Two opposing platforms: Mac vs. Windows, iPhone vs. Android

Purpose: Big-C church better utilize the new technologies

What’s hot – HTML5 + CSS3 + JavaScript

HTML5 is  terse, shorter and simpler

Examples: <DOCTYPE> <script> <style><stylesheet>

New Tags:

• <header>
• <nav>
• <aside>
• <article>
• <section>
• <figure>
• <figure>

Recommend: continue to use <div> and use “class” with the future HTML tags: <div class=”content”>

<canvas> + <svg> IE9 supports svg now – Raphael SVG library

Canvas works on phones, mouse intrativity with SVG – ChromeExperiments.com

In SVG and Canvas, you can do everything that Flash does. If you are starting from scratch, you would need to do it in SVG/Canvas and not Flash

New <form> elements: <input type=”date” /> “datetime” “email” “tel”

You also get adaptive keyboards on mobile devices

HTML5 “Apps” -

• ScrumCards.net CACHE MANIFEST index.html
• Sencha Touch HTML5 Mobile App Framework
• PhoneGap – start in HTML5 & JavaScript then they will make it work as a native app in iPhone

HTML5 JavaScript API’s (Desktop Features, Browser Database, Geolocation, localStorage) cool, but not ready yet

<video>

• Flash was the most reliable way to play video on the web, 99% of desktops, doesn’t work in iPhone
• H.264 = Money, browser makers pay $5M per year, works in IE, Chrome, Safari, but not Firefox & Opera
• Ogg = Ugh
• WebM/VP8 – looks good, not out there yet
• Recommendation: use H.264 via HTML5, with a fallback to Flash playing the same file if the browser can’t play H.264 natively via <video>
• <video source=”mymp4file.mp4″> – MediaElementJS.com CSS styled video controls to control the user interface

CSS3 – not HTML5 but still awesome

• .gradient { background: #eee url (gradient.png) repeat-x; background: -webkit-gradient; background: -moz-linear-gradient} look at: westciv.com/tools/gradients
• .drop_shadow  { box-shadow: rgba (0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0 2px 5px; again adjust at westciv.com/tools
• .rounded_corners {border-radius: 5px look at gist.github.com
• .text_shadow {text-shadow: rgba(0,0,0,0.5) 0 1 px 1px;

@font-face

• lots of common fonts
• if you have a font you love for headings, you can load a font from the server
  • flat images
  • sIFR: flash, not working on iPhone
  • Cufon: JavaScript + <canvas>
  • @fone-face: pure css, tricky to implement
  • fontsquirrel.com/fontface/generator
  • code.google.com/webfonts
  • must use fonts that are licensed to do this

Social “Graph” – who owns your data?

• standards and protocols aren’t really being used
• Facebook “Like”
• OpenLike – open protocol to allow sharing the things people like in a simple standard method between web applications

John Dyer – twitter.com/johndyer

Nathan Smith – twitter.com/nathansmith

Notes forthcoming.

Life After a Great Idea: Moving Ideas to Implementation – Charles Lee

Ideamaking

1. Who Are You & Who/What Are You Leading? “Tribes” – Seth Godin – you can make change by leading the world, small groups of true believers, takes a 1000 people. Purple Cow – something worth talking about, something remarkable. Spend your time and money to make something that matters, that’s amazing.

2. How will you implement your ideas?

Practical Insights into Idea-Making:

• Wisdom comes from the streets – sometimes we project what people will like, not the actuality. If you want to do a college ministry event, talk to actual college people instead of projecting your perception. Allow people to speak into what you are creating
• Paper please – write it down, solidify the concept
• Work on simplicity – ($44 B in unused gift cards – giftcardgiver.com)
• Have a business plan – well-thought-through, numbers-crunched, sustainable plan. Don’t base your whole strategy on the “Like” button

Creativity & Idea-Making

• When you have an idea, you write down some thoughts.
• Then you have another idea, unrelated.
• Then you may have another random idea. Write them down and let them germinate.
• Then you’ll see connection from one to another, and some will die
• Finally you’ll have the big concept
• Share your idea
• Expect the “No’s” and dream anyway
• A Disturbance in the Force
• Work Hard and Persevere

May we never let the lack of implementation on our ideas get in the way of the what God’s wants to make happen in our lives.

Websites: charlestlee.com

theideacamp.com

Creative Workflow – Brad Zimmerman

Everything in Adobe Production Suite

1. Pre-production: have to meet to go over creative

2. Story Board/Shot list – iPhone: iStoryBoard, or Cinemek storyboard composer

3. Computer setup: boot on flash drive, two 1 Tera production drives: one with every file organized by sermon series, other is library drive with every image organized and categorized

4. Books:

• Making Ideas Happen
• ReWork

5. Automation: Photoshop: drop lip

Template files

Use the same soundtrack for similar videos

6. Workflow:

Drop all the video in timeline, fix audio then edit
Soundbooth repair and replace
normalize
apply hard limit
noise reduction
B-roll…drag and drop over top

Adobe Dynamic Link – import After Effects, grab and drop into timeline without rendering

Rightclick – edit original

Placeholders – pick a color (lower thirds) in After Effects import Premiere Project
Using a text document to write a program for arrays

Keying – New>Adjustment Layer – works on everything in timeline
Key>Keylight>Matte

Color Correction

Multi-camera editing

Brad’s work is at Cmv.tv

Mantras:

1. Check your ego (we over estimate what we have to say, and we underestimate the impact on the people we are saying it to) Before they encounter the message, they encounter you. Less about what you have to say and more about how it impacts others
2. Get an image consultant – who saves you from you? Draw on the wisdom of people with diverse perspectives. Your communication efforts will be much more successful when you fine-tune your motivation – focus on the relationship instead of just the deliverable – the extra steps inside are huge – do the hard work.
3. Keep it Simple – to maximize response = minimize options. Churches should provide clarity instead of chaos (progressive dinner, not potluck). What do people need right now! Don’t give more content, just make it easy to access. Can any staff or volunteer answer a question? “What’s the Point?”

Her blog is always insightful: www.kemmeyer.com

Her book: Less Clutter. Less Noise.: Beyond Bulletins, Brochures and Bake Sales

Additional from the Q&A:

Air Traffic Control: monitor the church-wide calendar, then they choose the top two for the platform

Communications game plan and technology infrastructure.

Predecide – high emphasis, medium emphasis, light emphasis

The Most Epic Blogging Breakout Ever – Scott McClellan

1. Design:

• Content is king – but design is huge. Wordpress offers great flexibility and ability for high design
• Try to think about who is coming, how they’re getting there and give them a framework and context for what the blog is about. If they can’t get an idea of what’s going on and why they’re there, they will feel like an outsider and go away and not come back.
• Give people an excuse to come back, subscribe to RSS feed

2. Voice:

• Discover your voice: what should I write from my blog that only I can write?
• Compress what you are hearing and learning and add your take

3. Rhythm:

• Think about the timing and sustainability of your blogging
• It sets expectations and allows people to get into the groove

4. Read:

• It’s great that we want to create, but a good blogger reads blogs
• Ask yourself what worked and didn’t work in that post, what moved me or caused me to act
• What is this good blog doing, and what is this mediocre blog not doing? Pick it apart.

5. Generosity:

• Seth Godin/Linchpin
  – the Generous Artist – artists who use their art to give gifts, with what they create with no expectation of repayment.
• Sometimes we create blogs to get something; affirmation, ads cash
• A great blog is not a transaction but generous – it’s not about earning, but giving

6. Story:

• Stories are the way God changes us – Don Miller
• The best blogs tell a story, one that takes shape as the blog goes along, or little stories that connect with people and resonate.
• Installments (stories of change) that paint a broader picture of what’s happening.
• Stories connect much more than funny videos and striking statistics
• Blogging allows us to mix media to tell better stories (slides, embed video, audio)

7. Comments:

• Seth Godin has no comments…Scott is rethinking the value and right forum for comments
• People can be stupid, why am I providing a forum for it?
• If somebody want’s to say something, they can get their own blog.
• What does it mean to facilitate and moderate comments, maybe certain categories in WordPress allow comments and others don’t.

8. Intentionality:

• Best blogs are done on purpose, the reek of planning and intentionality
• Best blog posted have been researched, proofed, sent around
• Great ideas happen by accident, but great art doesn’t – it’s hard work
• Don’t let resistance get you – it keeps you from doing the creative work you’ve already conceived of (Pressfield – The War of Art)
• Jon Acuff, “I’m a writer and writer’s write”
• What do you want to do with your blog – articulate the mission
• Aim small…miss small – narrow your focus

Not so in 2010.

Besides state-wide races for Governor/Lt. Governor, and U.S. Senate, this year is up for grabs in the Third Congressional District of PA. The incumbent is freshman congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper, who faces one primary challenge. However, the big horse race is on the Republican side, where six contenders want to be the nominee.

If you watch much local television you would think that there are only two candidates in that race: Paul Huber, and Mike Kelly. Those two have a full-blown media cat fight going on ripping each other to shreds. I would encourage you to reject both of them; their money and nasty campaigns.

Let me tell you about a citizen/statesman if there ever was one: Ed Franz. Ed is one of us; a blue-collar guy that works “at the GE.” He’s been a lifelong veteran of grassroots campaigns; the “go-to” guy for conservatives over the years trying to win Crawford County. He has a firm grasp of the challenges and ill-fated decisions our government is making and has a plan for action. He’s also independent-minded enough not to get sucked-into the Washington establishment debacle; an unfortunate fact of Cong. Dahlkemper’s tenure so-far.

Ed has long-standing pro-life and pro-family credentials…and he is just an honest, down-to-earth, passionate guy who would truly represent the values I hold dear.

If you are a Republican in PA-3, when you go to the polls look for Ed Franz at position #5 on the ballot.

I think I’m a pretty good uncle because of the modeling I received from my aunts and uncles while growing up through today. I didn’t know my grandparents as all four passed away before I was born or during my toddler years. My uncles and aunts stepped into that grandparent role in my life.

The context of living in a large Sicilian-American extended family is that you receive guidance freely given from a broad range of elders. Even during the “know-it-all” teen years, the direction and care I received from my parents’ siblings and their mates was taken with the understanding that boundless love was behind it.

Let me give you a little more insight on a hugely-important part of our family dynamic. My mother had three sisters. I think I can accurately say that the four sisters were (and are) the most powerful forces of this clan that follows them. Strong, catalytic forces in their collective children’s lives.

But then there are their men. It takes a special guy to support and channel the force of such a woman! That’s the high rank that my dad and two Uncles named Jim attained.

Being married into the family gave these fellows, members of The Greatest Generation, license to provide clarity, perspective, and focus to the rest. Al, Jim and Jim were the relaxed trio at the family reunions, they joined in the games and wearing the funny hats, and sang parodies about what a crazy family they are so proud to be a part of.

Some “uncles-by-marriage” regretfully draw that “your family/my family” line and never fully engage into their wife’s family doings. That’s not the case with my Uncles Jim or my dad: they fully embraced everyone as their own.

I could tell a hundred stories about the impact these guys made in my life. But the best way to describe them is that they were foundational; pillars of strength. Their genuine interest and peaceful nature were like magnets to me; conversations were easy and enlightening, always laced with praise and words of encouragement. I especially loved the stories of the old days, when they were coming up. Imagine a life with little technology; instead of xBox filling your afternoon, you are filling a bag with coal so the family can be warm that evening.

They once were boys who went to war, now men in their twilight. My dad has been gone over 11 years now. Uncle Jim Borino is hanging tough in spite of the loss of his beloved Grace a few years now.

My Uncle Jim Doyle, my godfather, is now facing eternity. It is hard to imagine a world without his smile, sense of humor, and gentle spirit. Even as his body fails him, his mind and personality have not flagged. It’s that person of Jim Doyle, who for my 47 years has meant unconditional love, support, encouragement…someone on my side.

Thank you…I’ll never forget you, Uncle Jim.

Peace and love to the entire family as we all walk through this season, with Christ by our side.

I can’t sleep, even though I only went to bed a few hours ago. The music from our Christmas Eve services at church last night are running through my head on a continuous loop; “Come let us adore Him!”

As I look around the tree at all of the presents I’m amazed again at how blessed my family is. Not because of the stuff, but because of the love and thought behind it. I’m thankful for the grace and caring that keeps this home intact and covered with love. I’m truly thankful for God for this moment.

My thoughts this morning have also turned to what other kids are waking up to this morning on Christmas here in Erie.

For you see, my brother Jeff, who has counseled thousands of Erie children, says that our family won life’s lottery. My seven sibs and I grew up in a home with two parents who loved each other, and stayed committed for life. They didn’t have much money, but they poured their lives into bringing up their children with a sense of morality, decency, and responsibility that reflected the character that Christ would have us carry. They weren’t perfect, and we aren’t either…but we were given every chance for a successful launch. I’m doing my best to provide the same nurturing context for my children. I know that at times my wife and I can do better, but our kids are doing well and we have a wonderful life together.

But what about the other kids…whose lottery ticket came up short. On this Christmas morning, I can’t help but think about Clara Ward and the kids she cares for through her Youth Development Center on East 21st Street. She gets presents together for over 300 kids each Christmas. Her whole ministry is for the “abused and neglected” children in our community.

What are those kids, living within 5000 feet of my doorstep waking up to? What kind of brokenness did their mom and dad live under when they were coming up? What kind of hold does addiction, or illness, or hopelessness have on these families?

It would be easy for me to wallow in despair over the plight of these kids, along with the kids waking up in rich homes full of material possessions but bankrupt in commitment to each other.  But I am encouraged on two counts:

I have hope because of the hope of Christmas. That precious baby Jesus born in  a manger truly is the answer for our lives. The famous verse in the Bible that “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son” illustrates the extreme measures God has accomplished to pour His love and grace into my life. And because His love is unconditional and for everyone, we have all won life’s lottery in the person and Savior of Jesus Christ. God loves my kids and Clara’s kids so much more than any of us can imagine, and we can pray His blessing would pour out on them in spirit and in truth, and He can enter their homes and change their family trees.

Second, I need to do what I can do, which is pray for my family and the families of the children in our community. And I can do better at this father, husband, follower of Christ thing. I can be more attentive, faithful, kinder, less sharp-tongued, loving, generous, open…I could go on.

Let’s recommit to the values of Christ in our lives and in those we touch. Merry Christmas!

Erie County PA 1895

If you were to look at a movie of my life 10 years ago, you would have seen me scrambling to make provisions for Christmas broadcasts and coverage of First Night-Erie and the Y2K date change as part of my management job at WCTL. At home I had two active elementary school-aged boys and a pregnant wife getting ready to deliver our Millennial Baby.

Let your lens widen out to the Erie community at large and you would have seen an optimistic community, ready to head into the new century tackling our challenges and accepting responsibility to make change. Soon after New Year’s, the region through the Economic Development Corp. of Erie County engaged Brian Bosworth to do a comprehensive 12-month study and propose a developmental strategy for the future.

The much-referred-to Bosworth Report was released on October 16, 2001 and it gave a frank assessment of where our region stood and where it needed to go. Plenty of Erie stakeholders were involved in providing input into his findings, delineated by a 13 point Executive Summary.

In the introduction to the 79-page document, are these two telling paragraphs:

As we hope this report makes clear, a new strategy and an aggressive commitment to economic development in Erie must be a very high priority for the entire region.  The consultant team believes that, over the next ten years, the region is headed for serious economic problems.  Unless the leaders and residents of Erie take dramatic steps to counter current trends, we believe the regional economy will continue to shrink relative to the rest of the nation, income and opportunity will erode, and people – especially young adults – will begin to leave the region at an accelerating pace.

In some places where we have worked over the past several years, we have come essentially to the conclusion that the people of that region need mostly to keep doing what they have been doing, perhaps with a few adjustments, and the economy will continue to do well.  This is not the situation in Erie.  You cannot keep doing what you have been doing.

To say that this was a wake-up call for community officials is an understatement. In fact, I think that the report had a significant bearing on the election of Rick Schenker to County Executive that November over incumbent Judy Lynch. People wanted change and the young Schenker along with the then new Erie City Mayor Rick Flippi created expectancy for forward momentum for our region.

The two Ricks got majorly behind Bosworth’s first Major Recommendation:

We recommend the immediate establishment of a high-level, civic coordinating council to integrate the activities of the region’s principal business-based civic institutions. Its goal will be implementing the recommendations of this report and other major economic development initiatives that might emerge.

This recommendation led to the formation of the Civic Coordinating Committee, filled with leaders from government, economic development, education, and the like. At the beginning, there was a strong willingness, if not buy-in, to participate in the various task forces. But after a couple years of slow movement, the addition of a paid Executive Director, and the change of administrations for both city and county, the “C-Cubed” basically petered out. Instead of a high-priority, protected communications and strategy vessel, C3 because just another economic development council, which we didn’t need.

Activity, however, continues. Much of the job creation tasks have been taken up by the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership. Some of the intergovernmental communication, along with smart purchasing happens in the Erie Council of Governments. The good thing is that the Bosworth report is rarely out of mind for those who discuss our region’s future. What we want to look at in the next couple weeks is how much of this community agenda has been or is being accomplished.

Stay tuned.