I. What’s New

A. CTCNet Conference September 20th

B. TechConnect Seminar October 9th

C. Training Institute Upcoming Classes

II. Resources

A. Job opportunity:

B. Children's Use of New Technology for Picture-Taking

C. Community Health Fair (free computer door-prize)

D. Basic Webbing Newsletter: Graphics on the Web (lots of good information for beginning web development)

E. In2Books-Web based Pen-Pals for children

F. Accessibility for Community Organizations

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I. What’s New

A. CTCNet Conference September 20th

Does your organization have a computer lab? Are you trying to build one? Would you like to get involved with centers already working in your neighborhood?

Join us at the Philadelphia region's Community Technology Centers' Network (CTCNet) conference "Growth through Collaboration"

September 20th, 2002

Northwest Campus

Community College of Philadelphia

This conference is FREE. A continental breakfast will be provided.

You can register on-line http://www.ctcnet-philly.org/ or at the door.

A FEW IMPORTANT NOTES:

1) An agenda is listed down below for your reference

2) DIRECTIONS are available at the link above, or by calling the NorthWest

Campus of the Community College of Philadelphia at 215-751-8773

3) It is no longer possible to register for lunch. If you have ordered lunch, but have not paid, please pay at the conference. Do not mail payment at this time.

4) If you are bringing your own lunch to the conference, there are vending

machines for snacks and beverage.

5) The conference is THIS FRIDAY SEP 20TH SO REGISTER TODAY!

We look forward to seeing you.

http://www.ctcnet-philly.org/

AGENDA

8:30am Registration Check-in

9:00am Opening Remarks

Jonathan Ford, Turning the TIDE

Stan Pokras, CTCNet / NTR

Nick Taliafero, Mayor's office of Faith Based initiatives

9:30am Regional Collaboration Resources

TechXchange, Neville Vakharia

Teaming4Technology, Diane Melley

10:30am Networking with the Presenters

11:00am Tools and Resources for Collaboration

Effective Messaging, Ed Schwartz

Npower, Lisa Shulock

Technology Assets, Philadelphia Digital Divide Network

Noon Lunch and Networking

1:00pm Breakout Sessions

Building a Volunteer Network, Fred Kittleman

Growing your Organization with Technology, Maurice Henderson

2:00pm Curriculum Development, Tobey Dichter

Staff Development, Tim Halloran

Scaling for Growth and Funding, Stephen Rockwell

3:00pm Closing Remarks

Remarks

Evaluation Forms

http://www.ctcnet-philly.org/ --- REGISTER TODAY

B. Tech Connect Seminar
TechConnect a series on information technology for nonprofits

"IT Budgeting for Nonprofits"

Peter Blau, ITData

Wednesday October 9, 2002

9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania

7 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103

Attendees will:

• Know and apply Total Cost of Ownership & IT Life Cycle concepts in their agencies

• Learn the 6 steps to developing an IT budget

• Have spending standards against which to compare their budgets

Who should attend?

All are welcome, but this presentation will be particularly useful for board members, CEOs, COOs, CFOs, and other nonprofit executives.

What is the format for this event?

There will be a presentation, with time allotted for questions, announcements, and shoptalk. Refreshments will be provided.

Do I need any technical expertise to benefit from attending this series?

No. This is a non-technical presentation designed for professionals who are experts in other aspects of nonprofit administration, planning, and implementation.

Do I need to make reservations?

Yes. Seating is limited. Please send an email to techconnect@techfoundation.org, register online at http://techconnect.kintera.org/philadelphia or fax back the registration form. Please include your title, organization, and full contact information.

How much does it cost to attend?

It is absolutely free to T4T members. The cost will be $20 for non-T4T members. Contact teamtech@uwsepa.org for more information about how

to become a member.

Where can I get more information?

Please write to the TechConnect team at techconnect@techfoundation.org or TechFoundation 955 Massachusetts Ave. 7th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02139.

TechFoundation & Teaming for Technology at United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania invite you to TechConnect a series on information technology for nonprofits

Wednesday October 9th, 2002

9:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania

7 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103

Please note that we cannot process your reservation without the following information:

Name:

Organization:

Title:

Email address:

Street address:

City:

State:

Zip:

Telephone:

Fax:

501(c)3: (Y/N)

Additional

questions/requests:

*Due to limited seating capacity, registration will be accepted until July 8, 2002 and attendees will be registered on a first-come, first-served basis with priority given to nonprofit organizations.

To register online visit: http://techconnect.kintera.org/philadelphia

To register by fax: send this form to 617-354-7510

To register by U.S. Mail: send this form to TechConnect, TechFoundation, 955 Massachusetts Ave. 7th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02139

To register by email: send this information to techconnect@techfoundation.org TechFoundation delivers technology, expertise and capital to help nonprofit organizations harness the power of information technology to serve humanity. We envision a world where nonprofit organizations can access the same resources to serve humanity that businesses use to create wealth.

C. Upcoming Courses
Community Impact Training Institute

TEAMING FOR TECHNOLOGY

Windows 98 Tune Up – Maximizing your PC’s performance. This class will show you how to optimise your system for top speed and efficiency, troubleshoot and fix errors, and upgrade drivers, and how to keep your system from getting sluggish. Whether at home or office, you will be able to bring Windows 98 to its full power, maximizing the usefulness of your PC.

9/24 9:30-12:30pm.

Location: West Philadelphia Community Center.

Trainer: Caring Peoples Alliance Staff.

Cost: $40.

ABCs of PCs introduction to computers – For beginners. This class Introduces general computer use and terminology, describes the basic hardware components of a PC and introduces basic skills for using software programs and the Internet in a Microsoft Windows environment. This class is for anyone who is new to computers and wants an introduction to computer and Internet use. It describes the basic components of the computer, controlling program windows and menus, navigating Windows and running programs. You will be able to create new text documents and open and save files and use a web browser and search engine.

10/1 9:30am-4:00pm

Location: West Philadelphia Community Center.

Trainer: Ron Isaac.

Cost: $75.

KidSmart/Young Explorers – This training will provide a basic overview to agency administrative staff that will enable them to use the Young Explorers computer in their childhood development programs.

10/2 1:00-4:00pm.

Location: United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Trainer: DVAEYC Staff.

Cost: $40.

PC Maintenance Essentials - This hardware-focused class provides the framework for understanding how computers work from the inside out. It will teach you how to upgrade PCs by adding and replacing components and how to troubleshoot and fix common PC problems so that you won’t have to call for help. The advantage to both user and agency is that users are less dependant on tech support and repair services.

10/3 9:30-4:00pm.

Location: 5th & Luzerne.

Trainer: Ron Isaac.

Cost: $75.

Exploring IBM QuickPlace – an overview presentation of QuickPlace, a groupware system that enables coordination and tracking of tasks and schedules, real-time and mailing list messaging and collaboration. Benefits include enhanced information sharing ability, communication, and planning.

10/9 9:30-12:30pm.

Location: United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Trainer: Teaming for Technology Staff.

Cost: $40.

Networking Fundamentals - Taught by network administrator, Ron Isaac, this introductory 2-day course is for anyone who is preparing for client/server environments or who needs information about particular local area network (LAN) components. Over the course you will learn basics about how networks operate and network topologies, protocols, and standards, an overview of how data is transferred in a real-world network environment and an exercise in configuring and adding PC clients to a LAN and have the opportunity to ask Ron project-specific questions.

10/10 and 10/11 9:30-4:00pm. BOTH SESSIONS ARE REQUIRED

Location: Fels South Philadelphia Community Center.

Trainer: Ron Isaac.

Cost: $150.

Creating a Web Page - Learn to create Web pages that work for you. After receiving an introduction to HTML, design skills and hyperlinking will be covered and web pages will be created and posted that day. Web creation tools will also be explored.

10/15 9:30-4:00pm.

Location: West Philadelphia Community Center.

Trainer: Caring Peoples Alliance Staff.

Cost: $75.

Technology Planning – This training will provide instruction to agency administrative staff that will enable them to write and implement a strategic technology plan. This training will include planning for technology sustainability and budgeting for technology resource development.

10/16 9:30-12:30pm.

Location: United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Trainer: Teaming for Technology Staff.

Cost: $40.

Computer Lab Instructor Workshop - This workshop focuses on how to teach computer classes with the goal of matching the instruction and content to the students’ needs and interests. Areas of focus will include: Training site preparation and logistical and physical arrangements, developing course materials that are matched to the audience and adapting where needed, communication and presentation, and the importance of timely and relevant feedback for clarification.

10/23 9:30-4:00pm.

Location: Fels South Philadelphia Community Center.

Trainer: Caring Peoples Alliance Staff.

Cost: $75. *Cost for members of the T4T Assistance Program.

**Customized trainings can be scheduled for alternate times.

For more information about the T4T Assistance program or customized trainings please contact Adriana Levy at Adrianal@uwsepa.org or 215-665-2525. For more information or to register for classes please contact Theresa Lake at Theresa@uwsepa.org or 215-665-2441.

For a complete list of trainings please see http://home.uwsepa.org/team4tech/ServiceDirectory/ResourceGuide/Main.htm

Training Locations:

R.W. Brown Community Center

1701 N. 8th St.

West Philadelphia Community Center

3514 Haverford Ave.

United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania

17th & Ben Franklin Parkway.

Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children

Robert Morris Bldg

100 N. 17th St, 8th Fl

Fels South Philadelphia Community Center

2407 S. Broad St. (Broad & Ritner)

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II. Resources

A. Job opportunity:

Computer CTR facilitator

FT computer learning center instructor/facilitator wanted to implement

training program for residents of subsidized housing dev and surrounding

community. Resp include: outreach to potential employer and assisting

students in job training and ofc software. Must be sensitive to resident

needs. Pref background in computer tech. educ. and human services. Salary

nego. Send resume to Manager c/o Chester Apts, 1225 W. 9th St. Chester, PA

19013 or fax to: 610-874-2744

B Children's Use of New Technology for Picture-Taking

by Ruth Garner, Yong Zhao, and Mark Gillingham

Photographs are often associated with children: People have

children, they take pictures of them. We don't very often think

about children as picture-takers, but our recent work has moved

us in that direction. As part of an interest in children's use

of new technology, we have studied children's picture-taking

with new camera, computer, and Web technology. In this article,

we discuss why and how children take pictures. We also discuss

the issue of photofakery.

http://firstmonday.org/issues/issue7_9/garner

C. Community Health Fair (not exactly computer related, but they are offering a free computer for a lucky attendee)

Saturday, Sept. 21st, 10 a.m - 4 p.m. (Rain or Shine)
Laura Sims Skate House
63rd and Walnut Streets (West Philly)
(convenient to reach by El, or Routes 21 and 42 bus)
Phone: 215-685-1995

Some of the highlights for children:

1. Children attending with an adult will have chance to win free
computer.

2. Free ID cards with fingerprints and photos will be made for all
children. This card is a vital safety item for children to carry in view
of recent kidnappings, disappearances, abductions and killings.

3. There will be health tips on how back packs and school bags
affect posture.

4. There will be free lunch, give-aways, prizes, games, drill teams,
martial arts demonstration and entertainment.

For adults:

1. Health screenings, nutritional information, holistic health tips.

2. Food samples and free lunch.

3. Demonstration of new voting machines.

4. Line dancing, aerobics and fitness walk.

For more information, contact Delores Capes at 215-878-0661.

D. -----------------------BASIC WEBBING----------------------

a monthly e-zine for those interested

in building better information-based web sites

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Vol. 1, No. 2 September, 2002

GRAPHICS: CONTROL WHAT YOU CAN AND LET GO OF THE REST

on the web at http://www.basicwebbing.com

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Kate Wolfe-Jenson, Editor, kate@basicwebbing.com

Please feel free to pass this e-zine along to your

friends. However, we ask that you keep it intact and

forward it in its entirety.

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IN THIS ISSUE:

===Feature: Graphics: Control What You Can and Let Go

of the rest

===Tool/Resource of the Month: iCal

===Ask Kate: What's the standard size for web graphics?

===Beginners' Corner: Autostretch tables in Dreamweaver

===Fisking Forward: Using CSS to create page layout

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FEATURE: Control What You Can and Let Go of the Rest

When I teach print designers about the web, I suggest they refer to the serenity prayer frequently. (Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.)

