When you first login to the online software, an alert will appear IF you have any unread messages (see below)
This message only appears IF you have unread messages each time you login to the software. If someone sends you a message while you are already logged in, you won't get any notification.
When you see this message, click OK. You can check your messages at anytime by clicking Messages from the main menu, then View Your Messages. The following screen will appear, containing messages (read and unread) in descending order, meaning the newest message will be on top.
Any unread messages will appear in black and messages that you have previously read will appear in gray. The sender, date sent, and subject of the message are available on this screen.
To view the entire message, click View (next to the message you want to read) and the message detail screen will appear.
You can then close the message. If you want to mark the message as Unread (to read again later, etc), check the checkbox, otherwise click Close.