At ParishSOFT, we understand how busy you are during this final week of Advent. We write simply to wish you a Merry Christmas and to let you know that we're here to help with our year-end survival checklist, new contribution report options, and many Tips, Tricks, and Year-End Processing Essentials teletraining course dates still available for December and January. What better way to ring in the new year than with software tips that will save you time and make you more productive.

1. Update Snowbird Addresses. The Snowbird Update gets the most current information for any families with Other addresses.

From the Family Directory screen, click Utilities > Update Snowbird Mailing Addresses.

2. Find and fix any blank names or address fields in your family data-before you mail any statements. When you use the tools listed below, this audit is quick and easy.
1. Click Reports > ParishSOFT Reports > Click Census Menu > Family Filtering and Sorting.

2. Set Filters to: Registered? = Both and Envelopes? = Both.
3. Click the Show Results button. Your query will display.
4. To find blank Mailing Names, click the Mailing Name column header, then click the Sort Ascending A-Z button to sort address alphabetically. Find and fix any blank Mailing Names in your Family Directory database.

5. To find blank Addresses, click the Address_1 column header, then click the sort Ascending A to Z button. Find and fix any blank Addresses in your database.
6. To find blank ZIP Codes, scroll to the right in your Query window and click the Zip column header, then click the sort Ascending A to Z button. Find and fix any blank ZIP Codes in your database.
3. Give your Funds a quick audit. Click your Add/Edit/Delete Funds button in your Offering & Tuition Module. Are fund names clear and accurate? Are tax deductible and nondeductible funds marked appropriately?
4. Post all tax-deductible contributions received before December 31, 2006 with the correct donation date.
5. Print populated registration forms to send along with your Contribution Statements. Ask your families to review their information and communicate any changes to the parish office. Click ParishSOFT Reports > Census Menu > Other Reports > Family Registration Forms.
6. Create your end-of-year statements. Be sure to get the NEW Contribution Report for all the latest options. Click ParishSOFT Reports > Contribution Reports Menu > EOY Contrib Statement for Families. Click the Key button. Use the new filtering options available with ContribReportsv35_2000 to create and print your statements.
7. Make an archival backup of your data and store it in a secure location with your other financial data for 2006.

• Set the date range you need—you're no longer limited to 12 months
• Choose registered, non-registered, or both
• Choose contributors or non-contributors
• Specify an amount range or report on all contributions
• Include or exclude one or more funds
• Include or exclude one or more workgroups
• Use 2 or 3 column-layout for Detail Statements
• Show pledge information on statements
• Format report header background and font colors
• View Detail or Summary of records selected in Display Results mode for export.

Take the stress out of year-end processing with this NEW class from ParishSOFT. This 3-hour hands-on session covers timesaving tips and tricks and everything you need to know to process year-end smoothly—all in one fast-paced, compact course that makes the most of your time. Here are just a few of the tasks covered:

• Create exactly the contribution reports you need using the NEW formatting options and filters for funds, workgroups, family registration status, and pledges.
• Produce accurate End-of-Year Statements the first time! Learn how to perform simple audits to verify family data, funds, and posting dates.
• Use the new online ParishSOFT Query Library to run customized reports.
• Get answers to the questions most frequently asked by other ParishSOFT users!
• Streamline your work life by learning how to tap into the powerful ParishSOFT tools already on your desktop.
• Learn new Excel and Mail Merge tips & tricks.
• Administrate your system with confidence using ParishSOFT's database maintenance, automatic backups, and more.
• And many other topics - we'll survey your class and present the most requested topics. Everyone will receive comprehensive training materials so that no topic will be missed!