Nominations Open for 2011 Black Weblog Awards (Apr 18 - May 7)

We want to encourage all of our blog readers to take a moment to support the 2011 Black Weblog Awards.  You have the ability to nominate your favorite blogs about any and every topic.  The nomination service is open through May 7th.  Not only do we want you to make nominations ... but, we hope that you will spread the word about this online award program to others in your sphere of influence.

Nominations:

• Nominations are open from April 18 - May 7
• The official Nomination site is here.
• You provide the web address (URL) for your favorite blog in each category as well as your name and email address on the nomination form and that's it.
• There are 37 categories.

Voting:

• Finalists will be announced the week of May 15
• Online voting commences May 16 – June 17. 
• Again, you will need to cast your vote (your valid email address will confirm you are a person and not a bot).

Winners will be announced live at the Black Weblog Awards Ceremony during the 2011 Blogging While Brown Conference in Los Angeles, California.

Here are the categories:

Best Blog Design (This category is for well-designed blogs that incorporate a unique and eye-catching visual web design, keen use of typography, and a killer layout)

Best Blog Network (This category is for Black blog networks. Blog networks should be comprised of at least three blogs with content updated regularly, include some level of quality control, and include some type of blog network indication which links to the blog network’s site.)

Best Blog Post Series (This category is for a series of posts in a blog about a particular topic. Posts can be fiction or non-fiction, but post series must be linked by a common and identifiable theme with the ability to skip forward or backwards through the series for judging purposes.)

Best Business Blog (This category is for blogs that talk about the modern business world.)

Best Culture Blog (This category is for blogs which analyze and discuss Black culture and/or the African diaspora with respect to art, dance, Black history, music, and other related content.)

Best Cooking or Food Blog (This category is for blogs which focus on food and/or recipes. Blogs may also include restaurant and product reviews.)

Best Faith-Based Blog (This category is for blogs which feature unique religious and spiritual content from any religion or faith.)

Best Fashion or Beauty Blog (This category is for blogs which cover the topics of beauty, fashion, clothing, cosmetics, design, accessories, personal styling, and other related content for either men or women.)

Best Film Blog (This category is for blogs which promote or discuss films, actors, film culture, and other related content.)

Best Gaming or Comics Blog (This category is for blogs which promote or discuss films, actors, film culture, and other related content.)

Best Gossip Blog (This category is for blogs that focus on the reporting, satire, and lampooning of celebrities and pop culture.)

Best Group Blog (This category is for a single blog which is updated by a group of people (two or more people. This blog can be about any topic.)

Best Health or Wellness Blog (This category is for blogs that focus on health, fitness, living green, and overall physical wellness.)

Best Hip-Hop Blog (This category is for blogs that focus primarily on hip-hop culture, including urban fashion, current events, hip-hop music, and other related content.)

Best Humor Blog (This category is for humor blogs or blogs which feature humorous content. All sites comedy-related, including humor sites, sites spotlighting comedians, and sites that simply make you laugh.)

Best International Blog (This category is for blogs of any topic that are based in countries other than the United States. The country of origin for the blog must be clearly identified for judging purposes.)

Best LGBT Blog (This category is for blogs that relate to or are about the LGBT community, including news, pop culture, or personal stories)

Best Microblog (This category is for the following types of microblogs: Twitter profiles, Tumblr blogs, or Posterous blogs.)


Best Music Blog (This category is for blogs that focus on music; blogs can provide downloadable mp3s, and may cover more than one genre of music. The majority of the blog should be about music, not satire on pop culture.)

Best New Blog This category is for blogs of any topic which have been started on or after September 1, 2010.)

Best Parenting or Family Blog (This category is for blogs which center around the topics of family, raising children, families, etc.)

Best Personal Blog (This category is for blogs written by individuals about themselves or about others. Blogs do not have to adhere to a specific theme, but should specifically be about the blogger’s life.)

Best Photography Blog (This category is for blogs which present and feature photographs taken by the blog author.)

Best Podcast Series (This category highlights podcasts — serialized audio files available to download — on any topic.)

Best Political or News Blog (This category is for blogs which are about politics or current newsworthy topics.)

Best Science or Technology Blog (This category is for blogs which feature content about biology, chemistry, physics, technology, the Internet, and the various realms of science)

Best Sex or Relationships Blog (This category is for blogs which discuss or analyze romantic or interpersonal relationship topics, sexual health or other sexual or relationship topics.)

Best Sports Blog (This category is for blogs which discuss or analyze anything sports-related, including professional sports teams, fantasy sports, sports players, and other related content.)

Best Teen Blog (This category is for blogs of any topic where the author is anywhere from 13-19 years old.)

Best Travel Blog (This category is for blogs which explore world travel, travel plans, tourism, travel writing, or other related content.)


Best Video Blog/Vlogger (This category highlights blogs which feature original video content by the blog’s author on any topic. Blog content must be primarily video content.)

Best Writing in a Blog (This category is for blogs which have exceptional writing.)

