By Jen Sharp, jensharp.com

Imagine... Juggling or spinning plates? Finding balance with It’s 7:53 a.m. and you are already In this current economic trend, funds technology finishing your second cup of coffee… are being cut; grants are running out; Struggle does not equal a customer is waiting outside the downsizing is prevalent – yet customer accomplishment. The people who make locked front door, peering in through demand for quick, quality service things happen usually also make it look the window, hoping you’ll open up remains high. Many civil servants find easy. I believe it can be. In your effort themselves in a balancing act everyday, early for his urgent request. As you to move from juggling to plate spinner, juggling more responsibilities with less unlock the door, the phone rings. allow technology to help you. Most resources. It feels like a Circus Act. Knocking over the stack of papers tech lovers find the latest “toy” and And juggling is the appropriate piled on your desk as you answer it, contrive a way for it to fit into their analogy: keeping everything from lives. Those of us who buy a phone so you notice another customer walking toppling into disaster takes constant we can make calls (instead of take through the front door. Waving in the watch and skill. However, the pictures or surf the Web) may drag their first man who is becoming inevitability of a brief slip of attention feet to move into the 21st century. I increasingly impatient, you try to remains. It only takes your child being confess that even as a Web programmer mouth instructions while listening to ill or a co-worker missing a day, and the customer who called in, your suddenly, all of the balls come down shoulder pinning the phone against on top of you! Is there a better way? I tend to resist change, your ear, your version of “hands- In keeping with the Circus analogy, that is, unless I am the free” as you shuffle through papers think of the Plate Spinner. You know one creating it. trying to find a pen and blank paper, the one who sets a stick upright, puts a spilling your half cup of coffee on plate on the top, then spins it. Then sets those sticky notes with that important another, and another. While jugglers in a technology based profession, I tend need to assert constant input to keep number you were supposed to have to resist change, that is, unless I am the things going, the plate spinner sets up a called back yesterday… one creating it. One cannot escape that situation, then only applies input where technology does improve our lives. The On second thought, likely you intervention is required, when key to balance is knowing when to won’t have to imagine because you momentum slows. This certainly seems apply it, and when to use an old have been there. like an easier way. fashioned No. 2 pencil on a sticky note.

72 THE KANSAS LIFELINE November 2011 If you find yourself behind and 2. What are the repetitive questions by KRWA E-Train overwhelmed with responsibilities, different customers that I am asked www. krwa.net/etrain take inventory of a typical day and ask repeatedly? How can I get this yourself the following questions: information to them in a different The latest technology solution from 1. Am I performing menial tasks way? KRWA debuts this month with KRWA repetitively? 3. When and how do I deal with large E-Train, a possible partial solution for 2. Am I asked the same questions by amounts of data? Is it well state-required continuing education, different customers repeatedly? organized? How do I have access? offered conveniently as an online 3. Do I deal with large amounts of Can I streamline this access? school where you can study at your data? 4. What quantitative answers in my own pace, at your location, at times 4. Do I need quantitative answers daily routine do I need quickly? fitting for your busy schedule, all quickly in my daily routine? How can I find these answers supported by KRWA’s knowledgeable 5. Do I find myself putting off tasks or faster? training team. (Read the article about it decisions because I need to wait 5. Which tasks or decisions am I in this issue!) for more information? putting off because I need to wait for more information? How do I get Web Services If you answer yes to any that information? Is there a way to www.krwa.net/demo of these, likely using get it faster or more accurately, or KRWA sets up and hosts your Web some form of bypass me altogether and forward it site, but you get to edit it easily. If you technology can directly to someone who needs it? know how to do a login, use MS Word help you save Do I have a mechanism for looking to a small extent, and can upload email time, be more at “the big picture” from small bits attachments, then you have the skill to knowledgeable, of data? maintain your own Web site. This and best of all, be unique templated content management less frustrated. How KRWA can help system is geared specifically towards Kansas Rural Water Association has the needs of rural water districts and Finding the right tool tools in place ready for your use. And small kansas cities. We set up for you Instead of the tech lover way of if you have a need not listed here, a however many pages you request, finding a toy and making it useful, for quick call to the KRWA office may ready for you to add content. We add most people a more effective approach lead to more. your logo and color scheme of your is backwards, that is, finding a need, then applying an appropriate degree of technology for assistance. If you put in a little time discovering what your true needs are before you implement a new toy, you will be more happy with the solutions you choose. For example, some potential clients call me and ask if I will build them a Web site. They are starting from the assumption that they need one. I start from the assumption they don’t. So I ask them why do they think they need this technology? How do they plan to use it? If they have clear answers that make their lives easier, I know I can help them. So, let’s take those same questions posed earlier to discover if you have a need, and reformulate them to discover where your needs are specifically: 1. What menial tasks am I performing repetitively? How can I cut down on the number of times I do this?

THE KANSAS LIFELINE November 2011 73 choice, and even give you about an Legislative session that affect water hour of training to help you get “SO, WHY DO YOU NEED A and wastewater systems started. But you aren’t alone after WEB SITE?” ◆ Conference that: tech support by email is www.krwa.net/conference – THE included, but if you need additional a) Because everyone else has one. place to go for fun and training to or follow up support, it is available b) We need a place to list our keep up on what’s current in the at a discounted quoted rate. You phone number. industry get all of this at an unheard of price ◆ c) We have an old site that hasn’t Directory of Systems largely due to KRWA’s www.krwa.net/directory – Any and commitment to helping systems. been updated forever. every phone number you might d) We want to be top of the list on need GPS Mapping the search engines. ◆ Membership www. krwa.net/gis e) To post frequently asked www.krwa.net/membership – Current listings of members and Even though KRWA’s mapping questions, so I can spend less department has been serving Associates. time on the phone repeating systems with GPS for a decade No doubt busy civil servants will now, they are still cutting edge. myself! always feel part of a circus act, but With GIS services you can have Only e) is a valid answer here. using available and appropriate your city or water district mapped technology can shift the juggling by GPS with easy access on CD, national scale. Keeping up with the towards plate spinning instead! plus multiple backups for your peace of latest is as easy as going to KRWA’s Since 1997, Jen Sharp mind. You can also order large prints, Web site and choosing what look up addresses with the new (JenSharp.com) has information you need: served business and Address Mapping Interactive Tool, and ◆ In the News www.krwa.net/news - government across share data if you choose. Sampling of current news from Kansas and the US and national news organizations and even internationally, Information state government entities specializing in Web ◆ development, design & Customers expect you to be Legislative news programming including knowledgeable about issues that affect www.krwa.net/legnews – Summary e-Learning, ecommerce, content management them directly, be it on a local, state, or of bills in the current Kansas systems, and other small business solutions.

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