"I'm more of a collaborator. You can't have a lot of split votes and have the agency serve its mission." -- Andrew Chesley

Google Apps is a collection of tools from Google, available at low- or no cost to nonprofits. The suite features several web applications with similar functionality to traditional office packages and standalone collaboration tools; even telephony.

Join us Tuesday October 6th at Denver Open Media, for a discussion of how nonprofits are using these tools today. Ted Fickes from The Wilderness Society, and Pogo from the Colorado Environmental Coalition will share some of their experiences with these tools, and discuss common obstacles and concerns.

When: Tuesday, October 6th, 6-8pm

Where: Denver Open Media (700 Kalamath St, Denver, 80204)

If you're planning to attend, please click here to let us know. Thanks!

September 23rd, AIGA Colorado presents Jim Ales, discussing the designer's role in making a positive impact through the power of design. Jim is the recipient of the AIGA Environmental Leadership Award, and a judge for the 2009 (Re)design Awards. Jim has lectured extensively on nonprofit branding and the positive economic and social impact it brings to the organization. More information and tickets are available on the AIGA Colorado website.

Join fellow Denver area changemakers, technologists and non-profit leaders on Monday, September 14th at Hanson's Grill and Tavern (1301 South Pearl, Denver) from 5:30 - 7:30 pm, for an evening with Holly Ross.

Holly is the Executive Director of the Nonprofit Technology Network. A leading strategist, Holly combs through all the technology fads and listens to the Nonprofit Technology Network community to line up the webinars, conferences, and research that will help members use technology to make the world a better place. From ubiquitous access to technology leadership to social media trends, Holly brings the wisdom of the NTEN crowd to the nonprofit sector. Holly is also editor of Managing Technology to Meet Your Mission: A Strategic Guide for Nonprofit Leaders, available from Jossey-Bass.

This event is free and open to the public. We'll have an informal Q&A session with Holly on what's happening in the world of nonprofit and tech, and plenty of time for chatting with your friends in the Colorado nonprofit sector. Food and drinks will be available from the restaurant.

Sound great? We thought so. Please click here to let us know you're coming.

Join us this Tuesday for the Colorado Nonprofit Technology and Communications (CNTC) meetup. This month's discussion topic is "Open Government Data".  

Much recent work been done in our nation's capital, around open data and transparency.  The city of Washington DC made lots of municipal data available in real time, and the Apps for Democracy program saw some real successes building on that.  Similar efforts are underway in other cities across the nation, and at the federal level as well.  What are some of the promises and pitfalls of this movement?  Join us for a discussion of open government data:

• What is it?
• What are people doing with it?  (and, so what?)
• What are the pitfalls and problem areas?
• What does it mean for Colorado?

When: Tuesday, August 4th, 6-8pm
Where: The Alliance Center  (1536 Wynkoop Street, Denver, 80202)

We'll provide light snacks (soda, chips, and the like).  Limited free parking is available in the Alliance Center lot.  Otherwise, there should be some metered parking within a block or two.  

If you're planning to attend, please let us know:

See you Tuesday!

Join us this Tuesday for the next Colorado Nonprofit Technology and Communications meetup. This month's discussion topic will be "Social Media Planning and Monitoring".  

Ok, you're on Facebook and Twitter.  Now what?  What do you want your organization to get from it, and how do you measure results?  What tools are you using?  This will be an informal, roundtable-style discussion, and we hope to have a brief presentation on social media planning as well.

When: Tuesday, July 7th, 6-8pm
Where: The Hive Coop (2401 15th St, in the basement) (free parking in the lot behind the building)

Your RSVP is appreciated: click here to let us know you're attending

Join us this Tuesday for the next Colorado Nonprofit Technology and Communications meetup.  Come chat with other folks working with nonprofit tech and communications.  (Snacks provided.)  This month's presentation will be on lightweight information and communications technology in the field.  Coby Leuschke of Metanomy Inc. will discuss models for thinking about hardware, collaboration, and communications in field operations (e.g., emergency response environments).  Hardware buffs take note: he'll have some fun examples such as their BeakGeek project on hand.  

General topics include:

Diffusion vs scale - Some reflections on this idea since it hit the blog circuit a few weeks back.

Computing power vs electrical power - How much of each do you really need?

Mobile Multipurpose Network Node

When:   Tuesday, June 2nd, 6-8pm

Audience:  Those interested in field communications, data collection, and equipment for austere environments

Technicality:  Moderate to heavy

RSVP Appreciated.  Click here.

Join us this Tuesday, May 5th for the Colorado Nonprofit Technology and Communications meetup.  This month's presentation will be "Mapping Show-Off", with quick demos of a few of our favorite map-based websites and discussion of free and simple tools.  Have you or your organization used maps to display your data or tell a story?  Come give us a two-minute demo; we'd love to see it.

When:  Tuesday, May 5th, 6-8pm

Where:  Teaming 4 Technology / United Way (2505 18th St., Denver, CO, 80211)

Who:  Anyone who has used maps with their website, or wants to learn how.

Core Software Group and the Denver Plone User Group are sponsoring the first annual Colorado World Plone Day, in downtown Denver, on Wed., April 22 from 6-9pm.  We will meet at the Tivoli Student Union and have formal and informal discussions about Plone, an open source, web content management system.

For more info see: http://www.coresoftwaregroup.com/colorado-world-plone-day 

On the weekend of April 19th, Denver Open Media and CivicPixel will host Open Media Camp (unconference style) here in Denver, Colorado. We want to bring together as many people as possible who are already using the numerous Drupal media modules in a significant way, as well as the developers behind them... Likely topics will include Media Mover, Filefield, Station, SWFtools, Youtube API, Embedded Media Field, Media, etc... Read more and sign up to attend, at the Open Media Camp website.

There are plenty of reasons for fear and anxiety about the upcoming year.  I'll bet there's something in your life you're excited about though...  Something good in store for you, this year.  Resolution of a long-standing problem?  A new tool?  A new toy?  A chance for a fresh start with something?  Join us at the CNTC meetup next week, and let's discuss.  Don't worry, there won't be microphones and nobody will be on the spot.  This month's meetup is purely social.  But in case you happen into a conversation with someone new, don't be surprised if they ask... "Why are you Jazzed about 2009?"