Exciting things are coming to North Carolina for startups! The Startup America Partnership Program is coming to NC with the Startup NC Launch event at the RTP Foundation headquarters on Monday August 20! On Tuesday August 21, the Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) will be hosting the Startup Resource Fair held again at the RTP Foundation headquarters. Tickets are still available.
What a great place to network and find out what is going on with the startup environment in the area. I will be there and will let you know what I found interesting at these 2 events.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Monday, August 6, 2012
A Change in Perspective and Back...
Tonight was one of those rare moments where you get to see another side of the story, especially another side of a story that up until now irked you. A story that you had researched and could find no reason for why the story was playing out the way it was.
I sat in on the Information Services Advisory Board (ISAB) for the Town of Cary. As the newly appointed Chair of the Technology Task Force, I wanted to find out why the Task Force was needed in the first place and why the recent social media channels rolled out by the Town seemed to be so primitive in their use of these new media channels (Note - These are my opinions only and I am the only one responsible for them...) See here, here, here and here.
I will mention that I was the only citizen sitting in on this open meeting. My views had already been sent directly to the Town PIO, Susan Moran, and despite her claiming very bad vision, it is possible that all of Susan's comments in the meeting were skillfully directed at me. After a quick thought about my relative self-importance, I must discount this possibility and realize that Susan's comments and the meeting in general was a normal ISAB meeting.
All that the ISAB discussed in the meeting was social media!
What I will quibble about is the amount of time that the group will devote to developing their annual report to Council... Most of this ISAB meeting was devoted to brainstorming and trying to develop a "creative" way to deliver their report to Council. Since they *cannot* discuss anything ISAB related outside of the meeting, this will mean they will spend their next meeting (which will be extended beyond their normal 1 hour meeting) to develop their scripted and produced presentation of the annual report that was approved within minutes of the start of tonight's meeting...
If the volunteers develop a creative way to report a decision that was made by the public body, and if they will not expand upon or change this information, why do they need to meet in public??? When staff is directed to develop a report do they have to do it in a public forum? The presentation draft would have to be reviewed and approved at the next ISAB public meeting anyway so that it can be presented to Council... What a waste of volunteer time with over ~1/6 or ~17% of their time developing a way to report on their activities to Council!
Now I know why the Technology Task Force is required. How much time does the ISAB really have to advise?
I sat in on the Information Services Advisory Board (ISAB) for the Town of Cary. As the newly appointed Chair of the Technology Task Force, I wanted to find out why the Task Force was needed in the first place and why the recent social media channels rolled out by the Town seemed to be so primitive in their use of these new media channels (Note - These are my opinions only and I am the only one responsible for them...) See here, here, here and here.
I will mention that I was the only citizen sitting in on this open meeting. My views had already been sent directly to the Town PIO, Susan Moran, and despite her claiming very bad vision, it is possible that all of Susan's comments in the meeting were skillfully directed at me. After a quick thought about my relative self-importance, I must discount this possibility and realize that Susan's comments and the meeting in general was a normal ISAB meeting.
All that the ISAB discussed in the meeting was social media!
What I will quibble about is the amount of time that the group will devote to developing their annual report to Council... Most of this ISAB meeting was devoted to brainstorming and trying to develop a "creative" way to deliver their report to Council. Since they *cannot* discuss anything ISAB related outside of the meeting, this will mean they will spend their next meeting (which will be extended beyond their normal 1 hour meeting) to develop their scripted and produced presentation of the annual report that was approved within minutes of the start of tonight's meeting...
If the volunteers develop a creative way to report a decision that was made by the public body, and if they will not expand upon or change this information, why do they need to meet in public??? When staff is directed to develop a report do they have to do it in a public forum? The presentation draft would have to be reviewed and approved at the next ISAB public meeting anyway so that it can be presented to Council... What a waste of volunteer time with over ~1/6 or ~17% of their time developing a way to report on their activities to Council!
Now I know why the Technology Task Force is required. How much time does the ISAB really have to advise?
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Excited About Technology
I'm always excited about technology, but specifically today I am excited about the prospects of the Town of Cary Technology Task Force! I have just come from a great short meeting to set our first agenda and I'm excited (can you tell that yet?).
Both Councilor Lori Bush and Asst. Town Manager Mike Bajorek are enthusiastic and passionate about this effort, so there should be no lack of support for this effort. We have a lot to cover in a short time - only 8 meetings...
We are receptive to input, so let us know what you think we should be discussing as we develop the vision and details for how the Town’s use of technology services can better serve its citizens.
Both Councilor Lori Bush and Asst. Town Manager Mike Bajorek are enthusiastic and passionate about this effort, so there should be no lack of support for this effort. We have a lot to cover in a short time - only 8 meetings...
We are receptive to input, so let us know what you think we should be discussing as we develop the vision and details for how the Town’s use of technology services can better serve its citizens.
Friday, July 27, 2012
I'm Chair...
I've mentioned the Town of Cary Technology Task Force in a previous Blog. I was recommended for Chair of the Task Force by Lori Bush, but attended the council meeting (Agenda, YouTube) to see if this would be approved. After 3+ hours our topic finally came up and I was approved as the chair of the new Technology Task Force for the Town of Cary.
