Don't miss Sarah Marshall's presentation at ICON'S August 16th meeting! She will be unveiling our online "Help Forum," showing us how it works and helping us get started using it.

This long awaited feature of ICON'S web site allows members to talk to one another about problems we are having and get answers to our questions when a meeting is two weeks away or even if we are out of town or out of state. Think of it as the modern equivalent of the help line in the printed newsletter.

We will have a live demonstration so everyone can see just how easy and helpful this technology is. For example:

• I have a question about my Windows operating system.
• I log on to the Internet, go to ICON'S web site, and click to ICON'S Help Forums.
• Next, I do a keyword search for the topic I'm having trouble with.
• If I don't find an answer to my problem in the archives, I simply log in and post my question to the forum.
• When one of the other members sees my question, they can post the answer.

This is a really cool way to share information. I didn't have to bother someone with a telephone call and my questions go out to several people. If one person doesn't know the answer, or isn't available right away, somebody else will. The forum is available any time of day or night. (You may not get answers in the middle of the night). I didn't have to ask my question in front of everyone else so I won't be embarrassed, but everyone benefits because when someone else has the same problem, the answer is already available. This is one of the most efficient ways to handle a "help desk" type of service.

Come on out to the August meeting and see this amazing technology in action.