Blog of the Year (The blog of the year has it all: great writing, frequent posts, active comments and a strong reader base)

Blog to Watch (This category is for that great blog that not everyone knows about…but should! It’s undiscovered. It’s a best kept secret)

Best Lifestyle Blog

Best Plus-Sized Fashion Blog

Best Automotive/ Car Blog

Best Green/ Nature/ Outdoor Living Blog

I hope that you take a moment to nominate those Black-owned and Black-operated blogs that you've been enjoying over the past year!

Harley-Davidson Foundation

The mission of the Harley-Davidson Foundation is to support the communities in which we have facilities with funding and employee volunteerism. The Foundation reaches out to build healthy, thriving communities by placing an emphasis on Education, Community Revitalization, Arts & Culture, Health and the Environment. The Harley-Davidson Foundation targets areas of greatest need among under-served populations to enhance the quality of life in our communities. The Foundation also supports selected national causes, including Veterans initiatives.

In making granting decisions, the Foundation looks closely for the following detail:

1. The proposal's relevance to the Foundation’s areas of interest
2. The proposal's clarity in stating the expected project or program outcomes and the strategy for achieving them
3. The extent to which the strategy involves a collaborative approach to solving a problem or issue affecting the targeted groups or organizations

Geographic Focus: Talladega, AL; Kansas City, MO; York, PA; Franklin, WI; Milwaukee, WI; Menomonee Falls, WI; Tomahawk, WI; Wauwatosa, WI

Please let us know if your chapter is interested in working with BETF to approach this funding source for support of your Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship program funding.


Harley-Davidson Foundation
3700 W. Juneau Avenue
Milwaukee WI 53208
Telephone: (414) 343-4001

First Annual BDPA IT-oLogy Scholarship Awarded to Charlotte High School Student

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) and the Consortium for Enterprise Systems Management awarded the first annual BDPA IT-oLogy scholarship to Jerron Jamerson.

Jamerson was selected based on the quality of his application, essay and letters of recommendation. In his essay, Jerron wrote, “Continuous advances in computer science have helped to make business processes more efficient and technology more cost effective for consumers, while computer applications become more and more user-friendly.” Jamerson, a senior at Phillip O’Berry Academy in Charlotte, North Carolina, plans use this one-time $2,000 scholarship to study Computer Science at South Carolina State University.

The scholarship was offered to student members of National BDPA. Applicants had to excel academically, show exceptional leadership potential and make an impact on their communities through service to others. Applicants had to be high school seniors from South Carolina or North Carolina or planning to attend a college in either of these two states.

IT-oLogy is offering this scholarship to continue to encourage more young people to look into Information Technology as a career. “Students who pick IT as their profession have the unique opportunity to pick any industry or type of business to apply their skills and help create the future,” stated Lonnie Emard, Executive Director of IT-oLogy.

“We hope to continue to impact on the advancement of our students into science, technology, engineering or math related careers and getting a degree in information technology is one way to get it done, " said BDPA Education and Technology Foundation Executive Director Wayne Hicks.

The BDPA Insider - April 17, 2011

 

 
The BDPA Insider - April 17, 2011

What better way to start the day than with your weekly message from BDPA!
 
In this issue:  

1. 2011 National BDPA Conference Registration Now Open
2. Bemley Scholar James Arama Heads to Marist College
3. Computer Resource Solutions Changes Identity to The CRS Group
4. Member on the Move: Coram Rimes (BDPA New Jersey)
5. Record-breaking Microsoft patch day affects all versions of Windows
6. Take Five: Dalric Webb (Cincinnati)

Walter & Elise Haas Fund

For more than six decades, Walter A. Haas, Sr. and his wife, Elise Stern Haas, contributed to the quality of business and cultural life of San Francisco and the greater Bay Area. First as president and later as chairman of the board, Mr. Haas led the development of Levi Strauss and Co. from a small western pants manufacturer to the largest apparel company in the world. An artist and civic leader, Mrs. Haas helped pave the way for future generations of women to participate fully in their community.

The couple created the Walter & Elise Haas Fund to provide education grants to improve the quality of public education by building effective school communities. The program goals focus on school leadership, teacher quality and partnerships for school improvement to build engaging, effective school communities. The Fund gives priority to programs that focus on increasing educational opportunities for underserved students.

The fund's goal is to engage parents, youth, and the broader community in activities to improve the quality of education in public schools. The activities may be led by organizations external to the school system or be initiated within the public schools. These may include:

• Programs and projects that build meaningful collaborations among parents and other members of the school community
• Activities and organizations that engage youth to help improve academic success and develop collaboration with teachers, parents, and other adults within their school communities
• Programs that build effective partnerships between public schools and the broader community
• Limited support for broader school reform efforts that improve partnership for school improvement

This funding source seems best suited for our BDPA Bay Area chapter. We hope to hear from them if there is interest in seeking funding from Haas Fund.

Grant Declination: Procter & Gamble Fund (BDPA Cincinnati)

We are sorry to report that our grant proposal to the Procter & Gamble Fund has been turned down. The grant proposal was a joint submission of BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) and BDPA Cincinnati chapter.

