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NAMIWalks Online: Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated April 16, 2007

Use the links below to access answers to commonly asked questions about using the NAMI Web site to enable your involvement in NAMIWalks. If you don't find your answer below, visit eSupport at http://walkhelp.nami.org to search the Knowledge Base or submit a ticket for assistance.  You can also send an e-mail  to walkhelp@nami.org  Getting started:

1. How can I access NAMIWalks online?
2. Who is my Walk manager?
3. What is myNAMI?

Registration:

1. How do I register for NAMIWalks?
2. I registered last year. Do I need to go through the registration process again this year?
3. Why should I register online?
4. Why do I have to create a sign-in account?
5. Will I get "spam" if I give you my e-mail address?
6. Will I have to create a new sign-in account when I register for next year's Walk?
7. The team I am signing up for is not listed. What should I do?
8. How is my registration confirmed?
9. What is the last date to register online?
10. Can I register multiple people, such as other members of my family?
11. Now that this year's Walk is over, how soon can I register for next year's Walk?

Walker Web Pages:

1. What is a walker Web page?
2. How can I update the information on my walker Web page?
3. I want to use a photo. How can I make sure it looks its best?
4. Can I make changes to my fundraising goal?
5. I am using an Apple Macintosh. Why do I get an error when I try to create or update my walker Web page?
6. How can others access my walker page?
7. If I don't create a walker page, can others still make online donations on my behalf?
8. What is the last date to create a walker page?
9. How long will my walker page be active?
10. What if I forget the Web address of my walker page?
11. If I walk again next year, will I have the same page?
12. Why are my donors listed on my walker page?

Teams and Captains:

1. What is a team captain?
2. Are co-captians allowed?
3. I was part of (or captained) a Walk team last year. Will my team automatically be registered for this year's Walk?
4. When I registered, my team was already listed. How can I get captain status?
5. How can team members know who the captain is and get in contact with that person?

Team Pages:

1. What is a team page?
2. How can others access the team page?
3. I want to use a photo. How can I make sure it looks its best?
4. What is the team recruiting goal?
5. How is progress toward the recruiting goal tracked?
6. Can the team recruiting goal be changed?
7. What is the team's fundraising goal?
8. How is progress toward the team's fundraising goal tracked?
9. Can the team fundraising goal be changed?
10. I am using an Apple Macintosh. Why do I get an error when I try to create or update my team page?
11. If the captain does not create a team page, can another member of the team do it?
12. What is the last date to create a team page?
13. How long will my team page be active?
14. Can donations be made on behalf of a team, instead of an individual walker?
15. Why is my name listed more than once on my team's page?

Donations:

1. How can others make online donations in support of my participation in NAMIWalks?
2. How will I know when someone has made an online donation on my behalf?
3. Can others make online donations to me if I have not registered online?
4. How long after the Walk has ended can others still make donations to me?
5. Do donors have the option of not being listed on my personal page?
6. If my donor opts to be anonymous, will I still know who they are?
7. Is it safe to make a donation online?
8. How is a donor's donation confirmed?
9. What if someone does not want to donate online?

myNAMI:

1. What can I do through myNAMI?
2. How do I sign in to access myNAMI?
3. What if I forget my user name or password?

Getting started:

1. How can I access NAMIWalks online?
   NAMIWalks information and resources can be found at the NAMI National Web site, www.nami.org. Click on the "NAMIWalks" link in the "Welcome" box, or in the left-hand column of any page. Or go there directly: http://www.nami.org/namiwalks
2. Who is my Walk manager?
   The Walk manager is the primary contact person for each Walk event. The name and contact information of your walk manager is listed on the main page for your Walk event, accessible by following the link above and clicking on your state.
3. What is myNAMI?
   MyNAMI is the section of the NAMI Web site where you will access and manage all of your Walk-related information once you have registered. It is accessible from any page on the NAMI Web site by clicking the "myNAMI" button in the left-hand margin. Or, go there directly: http://www.nami.org/myNAMI
   

Registration:

1. How do I register for NAMIWalks?
   Visit www.nami.org/namiwalks, click on your state and follow the instructions to register. You may register online or offline.
2. I registered last year. Do I need to go through the registration process again this year?
   Yes. You must re-register for each Walk you participate in. However, if you previously registered online, you will not have to create a sign-in account again. You should sign in and register using your existing Web account.
3. Why should I register online?
   There are several advantages to registering online:
   

