BDPA Foundation

(Th)ink by Keith Knight: HP Facial Recognition Software Scandal

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 18:30:00 +0000

(Th)ink is an editorial cartoon written and drawnby cartoonist Keith Knight (the K Chronicles).

HSCC Testimonial: Lisa Minott (1996-1997)

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 06:30:00 +0000

President Obama issued a challenge for improved science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) training in America. BDPA has a powerful STEM training program that engages upwards of 800 young people each year. We've been doing this STEM training for a quarter-century.

One aspect of the program is the annual High School Computer Competition (HSCC). I'm pleased to introduce you to one of our HSCC alumni -- Lisa Minott. Lisa represented her chapter on the national team in 1996 and 1997. Her team won the national HSCC championship in 1997. She went on to graduate with a degree from the University of Connecticut in Management Information Systems.

Here is her testimonial:

I believe the greatest gifts you can give children are to believe in them, and to expose them to life’s infinite possibilities. I attended an informational about BDPA Hartford’s training program while only in the seventh grade, but it set me on a path that changed the course of my life. Over the next five years, I went from having a cursory knowledge of computers, to understanding core programming constructs, and developed better problem solving, and presentation skills. I built a level of confidence that blossomed from the attention and encouragement of the Hartford chapter’s mentors. Young professionals themselves at the time, they spent countless hours patiently teaching us and took a personal interest in each of our lives.

I was a member of the program for two years before I was old enough to compete and attended my first national competition in 1996. Although we finished 16th the opportunity to network with the other youth chapters, attend workshops, and be in the general atmosphere of dynamic IT professionals from my background unlocked a sense of the life’s potential. My teammates and I attended the Houston competition with a renewed sense of purpose, and a small chapter from Hartford, CT took home the championship in 1997.

Now five years into my IT career at a Fortune 500 company, I still look to my mentor’s from the BDPA program for guidance and advice, and thankfully, they are always only a phone call or email away. I met some of my closest friends through the program, and even built friendships with members of other teams, all across the country, that still thrive today. My success as a young professional has a direct path back to the discipline, determination, and support gained through my years of involvement with BDPA. The program is invaluable to me, and so I offer a humble thank you to everyone who continues to contribute to its growth.

We say it all the time ... 'classroom to the boardroom' ... and here is a real-life example. Do you think that BDPA is doing a good job? If so, we need your help to continue growing our SITES program. Please consider making a secure online donation right now. Do it on behalf of Lisa!

Take Five: Julius Clark (Charlotte)

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:00:00 +0000

I must admit that I'm excited to see the the future evolution of the BDPA chapter in Charlotte, NC. The chapter is about to be energized by the youthful intensity and integrity of the incoming president -- Julius Clark. Julius is part of the new generation of African American leadership that is beginning to take control of our BDPA chapters around the nation.

Julius participated in our Take Five interview series:

How did you get involved in working with BDPA? - I am a native of Boston and first heard of BDPA while living there, but I never had the opportunity to attend a meeting. I built a good IT employment network in Boston and after moving to Charlotte in 1999 it was very important for me to establish my employment network in this city. In 2000 I discovered that BDPA had a Charlotte chapter. I attended my first BDPA Charlotte meeting and was delighted to be in the company of African American brothers and sisters who all shared a passion for Information Technology like I did. Being new to Charlotte I made sure I attended every monthly meeting. At that time Archie Lucy was president. He followed up with me each month after I had attended to a few meetings, which made me feel very connected with the local BDPA organization. The board asked if I would like to talk to Johnson C. Smith College students about the Information Technology profession, and soon after that they asked me to become Coordinator for our High School Computer Competition program.
What is the most rewarding aspect of working with BDPA? - Being able to help introduce high school students to the Information Technology and mentor adults in the field is the most rewarding. Since I graduated from high school, I always wanted to give back to the African American community in a huge way. The BDPA allows me to give back to my community with something I love; technology!
Tell us about a defining moment in your life? - One defining life moment was when I received my BS in Electronic Engineering, with both of my parents both in the audience; I was the first person in my family to earn a college degree.
Who is your hero and why? - Besides my parents, Malcolm X became my hero. After reading the Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley at the age of 21, my perspective on my life and community changed; It’s like a light switch got turned on in my thinking and I instantly knew how to be a strong Black leader for my community.
Any advice for people considering donation to BETF? - My advice is to give what you can afford, and just don’t allow it to only be monetary-- get involved with your local BDPA Chapter or the BETF and donate Thought Leadership to make it more personal and share your experience and excitement about our cause with others.

Julius is taking over a chapter that is the 15th largest in the nation. I suspect his leadership team will have BDPA Charlotte chapter in the Top 10 before long! What say u?

BDPAtoday, Chapter Edition (Fall 2009)

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 05:01:00 +0000

Kudos to Pablo More for sharing an online version of this newsletter.

BDPA FALL 2009 Newsletter

View more documents from BDPA Orlando.

This blog has been seeking to highlight BDPA newsletters from all over the nation. Is your chapter newsletter available online?

Scholarships for BDPA Student Members to Aggressively Pursue

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:00:00 +0000

This is list of scholarships provided by Fred Smith (National BDPA VP-Strategy & Planning). Our hope is that all BDPA student members will aggressively pursue these scholarship opportunities.

Scholarships

View more documents from Wayne Hicks.

Please let us know if know of other scholarships we should be adding to this list or to our website.

Gates Millennium Scholars Nomination

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 06:00:00 +0000

The Gates Millennium Scholars 2010 Nomination Process has launched. The submission deadline is January 11, 2010.

This program, funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was established to provide outstanding low income minority students with an opportunity to complete an undergraduate college education in any discipline area of interest.

Continuing scholars may also request funding for a graduate degree program in one of the following discipline areas: education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health or science.

National BDPA Technology Conferences (2010-2014)

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 01:45:00 +0000

I encourage all BETF-Blog readers to make plans to attend the 2010 National BDPA Technology Conference to be held in Philadelphia PA on July 28-31, 2010.

Message from New York Chapter President

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:45:00 +0000

Seasons Greetings!

I want to personally and humbly thank everyone for a wonderful and exciting year. As President of the BDPA New York Chapter, I have the opportunity to meet and work with a diverse group of phenomenal volunteers from a variety of industries and who all have one thing in common: A passion for giving back and building our future global technologists and for promoting diversity within Information Technology.

Thanks to your wonderful support, our organization was able to stand by our 2009 theme, "Dare 2 Share" and come together to sharpen the technical minds of our key stakeholders. Thanks to our BDPA New York Executive Board Members, our many accomplishments for 2009 include:

Our HSCC team came in 5th place at the 2009 NBDPA Conference
Our HSCC team placed 2nd at the Regional HSCC Competition at Bowie State University
Our SITES youth 2nd placed 2nd in the IT Showcase at the BDPA Regional Conference
Our students also attended the Teragrid Computer Conference in Arlington, VA
Two BDPA student members worked at UBS corporate offices in Stamford, CT
as summer interns
Our monthly program meetings featured excellent presentations on topics such as Web Analytics, Unix, A Very Long Love Affair, Social Networking, Trends in Web
2.0 and Cloud Computing
Membership drives, including events such as our BDPA New York chapter Meet-n-Greet, Sing, Harlem, Sing theatre outing, and Book Signing featuring two local authors
Submission of our 2008 Chapter of the Year book to National BDPA headquarters
Our newsletter, Humanware, was published four times this year.
We partnered with other nonprofit organizations to participate in events such as No Limit Career Day and Sisterhood: United we Inspire
A wonderful Scholarship & Recognition Awards Ceremony, in June, thanks to our corporate sponsor UBS

We are already planning for an exciting 2010! BDPA is a volunteer-based organization and we are always looking for members who want take an active role and have a desire to give back. In the words of Mary McLeod Bethune "Invest in the human soul. Who knows, it might be a diamond in the rough." If you want to be a part of something great ... Now is the Time, the Momentum is Here, BDPA is the Conduit.

Sincerely,
Judaea Yarde Lane, President
BDPA New York Chapter

BDPA Newsletters from Chapters Around the Country

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:30:00 +0000

RECENT UPDATES: New York

BETF-Blog Readers, would you like to see information about programs and services being offered all over BDPA nation? Here are some recent newsletters issued from around the country:

National BDPA (Nov 2009) - 4-page BDPA-LINK contains articles about a BDPA entrepreneur (Carole Johnson), Windows 7, 2010 BDPA conference flyer and a map of local BDPA chapters.

BDPA Atlanta (Jun 2009) - 8-page OUTLOOK with articles on Blackberry solutions, chapter president message, student testimonial, corporate sponsor appreciation and new member welcom.

BDPA Bay Area (Jun 2009) - 1-page VOICE focused on summer youth programs, iPhone developers and technology's impact on community.

BDPA Chicago (May 2009) - 8-page CONNECTION contains interview with Star Cunningham (IBM), Facebook tips, Ollie Morgan tribute, sponsors, upcoming events and photos from recent chapter events.

BDPA Cincinnati (Dec 2008) - 5-page INFORMATION EXCHANGE contains articles focused on Top 10 IT Stories of 2008, 2009 HSCC applications, Using Internet to Avoid the Flu; HSCC alumni testimonial from Kelly Robinson Tarver (Class of 1999) and 6 tips for safe winter driving.

BDPA Cleveland (Jan 2009) - Online newsletter with articles about their SITES program, computer giveaway, Obama inauguration and much more.

BDPA Houston (Dec 2001) - 12-page newsletter with articles on Windows XP, message from chapter president, Wireless E911, professional development, 2001 conference highlights, chapter member of the quarter, getting started with LINUX, culture change, BFTAW announcement and membership application.

BDPA Los Angeles (Sep 2008) - 5-page newsletter with articles on 2008 HSCC review, BDPA IT Institute, United Way giving program, featured company (IT Technical Solutions), HSCC Alumni scholarship winners and local chapter news.

BDPA New Jersey (Sep 2009 - 6-page newsletter with message from chapter president, members on the move, Families in Technology Day and article on energy program for Newark school.

BDPA New York (Dec 2009) - 8-page newsletter with articles on Black Family Technology Awareness Week, message from chapter president, NO LIMITS career day recap, HSCC founder award, new/renewing members, top 5 resume mistakes to avoid, member spotlight on Myrna Miller, UNIX: A Love Affair, 2010 census, SITES corner and 2010 calendar of events.

BDPA Northern Delaware (Apr 2009) - 4-page newsletter with articles on ethics, identity fraud, computer viruses, BDPA membership benefits, work-life balance, career advancement with project management professional (PMP) certification, message from chapter president and calendar of events.

BDPA Orlando (Dec 2009) - Online newsletter with articles on Windows 7, Oracle scholarship, professional development webinar, PMP exam prep course, Chase Community Giving, job opportunities, entrepreneurs, 2010 national BDPA conference, BDPA resources and a message from the chapter president.

BDPA Southern Minnesota (May 2007) - 10-page newsletter with articles on membership benefits, student testimonials, new chapter website, program meeting updates, bios of chapter board of directors and a message from the chapter president.

BDPA Triangle (Jun 2009) - 7-page newsletter with message from the chapter president and articles on Navy's B.J. Penn, recruiter job-hunting tips, IT certifications, local government IT professionals and updates on 2009 BDPA Technology Conference.

BDPA Washington DC (Sep 2009) - 16-page BDPAToday features review of 2009 national BDPA technology conference, Agile software development, profile of Xerox CEO, 2009 BDPA awards recipient, 35th annual legislative caucus, COMPTIA certifications and career tracks for IT professionals.

You can find repository of prior BDPA newsletters in the files section of our BDPA-Communications YahooGroup. You may need to subscribe to the BDPA-Communications YG before you can download the files located in that repository.

However, we would love to post a link to your chapter's most recent newsletter right here on the BETF-Blog. Our vision is to have 45 chapter newsletters listed here. Of course, it would be nice if all chapter newsletters would publish information about the BDPA Education & Technology Foundation in each issue as well!

Is your chapter's most recent newsletter listed?

Take Five: Rick Leggett (Triangle)

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:00:00 +0000

There have been hundreds of chapter presidents in the 35-year history of BDPA. In my opinion, Rick Leggett is would rank in the all-time Top Ten of BDPA chapter presidents in our history. In 2005, he took a small and forgotten BDPA chapter located in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina and turned it into a outright powerhouse. The chapter is currently the 2nd-largest in the nation ... and it recently hosted a highly profitable and critically-acclaimed national conference.

Rick agreed to participate in our Take Five interview series:

How did you get involved in working with BDPA? - During the mid-90's, BDPA representatives were featured on a television series (Excellence By Choice: The Television Show for College Bound Students) that I created and produced in Washington, DC. The show exposed students and viewers to higher education and Career opportunities. I became aware of the organization after researching information about national organizations in technology. We invited and featured BDPA representatives on the thirty-minute show to expose students and viewers to careers in IT. High school students served as host & production crew of the highly acclaimed weekly tv series, assisted by industry professionals.

In 2002, some IT colleagues asked me to attend an informational meeting about an effort to re-establish a BDPA chapter in the Triangle (NC) region. They were aware that I had launched a model economic development initiative, known as City-wide Technology Enrichment Program (CTEP), a comprehensive computer literacy, academic enrichment, informational and workforce development program serving 10,000 residents (youth, adults, and senior citizens). While serving as it's Executive Director, CTEP had been nationally and internationally recognized as well as replicated around the world.

During the meeting I agreed to provide seed capital, meeting location, computer lab and additional resources to re-establish the Triangle Chapter. I was later asked by (then) National BDPA president Wayne Hicks to lead the effort to rejuvenate the Triangle Chapter after the chapter's current president was facing imminent military deployment. We only had about 5 or so members at the time. I reluctantly agreed to the task at hand given my other significant responsibilities, but appreciated the importance of BDPA's mission.

What is the most rewarding aspect of working with BDPA? - Another avenue to serve God's will. Our chapter's creed is "Impacting our communities through IT". We’re making a significant impact in the community through our chapter monthly Professional, Technical and Personal Development Series; Collegiate Speakers Series; Project Management Professional Study Course; SITES/HSCC Saturday Technology Academy for area high school students; in addition to, the Durham Technology Expo held during Black Family Technology Awareness Week; partnership with the City-wide Technology Enrichment Program; the Dewayne Washington Foundation to help area high school graduates receive laptop computers and printers for college, as well as, providing volunteers for Science and Technology Day at local public Middle Schools.

BDPA Triangle Chapter consistently holds monthly chapter meetings, with high-quality presenters at a great facility at the First Flight Venture Center located in Research Triangle Park, NC. We’ve developed strong strategic alliances (such as Council for Entrepreneurial Development, Raleigh-Durham Chapter of the National Black MBA Association, Carolina Minority Suppliers Development Council) and relationships with corporate sponsors (such as North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, Credit Suisse, Compuware, RBC Bank, GE Healthcare, Blue Cross & Blue Shield, IBM, Cisco Systems, AT&T and others).

We’ve proudly embodied the BDPA mantra: “From Classroom to the Boardroom”. Working with a dedicated and talented team, we’ve increased membership to (200+) and (Ranked #2) nationally; developed and maintained working relations with area organizations; showcased membership & businesses in newsletter; supported local & regional area businesses; facilitated contracts & job opportunities for members; facilitated student internship opportunities for members; and trained & exposed youth to advanced technology; and of course, we’re proud to have been host to a first-class, successful annual National BDPA Technology Conference in the organization’s history.

Tell us about a defining moment in your life? - There has not been any one in particular. I've been very blessed throughout my life, having had an array of prominent mentors and exposures. Early in life, we were instilled with values that we'd have a big job to fill and our role was to carry the torch of those great warriors before us who'd paved the way for us. God continues to prepare, guide and use me and many others to do his work. As they say, "it's not about the destination, its about the journey".

Who is your hero and why? - As I've said before their are many who suffered and struggled for us, shedding their blood and tears to pave the way for all of us. Those untold heroes & sheroes positively impacted our lives. It's important that we carry-on that legacy. We also must instill in our youth that they are connected to this journey and its their's too. As an extension of us, they too serve a vital role to collectively succeed for the continued enrichment of each generation to come.

People like my grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, uncles and aunts, extended family, along with numerous others come to mind as my hero/shero. They and others were most influential in my life, and certainly played an integral role in shaping my life in addition to many others. People like affirmative action pioneer Dr. Arthur Fletcher whose initiatives paved the way to changing America’s employment, education and business opportunity culture forever. The late Dr. Fletcher served as former Deputy Secretary of the U. S. Department of Labor, advisor to four United States Presidents, and one of the nation’s foremost economic development advisors as well as one the most influential Americans of the 20th Century. I can name many others who were and still remain my hero. Each and every one made a significant positive impact on our lives.

Any advice for people considering donation to BETF? - I always felt BDPA has the potential to be the most influential African American organization in the world. The vast talent pool within the organization is incredible. BDPA members are running Corporate America, Governments, Communities and beyond. Its vital that we pool our resources to have mechanisms in place to impact the lives of our youth and communities in a most positive manner. Its imperative that we maintain our own engines to drive our own destiny, thus being not be so dependent upon others. The BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) serves as an important channel for us to achieve this goal by providing our youth financial assistance for higher education through scholarships in addition to support for our local chapters' initiatives.

Rick proved that you can build a BDPA chapter with both quality and quantity if you stay focused on the organization mission and if you deliver measurable programs and services to your members and community.

What did you think of Rick's response?

Top 50 Most Important African Americans in Technology

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Soulclap to John William Templeton for sharing the 10th annual list of the Top 50 Most Important African Americans in Technology. The list began in 1999.

“African American contributions to technology are as ubiquitous as our movie screens and video games,” notes Templeton, “and as massive as our space exploration, airlines, manufacturing, retail, finance and healthcare. By raising the profile of our overlooked overachievers, we expand the talent base available for the challenges of the future.”

Talented leaders are selected to this list based on their impact on technology and society over the next year. This year's list focused on innovation, workforce development and technical complexity because of the dramatic new investments in science and engineering due to transformations in energy, communications and health care.

The full list can be found on Black Money Worldwide. We are very proud to share some BDPA-Love with our supporters who made the list this year:

Shellye Archambeau, Chief Executive Officer, MetricStream

Debra Auguste, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Shirley Bridges, Chief Executive Officer, ShirleyBridges.net

H. James Dallas, Senior Vice President (Operations), Medtronic

Martin Davis, Executive Vice President, Wells Fargo

Monte Ford, Chief Information Officer, American Airlines - He was keynoter at 2004 BDPA Technology Conference in Dallas TX.

Darrell Freeman, Chairman, Xycron - His company was an early supporter of our BDPA chapter in Nashville TN.

Dr. Juan Gilbert, Chair of Human Centered Computing, Clemson University - I've known Juan since he was a young 'un at Miami (OH) University. He served for the past few years as the Academic Advisor for the BDPA IT Institute.

Dr. Margaret Hamburg, Commissioner, Federal Drug Administration

Belinda Hankins, New Media Consultant

Ben-Saba Hasan, Vice President of People Systems, Walmart - Powerful executive sponsor of our BDPA chapter in Austin TX for many years.

Dr. Elva Jones, Chair of Computer Science, Winston-Salem State University

Sherrie B. Littlejohn, Executive Vice President (Enterprise Technology Architecture & Planning), Wells Fargo

Lance Lyttle, Chief Information Officer, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Charles Phillips, President, Oracle

Alana Ward Robinson, Principal, Robinson Group Consulting

Mary Spio, President, Co-founder, Gen2Media

Bonnie Bracey Sutton, Digital Equity Evangelist - Keynote speaker at recent Education Banquet hosted by our BDPA chapter in Chicago IL.

Vernon Viera, Vice President (Software Development), Pitney Bowes

Charles Wallace, Chief Information Officer, Keystone Foods - Winner of BDPA Epsilon Award for Professional Achievement.

Selectees of the 10th edition will gather in San Francisco Friday, Jan. 15, 2010, the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to shape a plan to double African American involvement in technology during a symposium on innovation and equity.

One of the highlights of the Tenth Annual Symposum of the 50 Most Important African-Americans in Technology, Friday, Jan. 15, 2010 at Pier One, Port of San Francisco, will be the release of the documentary Freedom Riders of the Cutting Edge.

Also, profiles of these leaders will be presented on the Black Parents Guide with lesson plans geared to elementary and secondary grades between Thanksgiving and January 15, 2010.

It truly is wonderful to see this list that focuses attention on men and women that can be role models for African Americans who seek to advance their careers in the IT industry. Kudos to John William Templeton and his team for sharing this labor of love with the world!

Leadership Tip: Get the Most Out of Meetings

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 17:00:00 +0000

I have attended hundreds of meetings in my BDPA career. Board meetings. Committee meetings. You name it and I've either attended or chaired it. Add on another few hundred of meetings during my career in Corporate America.

Meetings have a bad reputation as being ineffective and a waste of time. They don't have to be, if you follow some simple guidelines:

Don't call a meeting to ask your team's opinion if the decision has already been made. If their recommendation is different from what is going to happen, they will feel more resentment and anger than if they had never been asked in the first place. If you want to announce a decision, send a memo. Meetings should be dialogues. If they turn into monologues, eyes will quickly glaze over.

Head off interruptions. Be sure the room will be free for the duration of the meeting. If there is a phone in the meeting room, it should be turned off or messages should be forwarded.

Do the brainstorming first. Don't waste meeting time. Brainstorm through e-mail or using social networking technology before the meeting to develop approaches to the issue at hand.

Establish a clear time frame for meetings -- and keep them short! -- Meetings show diminishing returns after the first 30 minutes, and little good can be expected to come after the first hour of the meeting. Establish a clear time frame for the meeting. To encourage quick decisions, meet in a room without chairs.

What are some tips you've used in the past to get the most out of meetings?

2002-2009 SITES Overview (BDPA Southern Minnesota)

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 05:01:00 +0000

BDPA Southern Minnesota chapter has a powerful history of success in the National BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) from 2002-2009. This slideshow documents the elements of that success.

BDPA Southern Minnesota chapter president Nat Calvert created this slideshow.

2002-2009 SITES Overview (BDPA Southern Minnesota)

View more presentations from Wayne Hicks.

Message from Chicago Chapter President

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 21:00:00 +0000

Crossposted: Blacks Gone Geek

Seasons Greetings from BDPA Chicago Chapter!

As we all prepare for the new year, we think about ways to help others have the opportunity for a better life.

In our case, we have the annual Awards Banquet to recognize the BDPA Chicago Chapter volunteers that spent the year supporting the organization to educate our youth and IT Professionals.

We also recognize our corporate sponsors for the financial and volunteer resources provided to us, even during the economic challenges faced during this year.

We would like to personally invite you to join us on January 23rd to celebrate the accomplishments and generosity of our members and supporters.

We had a wonderful event last year and plan to have the same amount of positive energy generated by our guests this year.

Please visit our website for more information and to purchase tickets for the 2010 Awards Banquet

Have a Happy Holiday!
Rhonda Boyd, president
BDPA Chicago Chapter

Tips for Nonprofit Websites

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 05:01:00 +0000

Crossposted: Nonprofit Local

Mary Kelly, CEO of Productive Leaders, is not only an economist and national leadership speaker, but she's also a nonprofit Board member and volunteer. Recently, she shared some solid reminders for nonprofit websites with us:

Keep your website updated. Nothing sends potential donors away faster than an old website. It makes the organization seem as though you are no longer active.
Put future as well as past events on the website. If it doesn't seem like the organization is doing anything, people won't feel compelled to be part of it.
List what you need, not just that you need money. Telling people that you need $18,000 to buy a van to shuttle senior citizens to medical appointments 7 days a week, operating 12 hours a day is a compelling cause. Telling people you need $18,000 is not.
Give people the opportunity to give more than money. Someone might have that van, though they don't have $18,000. List what you need that you would have to pay for (accounting services, plumbing, website design, dog food, trash bags, whatever). People who might not be able to write a check might have the talent or resources that you need.

Do a quick check-in on your organization's website. Can you put a check mark next to all of these items? If not, these quick changes could bring more donors and volunteers your way!

Black Web 2.0 Interview with Michael Powell

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:30:00 +0000

Black Web 2.0 is a blog that all BDPAers should be reading on a daily basis. One of the creative forces behind Black Web 2.0 is Angela Benton. I met Angela at the 1st annual Blogging While Brown conference in Atlanta GA a couple of years ago. I'm pleased that she is currently serving as a virtual volunteer with BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF).

Angela conducted an interview with former FCC chairperson Michael Powell. Please take a moment to listen to this interview:

Black Web 2.0 Interview with Michael Powell from blackweb20 on Vimeo.

Mr. Powell talks about Internet, net neutrality and broadband access. I must admit that I didn't much like Powell when he led the FCC back in the day. However, I appreciate him for taking time to share some thoughts with Black Web 2.0.

What are your thoughts about Mr. Powell (in general) and this interview (in particular)?

HSCC Testimonial: Ramala Andemariam (Cincinnati)

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 08:45:00 +0000

Originally Posted: 12/18/2008

I have been a member of BDPA for over 20 years. One of my proudest BDPA accomplishments was working with others to revive BDPA Cincinnati chapter in 1999. BDPA Cincinnati chapter went on to train hundreds of students in web development, presentation skills, project management skills and computer programming over the next decade.

One of those students is a remarkable young brother, Ramala Andemariam. Ramala participated in the BDPA Student IT Education & Scholarship (SITES) program in 2003-2005. Ramala is currently a senior at the University of Cincinnati. He is very active with the Ethiopian Student Association.

Ramala shared his thoughts about BDPA when he was 16-years old. He recently updated his testimonial:

I remember when I first started BDPA. I was in 10th grade and I got some information from my web design teacher about BDPA. I've been interested in making websites for a while and I was also learning it on my own so this was a great opportunity for me to find out what this organization offered. I talked to my father about it and went to the testing with him. There I saw many others that have come to do the same. After being accepted into the first phase, I was excited to learn what they offered. Ultimately, I ended up going all the way through to being on the competition team. It was the most exciting thing I've done at that time. I love to compete and BDPA gave me the perfect setting to do just that.

Throughout my BDPA journey, there were a lot of opportunities for me to learn and experience new things. The Saturday sessions we had were the most educational for me, specially during the first year. I always looked forward to every Saturday with BDPA. Being able to learn new things, work with other people that had the same interest, and meet new people were among the many things I experienced with BDPA. Going to different cities and competing was also one of the highlights of the program. I loved those Fridays that we spent locked in the competition room coming up with ways to solve our competition problem with limited time. I loved the time we spent playing pranks on one another that Saturday night before our departure. There were many experiences that helped me grow as a person while in BDPA.

My initial interest in technology was what guided me to join BDPA. Once in BDPA, I learned a lot of things that helped me succeed in college. Being an IT major, there was a lot of knowledge that transfered directly to my daily school work from those BDPA classes. It is by far the best educational and fun experience I've had to date. I recommend it to everyone that has the chance to join. BDPA is the best family you can have outside of your current one. I regret not knowing about BDPA earlier but it will always have a special place in my life. Thank you for those that took their time out to educate me and influence me in a great way. Thank you BDPA!

Ramala Andemariam
Member, BDPA Cincinnati Chapter
Student, University of Cincinnati (Class of 2010)

Please take a moment to share your thoughts about this testimonial in the COMMENTS option below. Is your BDPA chapter identifying and supporting its HSCC Alumni?

Where Are They Now: 2000 BDPA Cincinnati HSCC Team

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:15:00 +0000

L-R: Raven Chambers, Stephanie Ross, Jarelle Marshall, Mike Sutherland (volunteer coach provided by Procter & Gamble), Brandon Berry and Terris Poole.

This is a photo of the team trained by BDPA Cincinnati chapter in 2000. These youngsters (and their coach) came close to winning the national championship that year ... before settling for the silver medal.

The question for you is simple! Use the COMMENTS option below to tell us WHERE THEY ARE NOW! For extra credit ... which chapter won the 2000 national HSCC championship?

Take Five: John Malonson (Los Angeles)

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:30:00 +0000

I have a special place in my heart for the BDPA Los Angeles chapter. I was born and raised in Los Angeles and my mom, Liz Hicks, is a past president of the chapter. As such, I am pleased that the chapter is now being led by John Malonson. He represents the new generation of BDPA leadership. I look for great things from John and his leadership team on the west coast.

He was kind enough to participate in our Take Five interview series.

