Getting Started on the Community Site
We are really excited about the opportunities that our ‘new’ Community Site brings to our members: better engagement, collaboration and innovation!
We recognise that this is a big change for our Community, so we have provided a few tips, tricks and best practices for you below. If you have any questions, or would like more detailed instruction on making the most of your membership and collaborating with members, please contact us.
On this page, you will find:
- Accessing the Member Portal & A4L Community for the first time
- Navigating the A4L Community Site and getting involved!
- An overview of A4L Community Project Teams and Committees
- Finding / Joining a Group
- Adding Colleagues / Users to your organization profile
- Adding a Google Calendar subscription to Outlook
Accessing the Member Portal & A4L Community Site for the first time
To login, you will first need to set up your password. Click here to update your password.
Once updated, you can login here, using your username (your email address) and new password. While you are logged in, please ‘View My Profile’ in the member portal and ensure your information is up-to-date.
Navigating the A4L Community Site and getting involved!
Here is an overview of the site & group pages as you are getting to grips with the new A4L Community Site and collaboration area….
My Groups
This is where you will find a complete list of all the A4L Community Leadership Groups, Committees & Project Teams (‘groups’) that you are currently a member of.
Just click on any group name to access the group page.
Community Groups
This is where you will find a complete list of all active A4L Community Committees & Project Teams (‘groups’).
You can click on any group name to access the group page (as long as there are no restrictions).
Once you have selected your group page, you will see the following information:
At the top you will see the name of the Committee or Project Team.
Underneath you will see a brief overview of the group charter (i.e. the purpose of the group and what they are hoping to achieve).
Followed by…
Links
JOIN Group / ListServ: If you are interested in participating in this group, just click this button to submit your request to join. Once we have received your request we will assign the relevant permissions to you.
Once you have the correct permissions, you will be able to:
Participate in the group listserv, which will enable you to keep track of the conversation directly to your inbox! (See Group Feed section below)
VIEW Group folder: The group folder contains meeting notes and any relevant documentation that they are working on.
SUBSCRIBE to group calendar: Add the group meetings to your calendar. This subscription will also keep you up to date on any changes or rescheduling without you having to lift a finger! If you use Outlook, we have included information on how to add these Google calendars (see below).
Community: home page takes you back to the home page to select another group.
Member Portal: This takes to you the Member Portal so you can update your profile or make changes where necessary.
Group Lead
This is where you will find the name(s) of the group Chair/Co-Chair.
You can email them directly if you have any specific group-related questions or requests to add agenda items.
Staff Support
This is where you will find the name(s) of A4L Staff who are supporting this group.
You can email them directly if you have any specific group-related questions or requests to add agenda items.
Group Feed
This is where you will find a full transcript of any communications made via the group Listserv (e-list).
The Listserv tool allows you to distribute messages to all of the group members with a single email, using the group email address.
Group Meetings
This is where you will find a list of all schedule meetings for this group.
To add any meeting to your calendar, please click on the ‘SUBSCRIBE to Group calendar’ button on the left-hand side of the page.
Call Schedule
This is where you will find call schedule for this group.
To add the meetings to your calendar, please click on the ‘SUBSCRIBE to Group calendar’ button on the left-hand side of the page.
An overview of the A4L Project Teams and Committees
You can find an overview for each Project Team, Committee and/or Leadership Group from their respective group pages.
We have also condensed this information into one document (A Guide to A4L Community Project Teams) for your reference.
How to Add Colleagues to your Organization profile
‘Key Contacts’ have the ability to edit all user profiles for their organization. If you do not have the option to edit other profiles from YOUR profile, then you have not been designated as a Key Contact. To add a colleague, just simply complete/submit this form.
(Key Contacts are specific linked profile(s) who are viewed as the organization’s manager. An organization may have one Key Contact, or all of the Linked Profiles may be designated as Key Contacts.)
The Key Contact(s) can:
- Pay membership dues, event & store order invoices on behalf of the organization
- Edit and update the organization’s profile they are linked to
- Edit and update other profiles linked to their organization
- Register other Linked Profiles (organization contacts) for events.
Adding a Google Calendar Subscription to Outlook
To add a Google Calendar to your desktop Outlook, follow these steps:
- Get the Google Calendar iCal Link:
Copy the ‘Secret iCal Address’ link from the group page.
(Please note: If you do not see this link, then you will need to join the group to see full information)
- Add Google Calendar to Outlook:
Open Outlook on your desktop. Click on the File tab at the top left corner.
Choose Account Settings and then select Account Settings again. In the window that opens, go to the Internet Calendars tab.
Click New and paste the iCal link from step 1 into the field.
Click Add, give the calendar a name, and click OK.
- View Google Calendar in Outlook:
Your Google Calendar should now be synced with Outlook, and it will appear under Other Calendars in your desktop Outlook.
This will subscribe to the Google Calendar, meaning it will update periodically when changes are made, but you won’t be able to modify events directly from Outlook.
To add a Google Calendar to Outlook on the web, follow these steps:
- Get the Google Calendar iCal Link:
Copy the ‘Secret iCal Address’ link from the group page.
(Please note: If you do not see this link, then you will need to join the group to see full information)
- Add Google Calendar to Outlook:
Login to Outlook on the web. Choose ‘Add Calendar‘.
Choose ‘Subscribe from web‘
Paste the Secret iCal Address (URL for your calendar) where indicated.
- View Google Calendar in Outlook:
Your Google Calendar should now be synced with Outlook, and it will appear under Other Calendars in your Outlook on the web.
This will subscribe to the Google Calendar, meaning it will update periodically when changes are made, but you won’t be able to modify events directly from Outlook.