Connect with your stakeholders by disconnecting from your land-lines and cell phones. All it takes is a virtual phone and an email account.

Google Voice is a telephone solution that offers Neighborhood Councils many features, liberating councils from the need to maintain a land-line, a message machine, or a cell phone that must be carried by a board member.

The Department used a virtual phone number during elections so that any incoming call went to several people, who could respond via email and phone. The number was 818-293-VOTE (8683).

Google Voice is part of Google and it’s a free service that has many benefits:

  1. FREE – select a local number and pay nothing
  2. TRANSCRIPTION – phone messages are transcribed and emailed to recipients
  3. MULTIPLE RECIPIENTS – phone calls can go to more than one recipient
  4. MULTIPLE RECIPIENTS – messages can go to more than one recipient
  5. LIBERATION – There is no need for a physical phone
  6. ANYWHERE – access your calls anywhere, no need to go to the office
  7. FLEXIBILITY – take your transcribed messages by email or cell phone or both
  8. CUSTOMIZABLE – your voice message is yours, change it at any time from anywhere
  9. MOBILITY – answer that local phone number from anywhere
  10. CONNECTIVITY – your constituents can easily connect with your Board

Here are the steps in creating a Google Voice account:

  1. Visit the Google Voice website, then sign in with your Google Account (create a Google Account for your Neighborhood Council, if you don’t have one already)
  2. You’ll be prompted to choose a Google Voice account type. Select I want a new number.
  3. Enter a forwarding phone number and phone type. This is the phone that will ring when someone calls your Google number. You can add more phones later. Learn more about call forwarding.
  4. You’ll see a numerical code on your screen. Take note of the code, then click Call Me Now to verify your forwarding phone.
  5. When you receive the call, enter the code from your computer screen.
  6. Search for an available Google number.
    Tip: Search by area code, zip code, or word/phrase, then see options that match your criteria. At this time, Google Voice doesn’t offer 1-800 or vanity numbers.
  7. Select your number.

After your Google number is set up, you can add more forwarding phones from Settings > Phones > Add another phone.

If you have any questions on setting up Google Voice, please email Communications@EmpowerLA.org