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Working in technology, we have seen quite a few mishaps resulting in a good laptop being reduced to nothing more than a really expensive paperweight. The laptops we recommend are tough: they are able to take a physical beating due to their vibration and dust mil spec ratings, and the keyboard is designed to drain water through to the bottom, around the system board (please don't test that feature) but certain things will compromise the life of even the toughest laptops. Here are a few tips to help you maximize the life of your laptop:
Give it a boot
Have you ever wondered why tech support people always ask if you've tried restarting your computer? Actually, a lot of errors and issues can be solved by simply rebooting the laptop. In a perfect world, everyone would restart their computer every day. Aim for restarting at least three times per week to optimize performance and reduce issues.
Don't lunch on your laptop
Even if you are careful, eating and drinking near your laptop can result in crumbs or sticky drinks wreaking havoc. While water will flow through the X1 Carbon keyboards without damaging the laptop, any dirt or grime on the keyboard could be moved by the water into the keyboard, and cause sticky keys. I spilled a large McDonalds coffee on my previous laptop, and the laptop worked flawlessly for 3 more years. However, sugary drinks (or a coffee with cream or sugar) can cause the keyboard to stick and debris on the keyboard can be pushed into the laptop by a spilled beverage.
No smoking
Smoking near the laptop can create build up inside the system board prohibiting peak performance. Also, the computer will carry the smoke, tar and odor to wherever it's used.
Your laptop doesn't like your lap
The name laptop is misleading because using it on your lap could actually damage the machine. The powerful processors generate an enormous amount of heat making placing your laptop on your lap uncomfortable for you and dangerous for the machine. Many laptops have vents on the bottom so using them on a soft surface can block the vents and cause lasting heat damage. We have had several clients ask us to troubleshoot the heat generated by their laptop as it's not uncommon for internal temperature to reach 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Using a laptop stand will help make sure the airflow around your machine is sufficient to keep it from overheating.
Stick It (or don't)!
A sticker on a laptop is like a tattoo and should be considered permanent-apply them with caution and plan on keeping the sticker forever. The special rubber coating on Lenovo laptops could be damaged by removing stickers leaving you with two bad options: live with the ugly sticker or live with a laptop that may look worse due to a damaged finish.
It's in the bag
If you take your laptop from home to work or anywhere, make sure you have a decent laptop bag, Buy one that is padded at a minimum and a floating laptop sling is even better. Also look for a waterproof or water resistant bag for added protection.
Some like it hot-but your laptop doesn't
Extreme heat or cold can cause damage and will cause premature failure of the battery so don't leave your laptop in a car or anywhere with extreme temperatures.
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We would like to customize our future iMIS trainings to the topics that are most relevant and important to you. Please reply to the short survey below so we can get your input.
SURVEY LINK |
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| Member Engagement Happens Here |
Hi! We’re Higher Logic, the industry-leading, human-focused engagement platform, delivering powerful online communities and communication tools to help you engage your members at every stage of their journey. Our powerful integrations with many association management systems, including a pre-built integration with iMIS, power a personalized and easy-to-manage community and email experience.
We know that year-round member engagement is essential for renewals. Personalized, relevant communication from you, paired with an easy way for members to engage with each other whenever they want in a branded online community – is the foundation for that member engagement. Try these 7 Rewarding, Easy-to-Implement Ways to Engage Your Member Base to cut through the noise and reach your members.
Higher Logic has an engagement solution that works for your needs. Whether you’re just starting and aren’t sure where to begin or you’ve been doing this for years and know exactly what you need, Higher Logic has a solution to meet your specific needs along your journey.
