Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Procter & Gamble: Resident Scholar Program

There are remarkable science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs around the nation. Our hope is that BDPA students are made aware of these STEM programs so that they can participate. We know that STEM careers have potential to lift families out of poverty. We need to continue to prepare our youth with meaningful STEM-related experiences so that they can opt-in to STEM education and career choices. One of the great STEM programs in the greater Cincinnati area is hosted by BDPA sponsor Procter & Gamble. This is the 10th year for the P&G Resident Scholar Program.

The P&G Resident Scholar Program is a unique 1-week job shadowing experience for high school minority students (10th and 11th grade during the ‘13/’14 school year) interested in pursuing STEM-based careers. The impact that this experience has had on the students has been phenomenal!
This program convinced me to pursue science and engineering because I was able to see the career opportunities and application of science to industry. “ - RSP Participant.



Plans are currently underway to make this year the best yet. We need your help by identifying qualified students interested in taking advantage of this outstanding opportunity. Click here for the application details.
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Tuesday, January 14, 2014

BDPA iRadio Show - January 14, 2014


BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is very proud to be the creator of the BDPA iRadio Show. You can listen to the archive version of the show using the widget shown in the right-hand sidebar of this blog. FREE download from the iTunes Store is also available for our listeners!

Find Additional Technology Podcasts with BDPA on BlogTalkRadio


The guest on the January 14th show:

Bret Pogemiller - Senior University Recruiter, Johnson & Johnson - Bret actively recruits college students for the information technology and marketing vacancies within Johnson & Johnson. Johnson & Johnson is a long-time BDPA corporate sponsor and we want to see more BDPA members hired in 2014 for summer internships and co-op opportunities. We look forward to learning about initiatives such as the IT Leadership Development Program that is so well-known within the Johnson & Johnson family.  Bret can be found on Twitter - @bpogemil


We hope you enjoy the insights and commentary on the show from each of these guests. Please take a moment to post a comment to let us know that you care!

Monday, January 13, 2014

Testimonial: BDPA Summer Internship (Hadiya Harrigan, Cincinnati)

BDPA Cincinnati chapter seeks to expand its Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program beyond the traditional computer camp and High School Computer Competition (HSCC). For example, the chapter has worked with elementary school children in an after-school STEM-based learning experience known as 'TECHie Club'.

Another initiative that was new to the chapter this year in the SITES program was creating a summer internship experience for HSCC student Hadiya Harrigan. Hadiya has been a participant in the last three national HSCC championships as a member of the team trained by BDPA Cincinnati chapter. Her team finished in fifth place (out of 46 eligible teams) during the 2013 national HSCC championship held in Washington DC.

Upon her return from the national championship experience, Hadiya began a one-week internship to help upgrade the technical infrastructure of one of the local high schools. Her internship was jointly funded by BDPA Cincinnati chapter and Luxottica Group.

Hadiya shared her reflection on the internship experience:

This summer, I was able to intern for four weeks at Withrow University High School through a partnership between BDPA and Luxottica Group. I consider this experience a very positive use of my summer break, and I gained an abundance of knowledge.

I learned many new technical skills during the internship. One day, I had the opportunity to image new laptops. I found it interesting that one can boot up a computer from a flash drive, use a laptop and a switch to send the image to the other laptops, and register the laptop with the network by using command prompt. In addition, I was able to learn about computer memory, proxy servers, and network restrictions.

I found the hard work to be very rewarding. The most challenging part of the job was moving old desktop computers and monitors. They were heavy and very dusty, but I enjoyed seeing the pile of computers at the designated pickup point grow every day.

I also helped to set up three computer labs. The process consisted of organizing desk and computer setup, selecting the correct length Ethernet cord, stringing rows of power strips together, and using zip ties to shorten cords and tie desks together. This work was tedious and repetitive, but the final product -- a professional computer lab -- looked amazing in the end. Overall, I was able to help other students further their learning through the use of technology. After I looked at the big picture, I saw the impact of my work.

