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Puget SoundOff is teaming up with One Soul Revolution to co-sponsor the site’s first T-Shirt Design Contest. Deadline is April 17, so encourage those artistic young folks in your community to participate. Click here to enter and for more information.

Puget SoundOff is offering eight internships to create a social media campaign for Teens Against Distracted Driving. Click to view the flyer and application. Applications due April 12. Contact Roni Ayalla for more information.

Puget SoundOff is offering eight internships to create a social media campaign for Teens Against Distracted Driving. Click to view the flyer and application. Applications due April 12. Contact Roni Ayalla for more information.

Bruce Harrell, Seattle City Councilman and Chair of the Energy, Technology and Civil Rights Committee has released a position paper on the City of Seattle’s interest in developing a fiber to the premise (home and business) project. See the short form of the report, “Building “Next Generation” Broadband for Seattle: Why? How Much?” on his blog.

Seattle Community Access Network (SCAN) is conducting a viewership survey from April 1-25, 2010 to learn about audience interests and know our audience. The survey is targeted to people who have watched SCAN sometime in the past or have some interest in SCAN.

SCAN is the public access television channel for Seattle and most of King County. SCAN airs on Comcast channel 77 and Broadstripe channel 23, as well as streaming. on the Internet. SCAN engages and enriches the diverse communities of Seattle and the Pacific Northwest through television production, training, and serving as a community media broadcast center.

The survey is online here. Paper copies are available at the SCAN office at 1125 N. 98th St, Seattle, WA 98103; and can be mailed on request by calling (206) 522-4758. Survey collection begins on Thursday, April 1, and closes on Sunday, April 25; paper surveys must be received by SCAN by Friday, April 23. Those who complete surveys may choose to be entered into a drawing for a $50 Target gift card. For more information on SCAN, please contact Jamie Flaxman or call (206) 522-4758, ext. 105.

If you receive an email asking you to fill out a U.S. census form, delete it. The 2010 U.S. census form cannot be done online. For more information, please click here.

The 2010 U.S. Census survey was mailed to all U.S. residents in mid-March, opening the door to con artists who are using the program as an opportunity to swindle people out of their money and their identity.

The U.S. Better Business Bureau in Arlington, VA, warns consumers to be on guard for online and in-person Census fraudsters in the coming months, according to spokeswoman Alison Southwick.

The Census questionnaire asks 10 questions, none involving personal financial information such as bank account or credit card numbers or your Social Security number.

"We are warning people to beware of phishing emails that purport to be from the Census Bureau, as well as phone calls, knocks on the door and mail--basically all forms of contact where people are asked for financially sensitive information such as their Social Security number or bank account numbers," said Southwick.

Visit here for up-to-date security alerts.

Denise Louie Education Center (at both the Beacon Hill and Seward Park locations) and the Seattle Indian Center, are the most recent recipients of free high speed cable Internet services, thanks to the City of Seattle and its agreements with Comcast and Broadstripe. Check them out!

Free cable broadband Internet service is available for organizations providing technology training to community members. The free service is offered within the Seattle city limits, based on the City's cable franchise agreements with Comcast and Broadstripe (Millennium). For more information and to download a short form to make application, go to our tech web. If you have questions, email Derrick Hall or call (206) 233-5061.

Alison Carl-White, the new executive director of NPower Seattle has blogged about how she sees technology and the non-profit sector. See her bio here.

A news release workshop has been published by the Knight Foundation. Seven steps walk you through writing and distributing an effective release.

30-Minute Webinar: Laptop Labs - Creating, Maintaining, and Using Them with Brenda Haugh from the MaintainIT Project

Study: Third of Americans use library computers

q&a

Don't miss Ask the Mayor on the Seattle Channel. It's a Q&A show featuring host C.R. Douglas and callers in local issues discussion with Mayor Mike McGinn. Next taping is April 15, 7:00 p.m. Email your questions in advance to askthemayor@seattle.gov.

Back issues of Brainstorm including techtips and linkage are now available in our online archives. Previous TechTips and Linkage are also available. Click to revisit all previous issues.

To subscribe or unsubscribe to Brainstorm, please email us, and we'll add you to our email notification list, or subtract you per your request. If you have ideas for future stories, please let us know and we'll try to accommodate them. We encourage you to visit the City of Seattle's Community Tech pages, seattle.gov/tech.

LEAP patron utilizing adaptive equipment

The Library Equal Access Program (LEAP) serves people with disabilities and other special needs, such as seniors, and allows them to have equal access to library resources and services. LEAP has two staff members, Cleo Brooks and Tim Shockley, who run library programs and work directly with patrons who need their assistance. LEAP is located on the northwest corner on the third floor of the Central Library downtown.

LEAP has an adaptive technology lab that houses six computers equipped with programs for individuals who are blind or have vision difficulties. These programs include screen magnifiers that help library users to see and read the computer screen as well as screen readers that translate screen print into speech. The lab is also equipped with Braille translating software and a Braille embosser, two CCTVs that magnify written material and objects, and software that scans and reads books out loud. The lab also supports deaf patrons; LEAP staff know American Sign Language and the lab has one of the few video phones in the city that is available to the public. Cleo and Tim are also available to provide training in computer and technology use.

LEAP invites individuals who might benefit from their services to visit the lab. If you are part of an organization that works with such a population or you would like to learn how to use the specialized equipment, or if you need assistance with library use, please contact Cleo Brooks or Tim Shockley at the Library Equal Access Program, or call (206) 386-4690. The Lab is open during regular Central Library operating hours.

