The Goer Experience =================== This article is aimed at those going on a Mission Trip (Goers), to help them use all the tools TouchPoint offers to participants. Step 1 — Register for the Trip ------------------------------- As a participant (Goer), you will register online to complete the registration form and make a deposit. This triggers the following: - An email confirmation with a ``paylink`` for making subsequent payments. - Enrollment in the mission trip Involvement. - Creation of a user account in TouchPoint with an email for you to set a password. .. note:: If you already have a user account, use your same username and password to log on. If you forgot your password, click the ``Forgot?`` link in the password field on the log in page, enter your email address, and an email will be sent to reset your password. - Access to Mission Trip information on the `Involvement > Registration` tab of your profile, where you can view up-to-the-minute payment information, use a Make Payment link, and email supporters. - If your church has enabled Funding Pages, you will also see a link to your Funding Page Step 2 — Find Supporters to Email ---------------------------------- #. Log on to TouchPoint, click the `Involvement > Registration` tab on your profile, locate the trip, and then click the link `Email Supporters`. #. Enter the **10 digit phone number** or **email address** for anyone you wish to email for support. **Entering phone numbers:** - If the phone number is found, everyone with that phone number on their record will display in a list. Click on the name of the person you want to add. - If no one is found with that phone number, nothing will appear. **Entering email addresses:** - Anyone with that email address on their record will appear in the drop down list. Click the name to select them. - If the email address is not found in the database, you can click on the email address you entered to add it to your list. #. You can proceed with Step 3 once you have your list, or leave the page and return later to send the email. Step 3 — Review and Edit Your Supporter List --------------------------------------------- You have several options when managing your list of supporters: Edit Salutations You can edit the salutation for specific supporters. The default logic is: - If you are **under 30 years old** and the supporter is **more than 10 years older** than you, the default salutation will be `Dear Mr. Smith` (Title and Last Name). - In all other cases, the default will be `Hi Harry` (First Name). - If the supporter was not found in the database, the default will be `Dear Friend`. Click `Edit` to make changes (e.g., if sending to a relative, you may want to say `Hi Grandma`). Click `Save` after making edits. .. important:: Editing the salutation is done on the list of supporters, not in the email itself. The email should contain the replacement code ``{salutation}``. Do not edit that code — the salutation logic depends on it. Exclude or Remove Supporters - Click `Edit` and remove the check mark beside anyone to whom you do not want to send the email but want to keep in your list. - To remove a person from the list entirely, click `Edit` and then click the red `Remove` button. .. admonition:: Example You send an email to 5 supporters. Later, you want to send to 3 more people. When you return to the Email Supporters page, your current list is displayed. Uncheck the names of those you have already emailed before adding more supporters, editing, and sending a second email. Step 4 — Edit and Send the Email --------------------------------- #. After clicking `Email Supporters`, click in the body of the email, make any changes, and click ``Save``. #. Add your name at the end of the email so there is no doubt who it is from. #. You can return and send the email more than once — just be sure to **edit the body each time** and uncheck those who have already received it. .. important:: - Do not edit the email until you are ready to send it. It will default to the original template each time you return and will *not* retain your changes. - Do **NOT** edit the link (where it says "click here...") or your supporters will not be able to donate. - Do **NOT** remove the replacement code {salutation}. - If you send a test to yourself, you will **not** see the {salutation} replaced. The correct salutation will display when you send to actual supporters. Step 5 — Track Your Progress ----------------------------- Log on and go to your `Involvements > Registrations` tab to view the progress as donations are received. - You will receive a notification each time someone donates toward your trip. - If you click the Email Supporters link, you will see the amount donated in parentheses beside each person who has given based on receiving your email. - **Exception:** If a Supporter checks the box to not notify the trip participant, the amount will be reflected in your balance tracking, but you will not receive an email and the amount will not appear beside their name. - If your church has enabled Funding Pages, you can see a list of donors and their amounts on your Funding Page. Anonymous gifts will show as "Anonymous" with a combined total. Self-Support Payments --------------------- As a Goer, you should always use either the Paylink from your email confirmation or the `Make Payment` link on your TouchPoint profile (Involvement > Registrations) to make your own payments. - If you try to use a Support Link configured with your own PeopleID, you will be instructed to use a Paylink or 'make payment' link instead. - If you try to use a generic support link (one posted on a website with GoerID = 0), you will not see your own name in the list and will be shown a message that you cannot self-support using this link. .. seealso:: | :doc:`MissionTripDonationsPayments` | :doc:`MissionTripOverview` | | +-------------------+---------------+ | **Latest Update** | **5/29/2026** | +-------------------+---------------+ New consolidated Goer experience article. Corrected salutation logic to include the Goer-under-30 condition per the source code.