In May this year, Blue Bear Support recorded the Shortest wait-times in the past 12 months! Our phone wait-time averaged seven minutes on the 'How-To' line, and seven and a half minutes on the 'Data Problem/Error' line. If you have reason to call, we hope you'll notice the difference, but we won't stop there!

Your survey responses earlier this year made it clear we needed to make improvements in this area, and we'll continue our efforts to decrease Technical Support wait-times even further by hiring additional summer staff and conducting more internal training sessions.

If you have any feedback on your Technical Support experience, your wait-time, or our new support queues, please email us at Support.BlueBear@activenetwork.com.

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Exciting News! We're delighted to announce the launch of our all-new blog, The Blue Bear Blog. You'll find important updates about all things concerning Blue Bear software, as well as tips, tricks and more, so check back often!

Our first topic is "Volunteers: Help or Hindrance?" We want to know your thoughts about effectively using volunteers (summer activities, fall registration, temporary office staff, etc). Check out our blog today and post a comment to let us know how your school handles volunteers.

Visit The Blue Bear Blog at http://bluebearsoftware.blogspot.com/

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Check out our featured WebStore from Hewes Middle School, home of the Highlanders!

Taylor Middle High School
Oakdale High School
Deltona High School
Amador Valley High School
Fern Ridge Middle School
DeLand High School

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Here's Sherri's WebStore Story:
This has been a long time coming at our school. Parents have been asking to pay by credit card and we are now finally able to offer it to them. I actually got a standing ovation at our last staff meeting for bringing this to our school!

We'll be rolling out our WebStore to our school during our 6th grade orientation this month and then in August for our 7th and 8th grade orientation. Since this is new at our school, getting the word out has been my main focus. Here are some of the things that I've done:

E-mail communication:

1. I emailed the staff/faculty with the WebStore information to inform them about what we will sell, and to let them know the WebStore capabilities for their future planning.
2. I emailed the school and enclosed a newsletter article informing the school about the WebStore and asked for volunteers to train for the school year.
3. Our PTA is collecting emails at Registration by flier and verifying them in person so they can be entered in our WebStore email database for our new weekly email newsletter blast.
4. We're also including a standard blurb about the WebStore on our weekly school bulletin via email.

Mail information:

1. Reminder postcards are being mailed out to students in the summer informing parents to pay online.
2. Our Fall Registration packet, which is sent home with all their paperwork, will be stamped with our school Web site address on the back of the packet emphasizing the online store.
3. The WebStore flyer was included in our fall registration packets that were sent home to all grades.

Announcements:

1. During our Back to School night our principal will be announcing the WebStore to all parents that attend.
2. The school marquee will have information about the WebStore throughout the year.

I know that I'll need to communicate to our parents multiple times in different ways in order for the WebStore to fully flourish. Our school is just abuzz about our WebStore!

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Social media is one of the hottest topics in today's world. From CNN to Oprah, everyone is using social media sites to build awareness, drive interaction and reach people in ways never before possible. Start taking advantage of this cost-effective medium to increase your WebStore's success!

Does your school have a Facebook page or a Twitter account? Does your school's Student Body President or any of your teachers or administrators have Facebook pages or use Twitter?

You can start posting blurbs about your online store on Facebook pages or Twitter to spread awareness to students about your online store, as well as any other announcements or communications you'd like to make! Little posts such as "Check it out...our school has a new online store! Go to www.yourschool.com and click on Webstore" can reach thousands of kids in a matter of seconds.

You can find more helpful hints and tips on my blog, www.webstorewizard.blogspot.com.

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Expertise: Providing technical support for applications in Blue Bear. By connecting with our customers using various tools, I can diagnose and correct their problems.

Just for fun: In my spare time, I enjoy being with my family and loved ones. If I’m not with them, you’ll probably catch me at one of the local golf courses here in sunny San Diego. I also love playing the XBOX360 and working on my computer at home.

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