As with any new website, or software – knowing where to go and what to do is always easier “after” you’ve done it once or twice. Certainly that’s true of the new TDGA website and our new membership software application. We insisted on several features you’ve asked for- and like that spaghetti sauce ad says: “They’re All In There.”

But, being brand new and offering so many more “cool” features, we thought it might be appropriate to walk you through the process, since it literally is brand new.

Joining, Renewing (or Signing-Up under the Membership alliances we’re pleased to offer by major underwriting organizations like Cox Radio, Kentucky Broadcasters, Maryland-DC-Delaware Broadcasters Assn., WideOrbit, etc.)

You may not notice it immediately, but TDGA actually has two complete websites in one. One is labeled our Non-Member (or Public Screens); and the other is for “Members Only.” One offers limited access to selected items like Classifieds, Links, etc. – The other is full access to everything including the extraordinary Special Reports, Featured Columns, Radio-TV News, News From the Trades, Business Briefs and the Resource Library

1.       Go to http://www.tdga.org/members/ (which is the tab across the top of our home screen marked as Joining TDGA and select the option marked Member Login.

2.       Half way down the page on the left side it says: "Fill in the Registration Form."  Click on that or you can use this URL: http://www.tdga.org/members/index.php/login/register

3.       Fill in the required boxes. Whatever you select type for Login name and Password becomes your new Login ID and Password. Please do not use your email address as your choice for a Login as we're finding our software doesn't "like" special characters like "$, #, % and especially the @ sign."

4.       When you've completed that page, hit the button marked "Register." This takes you to our “testing you Login Name and Password.”  It’s the software helping you confirm your selections are accepted and both in working order (exactly as you entered them on the previous page.

5.       If renewing- select from the dropdown the option marked: Renewal $ 30.00; New Members can choose from either a One-year option for $37.50 or Two-Year Memberships for $ 67.50 (All Members receive a discounted renewal rate of $30.00 per year beginning in year-two of your membership period.).

The rest is based on your answer and takes you to a payment screen for credit cards. If you choose the option

to pay by check- it accepts your membership in a holding area until the check is mailed, and processed before allowing access to the member areas of the website. (Wouldn’t it be great if our Stations could do the same thing for advertisers promising the “Checks in the mail?)?

Seriously, we offer that "Check" option for members that prefer to pay by check, or where the Station or Broadcast Group or Network is actually paying for the membership and prefers to use the check-payment option.

A third option (The "Claim Group Membership") is reserved for the State Broadcast Associations, Major Broadcast Groups or Traffic Software Vendors that have elected to pay for all of their own members or clients to receive TDGA benefits. This requires a special series of codes, which must be received from those Membership Alliance Members (not TDGA).

The nice part is: once Registered and approved- access is as easy as entering your Login Name & Password once or after each boot-up. The new software is designed to remember you and doesn't ask you more than once for your secure words with each visit.

We hope you'll find it even easier than the detail explanation above, but we find when you first use new software of any type, it's comforting to have someone "walk you through the process."

Changing Passwords or Other Data is easy as can be. The "new" software allows you to verify your profile information each time you log-in. Just in case you've change Stations, moved or have new phone numbers, new title, or maybe a new email address you'd prefer we used. It's quick and easy. TDGA listens and hopefuly responds to all the excellent suggestyions we receive from our members. Keep the great ideas coming!