1.) Teen Technology Network Launched in West Philadelphia!
2.) Featured Website of the Week: http://www.comtechreview.org
3.) Featured Beehive Section of the Week
4.) Training Update
5.) Tech Tip
6.) Make PhillyBlog Beautiful!
7.) TOP Announces FY2004 Grant Round; Technical Assistance
Workshops
8.) Wharton Technology Conference


1.) Teen Technology Network Launched in West Philadelphia!

As of February 2004, the Teen Technology Network is officially underway in West Philadelphia. TTN is an after-school program for West Philadelphia and University City High School students designed to help improve academic performance and develop their use of technology as a tool for personal development. Involved students come to community technology centers for these classes twice a week in ten-week modules. Over the course of the ten weeks, they are engaged in academic activities, service learning projects, as well as an online mentoring relationship with adults from the community. TTN participants receive a free computer for their household, and various internships are available upon completion of the program.

TTN’s first cycle kicked off on Wednesday, February 4, at an opening ceremony at the People’s Emergency Center. Thirty students and their parents were given a chance to meet and hear from everyone involved in the program, including staff from the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, School District of Philadelphia, People’s Emergency Center, AchieveAbility, and IBM. Such a strong turnout gives good reason to believe that the Teen Technology Network will be a community asset for years to come.

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2.) Featured Website of the Week: www.comtechreview.org

Edited by Peter Miller and Richard Civille, the spring issue of the "Community Technology Review" is now available online (http://www.comtechreview.org) and in hard copy. The new issue features more than two-dozen articles including:

·- Organizational updates from CTCNet, AFCN, the Children's Partnership, and the Community Media and Technology Program at UMass/Boston
·- Profiles/features on why thousands use broadband in rural Virginia with the Growing Digital Network, Telemedicine in Hawaii, and Community Technology Leadership in Georgia
·- Public policy: Bob Cannon the CAN SPAM Act; developments in California and Ohio
·- A combined AmeriCorps*VISTA and TA to Nonprofits section featuring program development in Boston, Austin, and Cincinnati,
·- Interactive Web Design for the Technically Uninclined

This is a great resource to discover what is happening in community techonology in other areas of the United States.

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3.) Featured Beehive Section of the Week:

The Go2Guide for School Readiness: Resources for Families with babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers.

The Go2Guide for School Readiness is available for download on the Beehive Philadelphia website and is a great resource to help prepare your young child for school. Education, family activities, health, great recipes, a library guide, and more are available in this wonderful guide. To access the guide, go to http://www.thebeehive.org/philly and click on the "Go2Guide for School Readiness" link.

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4.) Training Update

The semester is winding down, but there are still a few classes left. To view the remaining classes, please visit the website at http://www.uwsepa.org/team4tech/training.htm. The new semester begins on March 6th. There will be some of the traditional classes available as well as some new, exciting ones. To request a brochure, please email Raphael Baker at rafaelb@uwsepa.org.

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5.) Tech Tip

Are you sick of that annoying windows logon screen? Get rid of it!*
Here’s how:
Click Start, Settings, Control Panel
Click the Network Icon
Look for the Primary Network Logon drop down box; change it to “Windows Logon”
That should do it.
*It’s not a good idea to get rid of the log on screen if your computer is configured for a multi-user environment.

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6.) Make PhillyBlog Beautiful!

PhillyBlog.com needs a facelift, and we're hoping you can give it to us. If you are a designer, love the Internet or just want to be creative and try your hand at something new, PhillyBlog needs you! Take a look at our web site - http://www.phillyblog.com - and tell us what you think. Then send your best designs to Steve Johnston at the email address steve@phillyblog.com. Tell him Jennifer sent you! We hope to hear from you soon. Deadline for entries is Feb. 20.

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7.) TOP Announces FY2004 Grant Round; Technical Assistance
Workshops

Grant Round:

Approximately $12.9 million is available for grants through TOP for Fiscal Year 2004.
TOP's Federal Funding Opportunity Announcement was released on February 17, 2004. The deadline for applications is April 27, 2004. The Application Kit (the Federal Funding Opportunity Announcement and Guidelines for Preparing Applications) provides information on the program, rules for applying, and suggestions for preparing an application, and the standard forms you need to prepare a TOP application. The FY 2004 Application Kit is available on TOP's website (www.ntia.doc.gov/top) in HTML format. A PDF version is also available. We strongly encourage potential applicants to read the Application Kit carefully.
This year, there are six review criteria, which are the basis for reviewing and ranking applications submitted in 2004: Project Purpose; Innovation; Community Involvement; Evaluation; Project Feasibility; and Project Budget.

Online Tools:

TOP's website features a set of online tools to help applicants complete their Standard Form 424, Standard Form 424A, and executive summary.

Workshops:

For this year's grant round, TOP will hold two Technical Assistance Workshops in Washington, DC, and Los Angeles, CA. The purpose of the Technical Assistance Workshops is to give potential applicants an opportunity to find out more about TOP, its goals and objectives, and the particulars involved in applying for this year's grant funds. Visit www.ntia.doc.gov/top for details.

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8.) Wharton Technology Conference

“From Survival to Growth: The Emerging Face of Technology

DATE / LOCATION
Friday, February 27 (8:30 AM - 6:00 PM)
Pennsylvania Convention Center
Philadelphia, 12th and Arch Streets
Register before Feb. 20th to save $5 on admission!
Current Ticket Prices: Students $25 Professionals $60

DESCRIPTION
The 8th annual Wharton Technology Conference hosts a wide array of business leaders and professionals to offer insight into the state of technology and business today. Attendees choose from nine panel discussions covering a variety of issues in technology and three keynote addresses.
Additionally, there will be opportunities to win great prizes including a Pocket PC and software from Microsoft!
Visit http://www.whartontechconference.com for the full details, and mark February 27th in your schedule today!

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