Setting up a Google account

We’re using Google Apps to run our email and calendar.  Many of you will be able to do everything you need without needing to set up an account on Google, but in some cases, you’ll want or need an account.  For example, if you want a dynamoswimteam.org email address, or if you’re going to administer our calendar (add or edit events), you’re going to need a dynamoswimteam.org account.

If you need an account, this short tutorial will walk you through the process.

Ok, I’m ready – how do I get started?

  1. Ask for an account.  Email webmaster@dynamoswimteam.org and ask to be set up.  We’ll need to verify that you’re really associated with the team, so please send enough information so that we can tell who you are.  When we create your account, we’ll email a notice to the email address you used when you requested access.  Please include in your email a first choice and second choice for user name – your email address will be <yourusername>@dynamoswimteam.org.
  2. Watch your email for a message like this:
  3. Make a note of your user id and temporary password, then click the “Start page” link.  You should go to a page that looks like this (note the “sign-in” links scattered across the page):
  4. Click the upper right Sign in link.  You’ll see a screen like this:
  5. Fill in the information as indicated in the form.  The goofy-looking characters are used to make sure that only humans can sign up for Google accounts.  In some cases, you may not be able to read these characters.  If this happens, don’t worry!  Just give it your best guess — if you get it wrong, the page will come back with different letters, and you’ll get to try again.  I’ve had to do this two or three times in some cases, so don’t worry if you can’t read the first set of letters.
  6. You’re now signed in.  If you go back to the Start page, you’ll now see email in your inbox, and “live” calendar entries.

If you’d like to set up bookmarks, here are direct links to some parts of the web site if you’d prefer to link directly there: