Help

• Getting started
• Username and password
• Profile picture
• Email nofications and preferences
• Joining a group
• Participating in a discussion
• Not receiving emails
• Etiquette
• Top Contributors
• Using the member directory
• Sending a private message

How do I get started?

1. Log into STI/SPFA Community.
2. View Groups you're in by clicking “My Groups” from the left menu.
3. Join Groups by clicking “Find Groups to Join” from the left menu.
4. Start a discussion by clicking “Post New Discussion” from the Discussions tab of any group.
5. Reply to a discussion by clicking "Reply..." from within the discussion online OR by replying to a discussion email notification.

Download the Quick Start guide

What is my username and password?

Your username and password for STI/SPFA Community is the same as your stispfa.org website username and password. If you don't know your username and password, visit the request your username and password page and it will guide you through the process of resetting your username and/or password.

How do I add or change my profile picture?

Your profile photo is stored in the STI/SPFA database. To change or update your photo:

1. Sign in to the STI/SPFA member portal.
2. On your member compass page, look for the pencil icon next to your current profile photo. Click this icon to open the file manager on your device.
3. In the file manager, select the new photo you would like to use as your profile picture.
4. Upload the new photo to replace your current profile picture.
5. Please note it may take up to four hours for your new profile photo to display on Connect.

How can I view and change my Email and community notification preferences?

By accessing the Email Preferences section of your account, you have full control over the notification settings for your STI/SPFA groups.

To view and change your group notification preferences:

1. Select "My Account" from the left menu.
2. Click on the "Email Preferences" option.
3. In the Email Preferences section, you can:
   • Manage push or mobile notifications
   • Manage group emails
   • Change the preference and frequency of emails you receive from specific groups, such as:
     • Receive individual emails
     • Receive weekly and daily digest emails

4. Update your group notification settings using the dropdown options:
   • Set your preference to receive notifications via:
     • Immediate
     • Daily Digest
     • Weekly Digest

5. Once you've made your selections, click the "Save Changes" button at the bottom of the page.

How do I join a group?

To find and join an open group:

• Click "Find Groups to Join" on the left menu.
• View Available Groups: You will see a list of open Groups you can join, each with a "Join Group" button.
  • To join an open group, click the "Join Group" button.
• Search and Filter: Use the search box or filter by group type to help you find specific groups of interest.
• View My Group Pages: To see all the groups you belong to, go to "My Groups" on the left menu. This will display a list of all the groups you are currently a member of.

How do I start a new discussion in a group?

There are two ways to start a new discussion in the community.

Via email

• When you receive a notification email about a group, click the "Post New Discussion" link within the email.
• This will allow you to start a new discussion in that specific group.

Via the online community

• Log in to STI/SPFA Community.
• In the left menu select "Post a New Discussion".
• A dialog box will appear.
  • First, select the group you want to post the discussion in.
  • Next, enter a subject for your new post.
  • Finally, enter the details of your post. You can attach files or insert inline images using the WYSIWYG editor.
  • Click "Post" to publish your new discussion.

How do I reply to a group discussion?

The flexibility to reply through multiple channels makes it convenient to engage with your Groups in the way that works best for you.

There are the two ways to reply to a group discussion.

Option 1: Reply via Email Notification

• If you received an email notification about a group discussion, you can simply reply to that email.
• Your reply will be emailed out to all group members and posted to the website discussion.

Option 2: Reply via the Online Community

• Log in to the community website and navigate to the specific discussion topic.
• Click the "Reply" button within the discussion to post your response.
• Your reply will then be visible to all members of the group.

Who can see what I post to a group?

All STI/SPFA Community groups are members-only:

• This means only fellow STI/SPFA members can see the posts and discussions within the community.

Some groups are designated as "private":

• For these private Groups, such as committees, only the members of that specific group can view the messages and posts.

This tiered approach to group privacy ensures that sensitive or specialized discussions are limited to the intended audience, while still allowing open communication and collaboration among the broader STI/SPFA membership.

How do I search group discussion history?

The platform provides robust search capabilities to help you find relevant content across your groups.

Search Bar

• Located in the top right corner of the screen.
• Searches both discussion posts and resources uploaded to your groups.
• Results can be filtered by group/community or by time period (e.g. within two weeks, within one week).

Search Discussions

• Accessible via the "My Groups Pages" dropdown on the left navigation menu.
• Searches discussion posts within your Groups.
• Results can be filtered by group/community or by time period.

Search Resources

• Accessible via the "My Groups Pages" dropdown on the left navigation menu.
• Searches resources/files that have been uploaded to your Groups.
• Results can be filtered by group/community or by time period.

Why am I receiving some notifications but not others?

It is likely that your anti-SPAM system is blocking some of the messages. Add "@community.stispfa.org" to your list of "safe senders" to ensure you receive all notifications. This setting is different for each email system, so check your email system help for information on how to do this.

Do I need to follow certain etiquette when using STI/SPFA Community?

Yes, please view the etiquette page.

What are the points I see associated with people and Groups?

Points are used to help you see the level of activity in any group and the level of participation of any member. Groups gain points each time there is activity in them and people gain points each time they contribute to a group. Group lists and Member lists can be sorted by points to see which groups and which people are the most active in the system.

How can I find another Member in the Directory?

The STI/SPFA Member Directory offers a comprehensive search and filtering tool to help you easily connect with other community members based on a variety of criteria.

1. Select "Member Directory" from the left menu.
2. In the search bar, you can search by:
   • Member name
   • Email address
   • Organization/Employer
   • Area of interest
   • Area of expertise
   • Profession
   • Setting
   • State/Province
3. You can also filter the search results by:
   • Area of interest
   • Area of expertise
   • Profession
   • Setting
   • State/Province
4. The search results will be displayed at the bottom of the page.

How can I send a private message to an individual?

There are two ways to send a private message:

Option 1

1. Under "My Account", click "My Messages".
2. Click the "Compose Message" button.
3. Enter a subject for your message.
4. In the "Enter people to message" field, start typing the contact's name. Select the desired name from the suggestions that appear. You can message multiple people.
5. Compose your message in the message body. You can also attach files or add inline images using the WYSIWYG editor.
6. Click "Send Message" to send your private message.

Option 2

1. Go to the personal profile page of the person you want to message. You can find their profile by clicking their name in any group, in a notification email, or by using the Member Directory.
2. On their profile page, click the "Message this Person" button.
3. Enter a subject and compose your message.
4. Click "Post" to send your private message.

Option 3

On the bottom right corner of your screen, you can find the Instant Messaging option, where you can immediately and privately chat with other members.

In the IM window you can see your last three conversations to help you quickly reply.

If a member is not logged into the community, any instant or private message will be delivered as an email notification.