The declination response read as follows:

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Dear Mr. Hicks:

Thank you for your interest in a grant from The P&G Fund. As you saw from our online guidelines and application, we are focusing our philanthropic resources primarily on Live, Learn and Thrive.

The P&G Fund's grant process is extremely competitive, and we cannot honor each organization's request. Unfortunately, we are not able to make a grant to your organization at this time.

This decision is not a reflection on your program; it is simply the reality that the quantity of high quality applications we receive far outweighs the available resources we have to distribute.

We wish you the best in your efforts to improve life for those in need!

The P&G Fund

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This is a set-back to our funding efforts on behalf of the BDPA Cincinnati chapter, however, we will continue to move forward in an aggressive manner. You can help if you are so inclined. Please take a moment to visit the BDPA Cincinnati HSCC Scholarship Fund project. Even a donation as small as $10 would be a great morale boost for the chapter and its leadership.

Grant Proposal: Lucky Brand Foundation (BDPA Chicago)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) joined with BDPA Chicago chapter to submit a grant proposal to Lucky Brand Foundation. We seek funding to support the Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program being operated in the Windy City.

We hope that the Lucky Brand Foundation will smile favorably on our request. In the meantime, we ask that you do what you can to help BDPA Chicago chapter in its effort to make a difference for inner-city youth who want to advance their careers by learning more about science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Group Looks to 'Match' Tech Executives With Nonprofits

By Jennifer Valentino-DeVries

Could the Silicon Valley management style help charitable organizations?

An organization called Palindrome Advisors thinks so, and it launched a program Wednesday that aims to match executives in technology and other industries with nonprofits that need their help.

“In technology terms, think of Palindrome as a “match.com” for industry leaders and the boards of nonprofits,” the group’s founder, Zaw Thet.

Palindrome has 100 executives signed up already — including Twitter’s president of global revenue, Adam Bain; Apple’s director of iPhone apps, Dag Kittlaus; and Ellen Siminoff, a founding executive and former senior vice president at Yahoo. The list of advisers is mostly from the tech world, but there are some outliers, including those in government, the energy business and even nightclubs.

The idea of using business management techniques — particularly those in the technology industry — to make charities more efficient is nothing new. Its most famous incarnation is likely found in the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which puts a priority on using science and technology to tackle the world’s problems. And other entrepreneurs have made a point of committing large sums of money to charity, most recently when Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, AOL co-founder Steve Case and others signed a pledge to give away most of their fortune.


But Palindrome’s group isn’t for the billionaires of the world; it’s for people who have executive and start-up experience and want to give back by donating expertise.

“There was no easy path for nonprofits to find experienced leaders to help them at a board management level,” Mr. Thet said in a statement.

He explained that nonprofits need help marketing, developing growth plans and managing customer relationships, among other things. “A board role is not just about fundraising.”

Where Are They Now: 1996 BDPA Leaders

I came across a list of our National BDPA Board of Directors from 1996 while cleaning up my home office. It includes chapter presidents and national officers who served in leadership positions back in the day. I would love for these powerful brothers and sisters to come visit with us on this blog. Perhaps we can get them to POST A COMMENT to let us know what they are up to now. Here are those 1996 leaders:

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• Midge Johnson, Executive Director
• George Williams, National President
• Roxanne Burrus, National Treasurer
• Barbara Fuller, National Secretary
• Earl Pace, Founder
• Michael McCrimmon, Atlanta President
• Zina Foote, Baltimore President
• Paul Seabrook, Bay Area President
• Richard Bell, Central Arkansas President
• Candice Anderson, Charlotte President
• Betty Hutchins, Chattanooga President
• Patrick Nelson, Cincinnati President
• Judy Williams, Cleveland President
• Leonard Rivers, Columbus President
• Henry Fields, Colorado President
• Clifford Clarke, Ft. Wayne President
• Caryl Thomas, Gr San Fernando Valley President
• Anne York, Gr Tampa Bay President
• Valerie Thomas, Hartford President
• Terrell Jean, Houston President
• Richard Clement, Lansing President
• Reggie Watson, Los Angeles President
• Tim Wilson, Mass Metrowest President
• Jeffrey Cunningham, Memphis President
• Louis Lezama, Miami President
• Beverly Johnson, No. New Jersey President
• Deborah Williams, Northwest Indiana President
• John Wright, Omaha President
• Frank Bright, Philadelphia President
• Bill Trotter, Phoenix President
• Hubert Harris, Richmond President
• Ken Walker, Rocky Mountain President
• Donald Gerard, Silicon Valley President
• Neil Baptiste, St. Louis President
• Paulette Lalor, Toledo President
• Gerardette Furlow, Triangle President
• Greg Douglass, Twin Cities President
• Rudy Duke, Washington DC President

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These are remarkable brothers and sisters. I hope that you will share your thoughts and rememberances on the 1996 BDPA leadership team down in the POST A COMMENT link down below. What say u?

Nationwide Insurance Foundation

The Nationwide Insurance Foundation is an independent corporation funded by Nationwide Companies to help positively impact the quality of life in communities where their associates, agents and their families live and work.

