A newsletter of the Birmingham Chapter of the Association of Information Technology Professionals

AITP Region 7
Chapter 158

P O Box 12112
Birmingham, AL  35202

www.aitpbirmingham.org

January 2004

Round Table Discussion -- "Computer. . . Education. . . Technology"
(Subtopic:  Directly to Graduate School. . . Industry. . . or both?)

5 and 3/4 Club Speaker
January:  Ms. Andrea Simmons
"Computer. . . Technology. . . and Education:  a productive and lucrative career mixer"

Andrea Simmons earned a dual degree from Samford University in the areas of business administration and computer science with a minor in MIS and concentration in mathematics. She began her educational technology career at Samford as a computer lab tutor and manager. An educator by trade and technologist by profession, her expertise and experience cumulate twenty-one years of professional computer and technology services in the field of education, computer training, and technology throughout Alabama. Having developed and delivered several instructional technology and technology integration curricula for classroom instruction and training, Ms. Simmons has successfully presented her curricula and technology-based programs at seminars and conferences through the state of Alabama. Ms. Simmons was featured on Birmingham’s Channel 42 for technology programs that she administered in the Birmingham Public Housing Communities. Her technology program titled “TNP” Technology for Nonprofit©” was offered through the UAB Special Studies Program. While designing and presenting educational web-based technology for higher education institutions and the small business industry, she is earning her Ph.D. in Distance Learning and Instructional Technology with emphasis on research and focus technology development.

     Happy New Year and Welcome to 2004. The past couple of years have not been kind to our nation’s economy and therefore to a lot of businesses and the people that work for them. We have seen a decrease in the overall number of jobs available, especially in the IT field. And we find that most people are working harder and longer trying to do more than it seems that one person is able to do. Everyone finds themselves multi-tasking at a faster and sometimes alarming rate. We in the AITP are no different.
     Towards the end of 2003 we as an organization had to re-group and re-tool. We have downsized and are attempting to recreate ourselves as a newer and much more viable entity for the Alabama IT market. We, like any good business, are trying to learn from the past and develop a course that, over the rest of this New Year, will take us into a new era. We want to be sure that we have the right Tools in place and that our Product is something that others will want to buy.
     Just as a New Year is a time of fresh starts for a lot of people, it is also a time for a fresh start for AITP. One of our main goals at the start of this New Year is to increase our focus on the Student Chapters. Any organization, and AITP is no different, flourishes with the addition of fresh, eager, young talent that is willing to work hard and make things happen. What we have to do is to foster an effective teaming arrangement with the Student Chapters to help them achieve the goals that they have set for themselves and to help us meet our objectives of creating a new foundation for the future of AITP.
     I know this looks daunting. We are all working long and hard. But only those that are willing to plow the ground, plant the seeds, fertilize the soil and pull the weeds will be able to enjoy fruits of all the labor. We each have to balance our professional and our personal lives and work within our boundaries. But I have been very impressed with the quality of people that we have in our organization. And I believe that from quality people, you get quality results.
     I want to thank each of you for time, effort and positive attitude. We can use generous helpings of each this new year.

Chapter President

Minutes ~ October 21, 2003

The meeting was held at THE MILL and was called to order at 5:53 pm by Maurice Myers, President.
Members Present:  Maurice Myers, Patricia Shelnutt, Andrea Simmons, and Barbara Shook.
Members Absent:  John Barnhart, Vanessa Miller, Ted Hagler, Charlie Cook, Toni Ellis, Steve Romine, Paul Stewart, and Randall Wilson
Treasurer's Report:  John Barnhart submitted a written report.  The balance in the bank account was $154.38
Student Chapter:  Barbara Shook gave an oral and written report.  Barbara would like a member of AITP to visit AITP student chapters to tell them about our chapter.  She has created raffle tickets for a raffle.  They will be a dollar each and the drawing will be for a $100 prize.  The drawing will be January 27, 2004.  The prize for the students will be a day at ACIPCO.  The student chapter with the most students to attend the meeting will win the prize.  UAB has 20 students interested in a chapter.  They are currently working on forming a chapter and electing officers.  The 5:45 club for November will be on how to have a good interview.  Charlie Cook will have a list of questions for interviews on what they like and don't like at interviews.
Publicity:  Andrea Simmons gave an oral report.  She will check on website space so AITP will be able to post resumes on the website.
Old Business:  Jim and Nicks will be the November dinner meeting location.  AITP will charge a small fee for attending the dinner meetings.
New Business:  The board will decide at the next board meeting on whether to have the dinner meeting monthly or quarterly.
Maurice Myers adjourned the meeting at 6:45 pm.