   • Online registration is fast, and your team captain and local Walk coordinator are notified immediately of your registration
   • Online registration allows you to fundraise online, meaning people will be able to make donations to you via credit/debit card. You receive immediate notification via e-mail when they do, and you do not have to collect or handle their check or cash.
   • Online registration allows you to create a walker Web page with a photo, bio and personalized Web address where others can make donations on your behalf, and where you can track your fundraising progress
4. Why do I have to create a sign-in account?
   Creating a sign-in account accomplishes two things: it gives you a way to enter your personal information as you register, and it allows you to manage that personal information anytime you return to the Web site. Having a sign-in account allows you to:
   

   • Update your contact information
   • Change your designated team or affiliate
   • Create and manage a walker Web page
   • Access reports to track your online donations

   Your sign-in account also gives you access to other features on the NAMI Web site such as discussion groups, Contact Your Representatives, e-mail subscriptions, etc.
5. Will I get "spam" if I give you my e-mail address?
   NAMI does not share any of your personal information with any third-party. Nor do we send e-mails other than e-mails related to your participation in NAMIWalks including, but not limited to: confirmation e-mails when you register, notification e-mails whenever an online donation is made on your behalf, updates from your team captain or local Walk coordinator, other NAMIWalks-related announcements.
6. Will I have to create a new sign-in account when I register for next year's Walk?
   No, you only have to create a sign-in account once. You may use the same sign-in account to register for as many Walk events as you wish.
7. The team I am signing up for is not listed. What should I do?
   If the team you are walking with is not listed in the drop-down menu on the registration page, then you should enter it in the text entry field immediately below it. Note that this does not give you team captain status. If you wish to serve as the team captain, you should use the "Form new team" version of the registration screen.
8. How is my registration confirmed?
   At the end of the registration process, the details of your registration will be displayed on a confirmation screen, which you can print. The same information will also be e-mailed to you. You will also receive an e-mail with instructions on how others can make online donations on your behalf as well as a customized sample letter.
9. What is the last date to register online?
   The last date to register online is the date of the actual Walk event. After that date, online registration will begin for the next year's Walk (if scheduled).
10. Can I register multiple people, such as other members of my family?
    While it is technically possible to register others online, it is generally discouraged. Each Walk participant is encouraged to register for themselves, so they may verify that all their information is entered correctly, as well as have access to their own sign-in account for managing their walker information through myNAMI.
11. Now that this year's Walk is over, how soon can I register for next year's Walk?
    Once next year's Walk sites have been selected, online registration will begin immediately. Selection usually happens within three months of the last Walk.
    

Walker Web Pages:

1. What is a walker Web page?
   Your walker Web page is a customized Web page you create to share information about yourself and why you are walking; to allow others to make secure online donations on your behalf; and to track your fundraising progress. You can create your page during the registration process, or at any point after that through myNAMI.
2. How can I update the information on my walker Web page?
   You can make updates through myNAMI, up through 60 days after the Walk event.
3. I want to use a photo. How can I make sure it looks its best?
   Follow these specifications for your photo, to ensure maximum clarity: a width of 220 pixels or less, and a height of 220 pixels or less. You may upload photos with larger dimensions, but they will be automatically re-sized to fit correctly on your page and may lose some of their clarity in the process.
4. Can I make changes to my fundraising goal?
   Yes, you may change your fundraising goal at any time. If you find that you reach your goal early, challenge yourself by raising it.
5. I am using an Apple Macintosh. Why do I get an error when I try to create or update my walker page?
   There is a problem with the personal page/team page set-up process that only affects users of the Internet Explorer Web browser on the Macintosh operating system. The good news is that this error does not occur in the other Web browsers that are freely available and widely used on the Macintosh platform. If you do not already have one of these other browsers on your system, click here to download Safari, Firefox or Netscape. If you use the Windows operating system, you will not be affected by this problem. Also, visitors to your page who use Macintoshes are not affected by this problem and will be able to access your page and donate regardless of which Web browser they use.
6. How can others access my walker page?
   The main way will be through your distributing the link to family, friends, etc., in your fundraising e-mails and letters. There will also be a link to it from your team's page (if you are on a team) and from the walker list accessible from the main page for your Walk event.
7. If I don't create a walker page, can others still make online donations on my behalf?
   Yes. There are two ways this can be done. The main way will be through your distributing the fundraising link you receive in your registration confirmation e-mail. This link goes directly to the online donation form. It can also be done by clicking on your name on your team's page (if applicable) or from the walker list accessible from the main page for your Walk event.
8. What is the last date to create a walker page?
   The last day to register online is the actual date of the Walk event. Once you have registered, you may create your walker page at any time, up to 60 days after the Walk is over. At whatever point you create your walker page, any donations you have received online up to that point will automatically be reflected on it.
9. How long will my walker page be active?
   Once you have created your walkerl page and personal Web address, it will be accessible indefinitely. However, the ability to receive online donations will expire 60 days after your Walk event.
10. What if I forget the Web address of my walker page?
    You may retrieve the address of your walker page at any point through myNAMI.
11. If I walk again next year, will I have the same page?
    No. You will need to create a new walker page and personal Web address for each Walk event you participate in. However, any photos you upload are tied to your NAMI sign-in account and remain available year-to-year so you will not have to upload them again.
12. Why are my donors listed on my walker page?
    There are two main reasons for this: as a way to recognize those who are supporting you, and as an incentive for others who visit your page to support you, too. However, all online donors have the option to be listed as anonymous when they make their donation.
    

