BDPA Foundation: July 2011

Sunday, July 31, 2011

The BDPA Insider - July 31, 2011

The BDPA Insider - July 31, 2011

What better way to start the day than with your weekly message from BDPA!

In this issue:

Where Are They Now? BDPA Charlotte Chapter

BDPA Charlotte became a chapter in September 1988. I recall visiting the chapter to serve as a guest speaker for one of their membership drives back in 1990 or so. The meeting was held at a downtown library and I was treated with ol' school Southern hospitality of chapter president James Mitchell, chapter VP-membership management Kathy Procope and the other chapter officers. It is worth noting that James later became a multi-term member of the Charlotte city council.

The chapter legacy is strong -- Developing Chapter of the Year (1992), Chapter of the Year (2002), Chapter Management Award (2003), Outstanding Member (Tiffany Bonds, 2003) and Comeback Chapter of the Year (2006).

The chapter trains high school students to participate in the annual national BDPA HSCC championships. The team's highest placement in the national championship occurred in 2007 when they finished in 6th place. The members of the 2007 national championship are: Khalia Braswell, Monique Jones, Mykel Pendergrass, Dennis Rankin and Trevor Williams.

I hope that these HSCC alumni are still connected to BDPA. We want HSCC testimonials from each of these young people if they can be located.

Two of the past BDPA Charlotte chapter presidents (Cassandra Seibles and Charles Moore) served as members of the National BDPA Executive Committee. It would be great if we could hear from each of the past BDPA Charlotte chapter presidents:

Markus Beamer (2012-2013)
Julius Clark (2010-2011)
Charles Moore (2008-2009)
Kimberly Green (2006-2007)
Cassandra Seibles (2003-2005)
Leonard Scriven (2003, 2 months only)
Cassandra Seibles (2002)
Archie Lucy (2001)
Wanda White (2000)
Rodney Howard (1996-1999)
Candace Anderson (1995)
Norman Procope (1992-1994)
James Mitchell (1990-1991) [shown in photo]
Who Was the Founding President? (1988-1989)

Where are they now?

Where Are They Now? Sony MiniDisc

What it was: Sony’s format for pint-sized recordable audio discs, introduced in 1992. The idea was that it combined the best qualities of compact discs and cassette tapes into one high-quality, portable package that could contain up to 80 minutes of music.

What happened: MiniDisc found some fans -- it was popular in Asia and among musicians. But it never gained much support from the music industry, so few prerecorded albums were available. And within a few years of its introduction, it found itself competing with digital downloads. While Sony introduced NetMD, a MiniDisc variant that supported MP3, the company made it remarkably unappealing by adding copy protection to your tracks as you transferred them to disc. Why would you choose NetMD when a multitude of players, such as those from Diamond and Creative, let MP3s be MP3s? Good question!

Current whereabouts: In 2004, Sony upgraded the MiniDisc format with Hi-MD, a higher-capacity, more flexible standard that was backwards-compatible with MiniDiscs. It garnered some admiration among audiophiles for the high quality of its recording capabilities. But as of 2009, only one Hi-MD device remains in Sony’s lineup, the MZ-M200. It’s aimed at musicians and journalists who need to make recordings on the go. The moment it disappears, we can officially declare MiniDisc dead.

SOURCE: 'Where Are They Now? 25 Computer Products That Refuse to Die' by Harry McCracken.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Grant Declination: The Kroger Co. (BDPA Cincinnati)

In the interest of total transparency BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) shares information on our grant-writing efforts here on this blog. Sometimes the information is good and uplifting.

Sometimes the information is disappointing. BETF learned that our grant proposal to The Kroger Co. has been turned down. We wanted funding to support the 16th annual BDPA Cincinnati chapter Education and Awards Banquet.

The declination message from Kroger read as follows:

Dear Wayne Hicks,

We are writing in response to your recent request for assistance with your event. While we are greatly impressed by the scope of your organization’s work, we are unable to offer BDPA Education and Technology Foundation support at this time.

If your organization does not participate in our Kroger Neighborhood Rewards Fundraising Program, please visit our website www.kroger.com/mykroger/014.com for an application. This is a quick, easy way for schools (K-12), churches or any 501(c)(3) charitable organization to fundraise.

Best regards,
Kroger Customer Communications Team

BETF will continue to seek funding to support BDPA Cincinnati chapter and the other 44 local BDPA chapters around the nation. If you have any ideas or funding sources that you think we should consider ... please let us know!

Friday, July 29, 2011

Where Are They Now? BDPA Los Angeles Chapter Presidents

BDPA Los Angeles was the first BDPA chapter located in the pacific time zone when it was founded in 1986. BDPA Los Angeles chapter trivia:

My mom (Liz Hicks) served as BDPA Los Angeles chapter president in 1993-1994. A few years later I served as president of BDPA Cincinnati chapter (1999-2001). We were the only relatives to serve as BDPA president until a few years later when the Roberts' sisters (Monique/Seattle and Jovan/Detroit) duplicated the feat!

Our Los Angeles chapter hosted national BDPA technology conferences in 1989 ('Ideas in the Making') and 2006 ('Picturing the Future of Information Technology').

The chapter has never won the national high school computer competition (HSCC), however, they have had very positive impact on HSCC alumni such as Clyde Hill (2003-2005), Kelly Hill (2001-2003) and Joshua Roy (2004)

I would love to make a connection with other HSCC alumni from our Los Angeles chap

ter. Where are they now?

