News
Ministry Scheduler Pro 6.4: Provide USCCB Readings Online
January 24, 2013
Rotunda Software kicks off 2013 with a new release of their flagship program, Ministry Scheduler Pro, which gives Catholic Readers one-click access to the USCCB’s weekly readings and audio pronunciation guides!
“We love our users, and we really wanted to develop something that would help beyond just simplifying the mechanics of scheduling – something that would help their ministers prepare to share the gift of ministry with the parish,” says David Beck, founder and lead developer at Rotunda Software, of the inspiration for the new feature. “So we reimagined what was possible, and came up with an incredibly easy way for Readers to prepare for and reflect on their important role in the liturgy.” With one simple click, Readers can now view and listen to the readings for an upcoming Mass. Everything they need to be prepared to proclaim is now all in one place.
And that’s not all. MSP 6.4 also adds templates for service planning, which means it’s even easier to create an item by item sequence of events for each service and share it with staff and volunteers. Thanks to the recent enhancements, volunteers now have a one-stop-shop to easily access their schedules, important resources, liturgy and worship plans, and more online. And flying in the face of industry standards, these powerful new features are available at no additional charge to current MSP users! “For a feature this good, it just didn’t make sense to charge for it,” says Beck. “We wanted everyone to benefit!”
For an overview of the latest updates to Ministry Scheduler Pro, visit the What’s New page.
For more information, contact:
Max Garcia
(415) 992-8137
(888) 622-0949
support@rotundasoftware.com
www.rotundasoftware.com
Volunteer Scheduler Pro 4.0: Schedule Online
October 18, 2012
Volunteer schedules are always changing, and with Rotunda Software’s new release of Volunteer Scheduler Pro 4.0, schedulers can now stay up to date and manage their volunteers on the go – even from a smartphone or tablet.
“Our users have long expressed the need for flexibility in making changes to the schedule when they’re out of the office and away from their computers, and we’re so excited to provide that,” says David Beck, founder and lead developer at Rotunda Software. With version 4.0, VSP schedulers and shift leaders will be able to quickly track attendance, add positions, and send last minute email reminders, all from an iPhone or other smart device. “This release is the result of a lot of great feedback from our users, and will make VSP’s web features even more accessible,” says Beck.
In addition to scheduling on the go, VSP 4.0 gives schedulers and volunteers a way to interact online. Schedulers can add notes just for volunteers in particular shifts and jobs, making it easy to get important information just to those volunteers who need it. And volunteers can now post comments and questions on the shifts’ pages, making the volunteering experience all the more engaging. And to top it all off, volunteers can now synchronize their assigned positions with their personal iCal, Outlook, or Google calendar. In the era of smart phones and digital calendars, calendar integration will go a long way in helping volunteers remember when they’re scheduled and further reducing no-shows.
For an overview of all the additions included in the release of 4.0, visit our website. VSP 4.0 is available immediately and is free to all VSP subscribers.
For more information, contact:
Max Garcia
(415) 992-8137
(888) 877-3640
support@rotundasoftware.com
www.rotundasoftware.com
Ministry Scheduler Pro 6.3: Schedule Online
September 28, 2012
At the risk of spoiling Ministry Scheduler Pro users, the new release of MSP v6.3 gives schedulers exactly what they’ve been asking for: allowing ministry leaders to schedule their volunteers online, from anywhere!
“Ministry schedules are dynamic and are always changing, so we’re thrilled to be making it easier than ever for ministry leaders to manage their schedules online,” says David Beck, founder and CEO of Rotunda Software. With version 6.3, schedulers and appointed Ministry Leaders can now add positions, flag no-shows, and fill sub requests from anywhere. “This release answers a simple question: how can we make MSP’s web features even more useful and user friendly for everyone?” says Beck.
Another crowd pleasing feature new in MSP 6.3 is one-click calendar integration. Volunteers can now synch their ministry schedules with their personal calendaring system like Google Calendar, Outlook and iCal. In the era of smart phones and digital calendars, calendar integration will go a long way in helping volunteers remember when they’re scheduled and further reducing no-shows.
For an overview of all the additions included in the release of 6.3, visit our website. MSP 6.3 is available immediately and is free to all licensed MSP users.
