Using the First Name Variable in Bulk E-mails

Question: 

I’m interested in sending out a mass email but I want to make it personalized by using the first name of each recipient. Is there a way to do this?

Answer:

Yes, there is! When sending a bulk email communication you can include the first name of your recipients in the body of your message by using the variable ##fname##. Using this variable will insert the volunteer’s first name into your email. 

In instances where there are multiple volunteers sharing one email address, only one email will be sent to that address, but all first names will be included where you have inserted the first name variable. For example, if a family of 5 each have profiles in your system with the same email address and you send out a mass email that includes them, that email address will receive one email with names listed out like so: Hal, Connie, Sue, Sher and Scott. 

Please note that most of the automated emails in the system (such as confirmation and reminder emails) are already configured to include the volunteer’s first name in the salutation, so there is no need to add a variable. Also note, that anywhere a variable is applicable in CERVIS it will be included in the information box adjacent to that field.