Category: blog

[spacer size=”10″]
We wish you a joyous holiday season, filled with bright moments and quality time spent with loved ones.

Here’s to ringing in a prosperous, healthy, and happy new year!

Portland, ME – TechSoup.org and Idealware.org completed a lengthy study of volunteer management software packages. The methodology they utilized included establishing a committee of specialists who identified the key factors of volunteer management software.

From there they researched more than a dozen different vendors and ultimately conducted detailed interviews of those they felt provided the best potential solutions. Their objective conclusions were published by IdealWare as “The Consumer’s Guide to Volunteer Management Software.”

We are pleased to announce that their study identified our products, eCoordinator and eRecruiter, as the #1 volunteer management system.

Comparison chart of volunteer management systems

You are welcome to download their free guide from this link. You will find the writeup about Samaritan on page 10.

Salt Lake City, UT — Samaritan has relocated its primary, Salt Lake City headquarters on October 15, 2014.  All correspondence and packages should be sent to the new address.  Samaritan’s new address is:

265 East 100 South
Suite 290
Salt Lake City, UT 84111-1641

The new office provides needed additional space and improved infrastructure.

Salt Lake City, Utah — Samaritan is pleased to announce the release tonight for version 7.0 of their #1 rated software. Highlighted new features include the following:

While there are a number of enhancements, the feature most highly anticipated by customers is the HTML-configurable Log Book Entry report, which can be formatted to be used as a name badge report. This can be used to produce temporary paper badges as needed.

Additionally, volunteers may use webcams to take their photos during the registration process via eRecruiter, or during the sign in process via Sign In. These photos may be included on the printable name badges.

In an effort to improve on-site security, volunteers can be flagged as “Blacklisted”. If a blacklisted volunteer attempts to Sign In to a volunteer site, the system can send alert messages to designees. These “Blacklist Alerts” can be sent to any email address, including email addresses assigned to mobile devices.

Finally, for instances when organizations use volunteers as volunteer managers, we now offer the “Promote” feature, which allows eCoordinator users to generate limited-use eCoordinator log ins from volunteer profiles. Filtered through criteria set by administrative eCoordinator users, it is possible to generate additional log ins for your volunteers to use. This feature is available to Enterprise users only.

Samaritan appreciates the diligent work done by our customers and internal teams in designing, implementing and testing these new capabilities. For a comprehensive list of all new features and improvements, please review our Engineering Notes.

Salt Lake City, Utah — Samaritan is pleased to announce the release tonight for version 6.9.9 of their #1 rated software. While there are a number of enhancements, the system has been highly anticipated by customers who need to publish and manage pre-requisites for their service opportunities. Volunteer managers can select pre-requisites from a customizable list and apply these for one or more opportunities they manage. If they network with other programs, offices or projects in their organization the pre-requisites can be shared with them or the system will allow each party to establish their own sets. Volunteers will see the pre-requisites alongside other key information about the opportunity. If they do not meet one or more requirements they will not be able to complete a registration form for that opportunity.

Other new features include interface enhancements when managers set up new data filters, improved reminder emails when volunteers sign-up for schedule slots and the ability to pre-determine how many days in advance our searchable calendars will display upcoming schedules. Volunteer registration forms will more clearly highlight required fields and also pre-format phone numbers so that the data entry experience is more streamlined. When reporting their hours or taking a survey they can now upload photos or other files that help managers better see what occurred off site.

Volunteer managers will benefit from enhancements to our logbook system that now provide calculated averages for selected ranges of hours served by volunteers. This helps to quickly evaluate how much effort is being applied. Managers will also benefit from being able to rapidly sort data by the dates when volunteers were referred and/or placed with their opportunities.

At the request of a number of customers Samaritan has created a new “Archive” capability that allows selected records to stored outside of the main data displays or the Recycle Bin in case they are needed in the future. Hours for archived volunteers are still available in the logbooks.

Finally, security has been further enhanced by allowing System Administrators to pre-set password expiration dates for all types of users, including customer clients. If credentials expire the user is simply prompted to create new ones based on the old so that no contact with administrators is required.

Samaritan appreciates the diligent work done by our customers and internal teams in designing, implementing and testing these new capabilities. For additional information on each feature please review our “Release Notes.”

[spacer size=”10″]
SALT LAKE CITY, UT –  Samaritan recognizes the great value of volunteers who reach out to others during this season. Many of Samaritan’s customers are working hard to mobile volunteers now and throughout the year. We acknowledge their work and thank them for their dedication. We are overjoyed that customers utilize our software to help thousands of families recieve basic services such as food and shelter, not to mention presents under the tree.

Nothing could be more in line with the vision and purpose of Samaritan Technologies. Giving is a part of our name. The classic story of the man who left the comfort and safety of a well traveled road to help a suffering stranger is central to who we are and serves as an inspiration to us as we do our best to “serve those who serve.” During this season we recognize there are many who need the services of the “Good Samaritan” and encourage everyone to engage in an act of service. If you are searching for a way to give back, please visit our clients’ Samaritan created and hosted volunteer pages.