Text Box: OSI Observer

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       Recently Orbit Software team members had the unique opportunity to team up with the TV show “Our Planet” to release feature presentation on “Transportation Solutions for the 21st Century”.

 

       Producers  worked  with  OSI  as

well  as  seasoned  BusBoss  users

from Great  Valley School District to

create   an  inside   look   into   how

transportation has evolved from the

first school bus in 1827 to today.

 

       The episode of Our Planet will highlight the innovative ways BusBoss Transportation Software, coupled with it’s add-ons such as TRIPpatrol GPS tracking, has allowed users to optimize their transportation departments, producing more efficient routing and a “Greener” district.

 

       “We are very happy to be part of an industry that promotes student safety while ensuring a cleaner planet tomorrow by providing a product that reduces resource requirements”, said Sonia Mastros, President of Orbit Software.  “We are making the planet better, one school district at a time.”

 

       For more information on the Our Planet episode, or to view the video, please visit:

 

http://www.orbitsoftware.net/news.asp?Movie=OurPlanet

Text Box: Inside this issue:
Text Box: Why automate?…
Text Box: Special points of interest:
Our Planet featuring Orbit Software  Aires In March, 2010!
Employee Spotlight
Ten Ways to “Go Green”
Orbit Rewards 
Unveiled!
Text Box: March, 2010
Text Box: Volume 1, Issue 2
Text Box: Orbit Software, Inc.
Text Box: Orbit Software On TV!

Orbit Rewards Info. - www.orbitsoftware.net/rewards.asp

Orbit Rewards Login Page - www.patronflex.com/OrbitSoftware

BusBoss Support - www.support.busboss.com

BusBoss Information - www.busboss.com

Orbit Software Information - www.orbitsoftware.net

E-training - www.busboss.com/etraining/home.htm

Trip patrol - www.trippatrol.com

iBusBoss - www.busboss.com/ibusboss.asp

BusBoss SaaS - www.busboss.com/busboss_saas.asp

BusBoss Express - www.busboss.com/busboss_express.asp

Where to Find Us: Links, Info., and More...

Text Box: 	
	Orbit Software is proud to announce the newest addition to our great package of routing and schedule software tools and add-on’s, a loyalty program entitled Orbit Rewards. 
	This program will allow us to give back to you, the customer, points for choosing BusBoss related products and services to fulfill your transportation needs. 
	With every purchase, referral, and qualifying event your business or school district participates in, you will receive points. Leave the points to accrue, or spend them as soon as you get them, either way it’s your choice how to manage all the points you will gain just by owning and using BusBoss software!
	Starting January 1st, 2010, every customer with an active support contract will be able to access and use their Orbit Rewards points, as well as begin to accrue more points as time goes by. 
	Every customer should have received a customized postcard with your member number and beginning point balance, as well as a complimentary Christmas gift to kick off the new program. 
	To check your balances go to Orbit Rewards Login Page - www.patronflex.com/OrbitSoftware.
	If you have not received your post card yet, please call Rachel Statzell at  866-740-8994 or email to rastatzell@orbitsoftware.net.
Text Box: Orbit Rewards Unveiled for 2010!

public transportation. Perhaps walk when possible or even ride a bike. If public transportation isn’t ideal, maybe carpool. Reduce employee travel by investing in videoconferencing or encourage telecommuting.

8.  Create a Healthy Environment - Use non-toxic cleaning products. Keeping a plant in your cubicle or office will help absorb indoor pollution.

9. Use Laptops - On average, a laptop uses ten percent less energy than a desktop computer.

10. Recharge vs. Replace - Use rechargeable batteries. By doing this you’re not only saving the environment but saving money.

With St Patrick’s Day right around the corner and spring in the air, the color green comes to mind quite often. Of course, when thinking of the color green it reminds us of “going green”. With that in mind I’ve done some research and came up with some ideas on how to “Go Green” at home and in the workplace.

1. Be Bright About Light - Save energy and use artificial lighting. When leaving the room for more than 15 minutes turn off the light. Take advantage of our natural resources by opening up your blinds and letting the sunlight shine through. When shopping for light bulbs purchase energy efficient ones. Set timers and use motion sensors that will automatically help you save energy.

2. Maximize Computer Efficiency - Set your computer up so it goes into “sleep” mode after so many minutes of not being used. Keep in mind, setting a screen saver does not save energy. When you leave for the day turn your computer off along with

the power strip.

3. Be Printer Smart - Print on both sides of the paper. Use the back of old documents as scrap paper. When possible print in black and white. Recycle old printer and toner cartridges.

4. Go Paperless when Possible - Make a habit of thinking before you print. Store your files online or in emails instead of printing them. Before throwing away unwanted magazines or catalogs remove yourself from the mailing list.

5. Recycle - Practice recycling everything possible. Almost all paper in an office is recyclable. Place recycling bins in high traffic areas and clearly post what can be placed in each bin.

6. Eat Smart - Use reusable silverware and dinnerware. Bring your own coffee mug or drinking glass to work. Use filtered water instead of bottled water.  When choosing your selection of food, purchase organic food.

