diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index a9b46f2..2cc27ba 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -2,5 +2,5 @@
 .Rhistory
 .RData
 .Ruserdata
-
+*.csv
 *.DS_Store
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/R/RT_functions.R b/R/RT_functions.R
index 4b72637..74d568a 100644
--- a/R/RT_functions.R
+++ b/R/RT_functions.R
@@ -5,19 +5,26 @@
 #' 'send_one_month_remaining_correspondence'
 #' 
 #' @param awards_db (data.frame) awards database
+#' @param database_path (character) the path to save the database to
 #' 
 #' @importFrom magrittr '%>%' 
-send_correspondences <- function(awards_db) {
+send_correspondences <- function(awards_db, database_path) {
   indices <- which(awards_db$active_award_flag == 'yes') 
   db <- awards_db[indices,]
   
-  db <- create_ticket_and_send_initial_correspondence(db) %>%
-    send_annual_report_correspondence() %>%
-    send_aon_correspondence() %>%
-    send_one_month_remaining_correspondence() 
+  db <- create_ticket_and_send_initial_correspondence(db, database_path) %>%
+    send_annual_report_correspondence(., database_path) %>%
+    send_aon_correspondence(., database_path) %>%
+    send_one_month_remaining_correspondence(., database_path) 
   
   awards_db[indices,] <- db
   
+  #send summary of tickets sent
+  if(nrow(awards_db[indices,]) > 0) {
+    out <- sprintf('I sent %s tickets today', nrow(awards_db[indices,]))	
+    slackr::slackr_bot(out)	
+  }
+  
   return(awards_db)
 }
 
@@ -55,9 +62,10 @@ create_ticket <- function(award, requestor) {
 #' pi_email, pi_first_name, id (NSF award #), title (NSF award title).  
 #'
 #' @param awards_db (data.frame) database of NSF awards pulled from NSF-API
+#' @param database_path (character) the path to save the database to
 #'
 #' @return awards_db (data.frame) The initial database with updated RT ticket numbers
-create_ticket_and_send_initial_correspondence <- function(awards_db) {
+create_ticket_and_send_initial_correspondence <- function(awards_db, database_path) {
   # Get awards without an initial correspondence
   indices <- which(is.na(awards_db$contact_initial)) # save indices to re-merge
   db <- awards_db[indices,]
@@ -65,6 +73,7 @@ create_ticket_and_send_initial_correspondence <- function(awards_db) {
   for (i in seq_len(nrow(db))) {
     # Create RT ticket
     db$rt_ticket[i] <- create_ticket(db$id[i], db$pi_email[i])
+    
     if (db$rt_ticket[i] == 'rt_ticket_create_error') {
       next 
     }
@@ -78,16 +87,18 @@ create_ticket_and_send_initial_correspondence <- function(awards_db) {
     reply <- check_rt_reply(db$rt_ticket[i], email_text)
     
     db$contact_initial[i] <- as.character(Sys.Date())
+    
+    # re-merge temporary database into permanent
+    awards_db[i,] <- db[i,]
+    #save the result inbetween
+    utils::write.csv(db, file = database_path, row.names = FALSE)
   }
   
-  # re-merge temporary database into permanent
-  awards_db[indices,] <- db
-  
   return(awards_db)
 }
 
 
-send_annual_report_correspondence <- function(awards_db) {
+send_annual_report_correspondence <- function(awards_db, database_path) {
   # Get awards to send annual report correspondence 
   current_date <- as.character(Sys.Date())
   indices <- which(awards_db$contact_annual_report_next == current_date) # save indices to re-merge
@@ -103,19 +114,22 @@ send_annual_report_correspondence <- function(awards_db) {
 
     # Update last contact date
     db$contact_annual_report_previous[i] <- db$contact_annual_report_next[i]
+    
+    # re-merge temporary database into permanent
+    awards_db[i,] <- db[i, ]
+    #save the result inbetween
+    utils::write.csv(db, file = database_path, row.names = FALSE)
   }
   
-  # re-merge temporary database into permanent
-  awards_db[indices,] <- db
-  
   ## TODO
   # add function that updates annual report correspondence times
   
+  
   return(awards_db)
 }
 
 
-send_aon_correspondence <- function(awards_db){
+send_aon_correspondence <- function(awards_db, database_path){
   current_date <- as.character(Sys.Date())
   indices <- which(awards_db$contact_aon_next == current_date)
   db <- awards_db[indices,]
@@ -130,16 +144,18 @@ send_aon_correspondence <- function(awards_db){
     
     # Update last contact date
     db$contact_aon_previous[i] <- db$contact_aon_next[i]
+    
+    # re-merge temporary database into permanent
+    awards_db[i,] <- db[i, ]
+    #save the result inbetween
+    utils::write.csv(db, file = database_path, row.names = FALSE)
   }
   
