TAPS ONLINE COMMUNITY USER GUIDE

1 TAPS ONLINE COMMUNITY USER GUIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS ONLINE COMMUNITY ACCOUNT OVERVIEW... 2 How to Sign Up... 2 How to Log In... 2 Request a new Password... 2 MY PAGE... 3-5 MANAGING YOUR ACCOUNT... 3 Update Profile... 3 Edit Account... 3 Upload Profile Image... 3 Troubleshoot Profile Image... 3 Account Privacy Information... 3-4 ACTIVITY CENTER... 4-5 News Feed... 4 Mini Feed... 4 Wall... 4 Inbox... 5 PARTICIPATION OVERVIEW... 5 PEER GROUPS... 6-12 JOINING A PEER GROUP... 6 FUNCTIONS... 7-12 Image... 8 Forum... 9 Gathering... 10-11 BLOGS... 12-17 READ / CREATE... 12 BLOG EDITOR... 12-16 Upload Blog Image... 14-16 Insert Blog Hyperlink... 16 BLOG ENTRY ACTIONS... 17 MESSAGE BOARD... 18-20 ROOMS... 18 TOPICS... 18-19 Create a Topic... 19 TOPIC REPLIES... 20 MEMBERS... 21-22 FRIENDS... 21 Request Friendship... 21 Approve Friendship... 21 IMAGE GALLERIES... 22-24 VIEW IMAGES... 22 UPLOAD IMAGES... 22-24 VIDEO AND TEXT CHATS... 25-27 HOW TO PARTICIPATE... 25-27

2 ONLINE COMMUNITY OVERVIEW The TAPS Online Community is comprised of the following functions: 1. My Page: My Page is where you can edit your settings to update your account profile. You will also find an activity center where you can track new postings and stay in touch with other Online Community members. 2. Peer Groups: Peer groups are a forum to connect with others who share common bonds. You will need to request to join these groups and be approved by TAPS staff. Once you are approved, you will be able to connect further with other survivors who have experienced a similar loss. 3. Blogs: Through the blogs feature, you can create your own blog posts to share your story. You can also view and comment on blogs posted by other members. 4. Message Board: The message board highlights six popular topics among survivors that you can comment on and share your experience. 5. Members: This is where you can find other Online Community members you would like to connect with on a one-to-one basis. 6. Image Galleries: Where members can share their story through photos. Images can be shared with the whole community or just with members of a certain peer group. 7. Video and Text Chats: Chats are real time talks with other survivors moderated by TAPS Staff offered to different populations using either via video or text. HOW TO SIGNUP: Register for an account at: https://online.taps.org/signup. TAPS staff will review your request and send you an email when your account has been approved. HOW TO LOGIN: Login from the home page at https://online.taps.org. If you have participated in TAPS chats and message boards prior to 5/18/2017, your membership account was transferred to the current system. For security reasons, we could not transfer your password, so you will need to request a password reset at https://online.taps.org/resetpassword. Your new password will be emailed to you. You may update your password after you have logged in using the My Page link. FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD? Request a password reset at: https://online.taps.org/resetpassword

3 MY PAGE My Page is where you can edit your settings to update your account profile. You will also find an activity center where you can track new postings and stay in touch with other Online Community members. Your blog posts, images uploaded, latest visitors and friendships are also summarized here. MY SETTINGS -- Manage Your Member Account EDIT SETTINGS Select Edit Settings button to update your: contact information loved one information display name & password profile image Edit Profile tab update your personal & loved one information Edit Account tab update your display name, password and email address. Edit Profile Image tab upload or replace a profile image for your account Profile Image upside down or sideways? For best results, use a horizontal image (wider than tall). If your image upload from a mobile device displays sideways or upside down, flip your device so that the button to take the photo is on the opposite side used previously to take the photo. Retake the photo and upload the new photo. This may take a couple attempts until the photo appears right side up! Account Privacy Information: Information that is shared with other members: Display name Loved one s branch of service Loved one s cause of death Loved one s relationship to you (spouse, friend, son, etc.) Profile Image

4 The profile information listed above are shared in the community to assist in connecting you with other survivors who have experienced a similar loss. All other account information you provide remains private to members except for approved TAPS Online Community Moderators. MY PAGE -- Activity Center Activity center is composed of a news feed, mini feed, wall and inbox. News Feed shows recent activities of you and your friends in the online community Mini Feed - shows your recent activities in the community Wall - shows comments other members have posted on your wall, selecting reply will post a message back to that member s wall. Any online community member can read what is posted on any other member s wall regardless of friendship status.