Teams and Captains:

1. What is a team captain?
   Team captain is the designation given to the person who creates or organizes a Walk team for the event. Team captains who register online receive e-mail notification each time a new member registers online, have the ability to create a team Web page, and have access to special team management features through myNAMI.
2. Are co-captains allowed?
   Yes. However, within the online system, only one person may have team captain status. If you are co-captaining a team, you should decide which one of you will function as team captain within the Web system and be responsible for team page updates, etc. Additionally, when you create a team page there is a field for listing the names of all co- captains.
3. I was part of (or captained) a Walk team last year. Will my team automatically be registered for this year's Walk?
   No. Walk teams and participants must re-register each year.
4. When I registered, my team was already listed. How can I get captain status?
   Contact your Walk coordinator once you have registered and ask to be given captain status.
5. How can team members know who the captain is and get in contact with that person?
   There are two ways to identify the team captain: 1) from the team list page that is accessible from the registration instructions page, and 2) from the Walk area of myNAMI, once you have registered for the team. In either location you will find the captain's name and e-mail address.
   

Team Page:

1. What is a team page?
   A team page is a customized Web page created by the team captain to share information about the team with others; to list current team members and link to their fundraising pages; and to allow others to join the team. The team captain can create the team page during the registration process, or at any point after that through myNAMI.
2. How can others access the team page?
   The main way will be through the team captain distributing the customized team page link to current and prospective team members. There will also be a link to it on the team list page that is accessible from the registration instructions page, and from the personal walker page of each member of the team.
3. I want to use a photo. How can I make sure it looks its best?
   Follow these specifications for your photo, to ensure maximum clarity: a width of 220 pixels or less, and a height of 220 pixels or less. You may upload photos with larger dimensions, but they will be automatically re-sized to fit correctly on your page and may lose some of their clarity in the process.
4. What is the team recruiting goal?
   A team's recruiting goal is specified by the team captain when creating the team page. It is based on the captain's sense of how many walkers could potentially join the team.
5. How is progress toward the recruiting goal tracked?
   Progress toward the recruiting goal is tracked automatically online. There are two sources that are tracked: the number of walkers who register online for the team, and the number of "offline walkers" the team captain manually enters via myNAMI. Progress toward the goal is reflected on a graph on the team page.
6. Can the team recruiting goal be changed?
   Yes, the captain may change the recruiting goal at any time. If you find that you reach your goal early, challenge yourself by raising it. This can be done through myNAMI.
7. What is the team's fundraising goal?
   The team's fundraising goal is specified by the team captain when creating the team page. It is based on the captain's sense of what amount the team can and should raise. If you have any questions concerning setting an appropriate goal, please contact your Walk coordinator.
8. How is progress toward the team's fundraising goal tracked?
   There are two sources that are tracked: the total online and offline donations received by individual team members, as reported on their personal fundraising pages; and the total offline donations received by those the team captain has manually added to the team's roster.
9. Can the team fundraising goal be changed?
   Yes, the captain may change the fundraising goal at any time. If you find that you reach your goal early, challenge yourself by raising it.
10. I am using an Apple Macintosh. Why do I get an error when I try to create or update my team page?
    There is a problem with the personal page/team page set-up process that only affects users of the Internet Explorer Web browser on the Macintosh operating system. The good news is that this error does not occur in the other Web browsers that are freely available and widely used on the Macintosh platform. If you do not already have one of these other browsers on your system, click here to download Safari, Firefox or Netscape. If you use the Windows operating system, you will not be affected by this problem. Also, visitors to your page who use Macintoshes are not affected by this problem and will be able to access your page and donate regardless of which Web browser they use.
11. If the captain does not create a team page, can another member of the team do it?
    No. The page must be created and maintained by the person designated as captain. However, a new captain may be designated at any time by contacting the Walk coordinator for your event.
12. What is the last date to create a team page?
    Once the captain has registered online, he or she may create the team page at any time, up until 60 days after the Walk event. At whatever point the team page is created, any team members who have registered online up to that point will automatically be reflected on it, along with any donations they have received.
13. How long will my team page be active?
    Once the team page has been created, it will be accessible indefinitely.
14. Can donations be made on behalf of a team, instead of an individual walker?
    No. Donations must either be made on behalf of an individual walker, or to the walk event itself.
15. Why is my name listed more than once on my team's page?
    Your team captain has the ability to manually add team members to the roster on the team page. If you have already registered, contact your team captain and ask him or her to remove the manual listing. If this is not the case, you may have registered more than once. Contact walkhelp@nami.org  to have this corrected.
    