-  # re-merge temporary database into permanent
-  awards_db[indices,] <- db
-  
   return(awards_db)
 }
 
   
-send_one_month_remaining_correspondence <- function(awards_db) {
+send_one_month_remaining_correspondence <- function(awards_db, database_path) {
   indices <- which(awards_db$contact_1mo == as.character(Sys.Date()))
   db <- awards_db[indices,]
   
@@ -155,10 +171,12 @@ send_one_month_remaining_correspondence <- function(awards_db) {
     
     # Update last contact date
     db$contact_1mo[i] <- as.character(Sys.Date())
+    
+    # re-merge temporary database into permanent
+    awards_db[i,] <- db[i, ]
+    #save the result inbetween
+    utils::write.csv(db, file = database_path, row.names = FALSE)
   }
-  
-  # re-merge temporary database into permanent
-  awards_db[indices,] <- db
 
   return(awards_db)
 }
diff --git a/R/main.R b/R/main.R
index 56e6602..9098979 100644
--- a/R/main.R
+++ b/R/main.R
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-## TODO add a slack message that details every email sent per day?
 #' main function
 #'
 #' @param database_path (character) Path to the database of awards and correspondences
@@ -33,11 +32,10 @@ main <- function(database_path = Sys.getenv('DATABASE_PATH'),
   db <- update_contact_dates(db, annual_report_time, initial_aon_offset, aon_recurring_interval) 
   
   ## Send correspondences 
-  db <- send_correspondences(db)
+  send_correspondences(db, database_path)
   
   ## Save lastrun and database 
   save_lastrun(current_date, lastrun_path)
-  utils::write.csv(db, file = database_path, row.names = FALSE)
   
   return(invisible())
 }
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0c663a5..dde914d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ Every 24 hours the bot queries NSF's award [API](https://www.research.gov/common
   DATABASE_PATH                            # Path to the database of awards and correspondences
   LASTRUN_PATH=LASTRUN                     # Determines where the bot stores its state
   SLACK_WEBHOOK_URL="{URL}"                # Your Slack webhook URL
+  SLACK_OAUTH_TOKEN="TOKEN"                # Slack OAUTH token (see your bot admin for access)
   RT_URL="https://example.com/rt"          # The URL of your RT install
   RT_USER="your_rt_user"                   # Your RT username
   RT_PASS="your_rt_password"               # Your RT password
@@ -58,12 +59,13 @@ Please follow this closely so no emails are sent to researchers by mistake while
 1. Add the following lines to the `.Renviron` (can be accessed by `usethis::edit_r_environ()`)
 ```
   SLACK_WEBHOOK_URL="{URL}"                # Your Slack webhook URL
+  SLACK_OAUTH_TOKEN="TOKEN"
   RT_URL="https://example.com/rt"          # The URL of your RT install
   RT_USER="your_rt_user"                   # Your RT username
   RT_PASS="your_rt_password"               # Your RT password
 ```
 
-2. Set up slackbot: `slackr::slackr_setup(channel = "#awardbot",incoming_webhook_url = Sys.getenv("SLACK_WEBHOOK_URL"), cacheChannels = F)`
+2. Set up slackbot: `slackr::slackr_setup(channel = "#awardbot", username = 'awardbot', incoming_webhook_url = Sys.getenv("SLACK_WEBHOOK_URL"), bot_user_oauth_token = Sys.getenv("SLACK_OAUTH_TOKEN"))`
 
 3. Login to RT: `rt::rt_login()`
 
diff --git a/inst/main_cron_script.R b/inst/main_cron_script.R
index 8668d88..61995ff 100644
--- a/inst/main_cron_script.R
+++ b/inst/main_cron_script.R
@@ -8,18 +8,20 @@ library(slackr)
 library(stringr)
 library(XML)
 
-## Set up environment variables 
-readRenviron(file.path(getwd(), '.Renviron'))
+## Set up environment variables
+readRenviron(file.path(getwd(), ".Renviron"))
 
 ## Source the bot
-remotes::install_github('NCEAS/awards-bot')
+remotes::install_github("NCEAS/awards-bot")
 library(awardsBot)
 
-# Log in to RT/SLACK 
-rt::rt_login(Sys.getenv('RT_USER'), Sys.getenv('RT_PASS'), Sys.getenv('RT_URL'))
+# Log in to RT/SLACK
+rt::rt_login(Sys.getenv("RT_USER"), Sys.getenv("RT_PASS"), Sys.getenv("RT_URL"))
 
