Navigating the Help Menu in Trail Life Connect

This guide walks through each of the options under the Help menu within Trail Life Connect and how to use each for assistance when needed.

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Menu Structure

Trail Life USA highly encourages using [Levels of Support](https://www.traillifeconnect.com/getdoc/iqgucfdu9b9r) when faced with questions or issues, and the Trail Life Connect "Help" menu is designed with that philosophy in mind. After expanding the "Help" menu, members can work from top to bottom as they navigate the path towards an answer or solution. Each option will be covered in the sections below, and include: - **TLC Help Documentation** - **Contact Troop Leader** - **Contact Area Leader** - **Contact TLC Support**

TLC Help Documenation

The page for "TLC Help Documentation" includes several links to digital guides (such as this one) which provide assistance with navigating and using the various tools in Trail Life Connect. *\*Within the Levels of Support, this falls under **Level 2: Online Resources***

Contact Troop Leader

The link to contact the Troop results in an email form you can complete and submit to your Troop leadership with any questions or issues. The name of the leader the Troop has chosen to be the main point of contact will appear at the top.\ (\*This individual is set by one of the Core Leaders by navigating to "Troop Settings" and "General Settings" on the left navigation menu.)\ After typing your message, click the **Send Email** button to send the message to the designated leader. *\*Within the Levels of Support, this falls under **Level 3: Other Leaders in Your Troop***

Contact Area Leader

If a Direct Service Advisor has been assigned to your Troop, the next link in the list will open an email form to contact that Area Leader. Support may come directly from the Direct Service Advisor or they may seek assistance from a nearby Troop Leader or another Area Leader. If a DSA has not been assigned to your Troop, the link will result in an email form to contact the Point Man for your Area. (The Point Man may also seek assistance from a nearby Troop Leader or another Area Leader.) *\*Within the Levels of Support, this falls within Levels 4-7:* - ***Level 4: Other Leaders in Nearby Troops*** - ***Level 5: Your Troop's Direct Service Advisor*** - ***Level 6: Area Team Specialists*** - ***Level 7: Point Man***

For Area Leaders, the 2nd link under "Help" will be a form to contact your Point Man. The 3rd link under "Help" will be a form to contact your Regional Team Leader.\* *\*Within the Levels of Support, this would fall under **Level 8: Regional Team Leader***

Contact TLC Support

If you are unable to contact or get assistance from a Troop Leader or Area Leader, or have a more pressing or time sensitive question, click the link to "Contact TLC Support." Initially, the eDSAy virtual assistant will appear, and is ready to answer many of the most common or frequently asked questions.

After asking a series of questions, if eDSAy is unable to answer your question or give helpful direction, a link will be provided which you can click and submit a support request to the Trail Life Connect support team.

If you are logged in to TLC when submitting your support request, your identifying information will auto-populate based on the logged in account. Select the best category, describe your question or issue in as much detail as possible, then click the **Send Email** button to send to the TLC support team. *\*Attachments are not an option during initial submission, but can be provided in follow-up communications after you receive your confirmation email that the request has been received.*

Trail Life Resources

Above "Help" on the left navigation menu is another menu item for "Trail Life Resources." Expanding this menu will reveal links to other helpful resources, including: - **Trail Life USA Store** (Trail Life's online store) - **Events** (a separate site for Trail Life sponsored events) - **Member Benefits** (various benefits for Trail Life members) - **Branding** (important information on using Trail Life branding) - **JTA Recruiting Materials** (helpful tools for Join the Adventure) - **Annual Planning Guides** (digital guides to assist with Troop planning) - **Donate** (an opportunity to donate to Trail Life USA)