used for newsletters, or audio recordings, or whatever else you want to attach. Also, the Email list has been loaded into the BCC: box (blind-carbon-copy), to show you all of the email addresses selected. When the emails are actually sent, an email is sent to each email address separately, using the 'To:' email property. Click or touch (Send) when you are ready to send the email to the Email addresses selected above.
The "Send Progress" screen appears next:

This screen shows you each email address to which the email is being sent. Click or touch the (Continue) button at the bottom when all emails have been sent.
The "List Of Emails Sent (History)" screen shows a list of all emails sent:

Use the (eyeball) button to Review an email message.
The "Review An Email" screen shows the contents of the Email:

This screen also shows an attachment, if part of the email, and the person's Name Information, not just the email address.

Email New Follow-Ups (Ticklers)… (skip ahead, if desired):

The (Email) menu option, which is on the 'People' menu, is also used when you want to send emails to anyone with a new Follow-Up (Tickler). However, you'll also need to click or touch the (Email New Follow Ups) sub-menu button to get to the following screen.

The "Email New Follow Ups" screen appears:

As it says, this screen will email all NEW Follow Ups (Ticklers) to any users with an email address defined with the (User Security) function. Click or touch (Send) to continue.

However, if you have one or more users who have not been given security to SeekerWorks.NET™, you'll need to set them up with the (Security) menu option on the 'Settings' menu. Ideally, they could first create a local account or use one of the external log in providers to create an account. Then the information you would need to enter fills in from the Log In table automatically when you type the email address they're using to Log In. Also, if you want to send New Follow Ups (Ticklers) via email, remember to check the 'Send Follow Ups (Ticklers) Via Email' checkbox on the "Edit A User-ID's Security" screen.
The "Send Progress" screen appears next:

This screen shows you each email address to which the email is being sent. Click or touch the (Continue) button at the bottom when all emails have been sent.
The "List Of Emails Sent (History)" screen shows a list of all emails sent:

Use the (eyeball) button to Review an email message.
The "Review An Email" screen shows the contents of the Email:

This screen shows the tickler information and the Step that should be performed, and the Name/Address Information of the person linked to the tickler.

Email Prayer Requests… (skip ahead, if desired):

The (Email) menu option, which is on the 'People' menu, is also used when you want to send Prayer Requests to the prayer chain's distribution list group. However, you'll also need to click or touch the (Email Prayer Requests) sub-menu button to get to the following screen.

The "Email Prayer Requests" screen appears:

This screen will email all Active, Non-Confidential Prayer Requests to any users with an email address defined on the prayer chain's distribution list group. Select the 'Active Prayer Requests Within:' option and provide From and Thru dates if you want a smaller list. Click or touch (Send) to continue.

However, if you have not yet set up the prayer chain's distribution list, you'll need to first create it using the (Distribution Lists) menu option on the 'People' menu, and link all of the prayer warriors to it. Then, you'll need to link that distribution list to the 'Prayer Distribution List' value on the "Modify General Information For Your Organization" screen, {SMTP Settings} tab, using the (General) menu option on the 'Settings' menu.
The "Send Progress" screen appears next:

This screen shows you each email address to which the email is being sent. Click or touch the (Continue) button at the bottom when all emails have been sent.
The "List Of Emails Sent (History)" screen shows a list of all emails sent:

Use the (eyeball) button to Review an email message.
The "Review An Email" screen shows the contents of the Email:

This screen shows each of the Prayer Requests grouped by Prayer Request Type, who they're from, the date/time they were created and the REQUEST. When a prayer request receives an ANSWER from God, the answer text would appear below the request's text.

Email Reminders to scheduled volunteers… (skip ahead, if desired):

The (Email) menu option, which is on the 'People' menu, is also used when you want to send Reminders to anyone scheduled to volunteer within the next 7 days. However, you'll also need to click or touch the (Email Vol. Reminders) sub-menu button to get to the following screen.