How did you get involved in working with BDPA? - In 2003, I began looking for an African American organization with a focus on Information Technology. Needless to say, my journey started with Google. After being pointed in the right direction, I've been a member of BDPA ever since. It was never my intention to sit back and be a passive member. I knew the value that I brought to the table and welcomed the opportunity to give back to my community. Before assuming the role of President, I actively got involved with my local chapter by serving as the HSCC Coordinator/Instructor from 2003-2008.

What is the most rewarding aspect of working with BDPA? - The most rewarding aspect of working with BDPA is being able to bear witness to lives made better via access to information and technology.

Tell us about a defining moment in your life? - A definitive moment in my life was my freshman year in college at UCLA. The year was 1995 and this thing called the "Internet" was moving fast and freely (via T1 connections) on college campuses while the rest of world moved sluggishly at 28.8k speed. Most people assume that I majored in Computer Science or Engineering; however, I actually majored in Psychology. After having access to all the world's information in an instant at my fingertips, I immediately knew which direction my career would take and I haven't looked back since.

Who is your hero and why? - I honestly don't have a lone hero or one person that I look up to. I'd have to say that my heroes are those that came before me; both sung and unsung. It is because of them that I can hold my head high, befriend almost anyone of my choosing, and have access to all the opportunities that life has to offer.

Any advice for people considering donation to BETF? - I'd like those considering donation to BETF to view it as an "investment" in our young leaders. If you need to check the ROI of your investment, the testimonies are there for public viewing. Although I've volunteered thousands of hours during my tenure with BDPA Los Angeles, I donate.

BDPA Los Angeles chapter is aggressively marketing itself via a variety of social networks that include Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Network.

What did you learn from John's interview? Please share some BDPA-Love with John as a response to this post!

Social Media Revolution

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:30:00 +0000

It still amazes me that there are BDPA leaders who think that social media is a fad. I encourage all BDPA leaders to check out this video to get an idea of the impact that social media is having on our society.

Can we afford to continue ignoring impact of social media? Or is it time for us to figure out how to harness the power of social media to meet the mission of BDPA. What say u?

Microsoft Seeks to 'Elevate America' with Free Training

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:45:00 +0000

Microsoft is committed to strengthening the U.S. economy and increasing global competitiveness by improving access to education and workforce-readiness skills required for twenty-first-century jobs. The initiative is being done in a phased state-by-state approach. The second component of 'Elevate America' available online immediately, is a Web site designed to help people with the basics such as creating a resume and send e-mail.

"Millions of individuals don't have the technology skills needed in today's economy. Through Elevate America, we want to help workers get the skills they need to succeed," Pamela Passman, Microsoft's VP for corporate affairs.

As part of the Elevate America program, Microsoft is working with state and local governments and hopes to offer 1 million vouchers for e-learning and certification classes.

I am interested to hear from any BDPA member or chapter that is actively engaged with this program.

Election Results: BDPA Charlotte (2010-2011)

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 05:45:00 +0000

BDPA Charlotte chapter was created in September 1988. The chapter has a rich history of leadership in the BDPA community. The legacy of the chapter will continue into 2010-2011 based on recent election results.

Chapter President, Julius Clark (Wells Fargo)
Chapter President-Elect, Markus Beamer (Bank of America)

Julius Clark wrote,

"I am happy to announce that Markus Beamer, current VP of Strategy & Planning, was elected as the 2010-2011 President-Elect for BDPA Charlotte. Markus has been a dedicated member of the BDPA Charlotte family, most notably as trainer for the High School Computer Competition (HSCC) program. Markus has demonstrated a strong passion of educating the next generation of students and walks the talk of our creed; “Advancing Careers From the Classroom to the Boardroom”. Markus is a rising leader in the IT industry who also has a tremendous passion for developing online video/strategy games in his spare time. Markus is a very talented individual and will serve the Charlotte community well."

Markus Beamer wrote,

"My name is Markus Beamer. I was born in Tacoma Washington but was raised in Columbia South Carolina. I come from a family of 4 boys and 2 girls and thus am used to a very hectic environment. “Never a dull moment” is certainly the motto for our home growing up. That’s probably why 11 years ago I turned to technology for a career, “Never a dull moment” sums up its progress quite nicely.

During my college years, at the College of Charleston, my first exploration into technology was as a web developer for a software licensing firm. I started out typing HTML and Javascript into a simple notepad window. Through the years I touched upon CSS, Java, Visual Basic, PHP, mySQL, Photoshop, Access, Oracle and MS SQL Server in that exact order. However, I find it quite amusing that to this day when I want to write a bit of code I reach for my notepad application first ... no matter the language. Needless to say, I found a love in technology. No matter how much I knew, I never was bored, as something new was but a day away. Change was always going to come.

Of course change can come when you grow the family. Currently my family is in Charlotte North Carolina. I am the lucky husband to one fine lady and the proud father of two rambunctious boys. I am happy to say that my household carries on the tradition of “Never a dull moment”. My oldest son is crazy for electronics and all things technical. My youngest son is definitely the outdoor, rough and tumble kinda fella. They both attract their fair share of friends and our house has become the “neighborhood” house. (much to my wife’s dismay!)

