I'm also a fan of Access and use it for various tasks (although not PTO). However, one point should be clarified. Access doesn't automatically come with all MS Office suites. There are various packages available, each with more features and a higher cost.
For Office 2000, the first two levels "standard" and "small business", don't include Access. You'll need the "professional" version. For XP, you'll also need the more expensive "professional" package.
This seems to be the most logical way of doing things......instead of Excel - how about MICROSOFT ACCESS....anyone with Microsoft Office has is - and if you don't, you didn't load it off your office disk and trust me, you'll want to. Access allows you to create a database using fields of they have already created and/or ones that you choose. You can then run reports/queries based on whatever you choose - say you want to find all member that have volunteered for your winter carnival....well you can - and it's as easy as following a "set up wizard" for a report or query.....hopefully this will help you all. It takes some time to set up a database with all the info but no more time than it would to set up a mailing list. Good Luck you guys.... I've already set up a database so if you would like any info on what fields to include, email me and i'd be happy to help. Otherwise a decent walk me thru site would be at:MS Access Tutorial You can see a copy of my data base at our new PTO webpage - it's under construction but i will post a sample database page for the next week - just follow the link at the bottom of the following URL=http://www.myschoolonline.com/site/0,1876,-194777-56-20130,00.html]LINCOLN ELEM. PTO SITE[/URL]..............GOOD LUCK - Hope this helps... www.myschoolonline.com/site/0,1876,-194777-56-20130,00.html