UKriders

The entry level 5-user version of Lasa's case management contact database system AIMS is now available free of charge. It can be downloaded from the main Lasa web site at www.lasa.org.uk/aims

The AIMS team amended the original Access version of the AIMS Core package, giving people all the features but limiting it to a maximum of 5 users. AIMS is a useful free resource for community groups needing to report on their client services. See the Lasa website for more information or email the AIMS team on aims@lasa.org.uk.

Colleagues, Next week I'm facilitating a session titled: Connection and Collaboration: the role that technology  plays in connecting people and information

14 October 2008 10am-1pm followed by lunch - Venue: LVSC, 356 Holloway Road, London N7 6PA

• Description - I'll demonstrate to how simple-to-use, low cost tech tools can strengthen the connection between members, the wider sector and other stakeholders. We will actually attempt to set up, in under an hour, a blogging platform to engage people online and share resources - as recently demonstrated with the Cascade membership in July and August 2008 Please can anyone wanting to come to the session book via anna@lvsc.org.uk

Marc

www.summitcollaborative.com

Colleagues, Next week I'm facilitating a session titled: Connection and Collaboration: the role that technology  plays in connecting people and information

14 October 2008 10am-1pm followed by lunch - Venue: LVSC, 356 Holloway Road, London N7 6PA

• Description - I'll demonstrate to how simple-to-use, low cost tech tools can strengthen the connection between members, the wider sector and other stakeholders. We will actually attempt to set up, in under an hour, a blogging platform to engage people online and share resources - as recently demonstrated with the Cascade membership in July and August 2008 Please can anyone wanting to come to the session book via anna@lvsc.org.uk

Marc

www.summitcollaborative.com

Are you interested in using CiviCRM (a popular organisational database / client relation management system) but are unsure about how to get started? Are you using CiviCRM and want to share experiences and meet with other clients and developers that use it?

Next Tuesday 30th September, experienced and new users, non profits interested in using CiviCRM will get together with developers and consulants for the UK CiviCRM usergroup. It's a great way to find out if CiviCRM will be suitable for your organisation, and talk with others in an informal setting.

CiviCRM UK usergroup meetings happen once every two months in different parts of the UK. Full details of the upcoming and all other meetings on the CiviCRM blog (http://blog.civicrm.org/node/434) and website.

Please confirm attendance before hand so we have an idea of numbers.

I don't have a work blog, maybe one day...

My personal blog about things Social Media, Open Source & ICT for organisations in the UK Charity & VCO sectors is here; http://staticeclectricity.wordpress.com

or you can find me as tonymolloy on Twitter or Friendfeed

Maybe we should have a UKRiders room on Friendfeed?

Lasa's long running magazine Computanews is now available as a free download from the Lasa website.

Computanews is full of informative and entertaining articles, written in plain English and relevant to small voluntary organisations. Topics include:

• News of the latest IT developments in the voluntary sector
• How-to articles in plain English
• Reports from organisations on how they got ICT under control
• Analysis of strategy issues affecting voluntary sector ICT
• Software and book reviews

This issue looks at Internet news feeds, mobile 2.0 for the VCS and the Circuit Rider principles  (which has input from Riders Jae Campbell, Dave Greenhalgh, Paul Jefford, Morgan Killick and John Kenyon)

Download the current issue, Computanews 149

Lasa is delighted to announce that version 1.0 of the ICT standards and skills guide has been released. Entitled "Improving Circuit Rider Service To Voluntary And Community Organisations ~ Tools To Build Circuit Rider Competencies" it was authored by Marc Osten at Summit Collaborative and informed by UKRiders, the advisory group, conference attendees and a host of others. It's available to download over at www.ukriders.info/training-and-standards/icthub Following a section on the rationale behind the Guides there are 5 VCO ICT standards:

• ICT Planning
• ICT Infrastructure
• ICT Implementation and Maintenance
• Staff and other Internal Stakeholder Communications
• External Constituent Communications

Each standard is described and competencies which Riders require to assist the VCO to achieve those standards are listed.  The guide can be used by Riders engaged on a skills development programme (formal or otherwise) to assess their needs and then use the Personal Learning Plan. We'll be piloting the Guide as part of the London Region ICT Infrastructure Project (see www.ukriders.info/training-and-standards/lriip ) but we're also hoping that it will be valuable to other Riders around the country. As mentioned this is version 1 - please let us know any feedback on the content or structure.
 

Building Bridges to ICT Excellence

Lasa is working with The City Bridge Trust and the Wates Foundation to provide support to voluntary and community groups based in London on all aspects of ICT elements of funding bids to the Trust and Foundation - see www.lasa.org.uk/circuitriders for more information.

If you are a London rider, an accidental techie or someone who provides technology support to London non-profits - Lasa is running a network meeting on 24 September at SAVO (Southwark Voluntary Action). See

for more information.