There are 9 meetings scheduled with a great group of very knowledgeable volunteers. My job is now to craft an agenda and plan so that we (and the Town going forward) can be successful!
There are 9 meetings scheduled with a great group of very knowledgeable volunteers. My job is now to craft an agenda and plan so that we (and the Town going forward) can be successful!
Friday, July 20, 2012
Technology Task Force News
Town of Cary Councilwoman Lori Bush has submitted her recommendations for the members of the Technology Task Force (TTF). I am humbled to be singled out as the Chair of the task force as an additional member to the expected "up to 8" members as originally planned. The issue still has to be formally discussed and approved by the Town Council at their July 26th meeting, so I guess I should not be counting chickens yet...
What a great group of people to be associated with! They have a wealth of knowledge and experience on many, many technology tools. My technology skills pale in comparison, but it looks like Lori selected me as more of a facilitator and one with knowledge of the Cary Boards and Commissions...
What a great group of people to be associated with! They have a wealth of knowledge and experience on many, many technology tools. My technology skills pale in comparison, but it looks like Lori selected me as more of a facilitator and one with knowledge of the Cary Boards and Commissions...
- Ian Cillay
- Laura Hamlyn
- Hal Goodtree (Hal received 6/6 council votes!)
- Eleanor Thorne
- Raymond Zeisz
- Eric Brown
- James Dixon (ISAB Member)
- Brandon Smith
- Ian Henshaw, Chair
Our mission:
An important note from the formulation of the task force:Determine how the Town’s use of technology services can better serve its citizens. Specifically, the TTF shall review, evaluate, and prioritize new and emerging technologies that will facilitate better engagement, citizen outreach, and service delivery by increasing involvement and lowering costs, with the overall goal of making it easier for citizens to communicate with the Town and consume available information.
This review of the Towns technology services to external users would go hand in hand with staffs proposed development of a Strategic Information Technology (SIT) Plan. The SIT Plan, the development of which would be facilitated by Dr. Shannon Tufts of the UNC School of Government, will provide a framework for strategic IT investments and management for the next three years. Dr. Tufts efforts will mainly focus on the internal needs and challenges of the Town of Cary organization.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Town of Cary - Social Media
The Town of Cary has dipped their toe into social media just a little more than the few twitter accounts they have had. 3 Facebook pages and a YouTube channel! This got me thinking about the last Economic Development Committee meeting at the Town on June 6 where we were discussing social media:
http://ianhenshaw.blogspot.com/2012/06/economic-development-committee-mtg.html
There was still a reluctance from the group that social media was worth the effort. There was some discussion about the Technology Task Force that was approved at the May 24th Council meeting.
I was going through some old e-mails and I remembered one thing that was going on during the meeting. I had seen a tweet about a new Economic Development Partnership Website launch in Raleigh. I pulled up the pages on my iPad and was showing this to Howard Johnson and Sandy Jordan during the meeting to see if it struck a chord with them that we were possibly being left in the dust and that Raleigh had found out that they could use social media for economic development. I was disappointed in their reactions and after mulling it over after the meeting, I sent the following e-mail to the group:
http://ianhenshaw.blogspot.com/2012/06/economic-development-committee-mtg.html
There was still a reluctance from the group that social media was worth the effort. There was some discussion about the Technology Task Force that was approved at the May 24th Council meeting.
I was going through some old e-mails and I remembered one thing that was going on during the meeting. I had seen a tweet about a new Economic Development Partnership Website launch in Raleigh. I pulled up the pages on my iPad and was showing this to Howard Johnson and Sandy Jordan during the meeting to see if it struck a chord with them that we were possibly being left in the dust and that Raleigh had found out that they could use social media for economic development. I was disappointed in their reactions and after mulling it over after the meeting, I sent the following e-mail to the group:
FYI. I saw this late today (tipped off by a Tweet...)I am hoping that the push by Councilor Lori Bush on technology and the approval of the Technology Task Force has pushed the Town staff to realize that social media is a powerful tool to use to communicate with the citizens of the Town of Cary. Hopefully the Cary Chamber will follow.
New Economic Development Partnership Website Launched (Raleigh)
http://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/NCRALEIGH-434a60 (Press Release)
http://www.investraleigh.com/ (Website)
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Sunday, July 15, 2012
Student Power
My son Stephen was able to update the Heart of Cary Association (HoCA) with a flier as shown to the right on Thursday morning which might have helped.... An important factor this week was the announcement by Band President, Bob Murray, via the Cary Band e-mail lists of the fundraiser. (Advertising to those most sensitive to your cause is very important.)
- Car Wash - $463
- Bake Sale - $40
- Total for the morning = $503
One moral of the story is that car washes "make money" and bake sales "do not"...
The better moral of the story is that motivated students can make a huge difference!!!
My running total is:
- Student fundraising - $1,605
- Sponsorships - $1,225
- Total = $2,830
The last car washes are July 28 and 29, and then the students will be busy with their 2 week long band camp (8am - 9pm at Cary High in the parking lot in the summer heat...) and then school and marching season. These students are on their way to great things so please help them to reach their goal.
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