For more information, contact:
Max Garcia
(415) 992-8137
(888) 622-0949
Ministry Scheduler Pro 6.2 Released: Liturgy and Worship Planning
June 20, 2012
The release of Ministry Scheduler Pro 6.2 finally provides churches with one integrated solution for ministry scheduling and worship planning. For years, churches had to juggle multiple software systems, each specialized for a different task. But not anymore: A web-based service planner was added on to Rotunda Software's flagship ministry scheduling tool, resulting in unprecedented coordination among schedulers, planners, and volunteers.
"The days of having to decide between purchasing a ministry scheduling tool or a worship planner are over," says David Beck, founder and CEO of Rotunda Software. The new service planner enables churches to plan out their services and post notes, readings, music files, videos, and more for volunteers to access online. Churches now have one, affordable solution designed to handle the complexities of ministry scheduling and capable of planning services. "From media and hospitality teams to Lectors and Extraordinary Ministers, the new service planning features are helping build your ministry in previously unimaginable ways," says Beck.
One of the major advantages of the new release is that volunteers can access all the information they need (readings, music files, videos, instructions) in one central place. And when volunteers view the plan online, they can leave comments, ask questions, and download resources right to their computer.
For an overview of all the additions included in the release of 6.2, visit our website. MSP 6.2 is available immediately and is free to all licensed MSP users.
For more information, contact:
Max Garcia
(415) 992-8137
(888) 622-0949
support@rotundasoftware.com
www.rotundasoftware.com
Volunteer Scheduler Pro 3.6: Get everybody on board
April 16, 2012
Rotunda Software announces the release of Volunteer Scheduler Pro 3.6! The latest release opens the door for large organizations to have one simple solution to scheduling all of their volunteers, making it easier than ever to build community and inspire people in service.
"This update makes it easier for large nonprofits to focus on furthering their mission, rather than on the mechanics of scheduling volunteers," says David Beck, founder and lead developer at Rotunda Software. Large organizations can now put all their volunteers and jobs under one effective scheduling umbrella, making it easy to schedule and stay connected with their volunteers. "We're extremely excited to introduce new features that help nonprofits leverage and increase volunteerism through effective scheduling," says Beck.
One of the new features in VSP 3.6 is Shift Leaders, a whole new way to grant special online privileges to individuals who are in charge of a job or shift. The new release also introduces powerful new tools to help users organize and view individual - or groups of – jobs.
For an overview of all the major additions, visit our website. VSP 3.6 can be downloaded immediately and is free to all VSP subscribers.
For more information, contact:
Max Garcia
(415) 992-8137
(888) 622-0949
support@rotundasoftware.com
www.rotundasoftware.com
Ministry Scheduler Pro 6.1: Get everybody on board
February 17, 2012
Rotunda Software announces the release of Ministry Scheduler Pro 6.1! The latest release opens the door for large churches to have one simple solution to scheduling all their liturgical and worship ministries.
"The days of letting each ministry scheduler fend for themselves and hoping for the best are over," says David Beck, founder and lead developer at Rotunda Software. Large churches now have a solution where they can simply combine all their ministries under one effective scheduling umbrella. "We're thrilled to help churches refocus their staff's attention on ministering to volunteers, rather than scheduling them," says Beck.
In catering specifically to the needs of large churches with multiple locations and ministry areas, Rotunda released the Plus Edition. One of the new features in MSP 6.1 and included in the Plus Edition is Ministry Leaders: a whole new way to grant special privileges to an unlimited number of your leaders to manage just their ministries, or even specific service times. The new release also introduces powerful new tools to help users organize and view individual - or groups of - ministries.
For an overview of all the major additions, visit our website. MSP 6.1 can be downloaded immediately and is free to all MSP subscribers.
For more information, contact:
Max Garcia
(415) 992-8137
(888) 622-0949
support@rotundasoftware.com
www.rotundasoftware.com
Access ACS Activities Now Synchronize With Ministry Scheduler Pro
January 9th, 2012
Integrating with the number one ministry scheduling software on the market just got a lot easier for Access ACS church management software users. The number one request from Access ACS users when synchronizing with Ministry Scheduler Pro was the ability to import activities, and now you can do just that! And the best part is that the new integration is free and available immediately.