5 Inbox - private messaging between members. The number of unread messages will show in the Inbox (3) tab, if no new messages the number will be 0 (e.g., Inbox (0)). Read New Messages: Select My Page > Inbox (3) tab > Inbox tab (bright blue) Send a Message to a Friend: Select My Page > Inbox > New Message button > in the New Message overlay, select the Friend from the To dropdown, provide a subject and message > Send. Send a Message to Any Member: You can send a private message to any member by navigating to that member s My Page. Find the member s image/display name from a blog or message board post, or an image upload or from the Members page and select the Send Message button found next to the member s profile image. View Your Sent Messages: Select My Page > Inbox (3) > Sent MY PAGE - Participation Overview Participation overview lists your latest blog entries, images uploaded and friends list. Friends list of your current friends and pending friend requests to approve or decline Latest Visitors See who has been viewing your page

6 PEER GROUPS Peer groups are a forum to connect with survivors who have experienced a similar loss. Except for the Loss of Loved One Peer Group, these groups are closed groups. You will need to request to join and be approved by TAPS staff. PEER GROUPS - Joining a Peer Group How to Join a Peer Group: Select Peer Groups > Select Join Peer Group link next to the peer group you wish to join (right column of peer group grid list). How to Leave a Peer Group: Select Peer Groups > Select Leave Peer Group link next to the peer group you wish to leave (right column of peer group grid list).

7 Peer Group Status - peer group are either open or closed groups. 1. Open Selecting Join Peer Group will provide immediate access to the group. Only Loss of Loved One Peer Group is currently open to ALL approved online community members. 2. Closed - Selecting Join Peer Group changes the link to Requested and notifies TAPS staff to review your request for survivor relationship. When access is granted, you will receive an email notification. PEER GROUPS - Functions Clicking on a peer group link will take you to the peer group home page where you will find tabs with club functions Wall, Image, Forum, Members, Gatherings and Articles. 1. Home: lists specific group details, upcoming event gatherings, recent images uploaded as well as most recent forum discussion topics. 2. Wall: where members can post messages. Messages posted are also emailed out to members of the peer group. 3. Image: where members can share images related to peer group topics and content. 4. Forum: where members can participate in discussions concerning peer group related topics. 5. Members: where member find who are members of the peer group listed alphabetically or by most recently joined. 6. Gatherings: where members can share create and share events for other members to view, see attendee list and sign up to attend. 7. Articles: TAPS generated information published of special interest to the peer group.

8 PEER GROUPS - Image Upload Image to Peer Group: From Peer Group Image tab > Select Upload button > in the overlay Upload Image window, select Choose File button > navigate to image on your device, making certain file size is less than 5MB > Provide a title for the image (required field) > input topic related tags (optional, e.g., survivor, pets, loved one) > Select Upload button. Image Notes: Images uploaded to a peer group remain private to members of the peer group only. Tags are optional but help group like topics throughout the community. Selecting a tag will navigate a member to a special page that lists all blog and forum topics, images and groups found for a tagged topic. Only members of the peer group can view and comment on other members images uploaded within the peer group.

9 PEER GROUPS - Forum Peer Group Forum is where members can participate in discussions concerning peer group related topics and is not shared in the general online community message board. To upload a Topic: From Peer Group Forum tab > Select Create Topic button > in the overlay New Topic window, provide a title for the topic (required field) > type your message (required), input topic related tags (optional, e.g., survivor, pets, loved one) > Select Post button. Forum Notes: Peer Group members can view, create, reply to and report any forum topic. Selecting the Report a Topic button will generate an email notification to TAPS staff to review and act if deemed necessary. Members can edit, reply to and delete their own topics. Tags are optional but help group like topics throughout the community. Selecting a tag will navigate a member to a special page that lists all blog and forum topics, images and groups found for a tagged topic.

10 PEER GROUPS - Gathering Calendar Peer Group Gatherings is where a peer group member can create and share an upcoming event of special interest to the peer group. Peer group members can view, see attendee list and sign up to attend (RSVP). To add an Event Gathering: From Peer Group Gatherings tab > Select New Gathering button > in the overlay New Gathering window, complete the form > Select Save button. Gathering Notes: Event Name and Location are required fields

Event Organizer is optional field. If left blank, it will default to member display name. Event Date/Time: Make sure to use the date format: mm/dd/yyyy (month/day/year in numeric value) and 24-hour clock (military time). For instance, for an afternoon time, subtract the hour from 24. 6 pm = 18:00 in military time (24 6 = 18). Do not subtract for morning times; 6 am = 06:00. Registration start/end dates are optional fields. If left blank, it will default to today s date for start time and event date start day/time for the end time. Max Registration is optional. If left blank, attendee registration will be unlimited. 11 To RSVP to an Event Gathering: From Peer Group Gatherings tab > Select Attend link. If your schedule changes, you can update your status by selecting Not Attending.

12 BLOGS On the home page of TAPS Online Community, community members can view the latest 5 blog entries. The Blogs main page shows the most recent, most viewed and most commented blog entries. Clicking on blog posting will take you to the blog view page. From here you can read the full blog posting and add comments to it. To read a blog: From Blogs tab > Sort by Most Recent, Viewed or Commented > select the Blog Title of the blog that interests you. To create a blog entry: From Blogs tab > Select Create Entry button to open the Create Blog Entry editor, input a blog title, blog content and tag the blog as appropriate > Post BLOGS - Blog Entry Editor

13 The blog editor works much like Microsoft word with the following text editing abilities: Notes: B bold highlighted text I italicize highlighted text U underline highlighted text Left, center, right and justify text Insert Paragraph or add heading (h tag) to highlighted text Insert bullets or numbering Undo/Redo Insert hyperlink on highlighted text Insert Image Insert special character Edit html content You can use Microsoft Word to create your content, then highlight, copy and paste into the blog editor and preserve all your edited content EXCEPT for copying in images. Images need to be uploaded (see upload image, page 14 below). The editor works BEST on desktop and laptop computers, you may experience delays when using on mobile device.

