netCorps is pleased to announce the release of the the open-source Signup Sheet, a new tool for use with Plone-powered websites. "Our goal with this product," explains Aaron VanDerlip, netCorps staff member and developer of Signup Sheet, "is to allow nonprofit staff to create custom registration forms for events, workshops, fundraisers and other events that could benefit from online registration."

"The main challenge nonprofits have who come to us with this particular need," adds Matthew Latterell, netCorps Executive Director, "is that registration requirements change from event to event--one registration form won't necessarily work for every situation. Signup Sheet makes it easy for nonprofit staff to create new forms, manage things like registration limits and waiting lists--and lets the staff easily import that data into the spreadsheet or database application of their choice."

netCorps has a long history of web application development for nonprofits, going back to 1998 and the creation of a web-based "Take Action" tool used by the Alaska Rainforest Campaign to send faxes and email comments to government officials. In early 2004, netCorps decided to adopt the open-source content management system Plone (and the Zope application server upon which it is built), for website and web application development. In 2005, netCorps released Simple Cart, another free product for the Plone Content Management System.

Signup Sheet provides a solution for some specific nonprofit needs but, VanDerlip explains, "there is a list of additional features we want to add. We expect this tool to improve as nonprofits use it and tell us how we can make it better. We also hope other developers will want to help as well."

The release of Signup Sheet also meets an important netCorps goal. "We provide technology assistance in a variety of forms to hundreds of nonprofits each year," explains Matthew Latterell, "and the development of open source tools like Signup Sheet allows us to contribute beyond our immediate nonprofit partners and clients."

NetCorps works with environmental, social justice and community-based organizations to build capacity, improve efficiency and increase effectiveness through the appropriate use of information and communication technology. Since our launch in 1996 we have worked with hundreds of organizations in the Pacific Northwest and the Southeast of the United States through our offices in Eugene and Medford Oregon and in Durham and Greensboro, North Carolina.