What does this improved integration mean for you? It means a simple solution to scheduling ministry is within reach. The new integration will help you get set up with MSP quickly and easily by transferring all your volunteers and ministries over to MSP with a few clicks of the mouse. It also means you have a simple way to keep the databases synchronized. In short, easier data management means easier ministry management.
So how does it work? ACS's API gives users access to their data so they can use it with other programs and create dynamic content on their Web sites. An activity API call was just added to ACS's API, which means you can synchronize right away without having to download or install any updates. To get started with the integration, you'll need to fill out a request form for ACS's API, which can be found in the File menu of MSP under "Synchronize volunteers with..." ACS will provide you with a Site ID and Security ID. Once you have these, there's no further update or installation required - you'll have access to your data! And as an added bonus, your volunteers can log in to MSP's Web Terminal using their same Access ACS usernames and passwords.
For more information, contact:
Max Garcia
(415) 992-8137
(888) 622-0949
support@rotundasoftware.com
www.rotundasoftware.com
Volunteer Scheduler Pro 3.5 Released
September 29, 2011
Rotunda Software released Volunteer Scheduler Pro 3.5 today, completing VSP's transition to an iTunes-like cloud-based model. The new version is built on the Amazon cloud computing grid giving organizations a rock-solid platform upon which to grow. This release signals Rotunda's commitment to serving large organizations that depend on scheduling software to manage their volunteer base.
Volunteer Scheduler Pro 3.5 uses a new cloud server infrastructure designed to last for decades, and will scale up dynamically as an organization grows. By combining the speed and flexibility of traditional installed software with the benefits of web based software, VSP 3.5 will enable volunteer-based organizations to schedule and communicate with their volunteers in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible.
"The organizations we serve are empowering individuals, building communities and improving lives," says David Beck, founder and CEO of Rotunda Software. "We are proud to support their efforts by offering scheduling software built on the best technology available at an affordable price."
Additional features included in Volunteer Scheduler Pro 3.5 are simultaneous, multi-user access, speed gains of up to 50%, increased volunteer privacy options and 50% cheaper text messages. VSP 3.5 can be downloaded immediately and is free to all VSP subscribers.
For more information, contact:
Max Garcia
(415) 992-8137
(888) 622-0949
support@rotundasoftware.com
www.rotundasoftware.com
Ministry Scheduler Pro 6.0 Released
September 1, 2011
With the release of Ministry Scheduler Pro 6.0 last week, Rotunda Software, LLC fully transitioned their flagship scheduling solution to a cloud-based model. Rotunda's upgrade is a bold step into the future of online scheduling by combining the speed and flexibility of traditional installed software with the benefits of web based software, like simultaneous, multi-user access.
The latest release keeps Rotunda at the forefront of technological advancements by moving to an iTunes-like cloud-based model built on the Amazon cloud computing grid. Rotunda's new cloud server infrastructure is designed to last for decades, and will scale up dynamically as an organization grows. By leveraging cutting-edge technology to make the program easily accessible and reliable, Rotunda is signaling its commitment to serving large organizations that depend on scheduling software to manage their volunteer base.
"Christmas came a little early this year," says David Beck, founder and CEO of Rotunda Software. "We're thrilled to offer our clients scheduling software that uses the latest technology available at the same low price."
Additional features included in Ministry Scheduler Pro 6 are speed gains of up to 50%, increased volunteer privacy options and 50% cheaper text messages. MSP 6.0 can be downloaded immediately and is free to all licensed MSP users.
For more information, contact:
Max Garcia
(415) 992-8137
(888) 622-0949
support@rotundasoftware.com
www.rotundasoftware.com
Ministry Scheduler Pro enhances integration with Servant Keeper
May 11, 2011
Rotunda Software, LLC announced today that the new Ministry Scheduler Pro v5.8.1 supports seamless two-way integration with Servant Keeper church management software. The new integration means any changes made in Servant Keeper will immediately be reflected in MSP, and vice versa. Industry trends show that the software of the future will be software that knows how to "play well" with other programs, because better integration directly benefits end users.