The Foundation celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 2010. Over the past 10 years, the Nationwide Foundation has awarded more than $207 million to qualified nonprofit organizations that work to meet crucial needs in communities with large Nationwide associate populations.

The best chance for BDPA-related funding from Nationwide Insurance Foundation rests with BDPA Columbus chapter. If that chapter is interested in partnering with BETF ... we would be happy to work on a joint grant proposal.

Bemley Scholar James Arama Heads to Marist College

James Arama

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to learn that 2-time national BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) champion James Arama is using his Jesse Bemley Scholarship to help fund his freshman year at Marist College. James is studying computer science and software development at Marist College, as well as applying his knowledge to his own entrepreneurial venture.

We asked James to share his thoughts about his experiences as a member of the BDPA Southern Minnesota chapter:

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In December of 2008 I joined BDPA, an organization that seeks to help minorities succeed in technology careers. The local BDPA chapter ran a Youth Computer Training Program (YCTP) that teaches students web programming techniques. I heard about the program from my friends who had posted pictures and updates on Facebook after they had won the National High School Computer Competition the year before. I signed up for the class with a goal of earning a spot on the competition team and competing at the National Competition. Whenever my teachers gave assignments and extra credit, I would search through online tutorials to ensure my project exceeded all the requirements. By the end of the year, my class rank was high enough to earn a spot on the competition team, a rarity for a first year student.

As a team, we got together during the summer to prepare for the competition via "boot camp," practicing our programming skills for up to thirty hours per week. At the end of the summer we traveled to Raleigh, North Carolina to compete against twenty-two other teams from much larger cities such as Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. The competition spanned two days, culminating with a seven hour programming project, which required us to create a full database-driven web application from scratch with no outside help. This year's project, which the teams had no advance knowledge of, required the students to write a web-based application allowing potential investors to fill out a form to invest in a venture company and immediately determine potential return of investment, using programming languages such as Java, Javascript, ASP, PHP, .NET in conjunction with MySQL, HTML and CSS.

2009 National HSCC Champions

We used our time wisely. Each member of our team had his/her own portion of the project to work on. I was the Technical Architect as well as a web designer. We began by addressing the requirements. Upon completion of each requirement, we utilized a double blind testing method wherein two independent evaluators tested the application. Errors identified by the evaluators were categorized as either consequential or inconsequential. Consequential errors that deemed to affect the functionality of the requirements were addressed immediately whereas inconsequential errors that deemed not to affect the functionality of the requirements were addressed as time permitted. Due to our methodical approach, we finished our project in four hours, leaving three more hours for more testing and enhancements. Our team ended up taking first place, beating the second place team by a large ten percent margin. At that point I was so stunned that I did not know how to digest what had just happened, but I was glad to be able to call myself a National Champion.

James is in the middle

To some extent I have believed that my life has always been full of luck. How else could I have come from one of the poorest villages in Africa, lived in the most unsanitary slums, won an immigration lottery and received national recognition for my computer programming and artistic skills? But as I mature, I realize these blessings are not due to luck at all. My family has supported each other through hard work to turn our fortunes around. They have supported and encouraged me to fulfill my potential. Without this support, I could not have achieved these goals and become the person that I am.

I now have many new goals. I strive to achieve great success in college, lead a career in business and technology, and impact the world in ways that I would never have thought possible while growing up in rural Kenya. But perhaps my biggest goal right now is to show my younger brothers that they too can find greatness in life – if we just stay together and work towards our goals as a family.

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BETF is very proud of James Arama. He was part of the HSCC team trained by BDPA Southern Minnesota that won the 2010 national HSCC championship in Philadelphia.


Our hope is that we can provide more students with Bemley Scholarships over the coming weeks. If you believe in what we are doing ... please take a moment to help us do more.

Take Five: Dalric Webb (Cincinnati)

There are many members, officers and leaders around the country who are volunteering their time, talent and energy to support the growth of BDPA. This blog plans to take some time to ask these folks about their thoughts about past, present and future of BDPA.


Dalric Webb, an Engineering Information Technology manager at GE Aviation, recently joined the leadership team of BDPA Cincinnati as the chapter's VP-Membership Management. Dalric is an MCSE+I and received his undergraduate degree in Computer Science from Hampton University, his Masters in Information Technology from Capella University, and his MBA with a concentration in Information Management from Grantham University. BDPA expects Dalric to provide the leadership and inspiration necessary to grow the membership of a chapter with a rich BDPA history.

Dalric shared some of his thoughts on BDPA with us in the following Take Five interview:

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1. How did you get involved with BDPA? I first attended a “mixer” a few years back where I met Wm. David Wynn who was the Director of Recruitment and Retention for BDPA Cincinnati chapter. I kept his card and when “life” slowed down a bit, I reached out to the BDPA organization and connected with BDPA Cincinnati chapter president Wanda Gray to find out how I could get engaged with the chapter. Wanda suggested I jump in head first and help her out as a member of the chapter's board of directors.
2. What do you see as the biggest benefit of your BDPA membership? The opportunity to make a difference in the lives of Cincinnati’s Black IT professionals through skill building, networking, or empowering our future.
3. What future evolution or change would you like to see in BDPA? Building or establishing deeper and stronger connection with the city through some annual or regular event or activity. Something that provides a BDPA “signature” for Cincinnati. Something that BDPA can become “known” for providing that brings residual value to the community.
4. What would you like Corporate America to know about BDPA? That the organization is viable, vibrant and an excellent source for recruitment and spreading the corporate message of diversity through engagement with local organizations.
5. Any advice for people considering donation to BETF? An investment in the African American IT youth is a sure 'win–win' equation.

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This blog encourages its readers to use the COMMENTS option to share their thoughts on these interviews.  Also, we hope that you will take a moment to make a donation in support of the BDPA Cincinnati Scholarship Fund.  Dalric shared some personal insights ... I hope that you share some BDPA-love in return.

Duke Energy Foundation

Duke Energy Foundation reviews grant requests at a regional level. These grant requests are considered in the context of the needs of the community and in alignment with the foundation's areas of focus. At the core of The Duke Energy Foundation is its commitment to the community. The focus area that provides the most promise for funding BDPA programs is:

• Economic Development
  
  1. Pre K-12 education focused on math, science and technology
  2. Higher education, government or other non-profit initiatives designed to support innovative solutions for business/industry/workforce challenges.

Is your chapter operating in a Duke Energy community? Does your chapter have any members that are Duke Energy employees? Answer 'yes' to either or both of these questions and we should follow-up with a joint grant proposal. BETF operates on a first-come; first-served basis. Let us know if your chapter is interested in pursuing this potential funding source.

Grant Recipient: BDPA Cleveland ($539)

BDPA Cleveland Computer Camp

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) approved a $539 funding request from BDPA Cleveland chapter earlier this month. The funds are needed by the chapter in order to support its Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program. The chapter is engaged in active STEM-based training of high school students in web-based programming and general computer skills. The chapter plans to bring a number of these students to the Midwest Regional HSCC and IT Showcase held on June 11, 2011 in Cincinnati as well as the 2011 National BDPA HSCC championship held later this year in Chicago.

BETF was able to review and approve this funding request within 24 hours because the chapter followed the simple 7-step funding process laid out on our website. Our hope is that all 45 local BDPA chapters will aggressively pursue funding sources and opportunities in concert with BETF over the coming weeks and months.

This particular funding request was spearheaded by BDPA Cleveland chapter president Henry Wiggins, chapter past president Ken Wilson and chapter SITES coordinator Sylvia Calhoun.

BDPA Cleveland chapter hopes to be in a position to provide college scholarships to some of the students in their SITES program. Perhaps you can help these young people continue to pursue their interest in technology?

Gannett Foundation Community Grants Program

BETF seeks multiple BDPA chapters interested in submitting a grant proposal to support your SITES program to the Gannett Foundation.

Purpose: The Gannett Foundation gives grants to organizations in the communities in which Gannett owns a daily newspaper or television station.

The Gannett Foundation’s mission: to invest in the future of the communities in which Gannett does business, and in the future of its industry.

They value projects that take a creative approach to fundamental issues such as education and neighborhood improvement, economic development, youth development, community problem-solving, assistance to disadvantaged people, environmental conservation and cultural enrichment.

All that we need is to have a copy of your SITES program budget in order to move forward. Please let me know if you are interested in exploring this grant opportunity.

This Week in BDPA (Apr 10-16)

BDPA has 45 chapters around the nation. You can always find programs, services or networking activity here or here. BDPA supports your efforts for career advancement in the IT industry. Our hope is that you will continue to support Our Cause!

Are you taking advantage of these programs? Here is a weekly preview of upcoming events gathered from the centralized BDPA calendar :

• Apr 12: Greater Columbia - Program Meeting, 'Smart Grid and Demand Response'
• Apr 14: New Jersey - Program Meeting, 'BDPA Open Forum'
• Apr 15: Baton Rouge - Program Meeting, 'Resume Writing and Interview Skills'

We encourage all BDPA leaders to take advantage of the centralized BDPA Groupsite Calendar to post your upcoming events! Please let us know of other BDPA events that we may have missed. Most importantly, let us know if you plan to attend any BDPA events this week.

American Express Philanthropy

American Express Philanthropy accepts inquiries for funding on an ongoing basis throughout the year. They welcome innovative ideas and approaches, however, they seldom support unsolicited requests.

As such they encourage eligible organizations to submit a letters of inquiry (maximum 1-2 pages, no attachments) that answers the following questions:

• What is your organization's mission?
  
• What is the nature of the project for which you are requesting support?
  
• How does this project fit into our giving themes of Cultural Heritage, Leadership and Community Service?
  
• What is the proposed timeline for the project?
  
• What is the project budget and how much will you be requesting from American Express?
  
• Do you have any other supporters or pending requests for support for this project?
  
• What are your criteria for evaluating the success of the project?
  
• The giving area for which you are applying (Cultural Heritage, Leadership, Community Service) should be clearly marked on the envelope containing the letter

Local Priorities: As a global company, American Express Philanthropy touches many local communities within the United States and around the world. When working with local organizations to support their giving themes, priority is given to projects in the locations co-located with BDPA chapters in Atlanta, Bay Area, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, South Florida and Washington DC.

Does your chapter have current supporters or members that work at American Express?

Member on the Move: Coram Rimes (BDPA New Jersey)

BDPA New Jersey chapter past president Coram Rimes serves as commissioner for the Orange (NJ) Housing Authority. He was recently recognized by the National League of Cities (NLC) for reaching the Platinum level in its Certificate of Achievement in Leadership program. This is a certification level reached by only a few NLC members since its inception in 1999.

NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans. As part of the NLC mission to create stronger communities, the Leadership Training Institute provides local officials, like Coram, with the professional development opportunities to assist then in promoting positive change and innovation within their communities. At the same time, seminars are designed to explore the nature and practice of local governmental leadership.

Each training seminar addresses one or more of the core areas of municipal leadership, including personal leadership growth and development, effective governance, effective communications, skills in developing and promoting partnerships and managing change.


BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is very proud of Coram Rimes for his work with BDPA and his work as a public official in the city of Orange! He is truly a BDPA member (and BETF donor) on the move!

The BDPA Insider - April 10, 2011

The BDPA Insider - April 10, 2011

Hall of Fame: Earl Pace

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

In this issue:  

1. 2011 National BDPA Conference Registration Now Open
2. BDPA in the News – BusinessWire Article on Earl Pace
3. Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) Seeks Applications for $5,000 College Scholarship
4. Message from New York Chapter President
5. Seeking TECHie Camp Instructors in Cincinnati, Dallas, Philadelphia and Washington DC

Which of this week's articles did you find the most compelling?

GE Healthcare Foundation

GE Healthcare invites grant applications from registered, non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations that focus on youth education or promotes healthy lives located in the following U.S. urban areas: Seattle, Wash.; Salt Lake City, Utah; Burlington, Vt.; Florence, S.C.; Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas; Phoenix, Ariz.; Central New Jersey (specifically Princeton and Piscataway); and in the following additional countries: Canada; Brazil; and Mexico.

Organizations may request grants ranging from $1,000 to $15,000. GE Healthcare seeks to provide funding in the following Youth Education Program Areas:

• Underserved and urban communities with low graduation rates
  
• Focus on youth from K-12 public education
  
• Support core competencies, such as math, science, reading, writing

It appears that this funding opportunity is only available to our local BDPA chapters in Dallas or Seattle. Do you know any members of the GE Healthcare family that might be able to help us?

Seeking TECHie Camp Instructors in Cincinnati, Dallas, Philadelphia and Washington DC

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) has been working with Tech Corps to see if we could encourage local BDPA chapters to expand their STEM-based training to include elementary- and middle-school students.    Our planning has reached the point that we are now ready to interview and hire instructors willing to work with these 3rd-8th grade students.

There is a wonderful opportunity for our BDPA members who are unemployed, underemployed ... or for those of you that are consultants open to a quick 1-week contract opportunity ... or for those of you that are college students seeking summer employment opportunity.

We are looking to IMMEDIATELY interview and select instructors for TECHie Camp programs that BDPA plans to pilot in Cincinnati, Dallas, Philadelphia and Washington DC. TECHie Camp is a full-day, week-long technology experience designed specifically for elementary and middle school students. The goal of TECHie Camp is to engage students in activities that can stimulate a deeper interest in technology; as well as provide opportunities for them to express their imaginations. Each camp has two instructors and up to 20 students.

Interested?

Apply IMMEDIATELY -- http://techcorps.org/jobs/99-techie-camp-instructor

Grant Proposal: Christ Church Cathedral (BDPA Cincinnati)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) and BDPA Cincinnati chapter partnered on a grant proposal to Christ Church Cathedral’s community grant initiative. Our proposal will be reviewed by the church’s Outreach Committee. The mission of the Outreach Committee is to promote the Cathedral's mission "by giving of ourselves and our resources to care for the world beyond Christ Church." To that end, the committee solicits proposals from worthy organizations, carefully reviews and evaluates those proposals and organizations, and recommends to the Vestry grants from the Mission Fund.

We should have an answer in advance of the BDPA Midwest Regional HSCC and IT Showcase hosted by BDPA Cincinnati chapter on June 11, 2011.

Wish us luck!

Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) Seeks Applications for $5,000 College Scholarship

It’s our pleasure to announce the availability of the Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) scholarship for the 2011/12 academic year.  

This year, BAM will award two $5,000 scholarships to outstanding high-school seniors, who are interested in pursuing careers in technology. The scholarships are renewable, so winners who continue to meet the criteria can receive an annual $5,000 award for up to four years.  We encourage you to please share this opportunity with your network.