Board of Directors

President
Steve Romine - sromine@comsys.com

Past President
Maurice Myers - mmyers@amsouth.com

Liaison
Ted Hagler - ted.hagler@motion-ind.com

Executive Vice President
Barbara Shook - bshook@regionsbank.com

Secretary/Treasurer
John Barnhart - jbarnhart@acipco.com

Program Chair/Newsletter
Paul Stewart - pbs@uwa.edu
Toni Ellis - tellis@regionsbank.com

Student Chapter/Publicity
Andrea Simmons  - javischristian@aol.com

Membership Attendance/Acquisitions
Charlie Cook - ccook@uwa.edu

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

AITP Anniversaries

November

John Barnhart -- American Cast Iron Pipe
Ted Hagler -- Motion Industries
Edward Shockey -- Amerex Coporation
Dorothy Williams -- South Trust Bank

December

James Borders, Jr. -- AmSouth Bank
Wes Gray -- Liberty National Life
Barbara Shook -- Regions Financial Corp.

January

Toni Ellis -- Regions Financial Corp.
Mike Gibson -- ACCIS
Vanessa Miller -- Regions Financial Corp.

     Happy New Year 2004. It seems like yesterday when we were talking about the impact the year 2000 would have on the date in our computers. Boy, how does the time fly by especially when you are having fun. Your 2004 Board has been working during the holidays to get this year started right and looking forward to a good rebuilding year. We have had to change our meeting location due to the attendance. But you need to give the Board a challenge by out growing Jim N' Nicks. Please give your Board any suggestions, also your Chapter needs a helping hand in several areas. So if you are called, Please say yes. Even better, get involved at each meeting and volunteer your help. It won't take that much of each person time if several are involved.
      At the annual AITP Conference, the new officers were announced: President-Sam C Luke, CSP; Executive Vice President-Brian J Reithel, PhD, CDP; Secretary/Treasurer Mark Gilford, CDP and Immediate Past President George Koscho, CDP. Let's give them a welcome and our support. National AITP has been working to get the web-site more user friendly and to give each member more information. So take a little time and visit the site. One more update from National, they have increased the dues $25 as of 2004. We have not had an increase in dues for 10 or more years and AITP is still one of the least expensive organizations. If I understand correctly $10 of the increase will go back to the region.
     This month, we are starting the year right with Student Chapter Night being our first meeting. Please support out Student Chapters by attending the meeting January 27. They are our future and you never know where the students will appear. So come and meet them. If your company is looking for a part timer or first level programmer let's try to use them first. Anyway let's have an open hand for the students.
     The 9th Annual AITP National Collegiate Conference will be held in Omaha, Nebraska April 1 to April 3, 2004. This will involve the conference, programming, banner contest and many other challenges. The conference is a golden opportunity for students to get a real understanding of the computer world. Let's support any Student Chapter that would like to take this challenge.
     Do you know that obsolete computers are becoming the fastest growing landfill problem? There is a solution to this problem. Donating the obsolete computers to schools or learning institutions. But as you know this is a problem with software or data files still on a hard drive. I have learned that organizations will take the computers and remove all data. Use the computer for parts or rebuild, then will donate to schools and community organizations. For more information go to www.techsoup.org/recycle/donate.
     Hope to see each one at Jim N' Nicks, January 27 for a little barbecue and meeting the Student Chapters.

Chapter Liaison