Past BDPA Los Angeles chapter president Robert Riddick (shown in photo) served as the national parliamentarian and a member of the BETF Board of Directors for many years. It would be great if we could hear from each of the past BDPA Los Angeles chapter presidents:

Joseph Uroquart (1982)
Connie Moore (1983-1986)
Robert Riddick (1987-1990)
Darolyn Howard (1991-1992)
Donna Elijah (1993)
Tracey Oxley (1993)
Elizabeth Hicks (1993-1994)

Reginald Watson (1995-1998)
Robert Gardner (1999-2000)
Angela White-Parker (2001-2004)
Narvin Yarbrough (2005-2006)
Andree Justin (2007-2008)
John Malonson (2009-2011) - shown in photo

Where Are They Now?

Fundraising Tip: Make Specific and Direct Asks for Money

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) spends a good deal of time talking with people about BDPA programs and services. We think that the worthiness of these programs is so self-evident that the money should be flowing in from donors to help us expand them. Of course, we've learned over time that we're just having a 'pleasant conversation' if we don't close the deal. I think that the following fundraising tip may be a helpful reminder to all of us that work with nonprofits that are doing good works.

Make Specific and Direct Asks for Money:

People give because they are asked—if you don't ask, the answer will always be no. It can be tough to look someone in the eyes and ask for money, but somewhere in your pitch, some variation of the words "I'd like to invite you to invest $100 in our work" need to find their place, ideally followed by as long a pause as it takes to get an answer.

For fundraisers, you can't make the mistake of not asking because you feel greedy or you think they will know what you want. Ask with pride for the cause you are so committed to raising money for, and be honored to be the potential bridge for that donor from need to impact, donation to solution. Be sure to ask for a specific amount (something that's a stretch, but not unrealistic), and be clear about exactly what you will spend the money on and the impact it will generate. Tell the story of someone you've served who enjoyed the impact of these types of donations.

Start today by calling a lapsed donor and asking for a small renewal gift, even if it's $25! Practice this type of direct and specific ask on your board members, coworkers, family, and friends, and in no time you will be a master fundraiser.

If you're still reading this blog post ....then this is my "ask" of you. Please click here and donate a small gift ... even it it's $10 ... to support our Jesse Bemley Scholarship Fund. Here is a sample of the young people who's lives you will impact with your donation.

This tip is inspired by Darian Heyman's new book, 'Nonprofit Management 101: A Complete and Practical Guide for Leaders and Professionals'.

Does this tip seem like one that you might use for your local chapter or nonprofit? If not, do you have a fundraising tip that you would like to share with us?

Thursday, July 28, 2011

2011 National BDPA Technology Conference

2011 BDPA Technology Conference
August 3-6, 2011

Hilton Chicago

720 S. Michigan Ave.

Chicago, IL 60603

Fundraising Tip: 8 Steps to Writing a Good Grant Proposal

BDPA Foundation blog welcomes guest blogger Heather Johnson. She writes on the subject of California teaching certificates. We are pleased that she agreed to share information about grant-writing with us.

Writing a Good Grant Proposal

The art of securing funding does not come easy to everyone; it takes a lot of painstaking work and an eye for detail to be able to come up with a grant proposal that’s a winner in every way. While each funding source has its own set of standards and guidelines that their grant proposals must conform to, there are general rules and principles that apply to grants as a whole.

Take care to ensure that you understand the mission and objective of the funding agency, be it government or private. If your aims do not correspond with that of the agency, there’s no point in applying for a grant.
Your proposal must be the result of intense research and enormous effort rather than a half-hearted appeal put together in an hour or two. You must believe that your proposal is the only way you’re going to get the money you need, and that no external influences are going to help you in this issue.
Start preparing the proposal even before you identify a potential funding source. Rework the specifics to cater to a particular agency once you identify which sources you want to apply to.
Do not waste time preparing proposals for every agency that offers funding; make sure that your needs and the organization’s match and that you stand a decent chance of being considered seriously for the grant.
Even though a grant is a sum of money that need not be paid back, make sure you do your homework when mentioning the tentative budget for the project you want the grant to sponsor. Be specific about amounts and break down the budget into smaller and more specific expenses. Include an estimate of the overshoot you expect if the project will span a long period of time.
Your project proposal must include a short summary of the project, a brief introduction to your organization, its members, goals and achievements, the problem that will be tackled with the money you get, the objective of the project at hand, the methods you’re going to adopt in order to achieve those objectives, the time frame in which you hope to reach those goals, and the methods of feedback and evaluation you will adopt in order to ensure that your project is on track and on time.
Make sure that all the information you include is authentic and true to the best of your knowledge and supported by relevant documentation.
Include any other documents or forms that are necessary including your resume detailing your qualifications, achievements and accomplishments.

Is Your Digital Tattoo Attracting or Repulsing Customers?

Tonya R. Taylor

It’s a fact, love them or hate them tattoos are popular and (almost) permanent. The tattoo design choice, or body art, says something about you; well actually a lot about you. It may convey your mood at a particular moment in time, it may have a deep personal meaning, you may like the artwork or some may think they're just stylish.

Even though tattoos have become incredibly mainstream the kind I am talking about has nothing to do with body art. This type of tattoo is about your business or career; yes even if you have a small business, be a college student or work in corporate America. Let me ask you a simple question, what does your digital tattoo say about your business?

Before you can answer that, I need to explain exactly what a Digital Tattoo is.

Just like a regular tattoo, your digital reputation is an expression of yourself and your business. Over time it is shaped by you and added to by others which include friends, family and your business visibility online and in the media.

Your digital tattoo is what a potential customer, recruiter, corporate executive, or anybody else finds online about your business. It’s the information people see when they search the internet for your name or your business name.

What images will they find of you? – an old photo from college or high school, your company logo, a cartoon character where your picture should be or your favorite sports team instead of a current photo?

What information will they find on your website or blog? – a new video, static information that has never been changed or updated since December or your latest blog post?

What images will they find on social media? - are you presenting at a conference, you with your family, you participating at a networking event or hanging out with friends? (Are you even using social media to help shape your digital tattoo?)

What information will they find in the media? – your published article(s), a press release, a story written about you or your business, or nothing at all?

Why is your digital tattoo important? - Ask any successful salesperson or flourishing marketer, they will tell you this...“People buy from people they know, they like and they trust”.

Your digital tattoo will help create the magic to make this happen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tonya R. Taylor, Your Savvy Online Business Builder, is dedicated to helping you learn how to use the internet to build a bigger more profitable business so you can spend more and make less. Her clients learn savvy ways to use their website to take their online presence to the next level fast. To get your FREE Savvy Online Business Building Starter Kit and receive weekly online marketing tips, tools and resources visit www.SavvyBizBuilder.com.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

BDPA Conference Workshop: 'Everybody Matters' (LaShawn Sithole)

Wayne Hicks & LaShawn Sithole

The 2011 BDPA Technology Conference begins next week. One of the people that I'm looking forward to seeing is LaShawn Sithole (owner, One In a Billion Consulting). I met LaShawn a few years ago at a BDPA conference (see photo) and have followed the growth of her business interests since. In fact, my hope is that the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation will work closely the Next Young Phenom Foundation in the coming weeks and months.

It is for these reasons that I'm looking forward to sitting in on LaShawn's workshop next week in Chicago.

What workshops are you looking forward to seeing next week in Chicago?

Volunteer Grant Award: McKesson Foundation ($500)

Christopher Parker

McKesson Foundation sent a $500 check to the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) to honor the volunteer hours donated to BDPA Richmond chapter by Christopher Parker. This volunteer grant is based on service and leadership provided by Christopher as the chapter president.

The funds will help to support the young people that are heading out next week to participate in the 2011 National BDPA High School Computer Competition Championship in Chicago. Good luck BDPA Richmond!

Many corporations have volunteer grant programs. We encourage all BDPA supporters to place a call to their human resources department to see what it takes to qualify for a volunteer grant.

Dominion Foundation

Charitable giving and leadership of campaigns to benefit non-profit organizations are an integral part of Dominion's social responsibility. Principally through the Dominion Foundation, the company contributes more than $20 million annually to charities in the states where it operates or the locations where it has significant facilities or business interests.

Grants are made in several categories, and they support a variety of programs, such as educational grants.

The company also encourages individual employee and retiree giving by providing matching funds for educational and cultural institutions and many charitable organizations. Matching funds must be requested by Dominion employees and retirees through the Dominion Foundation. Dominion matches employee and retiree donations to qualified charities dollar-for-dollar, up to $5,000 per donor annually.

To recognize volunteerism, Dominion provides a once-a-year two-for-one volunteer match for those who serve on the board of a qualified charity or have volunteered 50 hours on the organization's behalf during the previous 12 months.

Geographic Focus: Company operations in: Albany, NY; Cayuga, NY; Herkimer, NY; Livingsto, NY; Madison, NY; Onondaga, NY; Steuben, NY; Tompkins, NY; Ashtabula, OH; Belmont, OH; Cuyahoga, OH; Geauga, OH; Lake, OH; Mahoning, OH; Monroe, OH; Portage, OH; Stark, OH; Summit, OH; Tuscarawas, OH; Washington, OH; Wayne, OH; Allegheny, PA; Armstrong, PA; Beaver, PA; Blair, PA; Butler, PA; Cambria, PA; Clarion, PA; Clearfield, PA; Clinton, PA: Elk, PA; Fayette, PA; Indiana, PA; Lawrence, PA; Mercer, PA; Potter, PA; Tioga, PA; Washington, PA; Westmoreland, PA

Award Amounts -- Because the Dominion Foundation supports a wide range of charitable programs, most grants are in the $1,000 to $15,000 range. Higher amounts may be awarded when a program is an exceptional fit with corporate business or giving priorities, or when there is significant employee involvement in the effort.

Grant Review Process --- Applications are accepted year-round, and there is no deadline for submitting requests. Organizations requesting support renewal, however, should submit applications no later than Sept. 1 of each year. Requests are not automatically renewed. Funding requests are reviewed and approved by regional committees. The review process may take from two to six months, depending upon the size of the grant, since larger grants must be approved by the Foundation Board.

Grant proposals should be sent to:

D. L. Clark Building
501 Martindale Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3197
Telephone: (412) 690-1364

Dominion receives funding requests far in excess of its Foundation or corporate contribution budgets; accordingly, it must often decline support for otherwise worthy proposals. Such a response does not reflect in any way on the agency involved or on its services.

Does any BDPA chapter in New York, Ohio or Pennsylvania want to explore funding from Dominion Foundation? Does any BDPA chapter have Dominion employees in their membership roles thru which we can seek matching gifts or volunteer grants or employee involvement?

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) operates on a first-come; first-served basis when we partner with BDPA chapters. Visit the Dominion Foundation website to ensure that your chapter's program is compatible with this funding source. If you want to move forward then you can email or call me to express interest sending a grant proposal to this funding source.

William E. Simon Foundation

Named after its principal benefactor, the William E. Simon Foundation supports programs that are intended to strengthen the free enterprise system and the spiritual values on which it rests: individual freedom, initiative, thrift, self-discipline and faith in God. The mission of the Foundation reflects the unique accomplishments of the individual for whom it is named, and the principles of a free society that have made these accomplishments possible.

The main charitable purpose of the Foundation is to assist those in need by providing the means through which they may help themselves. The charitable philosophy guiding the Foundation draws heavily on the thoughts expressed a century ago by Andrew Carnegie in The Gospel of Wealth, where he wrote,

"In bestowing charity, the main consideration should be to help those who will help themselves; to provide part of the means by which those who desire to improve may do so; to give those who desire to rise the aids by which they may rise; to assist, but rarely or never to do all."

In implementing this philosophy, the Foundation seeks to fund programs which are effective in promoting independence and personal responsibility among those in need.

In recognition of the fact that a good education is indispensable in today's world to open doors to opportunity and advancement, the Foundation seeks to improve the quality of elementary and secondary education, in particular in basic skills areas. The Foundation will support K-12 institutions that are alternatives to the traditional public system, as well as other organizations that encourage educational options and competition, with the goal of promoting broader education reform. This includes, but is not limited to, religious schools, other independent schools and charter schools, voucher programs, and policy research in the areas of education choice and reform.

140 East 45th Street
Suite 14D
New York, NY 10017
T: (212) 661-8366
F: (212) 661-9450
E: info@wesimonfoundation.org

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

BDPA iRadio Show - July 26, 2011

The BDPA iRadio Show creates a vibrant communications platform that speaks to all BDPA stakeholders. We had a great show on July 26, 2011.

Listen to internet radio with BDPA on Blog Talk Radio

Monique Berry, President-Elect, National BDPA - Monique shared her vision for the future of BDPA with specific examples of programs that she wants to implement. I enjoyed her emphasis on the need for BDPA leaders to increase our level of engagement and communication within the organization. Monique also gave shout-outs to the conference team as she described what the audience can expect from the conference next week.
Michael Robinson, General Manager, Microsoft - Michael encouraged BDPA members to recognize the leadership development opportunities that BDPA provides as we are moving up the corporate ladder at our workplace. He also shared the concept of diversity dexterity with the audience and noted it was important in his most recent 4-year stint working for Microsoft on the African continent and beyond.
Cedric Sanders, HSCC Alumni (Class of 1991), BDPA Kansas City; Administrative Manager, United States Navy - Cedric shared the impact that BDPA had on his life as a high school junior and senior in 1990 and 1991 when he represented BDPA Kansas City chapter in the national HSCC Championship. The confidence and the skills that he was taught during the local training and national competitions served him well as he moved through his career with the US Navy. We are hopeful to reconnect Cedric with his other HSCC teammates from 20 years ago.
Goldie Bonney, Chapter President, BDPA New Jersey - Goldie shared her passion for BDPA with an emphasis on the powerful programs that her chapter puts on for the community ... specifically the Families In Technology Day ... held for the past 8 years by BDPA New Jersey chapter. It turns out that BDPA has given away over 800 laptop computers to families in New Jersey as part of the annual FIT Day process. Goldie is looking forward to visiting Chicago for the first time in her life next week!

Our host for this show is Franne McNeal. The technical advisor is John Malonson. The show is sponsored by the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation.

We invite you to listen to archive recording of our shows:

June 14 - Julius Clark, Clifford Clarke, Wayne Hicks and John Malonson
June 28 - Renetta English
July 12 - Marybeth Gasman, Pablo More, Earl Pace and Wesley Williams
July 26 - Monique Berry, Goldie Bonney, Michael Robinson and Cedric Sanders

Fundraising Tip: Never Apply for a Grant Without Contacting the Foundation First

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) spends a good deal of time writing grant proposals. Our success rate isn't very high. I think that the following fundraising tip may be helpful to us as we move forward in our grant-writing campaign.

Never Apply for a Grant Without Contacting the Foundation First:

As much as you might want to believe that grants are awarded simply due to the fit of the program and the excellence of the application, it simply isn't true. In fact in our experience, the odds of getting a grant that you send in without contacting the foundation are about 5 percent-10 percent. Just as in individual (and all!) fundraising, developing relationships is critical. There are people at these foundations, called program officers, who are directly responsible for deciding who gets money and who doesn't. They care deeply about the work they are funding, and consider it an advantage to be able to scope out potential grantees. In-person meetings with program officers are ideal, but even a short phone call with a grant manager or administrator can still yield the basic information you need as well as getting your name in the mind of someone at the foundation.

Sometimes these initial conversations can save you valuable time in applying for a grant program that was not a fit -- always do your homework on their funding goals ahead of time! But often, they are valuable knowledge-gathering sessions: use the call or meeting to identify the funder's key priorities and desired language, which many times cannot be found on the organization's Web site; figure out which of your programs or initiatives is the best fit;, and determine how much money you should request.

