TechTrax Anniversary—Winner's Circle

In the May 2004 issue of TechTrax, we ran our second annual User's Survey. All those who took the survey were entered into our Office 2003 Small Business Edition drawing.

And the Winner is...Dan Quinn, Lake Zurich, IL

"Thanks Dian. I've been a PC trainer/Instructional designer for the last 22 years. I have been able to apply many of the techniques/features presented in TechTrax. Being a lifelong learner, I have also been able to increase my own knowledge related to the applications I use.

"Thanks! Dan Quinn"

Last month, TechTrax also celebrated it's 2nd Birthday. To celebrate, we asked our writers to give away some of their products.

• Bill Coan gave away two copies of his DataPrompter Word addin.
  
  
• Geetesh Bajaj gave away three copies of his beautiful Nirvana PowerPoint slide design sets.
  
  
• Vic Ferri gave away one license to his PointPoint to Exe conversion service.
  
  
• Linda Johnson gave away one copy of his Microsoft Office training CD.
  
  
• And Dian Chapman gave away two copies of her Word AutoForms & Beginning VBA video training CDs.

TechTrax subscribers needed only to enter their name in the drawing(s) of their choice to try to win. Below are the names of the winners. We also asked each winner to tell us a little bit about who they are and what they do. Comments are listed below...

Bill Coan's Data Prompter Winners:

1. Catherine (Kay) L. Rapp...I received your e-mail that I was the winner for Bill Coan's Data Prompter. That is just great. I was glad to hear I won. I presently am going to Lansdale School of Business and that is where I met our good friend Linda Johnson. What a wonderful person and Website she has. I learn so many new things. I will be finished my associates degree in Web Administration. I will be going to Eastern University for my BA in Management of Information Services. I will use Bill's program in contract work where I work and in my own business. I want to start a business creating Websites. I will create a contract for all my customers. I am just thrilled that I won. Thanks again, Kay Rapp
   
   
2. León Carpay, Netherlands...Great! The data-prompter was on my whish-list, but I'm a little short on assigments, they (the prospects) wait and consider and consider and take some leave and consider and then, when I'm really busy again, decide positive!! I am very pleased that I'm the winner for Bill's Data Prompter software. Since 1997 I'm running my own business. At first it was in the finance-accounting area but the last few years programming Office in VBA has taken over. My main application for a developing nowadays is Access. I'm trying to professionalise my business little more and therefore I can use the Data Prompter very much. I will use the Data Prompter for setting up my visiting reports and semi standard letters and reports. I think I will greatly benefit from the Data Prompter and maybe I can even put it in my portfolio of offerings to my clients.
   
   I live in Broek in Waterland (nearby Amsterdam, Holland) and maried with two kids Sofie (7) and Johannes (4). Keep up the good work, León Carpay

Geetesh Bajaj's Nirvana PowerPoint Slide Set Winners:

1. Raymond Lichtman... Wow - this is very exciting. Thank you and I look forward to getting what I am sure are wonderful slide sets. Ray
   
   
2. Scott Davis, California...What a nice surprise! While I may not understand all of TechTrax (can't even spell VBA), I voraciously read it all. I'd like to compliment you on the tone and style you employ. Of the myriad online and email MS Office e-zines and newsletters I read, this one is the least pretentious and most friendly. You all seem like nice folks.

   I endeavor to train both extremes of the Electrical Construction planet. I lead Code classes for Electrical Inspectors and also cross over to the other side where I share the same secrets with Electricians. Both groups think I am most loyal to their side! <GRIN>

   My presentations are aided with PowerPoint slides and a document camera. Flipping between the two seems to maintain interest far better than my corny jokes ever did. While the PowerPoint program is fairly straightforward, creating concisely reasoned data presentation in a good-looking manner is not. Prior to this unexpected & undeserved prize, my background specialty has been dark blue. Both myself and the students will be grateful for more professional and attractive productions.

   Thank you so much. Scott Davis
   

3. Alan Dorland...THANK YOU!
   

Vic Ferri's PowerPoint to Exe Conversion Service Winner:

1. Kevin Doyle, Canada...Thank you. Here's my profile as requested. Kevin Doyle
   Computer Writing Lab/Tutoring Centre, Centre for Academic Writing, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
   
   I worked 15 years, 3 and a half full time, for one of the most innovative departments in the University of Winnipeg. At the core is creativity. Reshaping thoughts and ideas into a solid, mature academic prose reflects a conscious mind. This is our mission.

   In the Computer Writing Lab, it is always challenging when mediating between the person and the computer. I had seen many programs and many improvements. The world seems to be migrating toward Microsoft Office software. However, it is not complete. I am searching for products that facilitate that gap. With professors and staff, I hope to repackage their PowerPoint presentations to "PowerPoint to EXE" documents to distribute to students or make them available on the net. Being truthful, my mind is racing with the possibilities of the new software. Thank you.

Linda Johnson's Microsoft Office Training CD Winner:

1. Daniel Feingold, Israel...Thanks for the notice of the win.
   

Dian Chapman's Word AutoForms & Beginning VBA Video Training Course CDs Winners:

1. Serena Lara, Arizona...YEAH!  I'm so happy.  Can't wait to get it. I've worked in the legal field for almost 20 years and always wanted to somehow automate our court forms.  I somehow wanted to be able to merge client information with documents we use in Word.  I am very proficient in MS Word and would be helpful in the legal field if I learned how to automate our legal forms. Thanks so much!
   

2. Vincent Winterling, New Jersey...I'm the guy who registers for contests and giveaways and never wins! Anyway, I work with kids that have significant disabilities (e.g., autism, severe behavior disorders) and have for over 25 years. My interest in VBA relates to the other side of me that yearns to be a computer geek. I've been wanting to learn more about Word and VBA and this will provide an opportunity. Thanks so much for TechTrax! It has been helpful to me and it's one of the newsletters I read from cover to cover. Regards, Vince

To all our winners...congrats! I'm sure you'll enjoy your prize. And thanks to all of you who took the time to enter our drawings and, especially to those who took the time to fill out our survey. You can read the results in this month's article: 2004 User Survey Results.