To learn about more of our partners click HERE |
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| Association Forum 2021 Honors Award Recipient |
| Congratulations to Jay Carino, Vice President of Member Services at Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals on being awarded the John C. Thiel Distinguished Service Award. The award is presented for outstanding service to Association Forum. This award has been presented for exceptional, long-term, volunteer service to Association Forum, primarily through committee service or similar contributions. “Unsung hero” or “above and beyond the call of duty” are two ways to describe the recipients. |
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| Association Forum 2021 Honors Award |
| Congratulations to American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation for earning The Welcoming Environment Organizational Award. This is awarded to an association that has demonstrated exemplary outcomes in providing an inclusive and welcoming environment and culture. |
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Matt went to NIU (Go Huskies) originally thinking he wanted to be an electrical engineer and quickly realized that wasn't his calling. He considered accounting but wasn't enjoying the business track so decided on computer science because he enjoyed writing algorithms and pattern recognition. He graduated in 2014 with a degree in computer science and interned with CDW for a summer. Upon graduation he had a 3 month contract with CDW and was then offered a full time position at Sears. He worked there for two years and managed to avoid the mass layoffs going on at Sears at that time. Matt found AT on LinkedIn and is one of the few AT team members that didn't know anyone here when he interviewed although he was introduced to the whole team during the interview and instantly became part of the AT family. Being a team player, he stayed at Sears thru the end of the year and then moved into the app consultant position in January, 2018. Matt started working at 15 and has always enjoyed customer service, he enjoys being able to interface with clients and focus on solving their problems. He is good at not taking things personally and doesn't get flustered when someone else is upset. He enjoys working with iMIS because it isn't a perfect application and he likes to find work arounds and build customized solutions. His favorite service tickets are the mystery tickets when he has to figure out why something happened because he loves solving the mystery. Matt got more than a degree at NIU-he met his wife, Mandi in the dorms (she was his RA) and they were married in 2014. Matt enjoys spending time with his family, his twin daughters Charlotte and Cynthia were born April 30, 2016 and Henry was born September 7, 2018. The family moved into their home on the far west side of St. Charles one year ago and stay busy working on house projects. The kids favorite thing to do is to go their grandparents farm to see the horse, dog and cat.
And now a few questions to get to know a little more about Matt:
Three fun facts about Matt:
- His twin girls are MoMo twins (identical twins sharing the same amniotic sac) which is extremely rare but also very high risk- he worked from the hospital with his wife for two months before they were born and then the twins were in the NICU for another two months.
- Matt was a gymnast in high school and placed 5th in State in the parallel bars. He used to do backflips at parties.
- The twins, Charlotte and Cynthia are both named after their great grandmothers
If he wasn't working at AT he would be: He loves Chipotle, so he would work there for the discount and endless chicken burritos.
Favorite TV Show: He was just introduced to Survivor and absolutely loves it.
What is his most memorable moment at AT: Two months into his career he went to the NiUG conference. They had an 80's night so everyone at AT helped him put together a costume. He was picked to act in their murder mystery playing Slick Douglas which was slightly embarrassing but very memorable. He is sometimes still referred to as 'Slick'.
Favorite vacation:
His first favorite was a trip to Jamaica at 18 with his brother, sisters and parents but he recently took a family vacation with his wife and kids to Door County which has become his favorite vacation.
Photos: Matt, Mandi, Charlotte, Cynthia and Henry
To learn more about the rest of our team click HERE |
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| Tools To Raise Your Note-Taking To The Next Level |
Whether it’s a tablet, a laptop, or a microphone, there are lots of technologies to leverage for better note-taking. Association pros share a few of their preferred tactics.
Read More |
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| Six Essential Tools For Your Remote Toolkit |
Even having been at it for a while, you may not know all the tools and hacks that can make virtual work a little simpler. Here are a few ideas to bolster your remote toolkit.
Read More |
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We have an extensive archive of industry related articles
available on our website, click HERE to access them.
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| High Road Solutions Lead vs Demand Generation |
Location:Virtual
There’s a tendency to use these two terms interchangeably, yet they are unique tactics that stand on their own when it comes to the buyer journey. Join us as we break down the differences between both processes, and the strategy and technology that fuels both efforts and learn how to identify what association marketers need to focus on. |
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| MAY |
| 18-20 |
| 8:00AM-5:00PM CT |
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| 2021 NiUG iMIS User & Community Virtual Summit |
Location: Virtual
NEW year, and an all NEW layout for our Spring event! NiUG introduces a "segmented learning" approach to the entire iMIS Community. We are offering an entire day of training in the following areas:
- Events
- Finance
- Membership
- IT/Technical
- Advanced Technical
- Moving to iMIS 2020 (helping you to plan your move with ease)
- Cloud Only (for those already on iMIS 2020 or iMIS Professional (20-100/200) |
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| MAY |
| 24 & 25 |
| 9:00AM - 12:00PM CDT |
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| Association Forum - Association 101 |
Location: Virtual
An orientation for association professionals, Association 101 is designed to provide a solid foundation of knowledge and appreciation for the unique environment, culture and dynamics of associations. |
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| asae Marketing, Membership & Communications Conference |
Location: Virtual
Attend the Marketing, Membership & Communications Conference (MMCC) to learn the smartest communication strategies and latest technology tools to engage your members and drive results for your organization. Leverage what you learn from education sessions, solution providers in the exhibit hall, and fellow attendees to boost your effectiveness and help your association reach its goals. |
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| NiUG Discovery Conference |
Location: Arlington, VA
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