A BDPA Executive Committee Newsletter April 1996
During Black History Month - We Made History!
Greetings:
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your National President. I
look forward to meeting each BDPA member on line and at our National Conference in
Atlanta! I will certainly be there. Will you?
Last February, the first quarter Board of Directors .Meeting was held in
"Silicon Valley", California. Appropriately named, it is a unique valley of
amazing people, buildings and technology.
Some amazing BDPA members played host for the meeting. I thank everyone
in the Silicon Valley and Bay Area Chapters for their efforts that made the Board meeting
a memorable occasion. My gratitude to everyone that contributed to a successful meeting.
As we start our 21st year, I sense that a fresh spirit has blown into BDPA. That spirit
starts with each person that attended last month's Board meeting. It was a very productive
weekend because people came from across the country to take
George Williams, BDPA President
care of business -- and that is exactly what we did !
The 1996 Conference theme for BDPA is "Building World Class Skills
for Information Technology."
The top five priorities for BDPA in 1996 are:
1) Image
2) Membership
3) National Conference
4) Corporate Relations
5) Compliance
Expanding Image
While there were many topics discussed, the number one
priority for 1996 is to enhance
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BDPA and USBOL to Launch BDPA On.Line
New Internet-based Infrastructure to Link Chapters
WASHINGTON -- BDPA -- Information Technology Thought Leaders and United States Black Online will launch BDPA On.Line on April 11, 1996.
The new Internet-based on-line services will directly link 44 chapters, National BDPA standing committees, the Annual Conference and the BETF to members and associates.
The combination "Cyber.Mall" and "Intranet" will provide members and associates global business, education, technology, and career news or events around the clock.
USBOL is a division of Metters MEDIA, Inc. and one of the largest Black-owned Internet service providers (ISPs) in the world. For more information, visit USBOL's web site at:
http://www.usbol.com
e.mail: info@usbol.com
Board Elects Fuller as VP
VP to Oversee Operations and Chapter Compliance
SAN JOSE, California -- The NBDPA Board of Directors unanimously elected Millicent Fuller to the organization's second highest post.
A Management Information Science major, Fuller received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Boston University. She also has over fifteen years in the information technology industry. She is currently a consultant working with her clients' business partners to obtain future business requirements, perform analysis of existing resources, and manage their software development projects.
Fuller has been a member of the Atlanta, GA. BDPA Chapter for twelve years. Prior to joining the BDPA, she was a member of Women in Information Processing. As a member of the BDPA, some of her accomplishments included landing Georgia-Pacific as a local corporate partner, increasing entrepreneur members by 20%, forming a student chapter at DeVry, and serving as the Atlanta BDPA Chapter President.
As National Vice President of the BDPA, Fuller will serve as liaison to
all National BDPA Committees and BDPA Chapters. She also will oversee chapter compliance
and NBDPA operations.
Conference Team Launches Web Site
http://www.bdpa.org/conf96/
HOUSTON, Texas -- Orbitt World Services, Inc. helped NBDPA launch one of its first home pages on the Internet's World Wide Web. This site is primarily designed to help members and associates register for this year's Annual Conference, Tech Expo, Career Fair, and Youth Mini Conference.
Orbitt World Services is a Black female-owned firm that is an Internet service provider (ISP) and also provides Internet consulting services.
BETF Announces Cyber.Pledge
Introduces the
"Technology Fund"
WASHINGTON -- BDPA members and associates may now make pledges directly to the BETF. Dubbed as "Cyber.Pledge", participants may phone, e.mail, or fax in their pledges.
A Technology Fund pledge of:
$10/mo. or $120/yr. can help subsidize your Chapter's 'Internet 101' seminar next Saturday morning...
$15/mo. or $180/yr. places an advertisement in next Sunday's
paper announcing your chapter's upcoming Telecommunications Bill panel discussion
$25/mo. or $300/yr. will purchase one minute computer literacy vignettes that can air on your favorite local radio stations during the 'morning rush'
$50/mo. or $600/yr. will help your chapter charter a bus for the 18th Annual Conference in Atlanta.
For more information, visit the BETF Web-Site at:
http://www.usbol.com/wjmackey/
betf.html
Press Time
From the Newswire
The National Science Foundation is offering grants to Universities to enhance the speed of the Internet. For more information, visit their site at: http://www.cise.nsf.gov/cise/
ncri/connect96.html
Microsoft inks deal with America Online to incorporate Microsoft's Internet Explorer with AOL and promote AOL with Windows '95.
CompuServe to introduce low cost Internet services on March 25, 1996 for
families. The new service is entitled "Wow!"
And Another Thing!
Register early for this year's 18th Annual BDPA Conference!
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President's Message from page 1
the image of BDPA. As with many organizations, there comes a time for change.
The Board has unanimously agreed that the time for change is now!