Donations:

1. How can others make online donations in support of my participation in NAMIWalks?
   The primary way to receive online donations from others is to send them the link to your walker Web page (or personal fundraising link, if you have not created a page) and invite them to support you. Others may also access your walker page/fundraising link by clicking on "Support Our Walk!" on the main page for your Walk event, or from your team's page. Online donations on your behalf cannot be made apart from these links.
2. How will I know when someone has made an online donation on my behalf?
   You will receive an immediate e-mail notification each time an online donation is made on your behalf. Additionally, you have access to a detailed donation report through myNAMI.
3. Can others make online donations to me if I have not registered online?
   No. You must be registered online in order to receive donations on your behalf.
4. How long after the Walk has ended can others still make donations to me?
   Online donations can be made up to 60 days after the date of the Walk.
5. Do donors have the option of not being listed on my personal page?
   Yes, if donors do not want their name listed on your walker page, they should check the appropriate box on the donation form indicating their preference to remain anonymous.
6. If my donor opts to be anonymous, will I still know who they are?
   Yes, their name will be included in the e-mail notification you receive, as well as on the donation report accessible to you through myNAMI.
7. Is it safe to make a donation online?
   Yes. NAMI uses VeriSign's 128-bit SSL encryption, the strongest encryption available, which means your personal and credit card information is transmitted securely.
8. How is a donor's donation confirmed?
   Online donors receive immediate on-screen and e-mail confirmation of their donation. They will also see their donation reflected immediately on your walker page.
9. What if someone does not want to donate online?
   Contact your local Walk coordinator if you need instructions related to cash or check donations.
   

MyNAMI:

1. What can I do through myNAMI?
   All walkers who register online will have access to the following tools through myNAMI:
   • Update your contact information
   • Join or change teams; designate affiliate
   • Contact your team captain
   • Create or update personal fundraising page
   • View personal fundraising page
   • View customized sample letter
   • View online donation report
   Additionally, team captains will have access to the following tools:
   • Create or update team page
   • View team page
   • Add/edit/delete walkers not yet registered online
   • View full team contact list; send team email
2. How do I sign in to access myNAMI?
   The easiest way is to click the myNAMI button in the left-hand margin of any page on the NAMI.org Web site. You will then be prompted to sign-in, and once you have signed-in, you will be directed to myNAMI. You may also click the "Manage" link at the bottom of your walker or team page.
3. What if I forget my user name or password?
   You can retrieve your user name or password at anytime by clicking the "I forgot my user name/password" or "Help" links on the sign-in page.

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