I currently work at Bank of America as a Business Process Consultant. When asked, I tell friends and family that my role is to help “leadership” make the best use of technology and in truth this is what I do. However the role affords me much more than that, I am at a crucial nexus where the needs, desires and ambitions of the business meet the calculations, formulas and algorithms of technology. It’s a great place to be and I don’t think I’ll change it for some time to come.

But…

At times one gets bored with the day to day. It is in those times that I turn to my hobby of game building. Like most hobbies it is silly yet fulfilling. I build small games that can be played in a browser; my specialty is to build them with JavaScript so they do not require any plug-ins or downloads to play. Sometimes the games are role based, sometimes they are card based, other times they are …different. I have been doing this since 1999. I laugh when I think of the number of games I have written and thrown by the wayside (at last count 24). But that is what a hobby is…a wasted time that allows the mind, body and soul to reset.

I hope that having learned a little more about me, you will reach out and shake my hand. I am always happy to meet new folks."

I hope that you will take a moment and share some BDPA-Love with Markus and Julius as they embark on this remarkable journey!

DuPont Challenge Science Essay Competition

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 02:15:00 +0000

The 24th annual DuPont Challenge Science Essay Competition is underway and is accepting entries now through January 31, 2010. Designed to inspire young people to excel in scientific writing, the competition invites students in 7th through 12th grade to research and write a 700- to 1,000-word essay about a scientific discovery, theory, event or technological application that has captured their interest.

Essays are judged on mechanics and conventions; ideas and content; organization; style and creativity; and voice. Winners receive savings bonds up to $5,000 and an expenses paid trip to Walt Disney World and the Kennedy Space Center.

The program also rewards the unique contributions of the teachers of the winning students with trips with winners, $500 education grants, and sponsorship to attend the 2011 NSTA National Conference on Science Education in San Francisco. Created to honor the Challenger astronauts, this competition is a great way to get students to push the limits of imagination and discovery.

Take Five: John Eckenrode (Baltimore)

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 06:00:00 +0000

John Eckenrode is the president and founder of CPSI. John has vast experience as an employee and contractor, having progressed through the ranks from programmer to project manager. I met John when his company hosted a quarterly meeting for the National BDPA Board of Directors. I've worked more closely with John over the past year in his role as a director of the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF).

John was kind enough to respond to our Take Five questions:

How did you get involved in working with BDPA? - Through the strong leadership of one of our long time contractors, Denise Holland. Denise was passionate and persistent in getting me involved with our local chapter and in national events.

What is the most rewarding aspect of working with BDPA? - By far, the High School Computer Competition (HSCC). I believe some of the most valuable experiences we can give our young high school students are those which involve "success, we did it, wow, I learned something, it's a big world out there, etc." The HSCC fits this bill AND is very "grass roots" in that most of the money contributed to the chapters goes right to the students expenses for the program.

Tell us about a defining moment in your life? - Helping lead the fight in Maryland to repeal the computer services sales tax the legislature passed in 2007. I, along with many others, worked very hard to win the repeal. This effort was one of my most rewarding professional experiences.

Who is your hero and why? - I don't have any one hero, but rather a list of people over time, all very wise and learned individuals. Some of them include biblical characters like Moses, King Solomon, Jesus Christ, and the Apostle Paul. From a public service perspective, I consider Abraham Lincoln, FDR, and Ronald Reagan to be my list of the top three presidents, as well as Winston Churchill. From a business perspective, I most admire Jack Welsh (GE), Bill Gates (MicroSoft), Sam Walton (WalMart), Ray Kroc (McDonalds), Tom Watson Sr. (IBM), and a few others. As far as authors go, my top three are Jim Collins' "Good to Great", Machiavelli's "The Prince" and Sun Tsu's "The Art of War", written over 3,500 years ago.

Any advice for people considering donation to BETF? - Our children are our future. We need to make a difference one child at a time.

What are your thoughts about John's answers?

Election Results: BDPA Atlanta (2010-2011)

noreply@blogger.com (Villager) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 22:30:00 +0000

BETF joins with others in congratulating the winners of recent BDPA Atlanta chapter elections:

Chapter President, Carter Hill (Turner Broadcasting System)

Chapter President-Elect, Felicia Jones (Macy's Inc.)

Chapter VP-Finance, Thyrsa Gravely (Deloitte)

BDPA Atlanta, 4th largest chapter in the nation, has been well-served by outgoing chapter president Teresa Williams. Teresa led her chapter to a number of chapter awards and superb performance from the chapter's high school computer competition team. Teresa will remain on the chapter's board of directors in her new role as the immediate past president.

I encourage you to use the POST COMMENT option below to share some love with these BDPA leaders as they prepare for their new roles within the Atlanta chapter.