If you're used to creating brochures or other print material, the web can seem pretty crude. Despite your best efforts, pages you design will look different in different browsers, on different platforms, on different monitors. Any user with a mean streak can change his or her browser preferences and override your design vision. In this column, I'll discuss the role of design on a web site. I'll explore what can and can't be controlled. Lastly, I'll review the basics of creating and optimizing graphics for the web.

Good Web Design

Visitors to most web sites want one thing: information. Your site design, then, should help visitors know where they are on the web and on the site, help them get to the information they seek and help them understand the information being presented. Let's look at each of those in more detail.

Good web design tells visitors where they are on the web. The nature of hypertext allows surfers to jump from one site to another so easily they can switch sites without realizing they've done so. Your site should have a distinct look and feel, with your logo (or identifier) near the top so visitors know, at a glance, where they are. If you have a "print identity" (meaning that your brochures, letterhead, etc. have a consistent look and feel), the web site should echo it. I'm choosing my words carefully here; it's probably not appropriate to have your web site look exactly like your brochures. The web is a different medium. People familiar with your print pieces should get a pang of recognition when they visit your web site. Web site design should give visitors an idea of your (individual or corporate) personality.

read the rest at: http://www.basicwebbing.com/

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TOOL/RESOURCE OF THE MONTH: iCal

Apple released iCal this week. If you're working in a Mac OS X environment and you're charged with updating a web calendar (or any other shared calendar), it will make your life easier.

Until yesterday, my Mac-happy household was depending on old-fashioned paper to get our family schedule synchronized. I kept my calendar in my Palm Desktop so I could synchronize with the handheld unit. Then I transferred pertinent dates to a paper calendar we kept on the refrigerator door. That way my husband (and my housewife-self) could see what was happening. Now, my husband is subscribed to my iCal calendar so he can see, from his computer(s), what's going on in the family world.

A few months ago, a client wanted to publish an organizational calendar on a web site. I made a four or five row HTML table and specified cell size so it looked like a calendar. We typed the calendar information into the table and voila, calendar. The woman who updates their site has to do it by hand every month. It's a pain. She also prints and distributes a calendar (containing additional information) to her colleagues for use "in house." She uses a Mac. As soon as she upgrades to OS X, she can use iCal and publish the appropriate information to the web and her colleagues each time she updates it on her machine. (Frequency of publication can be specified.) Yay!

In my spare time, I volunteer as newsletter editor for an arts organization (WARM,http://www.thewarm.org. I'll be able to keep my committee members up to date about deadlines. I've used that calendar to let you see iCal in action (October is the most active month) at http://www.basicwebbing.com/icalDemo.html.

The only fly in the ointment, for now, is that I can't keep my calendar in iCal and synchronize with my Palm. But, no worries, iSync is coming soon!

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ASK KATE: What's the standard size for web graphics?

Recently, a student asked me to tell her the standard size for web graphics. (She meant graphic dimensions, not file size.) I didn't have a fast answer, which made me realize that I haven't kept up in the snappy answer department. After all, we no longer often worry about folks with 640 x 480 displays. As I mentioned elsewhere, most people these days see 800 pixels or more across their monitors. That "more" is increasing. If you make text that spreads that whole width, it becomes difficult to read. So what to do?

I did some searches to see if there is a common wisdom on this point. Most pages that discuss standard banner widths are a few years old. The only real standard seems to be in advertising: a web ad banner is 468 x 60.

My recommendation is to design pages that assume 800 x 600 resolution, but work well when viewed at higher resolutions. The easiest way to do that is to have banners that combine a graphic (in the upper left) with a solid color or background/repeating graphic. An outer table with a width of 100% can shelter a nested table with a width set at 550 or less.

When I start to design a page, I often open a Photoshop file that is about 750 x 450 pixels. I start designing in that space. As soon as I understand how I plan to divide the space, I abandon the "full screen" design and start designing the web graphics (banners, buttons, etc.) that will become the home page. [I always build an HTML page for clients to view, rather than have them make decisions from graphic files. I want them to compare monitors and platforms as they view proposed designs.]

