[SCAW-E-Letter] SCAW E-Letter for December, 2008

[SCAW Webmaster]

Sleeping Children E-Letter for December, 2008
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This month, we wanted to take you back in history, to contrast where
we've been, and where we are today, in terms of our "operations" at 28
Pinehurst.

Up until 1990, the labels you see in the bedkit photos were
hand-printed by volunteers who painstakingly wrote each label using a
black magic marker. In addition, all receipts, correspondence, and
envelopes were hand-written. Then, with the advent of personal
computers, we implemented our first computer system in March of 1990,
which fundamentally changed the way we processed donor information.
We could automatically print bank statements to reconcile cheques, as
well as print receipts, envelopes, and labels from the printer.  This
allowed our donors to more clearly see their label in the photo, and
made it easier for volunteers to match photos to their corresponding
envelope when pictures came back from a bedkit distribution.

Earlier this year, we implemented our 3rd major re-write of the
computer system to keep up with technology advances, which has allowed
us to process an ever-increasing number of donations without having to
dramatically increase the number of volunteers.  From 1990 through
this year, we have printed close to 600,000 labels and 240,000
envelopes!  We have been extremely fortunate to have individuals
donate dollars and equipment over the years specifically for
computers, printers, and networking equipment.
>From no computers before 1990, SCAW now has 7 computers and 3
printers, all connected together to share information within the
office.

As always, we thank you for your interest in Sleeping Children Around
the World, and if you have any ideas for topics to discuss in upcoming
E-Letters, drop us a line at info at scaw.org

Maurice Kowanetz,
Technology Volunteer

Sleeping Children links of interest:
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Our 2009 Calendar, celebrating the year of the millionth bedkit:
<http://scawnews.blogspot.com/2008/11/scaw-2009-calendar.html>
The latest trip report: from last month's Bangladesh distribution:
<http://www.scaw.org/reports/bangladesh/bang08-00.html>
The Shopping Page on our website:
<https://hera.zerowebhosting.net/~scaw/secure/shopping_cart.html>
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     Zero Overhead  <www.scaw.org> One Million Children in 2009
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