Client taking a class at the Rainier Vista Tech Center

In 2009, DoIT provided a $20,000 Technology Matching Fund grant to the Neighborhood House Rainier Vista Technology Center. The grant has provided a boost to the center to enable them to offer more classes and extend the hours of operation to evenings and weekends. The funds also help support an AmeriCorps member, Kat McGee, to coordinate volunteers for the lab.

RuhMe and Asrat are two clients who have recently gained technology skills at the center. RuhMe came to the Neighborhood House Technology Center at Rainier Vista illiterate and having never touched a computer. She was a client of the Refugee and Immigrant Assistance (RIA) Program of Neighborhood House, which uses English and technology education as ways to facilitate acclimation to life in the United States. When she first started coming to the Tech Center, she would sit in front of the computer without moving. She would make small gestures towards using the mouse and keyboard when prodded by Tech Center volunteers and staff.

A breakthrough in RuhMeh's ability to access technology came when she was introduced to Microsoft Paint. RuhMeh, who before had been very tentative with using the computer, took to the Paint program like a natural. She used the mouse like a paint brush, creating pictures of families, forests and farmyards. She acquired competency at complicated functions: changing colors and drawing implements, creating background colors that contrasted with the foreground images, and adding text. RuMeh also began to experiment with words and the alphabet, painting in her name among the characters and trees. RuMeh transferred this comfort with Paint to other programs: tackling English through the Rosetta Stone program and typing with greater confidence through the Mavis Beacon software.

Another client, Asrat, had a career as a headmaster at an Ethiopian high school. He has spent the last months enrolled in the RIA Program, working to improve his computer and English skills. He had been in danger of becoming homeless since first coming to the Tech Center in October, mostly due to having a hard time finding employment. Asrat worked with Tech Center staff to set up his first email address. He also worked to apply skills learned in basic keyboarding and Internet browsing to search for employment in childcare and education. Due to his access to job search engines and the joint effort of Tech Center staff and his RIA counselors, Asrat has been able to apply for a number of childcare and education-related jobs.

For more information or to get a schedule of classes, contact Rainier Vista Site Manager, Kate Farmer.

denny terrace computer lab opens

Ribbon cutting ceremony at Denny Terrace

A new computer lab opened in the Denny Terrace Apartments, a low income housing building located on Denny Way at the base of Capitol Hill. A dedicated team of resident volunteers led the effort to develop the 2 workstation computer lab with support from the 2009 Technology Matching Fund. The welcoming and freshly painted space will be staffed by volunteers and provide SHA residents with opportunities to use email, search the Internet for social services, explore social networking and find disability information. “I have enjoyed working with the volunteers who have made this lab a reality” said Computer Steering Committee member Cinda Lium, “I’m excited about the new learning that is taking place”, she said. For more information contact Marcia Johnson.

The Round Two proposals for federal broadband stimulus funds have been submitted to the National Telecommunication Infrastructure Administration (NTIA) and you can search for the summaries by project type and/or state at the NTIA website. In Washington State, the EdLab Group put in a proposal for the Communities Connect Network project to enhance public computing centers, training and improve delivery of workforce and justice educational content through public computing centers across the state. NoaNet put in an application with the state Department of Information Services for an infrastructure project.

16th Annual Washington State Nonprofit Conference
Invest + Innovation = IMPACT! Attend the 16th Annual Nonprofit Conference with keynote speakers, Dan Pallotta, author of Uncharitable: How Restraints on Nonprofits Undermine their Potential, and Kristin McSwain, chief of prgram operations and director of AmeriCorp State and National. More than 25 workshops and exhibitions.

When: Thursday, April 29
Where: Meydenbauer Center
To register: Go here.

Nonprofit Assistance Center Trainings
All workshops and trainings are held at their offices, 1618 S Lane St, Suite 201.

Building Healthy Communities for Refugee and Immigrant Women and Girls through Leadership
When: Saturday, April 10, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

How to Apply for Tax-Exempt Status: Completing the IRS Form 1023
When: Tuesday, April 13, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Idealware Webinars
Making the Most of Social Networking Sites
When: April 14, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. EST
To register: Go here.

Choosing a Low Cost Constituent Database
When: April 22, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. EST
To register: Go here.

Mayor’s Youth Summit
Open to anyone 18 years or younger.
Where: City Hall
When: April 8, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
RSVP: Go here.

Today we have cell phones, texting, and Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP), and emails to communicate to people over large distances. If you plan to use your PC computer for video conferencing you must be aware of your computer, network, and service provider specifications. Most services require about 384K worth of bandwidth, both for downloading as well as uploading per video user.

It is not recommended to use your fax over VOIP at this time, as most fax machines communicate faster than the VOIP system's ability to translate the data, causing errors or failures in faxes. If you are using DSL, one ideal would be to have your DSL line be your fax line and your other lines be your VOIP lines.

Skype is a free voice and video service provider for Internet communication. With Skype services, you can talk to up to three people, while video service supports only one. Web based service with Skype still needs improvement, however the application itself, for both video and voice, is good. The downside to using this service, is that it mostly requires you to have an updated computer with Internet access.

More information about:
Skype
VOIP
Video OIP
Tech soup VOIP article

Agree or disagree with me? Drop me a note: Derrick Hall.

Harvest Foundation
Deadline: April 15
Harvest Foundation provides grants of up to $10,000 in the areas of Social Services and Education. Education grants support teacher training in technology and curriculum development and arts programs. Social Services grants promote economic self-sufficiency through education and training of youth or families with children and elders by providing services to help senior citizens live independently. Go here for more application information.

MJ Murdock Charitable Trust
Deadline: Ongoing; submit Letter of Intent.
MJ Murdock Charitable Trust makes grants in three general areas of interest: Education, Arts and Culture and Health and Human Services. About half of the grants awarded are for capital projects and the other half are for program initiation, expansion or for increased organizational capacity. Go here for more information.