Finally, go out on a limb and ask if they would be willing to preview your LOI (Letter of Intent) or proposal before you submit it officially. This advance look will give them a sense of ownership over your request and provide you with valuable feedback. Start today by calling the offices of your top foundation prospects and seeing if you can get on a relevant program officer's schedule.

I must admit that the two largest grants that BETF received in the past year came after face-to-face meetings with the funding source.

This tip is inspired by Darian Heyman's new book, 'Nonprofit Management 101: A Complete and Practical Guide for Leaders and Professionals'.

Does this tip seem like one that you might use for your local chapter or nonprofit? If not, do you have a fundraising tip that you would like to share with us?

Where Are They Now? Amiga

What it was: A remarkable line of personal computers, introduced by home PC pioneer Commodore in 1985, that delivered powerful multimedia and multitasking years before they became commonplace on PCs and Macs.

What happened: Well, you could fill a book with the details -- and hey, someone did. Commodore had superb technology, but did a terrible job of developing and marketing it. You could argue that Amiga would have petered out no matter who owned it -- even Apple flirted with death as DOS and then Windows overwhelmed other alternatives -- but Commodore’s decision-making sure didn’t help. In 1994, it declared bankruptcy and stopped making computers. The Amiga name went on to change hands at least four times over the next decade, sometimes being used on hardware, sometimes being used on software and sometimes just disappearing.

Current whereabouts: You can find Amiga lovers on Twitter. Amiga Inc, the current owner of the Amiga name, uses it on middleware for set-top boxes as well as games and other applications for cell phones (you can buy an Amiga tip calculator). It also says it’s still working on Amiga OS 4.0, a product so long in the making that it, like Harlan Ellison’s science-fiction anthology The Last Dangerous Visions, is best known for how long it’s been promised without ever appearing. As a former Amiga fanatic, I hope it does ship someday -- there’s no way a new Amiga OS wouldn’t be cooler than an Amiga tip calculator.

SOURCE: 'Where Are They Now? 25 Computer Products That Refuse to Die' by Harry McCracken.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Grant Award: Christ Church Cathedral ($15,000)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is pleased to announce that the Episcopal Society of Church (aka, Christ Church Cathedral) partially approved our grant proposal with an award of $15,000 to support BDPA programs and services in Cincinnati, OH.

We learned of this grant opportunity from BDPA Cincinnati Corporate Advisory Council chairperson Patrick Nelson. BETF worked closely with BDPA Cincinnati chapter member Ellery Lewis to complete our written grant proposal in March 2011. A few weeks later we learned that our grant proposal made it through the first round of cuts and that we would need to answer questions at a face-to-face interview with church officials.

Here is the PowerPoint deck that we used to guide the flow of the discussion at the face-to-face interview that was held with Patrick Nelson, Ellery Lewis and BETF executive director Wayne Hicks.

Grant Proposal: Christ Church Cathedral (BDPA Cincinnati)

View more presentations from Wayne Hicks

A little over a week later we learned that a partial award of $15,000 had been approved. That funding will support the Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program implemented by BDPA Cincinnati chapter. This includes funding Bikram Sapkota (Taft HS), Christian Johnson (Mason HS), Curtis Mimes (Taft HS) and Hadiya Harrigan (Xavier HS) to participate in the 2011 National BDPA High School Computer Competition Championship being held next month in Chicago.

Good luck BDPA Cincinnati!

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Grant Award: FIS Foundation ($1,000)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is pleased to announce that FIS Foundation approved our grant request for $1,000 to support the BDPA programs and services hosted by our BDPA Dallas chapter.

FIS Foundation award letter read as follows:

Dear BDPA Education and Technology Foundation,

We want to thank you for the opportunity to be part of your great cause. We know that our contribution will go to good use in your efforts.

Thank you for all you do and good luck.

Warm regards,
Mike Hayford, Chief Financial Officer
FIS Foundation

BETF wants to thank FIS employee Johnny Wilson for being our corporate champion on this grant request. These funds will support Dallas area high school students Bridget Mfitumukiza, Gilbert Mfitumukiza, Kayla Roberts, Kiera Robinson and Stella Thang who will be competing in the 2011 National BDPA High School Computer Competition Championship next month. Good luck Dallas!

The BDPA Insider - July 24, 2011

The BDPA Insider - July 24, 2011

What better way to start the day than with your weekly message from BDPA!

In this issue:

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Fundraising Tip: Stage a Board Member Thank-a-Thon

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is no different than any other nonprofit when it comes to fundraising. It is something that must be done constantly ... and it's hard to do! As such we thought it would be good to begin to share some fundraising tips.

Here is a tip on how to get your board more involved in fundraising:

Tons of nonprofits experience frustration with getting their boards to fundraise; in fact, it's the second biggest reason why executive directors leave their posts, according to CompassPoint's "Daring to Lead" study. An easy way to give board members a chance to dip their toes in the waters of donor engagement is staging a thank-a-thon.

The key is to make it easy for board members to participate, and to help them understand that fundraising is much more than making an ask. By inviting your board members to come together one evening or weekend to call and thank recent donors, they will get exposure interacting with donors and will leave feeling empowered and connected to your organization's work. This activity will also help improve relationships with your donors, who will be delighted to receive a thank you call without an attached ask.