-slackr::slackr_setup(channel = "#awardbot", username = 'awardbot',
-                     incoming_webhook_url = Sys.getenv("SLACK_WEBHOOK_URL"), 
-                     cacheChannels = F)
+slackr::slackr_setup(
+  channel = "#awardbot", username = "awardbot",
+  incoming_webhook_url = Sys.getenv("SLACK_WEBHOOK_URL"),
+  bot_user_oauth_token = Sys.getenv("SLACK_OAUTH_TOKEN")
+)
 
-awardsBot::main()
\ No newline at end of file
+awardsBot::main()
diff --git a/man/create_ticket_and_send_initial_correspondence.Rd b/man/create_ticket_and_send_initial_correspondence.Rd
index a7e86e2..226af39 100644
--- a/man/create_ticket_and_send_initial_correspondence.Rd
+++ b/man/create_ticket_and_send_initial_correspondence.Rd
@@ -4,10 +4,12 @@
 \alias{create_ticket_and_send_initial_correspondence}
 \title{Create New Tickets and send initial correspondences}
 \usage{
-create_ticket_and_send_initial_correspondence(awards_db)
+create_ticket_and_send_initial_correspondence(awards_db, database_path)
 }
 \arguments{
 \item{awards_db}{(data.frame) database of NSF awards pulled from NSF-API}
+
+\item{database_path}{(character) the path to save the database to}
 }
 \value{
 awards_db (data.frame) The initial database with updated RT ticket numbers
diff --git a/man/send_correspondences.Rd b/man/send_correspondences.Rd
index 59f3f51..0437949 100644
--- a/man/send_correspondences.Rd
+++ b/man/send_correspondences.Rd
@@ -4,10 +4,12 @@
 \alias{send_correspondences}
 \title{Wrapper function that sends all correspondences}
 \usage{
-send_correspondences(awards_db)
+send_correspondences(awards_db, database_path)
 }
 \arguments{
 \item{awards_db}{(data.frame) awards database}
+
+\item{database_path}{(character) the path to save the database to}
 }
 \description{
 Wrapper function for 'create_ticket_and_send_initial_correspondence',
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test_RT_functions.R b/tests/testthat/test_RT_functions.R
index 6b7e43b..6c11e3f 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test_RT_functions.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test_RT_functions.R
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@ test_that('we can send an initial correspondence', {
   }
   
   db <- create_dummy_database()
-  db <- create_ticket_and_send_initial_correspondence(db)
+
+  db <- create_ticket_and_send_initial_correspondence(db, database_path = "inst/test_db.csv")
   
   ticket <- rt::rt_ticket_properties(db$rt_ticket)
   expect_equal(ticket$Requestors, 'jasminelai@nceas.ucsb.edu')
@@ -36,9 +37,9 @@ test_that('we can send an annual report correspondence', {
   }
   
   db <- create_dummy_database()
-  db <- create_ticket_and_send_initial_correspondence(db)
+  db <- create_ticket_and_send_initial_correspondence(db, database_path = "inst/test_db.csv")
   db$contact_annual_report_next <- as.character(Sys.Date())
-  db <- send_annual_report_correspondence(db)
+  db <- send_annual_report_correspondence(db, database_path = "inst/test_db.csv")
   
   expect_equal(db$contact_annual_report_next, db$contact_annual_report_previous)
 })
@@ -49,10 +50,10 @@ test_that('we can send a one month remaining correspondence',{
   }
   
   db <- create_dummy_database()
-  db <- create_ticket_and_send_initial_correspondence(db)
+  db <- create_ticket_and_send_initial_correspondence(db, database_path = "inst/test_db.csv")
   # Set expiration date to one month from now
   db$contact_1mo <- as.character(Sys.Date())
-  db <- send_one_month_remaining_correspondence(db)
+  db <- send_one_month_remaining_correspondence(db, database_path = "inst/test_db.csv")
   
   expect_equal(db$contact_1mo, as.character(Sys.Date()))
 })
@@ -63,9 +64,9 @@ test_that('we can send an aon correspondence', {
   }
   
   db <- create_dummy_database()
-  db <- create_ticket_and_send_initial_correspondence(db)
+  db <- create_ticket_and_send_initial_correspondence(db, database_path = "inst/test_db.csv")
   db$contact_aon_next <- as.character(Sys.Date())
-  db <- send_aon_correspondence(db)
+  db <- send_aon_correspondence(db, database_path = "inst/test_db.csv")
   
   expect_equal(db$contact_aon_previous, db$contact_aon_next)
 })
@@ -80,7 +81,7 @@ test_that('check_rt_reply catches both potential errors', {
   }
   
   db <- create_dummy_database()
-  db <- create_ticket_and_send_initial_correspondence(db)
+  db <- create_ticket_and_send_initial_correspondence(db, database_path = "inst/test_db.csv")
   
   template <- read_initial_template(db$fund_program_name[1])
   email_text <- sprintf(template,