Thank you for this amazing opportunity! I enjoyed working with Mr. Burress and other Cincinnati Public Schools staff. I would like to thank BDPA, Mr. Hill, Mrs. Prince, and Mr. Gause for making this experience possible.

Our hope is to impact on more lives in 2014 and beyond. BDPA Cincinnati is focused on helping the 'future faces of technology', such as Hadiya, prepare themselves to win the future for America. We need your help ... please take a moment to make a secure online donation in support of Cincinnati-area young people!
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Sunday, January 12, 2014

Where Are They Now? BDPA Atlanta Chapter Presidents

BDPA Atlanta is one of the oldest chapters in the nation. The chapter has a potent legacy in BDPA history. The chapter hosted national BDPA technology conferences in 1986 ('Securing Your Professional Future'), 1999 ('Closing the Gap in Information Technology') and 2008 ('Harnessing Emerging Technologies to Advance IT Careers').

The chapter trained high school students well enough to win the silver medal at the national computer competitions held in Chicago (2001) and Orlando (2002). The members of those two high-flying HSCC teams won Bemley Scholarships. These Bemley Scholars are: Joseph Altamirondo, Michael Belinsky, Simon Elfimov, Tanisha Gary, Zachary Horton, David Hoytt, Tristan Kyles, Ashley Stewart and Jessica Tipton.

BDPA Atlanta chapter reached the mountaintop when the HSCC team they trained took home the gold medal in Baltimore (2012)!  The HSCC championship students are:  Jimmy Nguyen, Yash Shirsath, Sunheng Taing and Allen Warner.

2012 HSCC Champions!
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.

Four of the past BDPA Atlanta chapter presidents (Millicent Fuller, Felicia Jones, Michael McCrimmon and Teresa Williams) also served as members of the National BDPA Executive Committee. It would be great if we could hear from each of the past BDPA Atlanta chapter presidents:
Where are they now?
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Saturday, January 11, 2014

Hard Truths Your Board Members Must Face If They Want to Raise Big Money

Excerpted from the second edition of Fundraising Realities Every Board Member Must Face: A 1-Hour Crash Course on Raising Major Gifts for Nonprofit Organizations

"You can't handle the truth!" is Jack Nicholson's memorable line in A Few Good Men.

Fortunately, your board members are a hardier lot than Tom Cruise's character. They can in fact accept the truth - in this case, three fundraising truths - if you carefully explain the validity of each.   Those truths are:
  1. Go Figure
  2. Each According to His or Her Means
  3. Those Who Ask Must Give First
Click here to read the full GuideStar article.
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Friday, January 10, 2014

Message from Cincinnati Chapter President

Dalric Webb
I would like to thank Clarence Larcarte and his powerful support team for their “job well done” efforts executing the strategic plan developed by the team over the last two years. Clarence and his team have not only laid the foundation for continued success and growth of the Cincinnati chapter, but have developed and strengthened relationships with corporate sponsors and other powerful individuals in the technology communities we live in that can only further grow and support the mission of this wonderful organization.  Under Clarence’s leadership, the Cincinnati chapter moved from 10th largest chapter within the National BDPA rankings to the 5th largest chapter in the nation while re-establishing the chapter’s reputation as one of delivering exceptional ROI value for our members and supporters.

I endeavor to continue the outstanding work Clarence has started by continuing the outstanding Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship program efforts; reconnecting with the Black Family Technology Awareness Week program; enabling additional scholarship opportunities; improving our monthly program meeting offerings; implementing value added professional development workshops; and building and strengthening both our corporate and professional networks. I also look forward to input from our members as to how our chapter can better serve their needs – and how they want to get involved in our mutual success. There are several vacancies on our board for leaders to step forward and join our team.

I endeavor to increase active membership through a concentrated focus on Special Interest Groups that will build or expand existing relationships with local institutions of higher learning from the high school level to the college level. We are actively seeking interested members to participate in our programs and committees as a means of discovering the true power of networking and of being a BDPA Cincinnati member.

Working closely with both our VP-Finance and VP-Fund Raising, I will insure our chapter is fiscally sound and seek additional opportunities to expand our fundraising work and corporate sponsorship to insure the chapter has a steady flow of income to fund its programs, scholarships and services. We strongly encourage member participation in any chapter fundraising events or activities.

I will work to strengthen and grow our current partners and sponsors, working closely with our Corporate Advisory Council and will look to establish new relationships with Technology and New Media companies. BDPA Cincinnati strives to grow stronger as a premier resource for employers’ pool of talent for Technology jobs.

And of course, a short note about our members. BDPA chapter members are the lifeblood of our organization and we earnestly seek and request your active participation to help us expand and grow our organization to the next level. The sky is the limit when we put our collective mental capacity to work on our common goals. Together Everyone Achieves More! There are a still a few open positions on our board and we encourage members to consider joining the team. We have lofty goals and plenty of work to do. More hands make lighter the work load so we welcome and encourage your support. Feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and participation.

Finally, I want to personally thank Dr. Prince Ellis (Brown Mackie College), Ernest Gause (Luxottica Group), April Gillespie (Starseed Consulting), Steve Gutter (The Kroger Company), Wayne Hicks (Hicks Enterprises),  Frank Hill (Cincinnati State College), Clarence Larcarte (Procter & Gamble), Yolanda Lauderdale (Hewlett-Packard), Patrick Nelson (Unique Expressions Management Services), Joseph Parker (Procter& Gamble), Deborah Prince (XPEDX) and Braxton Washington (Procter & Gamble) . These are the individual who have built the strong chapter over the last two years that I now take leadership of. Thank you all and again, a JOB WELL DONE!

The New Year is off to a great start. Wishing each and every one of you a blessed New Year!

Sincerely,
Dalric Webb, president
BDPA Cincinnati Chapter
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Thursday, January 9, 2014

Grant Disbursement: BDPA Philadelphia ($500)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation issued a $500 grant disbursement to the BDPA Philadelphia chapter this week.

BDPA Philadelphia chapter president Eileen Gadsden requested the funding in support of the chapter's expenses related to the 2013 National High School Computer Competition championship. The funds support travel and lodging for three students, two trainers and the HSCC coordinator.

BDPA Founder and the HSCC Team from Philadelphia

Congratulations to BDPA Philadelphia for its strong efforts to provide meaningful STEM-related programs to its young people. BDPA is making a difference in its efforts to promote the 'future faces of technology'.
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Monday, January 6, 2014

2014 Google Summer Internships

Google invites you to come join us for a unique summer experience, including a 10-12 week paid internship and professional development workshops. Take a chance and discover what it’’s like to work at a technology company. Be challenged. Become an expert. Work together and make an impact. Be bold.  Check out the full list of Google summer internships right away!


Please visit Planning and Preparing for Scholarships (Internships, Scholarships, Etc) to learn about other opportunities like this one!
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Sunday, January 5, 2014

This Week in BDPA (Jan 5-11, 2014)

BDPA offers strong programs in 46 cities around the nation. Are you taking advantage of these programs? Here is a weekly preview of upcoming events gathered from the centralized BDPA calendar:
Please let us know of other BDPA events 
that we may have missed! 
You can always find BDPA programs, services or networking activity online at places such as:
BDPA supports your efforts for career advancement in the IT industry. Our hope is that you find reasons to provide tax-deductible support to our Causes, our HSCC Scholarship Funds or Your Causes! We encourage all BDPA leaders to take advantage of the centralized BDPA Groupsite Calendar to post your upcoming events.

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Three Fundraising Realities Every Board Member Must Face

There are 43 'realities' about big-gifts fundraising described by David Landsdowne in his book, 'Fundraising Realities Every Board Member Must Face: A 1-Hour Crash Course on Raising Major Gifts for Nonprofit Organizations'. He goes into some detail on each of them.

Three of those 'realities' are:
  1. Wealth Alone Doesn't Determine
  2. A Few Contribute the Most
  3. The Secret to Success
Read the full GuideStar article to learn more from the author about these three fundraising tips.
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Friday, January 3, 2014

Message from BDPA Atlanta Chapter President

Happy New Year from BDPA Atlanta
A Sneak Peek of What's to Come

Derrick Brown
On behalf of BDPA Atlanta chapter I'd like to wish you a Happy & Prosperous Holiday Season!

As we move into another year I'd like to give you a quick look at what's happening in 2014 and extend an invitation to you so that you can be a part of the excitement!

2014 Agenda
  • BDPA is accelerating its involvement in STEM for our youth in cooperation with Morehouse
  • BDPA will be partnering with other IT organizations in the Atlanta area to bring more dynamic information for your personal benefit. ex: Wireless Technology Forum (starting with Wearable Technology in February)
Professional Development 
  • Shifting Your Personal Brand
  • Why You Should Improve Your Interview Skills
  • The Business of Being Professional
The Executive Development Series
  • The Fun Work of Networking
  • How to Win Over Your Boss
  • The Incredible Power of Conflict
  • How to BE the Executive
“What’s HOT in Technology” - Technical Topics
  • 1st Quarter – Mobile Apps & Applications
  • 2nd Quarter – Hybrid Cloud and IT as Service Broker
  • 3rd Quarter – Smart Machine
  • 4th Quarter – 3-D Printing
Community Service
  • Atlanta Food Bank
  • Atlanta Food Bank Garden
  • Back To School Drive
  • Christmas Family Adoption
Using IT to Put Money In Your Pocket
  • BDPA will discuss the critical nature of Information Technology in the New Age and how it must be leveraged to create sustained wealth. 
 We had a successful turnout of volunteers in 2013 and we are hoping to achieve the same momentum in the New Year!

Hope to see you there!

Sincerely,
Derrick Brown, president
BDPA Atlanta Chapter

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Top 10 BDPA Chapters (Membership, December 2013)

The lifeblood of any nonprofit association is its membership. The streak of five straight months of membership growth ended in December.  The total membership totals only dropped by two people ... but, it means that we need to enter into the new calendar year with renewed emphasis on recruiting and retaining members!  National BDPA president Dr. Craig Brown nominated Adrienne Thomas (BDPA Baton Rouge) to serve as the incoming national VP-Membership Management.  The full board is scheduled to vote on her confirmation at the 1st quarter board of directors meeting on January 24-25 in Orlando FL.

We want to congratulate BDPA Chicago chapter for maintaining its dominance when it comes to membership size.  The chapter remained in the #1 spot throughout the two years of leadership under its president, Pamela Sexton.   The chapter earned national recognition with the presentation of the 2013 Chapter Membership Management Award announced during the national conference by BDPA founder Earl Pace!

Pam Sexton accepts award from Earl Pace
The 'secret sauce' for the success of BDPA Chicago chapter can be found in its consistent delivery of tangible programs and services.  The chapter delivers a powerful value-proposition for IT professionals, students and sponsors.  If other chapters want to ever leap-frog Chicago into that top spot ... they will need to come up with consistently powerful programs and services in 2014.

We believe in the management maxim -- you get what you measure.  Let us assess the numbers in order to honor those local BDPA chapters who are demonstrating success in their efforts to recruit and retain members. Let's take a look at the ten largest chapters in BDPA-Nation:
  1. Chicago - president, Pamela Sexton
  2. Washington DC - president, Perry Carter 
  3. Philadelphia - president, Eileen Gadsden
  4. Atlanta - president, Derrick Brown
  5. Cincinnati - president, Clarence Larcarte 
  6. Los Angeles - president, John Malonson 
  7. Dallas - president, Stacy Stewart 
  8. New Jersey - president, Goldie Bonney
  9. New York - president, Renetta English
  10. Detroit - president, Beverly Moore

We continue to have four chapters in the 'BDPA Century Club'! The benefit of having powerful leadership is obvious when we see that Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia and Washington DC each have over 100 members. One of the common denominators for each of these chapters is that they place a high premium on the delivery of quality programs and services to their members. These chapters work hard to ensure that there is a strong return on the $100 investment that each member makes thru annual dues.

What are your thoughts about the value of BDPA membership? What can your local chapter do to improve the value-proposition for you on a personal or professional level?
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