7. Travel Smart - When possible, use

Text Box: 	Bustraq is a GPS tracking and monitoring company that focuses on customizing innovative solutions to school bus operators in order to improve safety and savings. Their parent company GEOTAB has been developing solutions that combine GPS technology with a patented method that collects GPS data on a driver-behavior and event based system for over 10 years.  
	GEOTAB technology helps transportation departments to define precisely what their current operating state is through collection of data in multiple areas including driver safety, fuel/mileage consumption, time spent on route, asset/personnel deployment as well as defining business processes and information flow.
	BusBoss and Bustraq can be fully integrated with each other through our Trip Patrol software add-on. 
	We invite everyone to attend our “Meet and Greet” at the PASBO Show on March 9th at 6 PM in the Cocoa Room. Join us to meet both BusBoss and BusTraq representatives and  participate in hands on software demonstrations.
Text Box: 	Want to see something specific in our newsletter? Have a question you want us to share in the next issue? Speak out!  We at Orbit Software value all of our readers’ opinions, and we want to know what you want to read. If you have an idea for an article, a question or tip you’d like to share, or even a favorite recipe or vacation spot, email us at info@orbitsoftware.net, and your submission could make it in the next issue! 
    Every month we will use the most original or popular suggestion, and the selected reader will be awarded 50 Orbit Reward Points for their winning submission! 
Text Box: Ten Ways To “Go Green”
Text Box: Orbit Software, Inc. was established in 1998 and since then  our commitment has been to support student transportation services by developing products that address three design objectives. 
Software that is comprehensive, yet easy to learn and flexible to use. 
Software that keeps the district in control of their management processes.
Software that supports quick, easy and efficient data conversions and start-up precious for districts.
We have a deep commitment to professional quality service.  Our company continues to expand its business as the computer industry continues to grow.
New products such as iBusBoss, BusBoss SIF, TRIPpatrol and Web Based Field Trip Applications have been added to help you automate more and more.
Text Box: “Planning for the Future 
while Optimizing the Present”
Text Box: Get in touch with us!

Readers, Speak Out!

Text Box: Partner Spotlight
Text Box: Holiday Recipe
Text Box: Shamrock Spirals

8 10-inch spinach flavored flour tortillas
20 oz frozen spinach, thawed
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/8 teaspoon celery salt
1/4 cup mayonnaise
3/4 cup sour cream
1/8 teaspoon dried dill
2 teaspoon onion powder
2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1/2 cup finely chopped crisp cooked bacon

Gadget Corner/BusBoss Tip of the Month

Chill the rolls overnight, or at least 6 hours.

 

Unwrap your rolls and cut off the ends of each one. Eat the ends or discard them, whatever you like. Slice the rolls, while still cold, into 1/2 inch slices.

 

Serve chilled.

 

 

Text Box: Employee Spotlight

       …because it will save you Time and Money!

       Are you still working for a school district that won’t approve the purchase of routing and scheduling software?  Believe it or not, there are quite a few that are still using a manual system.  I just did a software demonstration for a district with 40,000 students that has 5 bus terminals and everything is still handled with pen and paper and a wall map.  Boy, was I surprised!

       Let’s take a few seconds to highlight why automating your routing process is important:

1. Eliminate labor-intensive manual processes.

2. Streamline operations.

3. Improve employee productivity.

4. Control fuel and labor costs.

5. Unlimited users with network  and Internet access.

6. Generate turn-by-turn driving instructions automatically.

7. Route Optimization and Scheduling.

8. Customizable map views.

9. Instant access to student and route information.

10. Accountability and backups for state reimbursement reporting.

       This is just to name a few.  What other ways do you use BusBoss to make your job easier?  Do you have any referrals?  If so, you would also be eligible for the Rewards they get if they purchase.

 

Directions:

Let the thawed spinach drain completely. Squeeze dry between paper towels or with your hands. The spinach should be quite dry or you’ll end up with a watery filling.

 

Combine spinach, cream cheese, mayo, sour cream, and all the spices in a mixing bowl. Mix with a wooden spoon until well combined.

 

Spread mixture evenly onto your eight tortillas, leaving a little filling-free space (about 1/2 inch) around the edge of each one.

 

Place each tortilla on its own piece of plastic wrap, and roll your tortilla as tightly and firmly as you can. Wrap your roll firmly in plastic wrap.

Text Box: Featured Vacation Spot

    Last July, Luke and I went on vacation to San Francisco. While there we took a tour of San Francisco from atop an open topped tour bus. We visited attractions such as City Hall, Hotel California, Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf, Lombard Street, and even drove over the Golden Gate Bridge.

    We drove the coastal highway to Muir Woods where we walked through the forest of Redwood trees. We went on a beautiful sunset cruise and even visited the sea lions at Pier 37.

    The one thing I will never ever forget from my time in San Francisco was the tour of the Alcatraz prison. We took a cruise to Alcatraz Island and toured the prison at our leisure.  We listened to an audio tour on tape recorders as we walked the halls of Alcatraz.

                                              Holly Hafer

                                              OSI Software Specialist

March 2010

Text Box: and the Restless” and “Days of Our Lives” while playing Farmville on Facebook.  Other hobbies would include playing Wii with her boyfriend Luke, reading, and writing. In the near future Holly will be spending her free time making wedding plans for her upcoming wedding in May of next year.

	If you have any technical issues concerning BusBoss or would like to schedule additional training please contact Holly at 866-740-8994 or email her at hhafer@orbitsoftware.net.
Text Box: 	Holly Hafer joined the Orbit Software staff in January 2008. Since starting her career as a software specialist, she has trained and installed over 45 new customers in 21 different states across the United States. 


Text Box: 	She has also had the opportunity to attend trade shows including PASBO and the STN trade show in Reno, Nevada.
	
	When a school district purchases BusBoss, Holly assists them with converting their current data into BusBoss then travels to their district to train them. When not traveling, Holly helps our customers with any technical issues that may arise or questions they may have.

	In her spare time she enjoys spending her time catching up on what's happening on “The Young

Employee Spotlight

1

OSI on TV!!

2

Orbit Rewards

2

Featured Vacation Spot

2

Gadget Corner

2

Readers Speak Out

3

Holiday Recipe

3

Calendar, Contact Us, and More!

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