This tip is inspired by Darian Heyman's new book, 'Nonprofit Management 101: A Complete and Practical Guide for Leaders and Professionals'.

Does this tip seem like one that you might use for your local chapter or nonprofit? If not, do you have a fundraising tip that you would like to share with us?

Friday, July 22, 2011

Take Five: Osedra Siler (BDPA Indianapolis)

Osedra Siler is a multi-talented IT professional currently employed by Eli Lilly & Company. Her skill sets include: Process Improvement, Change Management, Service Management, Project Management, Business Integration, Disaster Recovery testing and Security Access Management. She graduated in 2007 with a Information Systems degree from Florida A&M University.

I know Osedra has a passionate advocate for BDPA Indianapolis chapter ... particularly the youth education programs. She has worked for the past few years on the STEM-based training that the chapter provides to high school students.

Osedra agreed to participate in our ongoing 'Take Five' interview series.

Osedra & 2010 HSCC Team

How did you get involved with BDPA? - In 2008, the VP of the Indianapolis chapter invited me to a meeting after telling me about the organization. I had just begun my first job out of college in January of 2008. I attended the monthly meeting and was very impressed with the work the organization was a part of (e.g. student programs, professional development and networking opportunities). I immediately joined the local chapter in Indianapolis.

What is the most rewarding aspect of working with BDPA? - The most rewarding aspect of working with BDPA is the opportunity I have to be a positive and professional mentor and teach other minority high school students about computer programming, STEM opportunities (especially for the female students), and help them get internship as high schoolers and get into college. The first year I began working with the HSCC program the majority of students were males. Over the past two years that has changed and the female interests has increased which is awesome.

Can you share a 'success story' about any of your past HSCC students? - Actually many of my students have had the opportunity to participate in a paid summer internship (as a high school junior) with a major corporation working on real world projects, within the past two years. One of the students that intern in the summer of 2010, received a full paid 4 year scholarship to college as well.

What would future evolution or change would you like to see in BDPA's STEM-based training? - I would like to see more innovative training ideas used to assist students to think out the box on what technology can be and do. Possibly, the students can build pieces of a software application (collectively) that can be sponsored by the BDPA organization and used as proof/demonstration of what the students actually learn throughout their training and can be viewed by any spectator outside the BDPA organization.

Any advice for people considering a donation to BETF? - If you have the desire to help a minority students fulfill their dream to attend college, give back to the community to help it grow or give a student an opportunity to realize their potential; a donation to the BETF would be a great start. The BETF helps minority high school students learn & grow skills in STEM programs. These donations will assist each local chapter to fund youth programs that are 'FREE' to students. These programs gives students a multitude of benefits such as network with executives of major companies, IT professionals and other students around the world) that will help them become productive and positive role models in their communities. BETF definitely make a difference in student lives.

BETF appreciates the kind words from Osedra ... however, it is obvious that she is the one making a difference in the lives of many young people .. even famous movie actors recognize Osedra's swagger!

Osedra is the future face of technology!

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Grant Recipient: BDPA Richmond ($1,386)

BDPA Richmond chapter worked closely with BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) for a number of years to promote payroll pledges from its membership. There are a number of BDPA Richmond chapter members who make payroll donations as part of their employer's giving campaign or as part of the local United Way campaigns. As a result, BETF collected a good deal of funds to support BDPA Richmond programs.

BETF approved a fourth grant request by BDPA Richmond chapter this month. This time a partial grant award of $1,386 has been approved by BETF and will be sent to the chapter in support of their "fall semester scholarships".

BETF encourages all 45 chapters to take advantage of the funding process that is currently in place.

Battelle Memorial Institute

Battelle Memorial Institute is governed by a self-perpetuating Board of Directors and is a charitable trust organized as a non-profit corporation under the laws of the State of Ohio. A strong partner in building tomorrow’s technology workforce, Battelle seeks to invest in educating men and women who will become the innovators of the future. They are leading STEM education initiatives - from a million dollar donation to the National Society of Black Engineers to building Metro High School - that leverage the power of business/government/educator partnerships for students.

Battelle is in the business of innovation. They are looking for partners who share similar objectives in the community and who understand the value of collaboration and strategic planning. Ideally, the grants they issue are applied where your organization’s direction and Battelle’s intersect. As part of their strategic planning, they aim to create partnerships that are sustainable after the grant is completed. These types of grants are frequently referred to as “seed” grants.

Organizations requesting funds must be tax-exempt under Internal Revenue code 501(c) 3, a school or a governmental agency. Battelle does not fund individuals, extracurricular school activities, courtesy advertisements, or religious, political or fraternal organizations.

Distributions are primarily made to organizations and programs in the greater Columbus area, Battelle's headquarters. Limited financial resources are available to communities in which their laboratory sites and major regional offices are located. Organizations should direct requests to the local Battelle office.

National BDPA president-elect Monique Berry asked that we look into this funding source. It appears that it is primarily suited for a grant proposal from our BDPA Columbus chapter, however, I invite other chapters that are co-located with a Battelle office to let us know if you have interest in seeking funds.

BETF operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Let me know if you or your chapter are eligible and interested in seeking funds from Battelle.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Take Five: Danielle Cauthen (BDPA New York)

Danielle Cauthen works as a web developer for a major corporation during the day. She is also completing her studies to earn a Computer Systems Engineer degree from Columbia University. Danielle is familiar to me because of her tireless volunteer efforts with BDPA New York chapter. I don't think that there has been a chapter event over the past few years that Danielle hasn't supported in one way or another. The most tangible evidence of her talents within BDPA shows in the work she has done over the past three years with HUMANWARE, the chapter's nationally-recognized newsletter.

