The Diocese of La Crosse had intended to utilize their new server primarily as a mail server for communication, but after viewing a demo of The AVS Group’s intranet solution, ClearWater, they realized that they could use their internal network for much more. The Diocese of La Crosse was interested in more-efficient sharing of building resources, files, and databases, but needed it to be easy to use, without requiring people to become computer-savvy overnight.

The Diocese of La Crosse looked to The AVS Group for assistance with designing and developing their intranet. They had previously worked with The AVS Group for the redesign of an earlier Web site and were pleased with the appealing and flexible solution that they received. The AVS Group delivered intranet tools designed specifically for the Diocese of La Crosse. The AVS Group modified custom ClearWater intranet applications that had already been developed, resulting in cost and time savings for the Diocese.

The resulting intranet (called CuriaNet) has offered the flexibility that the Diocese of La Crosse needed and has contributed to the organization’s overall efficiency. CuriaNet offers a centralized resource for finding and updating Diocesan staff and parish contact information, streamlining facility maintenance and technical support requests, and an easy-to-update calendar for posting upcoming meetings and events, along with monitoring building resource utilization. Listed below are descriptions of some of CuriaNet’s useful online features:

Custom color-coded calendars are part of CuriaNet.

Employee information. This features a searchable database including options to search for staff members by name, location, and deanery. It includes the person’s contact information, their photo, and other relevant information, and is easily updated with the management tool provided by AVS. This section also facilitates information sharing through access to other users’ shared files.

Fix It. Trackable maintenance request and computer support forms—This portion of CuriaNet features an effective means for communicating needs and requesting assistance. The “fix it” requests can be directed to maintenance staff for building-related needs or to computer support for technical issues. All requests are compiled into a database for tracking of problems.

Events Calendar. This color-coded calendar utilizes a third-party application and allows for the integration and creation of several calendars. Users can see current events as well as add, edit, and delete meetings and events. It is managed with a Web-based interface.

Bishop’s Calendar. Due to the number of people who are in charge of managing the Bishop’s calendar, an ideal solution that eliminates double-booking and outdated schedules was the creation of one Web-based calendar where the Bishop’s time can be managed effectively through password protected-access. If desired, this calendar can also coordinate with the events and/or building resources calendar.

Building Resources. A color-coded, interactive calendar displays availability of building resources (meeting rooms, chapel, dining room, etc.) that are used by Diocesan staff and rooms available for rent. This also utilizes a third-party application.

Agenda Builder. For efficient facilitation of meetings, AVS created an Agenda Builder application. It features two components: a main page that enables users to view all agendas currently available and to create new agendas; and an agenda-specific page that allows the addition, editing, and deletion of items for an existing agenda. Users can move items around in the agenda order and assign a total time for the meeting as well as times for each event. These features allow the agenda to be completely customizable.

Employee Handbook. The employee handbook, created by the Diocese of La Crosse, is available as PDFs and posted in this section of CuriaNet for easy access and printing, if desired.

Electronic In/Out Board. This page interfaces with the Employee Information database and displays status on whether employees are in or out of the building, allowing for additional details regarding where they are and when they’re expected back. With a variety of people in several buildings, this allows the administrative staff to easily answer and properly direct telephone calls.

The Diocese of La Crosse serves more than 200,000 Catholics by providing communication, educational resources, and spiritual guidance and leadership through the 164 parishes it serves in west-central Wisconsin.

Holy Cross Diocesan Center was built in the early 1950s as a seminary to house and educate young men interested in the priesthood. The seminary closed around 1970. After a few years of vacancy, the Diocese of La Crosse relocated their corporate offices (called the Curia) to the building. Today, it is the location of 21 diocesan departmental offices with a total of 75 staff, a Catholic K-6 grade school, a high school seminary program for young men, a new religious order of priests, and a retirement center for more than 20 diocesan priests. A small amount of space is also leased to a local daycare center.