Posted 3/15/2012
By Angie Kilbourne, AAM

ASA Web Ways

Download your new ASA logo at ASAshop.org

ASA’s recently redesigned logo is available free of charge to all members through the ASAshop.org website. Members can log in and download new copies through the Members Only section or the ASA Members Community. Specialized logos specifically for member-shops and associate members also are available.

Web Wise: Track Those Issues!

It’s an election year, which means there’s plenty of talk about policies, budgets, bills and, ultimately, politics. But how do you keep up with the issues that affect you, your family, your business, your employees and your customers? ASA, through its legislative website – TakingTheHill.com – can help you keep track of all that’s happening at the federal, state and local levels of government.

MegaVote
Track your senators’ and representatives’ votes in Congress easily by signing up for a free MegaVote account. Each week that Congress is in session, you’ll receive an email that contains:

• Key votes made by your two senators and your congressional representatives.
• Links to send an email message to your members of Congress.
• A look at the upcoming votes, giving you the chance to offer input to your legislators. Sign-up is simple: Visit www.capwiz.com/asashop/megavote/ and enter your ZIP code or state and your email address.

Contact Congress (and more)
The “Contact Congress” feature provides visitors with the ability to locate and contact their federal and state legislators by simply entering a ZIP code. No account is needed.

Links for writing a message to one or more legislators are available on the results page showing your representatives. In addition, you can review recent votes by your congressional legislators.

Finally, you can get more information about each legislator by clicking the linked name, including information on committee seats, staff, bill sponsorship and political action committee (PAC) contributions made to the legislator’s campaign.

Capitol Hill Basics, Tips
Understanding the basics of the legislative process is one of the most important aspects of communicating with your legislators. Before writing, emailing or telephoning your elected representative, it’s important to understand the protocols and processes.

The TakingTheHill.com website provides an entire section as a reference for anyone wishing to communicate with their legislators. This section provides basic information and tips on communicating with elected representatives, roles of common staff members and a brief explanation of the legislative process. Staying current on the latest issues doesn’t have to be a headache. Spend some time on TakingThe Hill.com, and you’ll learn just how valuable this tool can be to you and your business.

Tech Tools: Backup Your Website

What would happen to your business if your website were hacked or updated improperly, putting it out of commission? There’s a way to minimize any damage with Code Guard (codeguard.com) – “a time machine for your website,” according to the company.

You provide your FTP credentials, and the software creates a backup file that shows you what files have changed since it last ran and allows you to even restore files from a specific date or version. Available in both free and paid versions, it can give your business an added layer of protection in the event of a disaster.