It seemed only natural that we would seek Danielle out to participate in our ongoing 'Take Five' interview series.

How did you get involved with BDPA? - Back in 2007, I was searching for an African American professional organization, especially for IT professionals, and doing a Google search I found out about BDPA. I went to my first meeting that October, and then immediately became involved with the New York executive board, assisting with program planning. However, with a web development background, I then moved on to become the webmaster of the chapter website, leading ultimately to my current role as the chapter's Vice President of Communications.

What is your favorite part of working with BDPA? - Being a board member of BDPA New York has allowed me to make an impact within the community by working to increase computer & technology knowledge. It has also been a great opportunity to network, expand my own technical knowledge, and receive support from other African American professionals in a field that we are still greatly underrepresented in.

What future evolution or change would you like to see in BDPA? - I think the development of collegiate chapters would greatly benefit the organization. I would also like to see even more of an improvement in the organization's web presence.

Why should someone pay $100 membership dues to join BDPA? - Setting aside any tangible benefits and member discounts, as mentioned above, BDPA provides Blacks in IT a great forum for networking, expanding technical knowledge,and overall professional support.

Any advice for people considering donation to BETF? - Give to BETF, it's a worthy cause.

There are hundreds of talented IT professionals in BDPA like Danielle. Of course, you'll never know unless you take the time to connect with BDPA via our online networks or the monthly program meetings that take place in 45 cities around the nation. I appreciate Danielle for the work that she is doing to communicate with others about BDPA. It comes as no surprise to me that BDPA New York chapter is one of the fastest-growing chapters in the nation today.

Share some love with Danielle using the POST COMMENT link shown below. Or you can help the BDPA New York chapter raise college scholarship funds if that is more to your liking!

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

2011 Black Weblog Award Winners

This blog was proud to be a FINALIST in the 2011 Black Weblog Award. Although we didn't win the award ... it was quite an honor to be under consideration!

Soulclap to Gina McCauley and Maurice Cherry for successfully delivering the 2011 Black Weblog Awards! The Black Weblog Awards were given out earlier this year in Los Angeles during the 2011 Blogging While Brown Conference.

The Awards gala was co-hosted by Kim Coles and Rene Syler. Here is a list of the winning blogs!

2011 Black Weblog Awards Winners

Best Blog Design
Single Black Male

Best Blog Post Series
Single Black Male

Best Business Blog
In Her Shoes

Best Culture Blog
From Ashy to Classy

Best Cooking or Food Blog
Black Girls Guide to Weight Loss

Best Faith Based Blog
DC District Diva

Best Fashion or Beauty Blog
Afrobella

Best Film Blog
The Black Box Office

Best Gaming or Comics Blog
Oh Hell Nawl: Gamers

Best Gossip Blog
Necole Bitchie

Best Health or Wellness Blog
Black Girl's Guide to Weightloss

Best Hip Hop Blog
The Hip Hop Democrat

Best Humor Blog
Very Smart Brothas

Best International Blog
I am the Nu Black

Best LGBT Blog
The Skorpion Show

Best Micro-Blog
Sister Toldja

Best Music Blog
Soul Bounce

Best New Blog
Dirty Pretty Thangs

Best Parenting or Family Blog
Black and Married With Kids

Best Personal Blog
Skinny Black Girl

Best Photography Blog
Oh Hell Nawl

Best Podcast Series
Blacking It Up

Best Political or News Blog
The Black Snob

Best Science or Technology Blog
She Geeks

Best Sex or Relationship Blog
Very Smart Brothas

Best Sports Blog
Black Sports Online

Best Teen Blog
Reading in Color

Best Travel Blog
I'm Black and I Travel

Best Video Blog / Vlogger
The Skorpion Show

Best Writing in a Blog
Very Smart Brothas

Blog to Watch
The Skorpion Show

Best Lifestyle Blog
A Diva State of Mind

Best Plus Size Fashion Blog
Young Fat and Fabulous

Best Automotive Blog
Be Prestigious

Best Green, Nature, Outdoor Blog
Outdoor Afro

Best Book, Author, Literature Blog
Reads for Pleasure

Best Blog Network
The Fresh Xpress

Blog of the Year
Very Smart Brothas

Best Group Blog
Very Smart Brothas

Monday, July 18, 2011

The BDPA Insider - July 17, 2011

The BDPA Insider - July 17, 2011

What better way to start the day than with your weekly message from BDPA!

In this issue:

Nia Love

What is BDPA? Howard James (Philadelphia)

Many people have never heard of BDPA. We have asked BETF-Blog readers and others to answer the query, 'What is BDPA?'. Howard James (owner, Tea Country) shared his thoughts on this question with us recently:

BDPA is an IT legacy builder. I'm a charter member of BDPA (1975) and have been financially current since then (and now a life member). When Earl Pace and David Wimberly first had the audacity to approach a bunch of us in Philly in 1975 about starting an organization for Black IT professionals to help each other and our community, there was no doubt in my mind that they were on to something. We met a number of times to determine what it was we wanted to really be, then we voted on the name BDPA from among three names placed on the table. This, and the rest, is history.

