def self.import(file)
    CSV.foreach(file.path, :headers => true) do |row|

    # import the row as a hash
    user_hash = row.to_hash

    # set user variable to query if user exists
    user = User.where(email: user_hash["email"])

      # check if user (email) already exists, if not create user
      if user.count < 1
      # exclude the fields not needed
        #u = User.create!(user_hash.except("Name","first_name","mi","last_name","suffix","caf_join_date"))
        # map csv headers to database fields, downcase last_name
        u = User.create!(username: user_hash["Current ID"], email: user_hash["Email Number"], password: user_hash["Last Name"].downcase )
        Assignment.create!({ :user_id => u.id, :role_id => 3 })
        user_hash[:user_id] = u.id
        # create a member record with values from CSV
        Member.create!(last_name: user_hash["Last Name"], first_name: user_hash["Name"].split[0], user_id: user_hash[:user_id], caf_col_no: user_hash["Current ID"], caf_join_date: Date.strptime(user_hash["Current Joined On Date"], "%m/%d/%y").strftime('%Y-%m-%d'))
        # create a hash of values to display as successful
        @member_upload = {:last_name => user_hash["Last Name"], :first_name => user_hash["Name"].split[0], :user_id => user_hash[:user_id], :caf_col_no => user_hash["Current ID"], :caf_join_date => Date.strptime(user_hash["Current Joined On Date"], "%m/%d/%y").strftime('%Y-%m-%d')}

      end
    end
  end