14 BLOGS - Blog Entry Editor Upload Image Steps to upload an image: Select the image icon > browse icon Select the Upload button to upload a new image -OR- click on an existing image from your blog gallery to load into the editor

15 To upload a new image to your blog image gallery: Select the Choose File button and browse to an image on your device > select the image and Open or other command to load the image into the form > provide a title (required) > provide tags (optional) > Upload button to load the image to the gallery To adjust the position or resize the image in the blog entry (optional): Select the Appearance tab to align or resize the image > Select Insert button (Vertical and Horizontal Space add white space between image and text)

16 Post the blog BLOGS - Blog Entry Editor Insert Hyperlink To insert a hyperlink: Highlight link text in the Editor > Select link icon > provide Link URL, Target (open in new window or not) & link Title > Update button

17 BLOGS - Blog Entry Blog Entry Actions: Report this blogger: will alert TAPS Staff member to review posts by this blogger Report this entry: will alert a TAPS Staff member to review an entry by a blogger Archives - View all entries: to view all entries for this blogger Post Comment: select to send notes of encouragement to a blogger. Members can delete their own comment or report on another member s comment.

18 MESSAGE BOARD The message board uses the traditional discussion board format with six rooms to hold discussions on subjects popular among survivors that you can comment on and share your experiences. The message board is composed of rooms, topics and topic replies. MESSAGE BOARD - Rooms Rooms: To View, select > Message Board > Room Title ( Introduction and Sharing ) MESSAGE BOARD Room Topics

19 To View a Room Topic: Select > Message Board > Room Title ( Introduction and Sharing ) > Topic Title ( Your Grief Journey ) To Create a Room Topic: Select > Message Board > Room Title ( Introduction and Sharing ) > Topic Title ( Your Grief Journey ) > Create Topic button. In New Topic overlay window, provide Subject (required), Message (required) and Tags (optional) > Post button.

20 MESSAGE BOARD Topic Replies To Reply to a Room Topic: Select > Message Board > Room Title ( Introduction and Sharing ) > Topic Title ( Your Grief Journey ) > Reply button. Notes: Members can delete their own reply or report another topic or reply. Report Topic alerts TAPS Staff to review the message board topic and take action if deemed necessary.

21 MEMBERS Members is a listing of all approved online community memberships sorted by most recent, alphabetical and most viewed. MEMBERS Request/Approve Friendship Selecting a thumbnail or display name on the Members page will take you to that members My Page where you can send a message, request or approve a friendship or view that member s contributions to the community.

22 IMAGE GALLERIES Members can create and share their images with the entire community using My Image Galleries located in My Quick Links submenu. IMAGE GALLERIES View Images Members can view global community image shares using Image Galleries from My Quick Links submenu. Select any thumbnail from the Image Galleries list, you can continue to that gallery page then select individual images to page through images in a gallery. IMAGE GALLERIES Upload Images

23 Create a Gallery to hold your images: From My Image Galleries, select New Image Gallery button > in the Create New Gallery overlay window, provide gallery title, presentation text (description) and tags as desired > Select the Save button. Upload Images: From My Image Galleries, select a gallery you created (image thumbnail, see above) from the Image Galleries list > select Upload button (see right)

24 In the Upload Image Overlay window select Choose File button > browse to image on your device > provide image title and tags as desired > select Upload button. Repeat until all images are uploaded. Notes: You may create as many galleries as you want with an unlimited number of images in each or use the same gallery for all your images. If you upload an image larger than 5MB, the image will NOT load. You will need to resave to a smaller size and try again.

25 VIDEO AND TEXT CHATS TAPS hosts a variety of video and text chats in the evenings throughout the month. For a full list of upcoming chats, visit https://www.taps.org/chats VIDEO AND TEXT CHATS How to Participate Go to the calendar (www.taps.org/chats) Select a chat image from the grid On the chat event page, select the TAPS Video Chat or TAPS Text Chat button

26 If already logged in, you will be redirected to the video or text chat page (screen samples below). Otherwise, enter email and password to login. You will be redirected to the video or text chat (screen samples below). Select Register for access if you do not have an account. Select Forgot Password if you are unsure you have an account. Provide your email address when prompted, if found, a new password will be emailed to you. CHAT SCREEN SAMPLES: Video Chat uses Zoom Meeting software, 1 hour prior to chat time, the Join a Meeting button will appear, select the button to open the zoom meeting. Please provide your email address or display name when prompted so that TAPS Moderators can verify your identity.

27 Text Chat uses Flyzoo chat software, the text chat opens 1 hour prior to chat time. Your online community account display name will appear when you participate in the conversation.