At the end of a very productive day, the Board found enough energy to conclude the meeting with an open discussion on marketing BDPA. An Ad-Hoc committee led by Michael McCrimmon, BDPA's Atlanta Chapter President, was formed to brainstorm on the marketing situation. The committee returned on Sunday morning to share exciting suggestions on a campaign to reflect a more progressive description of the current and future BDPA organization. This effort will continue to be given a very high priority.
Increase the Membership Value
The Board approved two exciting products and services that will help meet our five priorities. The Board selected an Internet service provider (ISP) that will give each member their own e.mail address and access to the World Wide Web (WWW). United States Black Online (USBOL) is a first class Afrocentric multimedia and telecommunications service provided by Metters Media, Inc. Their package also includes a revenue participation program which returns a percentage of revenue to BDPA based upon the number of members that join and use the service. More information will be provided by Perry Carter, Communications Committee Director, Washington, DC chapter.
The Board also approved the format of the 1996 Membership Drives which have built in incentives such as a one-year subscription to Black Enterprise Magazine at no extra charge. Another campaign will provide complimentary registration to the Conference when a Chapter meets its membership growth goals. Contact your Chapter President or Kathy Procope, Membership Director, Charlotte chapter, for more details on this exciting project. Don't wait -- each campaign has its own deadline and renewals are counted.
Increase National Conference Exposure
Based upon the success of our 1995 Conference, Atlanta will definitely be the place to be this August. In addition to placing more emphasis on providing World-Class technology workshops and seminars, the BDPA home page on the Internet will open up the conference to more people than ever before. Moreover, if you can not be there in person, simply dial in to BDPA On.Line from anywhere in the world! Stay tuned for more details or contact Vivian Wilson, Conference Director, Cleveland Chapter.
Escalate the Corporate Sponsorship Program
Tony Adams, Marketing Director, Kansas City Chapter, introduced the next evolution of the current Corporate Sponsorship Program. In summary, BDPA will initiate a National Advisory Council that will generate more involvement with many of our corporate partners. In return, BDPA will increase value-added services while providing easier access to conduct business. A top priority will be to finalize the Resume Database that will contain demographic profiles of BDPA members. We must be able to quickly identify member skill sets in order to provide timely information about employment opportunities from large and small businesses throughout the world.
Compliance of Policies
To support Chapters in meeting their goals and remain in compliance with National policies, Millicent Fuller, Atlanta Chapter was elected to serve as the National BDPA Vice President. Millicent brings over ten years of experience to this position. She will be known as the 'Conscious of the Chapters.'
The Education Director, William Johnson, Washington, D.C. Chapter, 'demanded' immediate response to a survey that asked Chapters to recommend other successful programs to become national Education products, similar to the High School Computer Competition. William is very serious about educating our youth. Please let him know your comments as soon as possible.
The Immediate-Past President, Diane Davis, Detroit Chapter and Paul Seabrook, Bay Area Chapter, have taken on the responsibility to complete the 5-year Strategic Plan for BDPA. The goal of this effort is to create a process that will provide continuity each year regardless of who is elected to office or appointed to Board directorships.
In closing, the lobby of the Westin Hotel in San Jose was buzzing with conversations and enthusiasm upon adjournment of our quarterly board meeting. People were asking how could they help and get involved. It was a very special weekend. It was an extremely productive meeting. We did not waste any time. So, pass the word--"BDPA Made Black History Month!" We have
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positioned ourselves to take advantage of opportunities that will be of benefit to BDPA members in the future.
On behalf of your National officers, thank you for supporting BDPA.
Best regards,
George Williams
National President
geokwill@ix.netcom.com
P.S.: I look forward to meeting you in Atlanta!
And Another Thing!
from page 2
Technology Expo, Career Fair, and Youth Mini-Conference. It is shaping up to be the largest event in BDPA's history! It is an election year for both BDPA and our nation. We have to take advantage of new telecommunications opportunities (both BDPA and our nation.) Make reservations today! Visit our Web-Site at: http://www.bdpa.org/conf96/
T o optimize your community's participation in this year's Conference, identify an organization, a business, a school or a church that has (or will have) a few workstations with full access to the Internet (BDPA On.Line) and cable TV equipped with a VCR. Local chapters can concurrently host workshops, seminars, or career fairs for those who cannot make it to Atlanta.
To fully experience BDPA On.Line the following is highly recommended.
- Full individual subscription to BDPA On.Line
- Netscape Navigator version 2.0 or higher
- And a 28.8 kbs Fax/Modem
How To Reach Us
Questions or Comments?
To receive current information or directly forward comments, questions and suggestions to our national office, please use any of the following methods:
"Hot" BBS Site: Electronic Village
1.516.471.8431
E.mail
nbdpa@ix.netcom.com
nbdpa@aol.com
nbdpa@bdpa.org
(After April 11, 1996)
Fax
202.775.1344
Telephone
1.800.727.BDPA (2372)
WWW (after April 11, 1996)
http://www.bdpa.org