Scholarship Details

• Support Period - Academic Year 2011 - 2012
• Application Due - 05/01/2011
• Anticipated Award Notification - 05/31/2011
• Awards - 2 scholarships will be awarded ($5,000 per person)
• Application Method - Apply electronically via the Washington Scholarship Coaltion
• Renewable - Yes. This scholarship is renewable for up to a total of 4 years, provided the student continues to meet the scholarship criteria of a 3.3 GPA each year.

 Eligibility Requirements

• High School Senior
•  Situations Funded - Support for Tuition, Support for Mandatory Fees, Support for Room and Board
•  School Types - Private 4-year University or College, Public 4-year University or College, Public 2-year Community / Technical College
• Academic Programs - Undergraduate
•  Enrollment Status - Full-time
•  Ethnicity - Black or African American
• Field of Study - Business, Computer Science/Information Technology, Science & Engineering
• Career - Business, Computer Science/Information Technology, Engineering
• GPA - 3.300 or Greater

Application Details

Financial Requirements

• Must demonstrate financial need, Number of family members in household, Number of family dependents attending college, Family income

Instructions & Questions

• Briefly, explain how you have demonstrated a passion for technology.
• Briefly, explain how you have demonstrated leadership either at school or in the community.
• In no more than 500 words, describe how you plan to engage in the technology industry in your future career.
• In no more than 250 words, explain why you need this scholarship.
• Please include two reference letters with your application. These letters should be from people who know you through your academic or employment experience or your community leadership and participation. (Do not include relatives as references.)
• Please submit an unofficial transcript with your online application. Winning students will be required to submit an official transcript.

Donor Organization

Founded in 1989, Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) is a company-sponsored diversity organization dedicated to supporting the continued growth and development of African-American employees of Microsoft Corporation.  More than 500 Microsoft employees are members of BAM.

Scholarship Administrator

The Seattle Foundation

1200 5th Ave. Suite 1300
Seattle, WA 98101-3151

206-515-2115

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This is a wonderful opportunity for those high school seniors that are participating in BDPA youth education programs all over the nation.   BDPA has worked with over 250 students in our Saturday computer camp sessions so far this calendar year ... how cool would it be for one of those students to win this $5,000 scholarship from Microsoft?!

Message from New York Chapter President

Dear Members,

We are looking for volunteers to assist with the following events. You will have the opportunity to assist the chapter and to network with BDPA members and other professionals.

Events

Urban Network's - No Limits Career Day

Date: Saturday, April 9, 2011
Time: 8:30 pm - 3:00pm

• Career Table Volunteers (Shifts available)
• Workshop - "A Future Career as a Science, Technology, Engineering & Math Professional"
• Moderator and Panelist Needed
• Concurrent Sessions I: 9:45-10:45; II: 11:00-12:00

Scholarships Awards and Dinner Chairperson

Date: Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Time: 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Theme: "Using STEM to Innovate our Future"
Location: UBS
Duties: Coordinate all aspects of the Dinner - publicity, tickets, awards and journal.

Board Board Positions

Would you like to share your gifts and talents on the BDPA NY Board?  The following positions need to be filled Recording Secretary, Fundraising and Publicity Chairpersons.

Please email pres@bdpa-ny.org or call me at (646) 263-8092 by April 8th if you can volunteer for these events or positions.

Thank you in advance for ensuring that we have a successful 2011.

Renetta English, President
BDPA New York Chapter
(212) 802-5341

Grant Proposal: Raytheon Charitable Foundation (BDPA Los Angeles)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) joined with BDPA Los Angeles chapter to submit a $5,000 online grant proposal to the Raytheon Charitable Foundation.

BDPA LA Computer Camp

BDPA Los Angeles chapter continues to raise its profile both within the southern California community and amongst the 45 local BDPA chapters around the nation. The chapter is currently providing STEM-based training to over 20 middle- and high school students every Saturday. The chapter seeks funding support from Raytheon Charitable Foundation in order to maintain this momentum.

We should have an answer on our funding request within the next 60 days. Wish us luck. Of course, a more tangible method of supporting the efforts of BDPA Los Angeles chapter would be appreciated as well!

The BDPA Insider - April 3, 2011

  

The BDPA Insider - April 3, 2011
 
What better way to start the day than with your weekly message from BDPA!
 
In this issue:  

1. 2011 National BDPA Conference Registration Now Open
2. BDPA Founder Earl Pace Named to CompTIA Hall of Fame
3. High School Computer Competition class back in effect 
4. How to Be A Player
5. HP Slate 500: Digital Ink for Windows
6. Oracle Scholarship Winner in Baton Rouge 

Which of these stories will you be talking about this week?

Grant Award: Health Care Service Corporation ($2,000)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is a Blue Corps Community Partner with Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC). HCSC is the fourth largest health insurance company in the nation. We are pleased to announce that HCSC awarded us with a $2,000 check because of our work with BlueCross BlueShield of Texas employees Ayanna Hart, Veronica Starr and Stacy Stewart.

The company wrote:

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Dear Mr. Hicks:

BlueCross BlueShield of Texas is pleased to enclose a contribution in the amount of $2,000 to BDPA Education and Technology Foundation as a valued community partner in our Blue Corps Employee Volunteer Program.