Note: Dreamweaver's capability to make a table column autostretch is one of my favorite features. It helps me build pages that adjust to various screen widths. (See

this month's "Beginners' Corner") to make your pages work at various widths. (See this month's "Fisking Forward.")

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BEGINNERS' CORNER: Autostretch tables in Dreamweaver

"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities...Always be a beginner. Be very careful about this point."

--Shunryu Suzuki

The autostretch capabilities of Dreamweaver enable me to create a table that makes one column stretch to fill the browser window. Suppose you have an arrangement where you want a left menu, a center panel that contains most of the text, and a right panel that includes pull quotes. That's not easy to arrange using percentages.

In Dreamweaver, you can create a table like the example at: http://basicwebbing.com/0102/example2.html and your problems are solved.

First, I insert a table with three columns at a width of 100%. In standard view, I set the width of the left and right columns in pixels. I switch to Layout View (under "Layout" in MX and down at the bottom of the Objects Palette in DW 4) I select the center column and choose "Make Column Autostretch." As always, test!

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FISKING FORWARD: Using CSS to create page layout

Fisk \Fisk\, v. i. [Cf. Sw. fjeska to bustle about.] To run about; to frisk; to whisk. [Obs.]

Since most users have "the latest and greatest" browsers, you may be able to get away with using CSS for page layout, something that was unthinkable before Microsoft took over the world. Whoops, sorry, I mean before so many users migrated to modern browsers.

You can redefine the body tag to include a background. Regardless of the user's screen resolution, the background will use the whole browser window. Then you can redefine the paragraph tag to include a solid background color, text positioning, and other particulars.

As always, using CSS, it will be a trial and error process. Eventually, you can get (most of) what you want across platforms and browsers.

See an example at

http://www.basicwebbing.com/0102/example.html.

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LEARN MORE ABOUT IT:

Web Demographics:

http://www.thecounter.com/stats/

Monthly and weekly traffic reports on more than one million users.

http://cyberatlas.internet.com/

Statistics and web marketing information.

http://www.echoecho.com/

Statistics, user forums, tutorials, articles, references..."all things web related"

iCal and iSync:

Apple's iCal page: http://www.apple.com/ical/

Apple's iSync page: http://www.apple.com/isync/

CSS:

W3 Schools CSS Tutorial: http://www.w3schools.com/css/default.asp If you really want to understand CSS, here's a great resource.

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E In2Books:

What follows is an email I received encouraging volunteers. It is both a volunteer opportunity and a good example of how the web can be used to extend existing programs.

All -

I'm writing to pass along information on how to get involved with In2Books, a wonderful organization in Washington D.C. that promotes reading in grade-school age children. They are seeking additional Pen Pals for students in grade school; the information is attached below to apply.

The goal of the organization is to get children to read, of course, but also to help them develop critical thinking and analysis skills through the letters and provide a strong, educated role model for students during their formative years.

I'm now in my second year as a Pen Pal, this time to third-grade students, and I can tell you from past experience that this is one of the most fulfilling things I've ever done. I spend about an hour and a half a month reading a third-grade level book, then I compose four letters to four different kids about the book.

The responses are always outstanding. Last year, I had one spunky little girl named Nicandra, whose writing skills improved tenfold over the 9 months we worked together. And little Cody, who barely said anything in his first letter to me, was filling two and three pages by the time we were through. The really fun part is that the growth is so measurable - and so good. I saved every letter.

The organization has made significant upgrades in its online management tools - Pen Pals submit their letters by uploading them directly to the In2Books web site - so the whole thing is really quite easy to handle, and doesn't level postage costs on you or anything. The organization then mails Pen Pals a package each month with a book. In the past it also contained the kids' letters, but I believe they'll be sent via the web site starting this year, as well.

I hope you'll consider it. It's been a fantastic experience for me personally, and with all of the wonderful and articulate people on this list, I can't think of anyone else more qualified to keep young people In2Books.

F. Accessibility for Community Organizations

TechSoup provides an overview of accessibility standards to make you website accessible to people with disabilities. http://www.techsoup.org/btc.cfm?file=articlepage.cfm&ArticleId=393&topicid=12