"We are delighted to partner with companies like ServantPC and ACS to improve the user experience by building the tight integrations that today's computer users have come to expect," says David Beck, president and CEO of Rotunda Software. "We will continue to look for ways to add value for our clients by partnering with other industry leaders."
ServantPC helps over 20,000 churches with their easy-to-use and affordable church management software. Ministry Scheduler Pro is the leading provider of church volunteer scheduling software.
MSP 5.8.1 can be downloaded starting today and is free to all licensed MSP users.
About Rotunda Software:
Rotunda Software is a San Francisco-based software company with 12 years experience meeting organization's scheduling needs. Rotunda specializes in developing scheduling solutions to empower organizations to more effectively schedule and communicate with their personnel. Rotunda currently works with 1,500 diverse organizations – including churches of all denominations, call centers, health clinics, pharmacies, fire departments, animal shelters, art festivals, soup kitchens, and more.
For more information, contact:
Max Garcia
(415) 992-8137
(888) 622-0949
support@rotundasoftware.com
www.rotundasoftware.com
Growing Liturgical Ministry Participation
By Max Garcia, February 9, 2011
As Catholic parishes across the country look to fill their pews, more and more parishes are looking at a fundamental part of church management to increase attendance: ministry scheduling. By making it easy for parishioners to get involved in ministry and ensuring that everyone gets a fair chance to participate, parishes are noticing the pews fill up as friends and family come to witness and partake in a minister's spiritual growth.
"The biggest benefit [to participating in ministry] is the way people grow in their faith – the closeness to God, and Jesus, and to the community," says Deacon Joe Kest from St. Patrick of Heatherdowns in Toledo, OH. "It gives them a sense of ownership in the parish when they're participating and serving."
The spiritual growth and sense of ownership that Deacon Kest describes are magnets that connect the church community and draw more people into the parish. But making sure that everyone gets a chance to participate and is scheduled fairly at their preferred times can be a logistical nightmare. One product that was designed specifically to help Catholic parishes streamline the scheduling process is Ministry Scheduler Pro.
Jacki Huot uses Ministry Scheduler Pro to schedule the Extraordinary ministers, Altar Servers and Lectors at St. Pius V in Providence, RI. Before using MSP, Jacki had trouble getting people to commit to every week. "The program has been super in that regard," she says. "If someone says, ‘I can only serve if you schedule me the first Sunday of every month at 8:00 AM.' I can say, ‘Yeah, I can do that!'"
Specialized computer algorithms can now automatically create a schedule that accommodates ministers' specific scheduling preferences. In addition, parishes seeking to increase ministry participation look for scheduling software that will eliminate the errors that can result in ministers dropping out (splitting up families, double scheduling and unfair distribution of assignments). MSP helps with all of this and takes it a step further by making the scheduling process interactive, which helps grow participation and eliminate micromanaging your ministers.
"MSP is one very objective metric that accounts for much more people involved in ministry," says Brandon Kraft, program director of the University Catholic Center in Austin, TX. "Beyond having more ministers serving in liturgical positions, it has helped build those community links that get people involved and serving in other ministries."
Using MSP, your ministers can go online to view their personal schedules, request subs and update their availability, which makes ministering easy and drastically reduces the amount of data entry work for schedulers. In addition, MSP automatically sends your ministers an email reminder prior to their scheduled shift, which reminds your ministers of how important their contribution is and alerts them to find a sub if they can't make it.
"I would have had to quit serving at the Cathedral if you did not have such a simple way to get a sub when things change," says Matthew Heffron, a liturgical minister at Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, MN, who is using MSP. It also makes it very easy to indicate availability, check assignments and pick up extra assignments when possible, says Matthew.
Sherry McGwin, a liturgical minister at St. Francis of Assisi in San Antonio, TX, another parish using MSP, is similarly thankful for MSP's online features. "Using the Web Terminal makes me feel more secure in my ability to accomplish my scheduled ministries."
Ministry Scheduler Pro integrates with all Catholic church management programs and is the only system that offers an online portal for liturgical ministers. However, it isn't the only software that caters to the importance of ministry scheduling. Parishes can also look at Labora Ministry Scheduler, PDS Ministry Scheduler, ParishSOFT Time & Talent, and Logos Ministry Scheduler. Most systems offer free trials, and parishes are strongly encouraged to sign up for the free trial of any system they are considering purchasing to make sure it meets all their particular needs.