This contribution is matching gift for the number of hours that BCBSTX employee volunteers supported your organization in 2010.

Since our founding more than 75 years ago as the only statewide member-owned health insurer, we have sought to remain a vital part of the communities where we were born. We are committed to partnering with local organizations to improve the well-being of the communities where we live and work, and we are honored to support your efforts.

We appreciate the work being done by your organization and wish you continued success.

Sincerely,
Debbie Cox
Community Affairs Representative

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This grant award will be used to support the programs offered by our BDPA Dallas chapter. Our hope is that we can leverage this volunteer grant opportunity in both Illinois and Texas this calendar year.

McKesson Foundation

Founded in 1943, the McKesson Foundation envisions a world where affordable, quality healthcare is available to all. The Foundation is dedicated to supporting their employees' community involvement efforts and improving the health of patients through:

• Improved healthcare quality
  
• Personal health management
  
• Lower healthcare costs

To that end, each year the McKesson Foundation contributes more than $5 million to nonprofit organizations working to improve the health of our communities.

Their main funding area is chronic disease management in the U.S., with a near-term focus on diabetes over the next three years. They primarily support diabetes management programs focused on innovative technology, minorities, testing, adherence and volunteerism - typically on a national scale.

In order to maximize resources to further their impact, they do not accept unsolicited grant proposals. Their program staff employ a proactive approach in identifying organizations for funding that advance their strategic goals. If you are seeking funding for a diabetes management program, please feel free to submit information about your organization to: Corporate.Citizenship@McKesson.com.

Does your chapter have any McKesson employees? Is your chapter willing to support diabetes management program in some manner? If so, reply to this message and perhaps we can send a letter of inquiry to the McKesson Foundation.

Grant Recipient: National BDPA ($1,873)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) recently approved grant disbursement of $1,873 to National BDPA. National BDPA requested the funds to cover the cost of three (3) officials from the national Member Services business area to attend the annual Student Information Technology Education & Scholarships (SITES) coordinator meeting held on November 5-6, 2010 in Naples, Florida.


This meeting benefited all BDPA students and chapters that participate in the 2011 SITES program. The students benefit because they participate in a STEM-based training program that is comprehensive, well organized, and provides them the opportunity to better prepare for entering the workforce upon their graduation from college. The chapters benefit because they are provided necessary learning tools and a curriculum that is consistent across all chapters, thereby providing their students with a common background that will assist them in preparing for the annual training and competition.

There were 10 BDPA chapters in attendance at the meeting. Those 10 chapters were: Baton Rouge, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Indianapolis, Southern Minnesota, Twin Cities and Washington DC.

The funds used to make this grant disbursement to National BDPA originated from the $25,000 award received last year from American Honda Foundation.

Grant Award: BP Fabric of America Fund ($300)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud recipient of a $300 grant award from the BP Fabric of America Fund. The check came with the following message:

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Dear Wayne Hicks,

Karen Motley, a BP employee, has recommended your organization as one that makes a positive contribution. To express our gratitude, BP would like to present a gift from the BP Fabric of America Fund. Please accept the enclosed check for $300 with our sincere thanks for the important work that you do.

BP is investing in both traditional energy and renewable energy as it works to develop US energy sources that contribute to the country's energy security and diversity. But, that is only part of BP's role. We also support the groups that make up the fabric of America: organizations across the US that work to improve people's lives. The Fabric of America Fund considers contributions to organizations recommended by BP employees. We are pleased you have been chosen for a grant through this program.

Again, thank you for working to make a difference in people's lives. We hope our support will help you to continue the work that has made an impression on those around you.

Sincerely,
The Fabric of America Fund

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We are very grateful to Karen for taking the time to submit BETF's name into consideration for this grant award. Karen is a member of our BDPA Cleveland chapter. We will ensure that these funds are restricted for use by BDPA programs in the Cleveland area.

In the meantime, I hope that other BP employees will see this post and nominate us for additional grant funding from the BP Fabric of America Fund!

BlueCross and BlueShield of Texas

Each year, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas provides financial support to strengthen Texas communities. In general, they fund more than 200 community organizations whose goals are in alignment with their mission of promoting the health and wellness of Texas communities. In addition to their primary focus on health and wellness, BCBSTX also provides funding for a range of other human services and community needs outlined under 'Funding Priorities.'

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas contributes to the community primarily through two types of funding: grants and sponsorships.

Grant funding is for program-focused initiatives or general operating support for charitable, 501(c)3 organizations which primarily support programs aligned with our health and wellness mission and providing access to disadvantaged populations.

Community Concerns and Social Service: Projects that increase awareness of cultural, education and social service needs, especially for children and seniors. Applicants must be able to demonstrate knowledge of community-level service delivery, resources and tools for disadvantaged/underserved populations. Your application should include your project goal, audience, initiative/activity, sponsor levels and publicity plan.

This funding opportunity only applies to non-profit organizations in the state of Texas. Do you have insurance with BCBSTX *or* better yet, do you work for this company?