Winter Has Arrived,

Welcome to the RDS Advantage Weblog.  Here is the place where you can share with other churches the innovative ways you have found to improve the ministries of your church.  We will also use this site to give you a quick update about RDS Advantage news and features added to the system.  This weblog also gives non-users of the system an opportunity to ask questions and read your responses. Please enjoy ... this is for you!

• Benevolence System: We are developing a comprehensive benevolence system to assist in tracking requests received and aid provided for help with food, clothing, housing, utilities, cash, etc.  We asked users to tell us if this is something that would be helpful and asked for suggestions for helpful features.  Great ideas for features have been received that will help us with the design.  If you haven't responded, use this blog to contact us with your thoughts.  A blog is included should you wish to comment.  "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." - Matt. 25:40.

•  Year End Procedures:   Each year we receive calls asking about what is needed to close one year and begin the next.  The November and December newsletters contain detailed help and you can download instructions from the Client Login website, or just click on FAQ.  A blog is included should you wish to comment.

• Security for Accounting:  The December newsletter features Security for Accounting.  Churches tend to be more trusting than they should be, and often fail to observe good controls to protect themselves and personnel.  Included in this newsletter is a list of 10 functions you can implement to assure secure handling of the church's revenues and expenses. You can also download and view or print the newsletter issue by clicking on: RDS Advantage newsletter-December.  A blog is included should you wish to comment.

• Remote Deposit Banking:   Version 9.14.11 includes the ability to enter contribution and receivables checks in RDS Accounting and send the check deposit to your bank electronically.  This is a very new technology and all banks have not yet begun to support this feature.  Many banks will provide a check imager for you to scan checks and send for deposit, but you must still do the accounting data entry.  This RDS Advantage feature combines data entry and depositing in one process.  These new imagers are available from RDS Advantage.  Ask your bank if they support "Remote Deposit Capture." Inform RDS of the ANSI standard used by your bank. Read more about this in the RDS Advantage newsletter-September.  A blog is included should you wish to comment.

• Archive Last Years's Data:   Because RDS Advantage is a multi-enterprise system, you can archive and access your entire database for each year.  Archiving at the end of the year assures you of having previous year's data at your fingertips.  A blog is included should you wish to comment.

Dick Webber