Rotunda Software announces SMS reminders and PhoneHuddle™ in Ministry Scheduler Pro 5.7
January 13, 2011
San Francisco, CA – Rotunda Software (www.rotundasoftware.com) announced today the immediate availability of text message (SMS) reminders and first-of-its-kind PhoneHuddle™ technology in its Ministry Scheduler Pro software. These new features will make it easier for hundreds of thousands of church volunteers and liturgical ministers to remember the times at which they are scheduled to serve and to quickly communicate with each other while they perform their ministries.
"Text messages are a very powerful and increasingly popular form of communication. Since 2008, American cell phone users have been sending more text messages than they make phone calls," says David Beck, from Rotunda Software. "We expect the benefit of connecting volunteers to the church and each other through text messages to be enormous."
The new SMS reminders feature sends a text message to each volunteer or liturgical minister automatically two hours before they are scheduled to serve, so they'll never forgot that they are scheduled. Additionally, the new PhoneHuddle™ technology allows volunteers and ministers to send group texts to each other while they are performing their ministry by replying to their text message reminder. PhoneHuddle will be especially helpful while performing ministries in which it is essential to be able to quickly communicate over distances (e.g. Greeters and Ushers).
Ministry Scheduler Pro is the leading software for scheduling church volunteers and liturgical ministers and integrates with most major church management programs (including ACS, PDS, ServantKeeper® , ParishSoft® and Logos™). MSP makes it easy to create ministry schedules, remind volunteers of their scheduled dates, and for volunteers to find substitutes online.
Availability and Pricing:
All MSP Online Edition users will have access to the text message reminders and PhoneHuddle™ technology when released on Jan. 13, 2011. There will be a $0.04 charge for each text message sent or received. There are no monthly fees or setup fees for these features, and Rotunda Software will give all MSP users 250 free text messages so they can try out these exciting new features at no cost.
About Rotunda Software:
Rotunda is the leading provider of church volunteer scheduling and liturgical minister scheduling software. Founded in 1998 to help schedule the Altar Servers at a Catholic parish in Lafayette, California, Rotunda currently works with over 1,400 diverse organizations – including churches, call centers, health clinics, pharmacies, fire departments, animal shelters, art festivals, soup kitchens, and more. For more information, please visit www.rotundasoftware.com.
New 5.6 release of Ministry Scheduler Pro better serves all denominations
September 20, 2010
Rotunda Software revamps their scheduling tool to better serve Protestant and non-denominational churches with the latest release of Ministry Scheduler Pro v5.6.
Ministry Scheduler Pro is the leading software for church volunteer scheduling, helping over 1,400 churches schedule volunteers. Email reminders, online substitutions and the ability to enroll online ensure volunteers stay engaged with their congregation in today's modern world.
Ministry Scheduler Pro v5.6's ability to easily set up and manage volunteers scheduled on a fixed rotation -- like every other Sunday or every first Sunday of the month -- caters to the fixed rotational scheduling model used by many Protestant and non-denominational churches in the hospitality, technical, and children's ministries.
Also with this release, Rotunda has redesigned MSP to use more general, non-denomination specific language, to reflect the growing cross section of denominations we serve.
To learn more about Rotunda Software's latest MSP upgrade and download a free trial, visit their Web site www.RotundaSoftware.com or contact them directly at 888.622.0949. Rotunda Software is a San Francisco based software company with 12 years experience meeting organization's scheduling needs. Rotunda specializes in developing scheduling solutions to empower organizations to more effectively schedule and communicate with their personnel. Rotunda currently works with over 1,500 diverse organizations – including churches of all denominations, call centers, health clinics, pharmacies, fire departments, animal shelters, art festivals, soup kitchens, and more.
Joyce Zimmerman, founding editor of Liturgical Ministry magazine, recommends MSP
April 10, 2010
ROTUNDA SOFTWARE RELEASES VOLUNTEER SCHEDULER PRO FOR EVENTS
March 16, 2010
Rotunda Software, a California-based LLC, leveraged their success providing scheduling solutions for non-profit organizations and released Volunteer Scheduler Pro for Events. The scheduling tool is designed specifically to help event schedulers cut costs and frustration while making volunteering easy.