I've served as President of the Philadelphia Chapter in 1990-1991. I received National Member of the Year in 1992.

My active involvement with BDPA has varied from heavy to light depending on my availability. What makes me want to contribute, at least to some extent each year, is knowing that BDPA has built and continues to strengthen a legacy. Even the significant numbers who are no longer members, take what they have gleened from BDPA and use it to contribute to the IT industry in many ways that we often don't even hear about. BDPA's positive impact on African-Americans in the IT field, as well as its impact on global IT in general, is much more far reaching than any statistics that we may gather will reveal.

We should all make a commitment each year, no matter how small, to assure that BDPA's stamp of excellence is perpetuated. Let's sing it together; you know the tune: "I'll be there, I'll be there, just call my name, and I'll be there". And let's sing it every year.

Howard has a strong legacy within BDPA. I hope that others will follow his lead by sharing their thoughts on this query, 'What is BDPA?'

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Where Are They Now? Hayes Modems

What they were: Dial-up modems from the company whose founder, Dennis Hayes, essentially invented the PC modem in the 1970s. The commands he devised became such a standard that all dial-up modems use them to this day. Hayes dominated the modem business for years -- it was as synonymous with the product category it pioneered as any tech company before or since.

What happened: Well, dial-up modems don’t matter as much as they once did, in case you hadn’t noticed. But Hayes’ decline and fall dates to well before the death of dial-up: The company stubbornly kept prices high even in the face of much cheaper competition, and thought its future lay in making ISDN modems, a market that never took off. It declared bankruptcy in 1994 and again in 1998, and was liquidated in 1999.

Current whereabouts: In 1999, Zoom Telephonics -- the company whose dirt-cheap modems played a major role in crushing Hayes -- bought the Hayes name. It continues to market a few Hayes-branded modems. But it’s a pretty obscure fate for a once-mighty brand -- I didn’t know it was still extant at all until I checked.

SOURCE: 'Where Are They Now? 25 Computer Products That Refuse to Die' by Harry McCracken.

33-Year History of BDPA Conference Themes

One of the beautiful things about being a past national BDPA president is that you have a treasure chest of history in your files. One of the beautiful things about having a blog is that you can create a repository for an organization's history. No other excuse is necessary!

Please enjoy this documentation of the 33-year history of BDPA Conference themes and locations:

2011, Ignite, Inspire & Empower: The GPS of Future Technologists, Chicago, IL
2010, Access for All, Philadelphia, PA
2009, Challenges for Today; Strategies for Tomorrow, Raleigh, NC
2008, Harnessing Emerging Technologies to Advance IT Careers, Atlanta, GA
2007, Global Strategy for the IT Professional, Washington, DC
2006, Picturing the Future of Information Technology, Los Angeles, CA
2005, Driving Innovation, Bringing Value and Embracing Change, Detroit, MI
2004, BDPA: Securing Our Future Through Technology, Dallas, TX
2003, Information Technology: From the Classroom to the Boardroom, Philadelphia, PA
2002, Changing the Culture of IT: From Access to Ownership, Orlando, FL
2001, Empowering the Nation Through Information, Chicago, IL
2000, Taking IT to the Net: From High-Tops to High-Tech, Washington, DC

1999, Closing the Gap in Information Technology, Atlanta, GA
1998, Unveiling the Magic of Emerging Technologies, Orlando, FL
1997, Looking at Tomorrow, Today, Houston, TX
1996, Building World Class Skills for Information Technology, Atlanta, GA
1995, Linking Business, Education and Technology, Philadelphia, PA
1994, Unleashing the Power of a Creative People, Cleveland, OH
1993, Cultivating Tomorrow's Leaders in the Heart of America, Kansas City, MO
1992, Shaping the Information Technology Professional: Current and Future, Detroit, MI
1991, BDPA Getting to the Core of Technology, New York, NY
1990, Education and Technology Bonding for Excellence, Washington, DC
1989, Ideas in the Making, Los Angeles, CA
1988, Growth and Success by Designs, Chicago, IL
1987, A Bridge to Success, New Orleans, LA [photo to the right shows young Earl Pace, Norman Mays and others at 1987 conference]
1986, Securing Your Professional Future, Atlanta, GA
1985, A Decade of Professional Growth, Philadelphia, PA
1984, Information Processing: A Vote for the Future, Cleveland, OH
1983, Rise to the Challenge, Newark, NJ
1982, Entrepreneurship: A Successful Attitude, Detroit, MI
1981, Growth Through Professional Association, Philadelphia, PA
1980, A New Era of Minority Involvement in Data Processing, Washington, DC
1979, The Role of the Black Technical Organization, Washington, DC

My Conference Memories: I've attended 19 of these conferences. I remember being blown away by the massive gathering of African American IT professionals when I attended my first national conference in Chicago (1988). I was a

mazed at the passion and energy displayed at the national BDPA board of directors meeting. I met Vivian Wilson at this meeting. Vivian is one of the best people that I've ever known and I am grateful to have served as her national BDPA vice president when she was the National BDPA president.

My favorite conference was the one held in Detroit (2005). It was my final year as national president. My mom and oldest daughter both were in attendance ... and we were able to bring together many of the past national presidents for recognition at the Awards Gala. Yep ... that was my favorite BDPA conference!

How many of these conferences have you attended? What is your favorite memory from these past four decades of national BDPA conferences?