The "Email Reminders To Scheduled Volunteers" screen appears:

This screen is used to select one Ministry Team, or " - (All)" and one Attendance Type, or " - (All)". The Email merge logic contains the following replaceable parameters:
- «volunteer_name» - is replaced with the name of the volunteer
- «team_name» - is replaced with the scheduled Ministry Team name
- «position_name» - is replaced with the scheduled Ministry Position name
- «ministry_name» - is replaced with the scheduled Ministry name
- «attendance_type» - is replaced with the scheduled Attendance Type name
- «time» - is replaced with the time the Attendance Type begins
- «day» - is replaced with the scheduled weekday name
- «date» - is replaced with the scheduled date
- «minutes» - is replaced with the number of minutes from the screen above
You can adjust the email content if you like, then click or touch (Send) to continue.
The "Send Progress" screen appears next:

This screen shows you each email address to which the email is being sent. Click or touch the (Continue) button at the bottom when all emails have been sent.
The "List Of Emails Sent (History)" screen shows a list of all emails sent:

Use the (eyeball) button to Review an email message.
The "Review An Email" screen shows the contents of the Email:

This screen shows the Email Content from the screen above showing all of the parameters replaced with the volunteer's information.

Print all or selected labels… (skip ahead, if desired):

The (Labels) menu option, which is on the 'People' menu, is used when you want to print mailing labels for all or selected people.

The "List Of Labels- Names/Addresses" screen is a scratch-pad table in which each user can load label information for all or selected people:

Use the (Clear Labels File) button to reset your Labels list when you want to start fresh. Then, choose one of the buttons on the right to load mailing addresses for people based upon your requirements. The filters "Gender", "Exclude Inactive Names", "Exclude Visitors", "Exclude Names w/Email" and "Use Titles Also (Formal)" apply to whatever button you choose as well.

For example, if you choose the (Load Age Group) button, then choose " - (All)" Age Group, all mailing addresses are loaded to the Labels list. Use the (Load Selected Names) button to choose each name when one of the other options doesn't fit your needs (see below). Use the (garbage can) button to remove a name from the list. Then, use the (View/Print Labels) button to print labels.
The "Select Names For Labels" screen is used to choose names or Households one at a time:

Click or touch a name on the left to link the name to the Labels list. Click or touch (Done) when you've finished selecting all of the names. The previous screen will then re-appear.
When you click or touch the (View/Print Labels) button, a modal popup appears:

Use this window to choose whether you want to print each label on a DYMO Printer, or a laser printer using 3x10 sheets of mailing labels. The Avery 5160 Mailing Labels should fit the labels you want to print. If the first sheet has some of its labels already removed (e.g., previously printed labels), use the "Start Printing With Row" and "Column" values to indicate where the unused labels begin on the page. Rows are left-to-right and columns are top-to-bottom. So, if your sheet is missing labels for the first 3 rows, as well as the left-most label on row 4, fill in Row 4, Column 2 to indicate that printing should start with the second and third labels on the fourth row, as well as the rows below it.

Mail Merge for all or selected people…

The (Mail Merge) menu option, which is on the 'People' menu, is used when you want to use 'mail-merge' printing with Microsoft Word to print personalized letters.

The "List Of Mail Merge Rows- Names/Addresses" screen is a scratch-pad table in which each user can load mail merge information for all or selected people:

Use the (Clear Mail Merge File) button to reset your Mail Merge list when you want to start fresh. Then, choose one of the buttons on the right to load mailing addresses for people based upon your requirements. The filters "Gender", "Exclude Inactive Names", and "Exclude Visitors" apply to whatever button you choose as well.

For example, if you choose the (Load Age Group) button, then choose " - (All)" Age Group, all mailing addresses are loaded to the Mail Merge list. Use the (Load Selected Names) button to choose each name when one of the other options doesn't fit your needs (see below). Use the (garbage can) button to remove a name from the list. Then, use the (Export) button to download the Mail Merge file.
The Select Names - Mail Merge screen is used to choose names or Households one at a time:

Click or touch a name on the left to link the name to the Mail Merge list. Click or touch (Done) when you've finished selecting all of the names. The previous screen will then re-appear.
The "List Of Mail Merge Rows- Names/Addresses" screen:

This screen shows an example of clicking/touching the (Export) button. You can see the downloaded file name at the bottom of the screen.
The downloaded data shown in Excel:

When you open the file in Excel, you can see all of the columns containing various data properties and rows of data for each of the names you selected. But, I know you want to set up a mail-merge document in Word instead. To do so, open Word using a blank document, select the (Mailings) tab, then click on (Start Mail Merge), then (Step-by-Step Mail Merge Wizard). Walk through the steps provided, using the downloaded list to select your recipients and other Merge Fields from the list.