Rotunda Software's decision to develop VSP for Events was based on requests from organizations using their other scheduling products and after a thorough analysis of existing event scheduling software, says David Beck, president and CEO of Rotunda Software. VSP for Events was designed to ease the scheduling process from
VSP for Events really differentiates itself from existing scheduling software when it comes time to finalize the schedule. Instead of having to fill in gaps in the schedule with phone calls or emails, you can use VSP for Events powerful auto-scheduler to fill vacant shifts based on people's availability. Unlike other scheduling tools, VSP for Events allows volunteers to submit their availability upon enrollment and then schedules them at times that work well for them. This unique feature ensure that all shifts get filled optimally while minimizing the work involved.
Feedback from the volunteers using the software is adding to organizations' excitement. Volunteers will receive either a text message or an email reminding them of their upcoming shift. If they can't make it, they can request a sub. If a sub is requested, an email goes out to all volunteers that are qualified to work their shift and not scheduled at that time. Organizations report that not only do volunteers enjoy these features but reminders help reduce no-shows, which is critical to an event running smoothly.
The scheduling tool also promotes constant communication with volunteers through the web. After enrolling online, VSP for Events will automatically send your volunteers a Welcome email with their user name and password and a link to the Web Terminal, a web space designed to facilitate communication with workers. Once volunteers log in they can view their personal schedules, request a sub, sign up for additional shifts, and update their profile information. By providing volunteers with 24-7 access to view and manage their personal schedules, organizations can keep volunteers informed and eliminate the frustration involved with adjusting to last-minute changes with time-consuming phone calls.
To learn more about Rotunda Software's newest product and download a free trial, visit their Web site www.volunteerschedulerpro.com/events/ or contact them directly at 888.877.3640.
ROTUNDA SOFTWARE RELEASES VOLUNTEER SCHEDULER PRO
January 18, 2010
Rotunda Software released Volunteer Scheduler Pro, an automated scheduling tool that implements an effective scheduling cycle designed to help organizations cut costs and frustration while making volunteering easy.
The release was welcomed by non-profits and small-to-medium sized businesses who previously resorted to manual scheduling because they were either priced out of the market with expensive software or forced into overly simplistic online scheduling packages. Volunteer Scheduler Pro is subscription based, which means there are no long contracts, and licenses start at $20 per month. Special pricing for non-profits is meant to empower organizations to tap into the benefits of effectively scheduling their volunteers.
“Organizations effectively scheduling their personnel are able to cut costs and they have a big advantage when it comes to retaining workers and promoting the mission of the organization,” says David Beck, president and CEO of Rotunda Software. “After speaking with organizations and analyzing the total cost of administrative resources dedicated to scheduling and organizing personnel, I was shocked.”
Volunteer Scheduler Pro is unique in that the software includes an auto-scheduler that fills shifts automatically based on people's availability. The software includes a web space where volunteers can go to update their availability online. This allows workers to view and manage their schedules from work, home or even from their mobile devices. By efficiently collecting availability online and optimally filling shifts, organizations can cut costs and maximize their volunteers willingness to serve.
Volunteers will also receive email and text message reminders and can find a sub or trade shifts online simply by clicking a button. The result is a reduction in no-shows. The scheduling tool also includes an email function that allows administrators to quickly send personalized emails to all volunteers or just those meeting certain criteria.
To learn more about Rotunda Software's newest product and download a free trial, visit their Web site www.volunteerschedulerpro.com or contact them directly at 888.877.3640.
About Rotunda Software:
Rotunda Software is a San Francisco-based software company with 12 years experience meeting organization's scheduling needs. Rotunda specializes in developing scheduling solutions to empower organizations to more effectively schedule and communicate with their personnel. Rotunda currently works with 1,500 diverse organizations – including churches of all denominations, call centers, health clinics, pharmacies, fire departments, animal shelters, art festivals, soup kitchens, and more.
For more information, contact:
Max Garcia
(415) 992-8137
(888) 622-0949
support@rotundasoftware.com
www.rotundasoftware.com