Page 28 RAIN :M;arch/April 1985 Community Information ·Technology Natural-Resource-Based Entrepreneurial Computer Network Berkshire Pioneer Resource Conservation and Development Area, Inc., is establishing a New-England-wi_de microcomputer communications network. Th~ association links a number of established networks comprising broad partnership~ of private, academic, and local governmental sponsors. There are 12 individual RC&D councils. The microcomputer network will allow entrepreneurs, venturists; and local officials to access data they need to successfully establish natural-resource-based enterprises. The . data will include market gap analyses, growth projections, parallel industry scenarios, distribution systems, sources of equity funding, sources of technical advisors, and so on. Berkshire Pioneer RC&D, 4 Whalley Street, Hadley, MA 01035;413/586-5442. DevelopmenfTechnology Information Systems VITA (Volunteers in Technical Assistance) has developed curriculum and reference mate:ifa~s designed to provide organizations and individuals with skills in how to manage information, whether in manual or computerized form. The training is given in two sessions. The first session, scheduled for June, is given in French and English. The second session, scheduled for September 1985, is given in Spanish and ~nglish. Each session is divided into two units. Unit one is a twoweek study of documentation center development, 'technical information service techniques, and skills bank development. Unit two provides one week of intensive hands-on experiertce in computerized information resource management. VITA also offers a turnkey information service module. In this package organizations can choose training for seleded staff and a document collection on microfiche of basie Third World development litera-' fores. The package includes all ne~essary software and a yearly subscription service to update the .microfiche collection. In fall of 1985 VITA is sponsoring an international qmference on the application of microcomputer technology in Third World c.ountries. The conference will focus on actual Third 'world microcomputer uses and not on how expatriate organizations use them in their own activities. For more information on theconference write to Henry R. Norman. They are seeking profiles of effective or ineffective applications of small computers in Third World countries. For further information, contact VITA, 1815 N Lynn Street, Suite 200, PO Box · 12438, Arlington, VI 22209-8438; 703/276-. 1800. . A Horse Before the Cart: Information Management The Management Assistance Proje~t (MAP) in Minneapolis links managerial and technical volunteers from local corporations with nonprofit agencies. One of its areas of assistance is information management, ·and MAP has developed a methodology for nonprofi.t organi.,- zations to study their information manageme-nt needs. · The method includes seven steps, described in a recent paper from MAP. The steps are: requirements specifications, problem identification and analysis, feasibility analysis and recommendations, making a decision, planning for implementation/conversation, implementation, and testing/evaluating: ' Organizations already invested in or tempted to buy a computer would do well to use an information management needs assessment as suggested in the MAP paper. Too often groups purchase c'omputers in a "cart-before-the-horse" fashion. The computer purchase is thought of as·an end in itself-we'll get it, then figure out what to do with it. .The information management needs assessment approach allows one to examine all information-related aspects of the organization, and forces one to · consider how to integrate the new t?ol (a computer) into the existing processes, and to work with existing information . ·management tools, such as copiers, rolodex fil~s, and so forth. The Management Assistance Project is located at 123 East Grant Street, Minneap- - olis, MN 55403; 612/874-1941'. Nonprofit Software . Clearinghouse A clearinghouse is being established as part of the Computer Use in Social Services Network (CUSSN) to assist CUSSN members and others with locating information about software applicable to human services work. The .clearinghouse, still in the development stage, is offering three services: an inventory of human service software, a .software review file, and a software exchange. The inventory will contain information about human services software, including title, company, cost, func~ons performed by the software, hardware-requirements, comments from users. The fee for a search of the inventory file will be $5 for CUSSN members, and $10 for nonmembers. The software reviews file will contain reviews of commercially available softwal:"e frequently used 'in human services. The software exchange will collect and disseminate human service public domain software. · · For more information write to Walter R. LaMendola, Graduate School of' Social Work, University of Denver, Denver, CO 80208~0274;303/871-2915. · Designers Software Exchange The Architectural Research Centers Consortium (ARCC), with help of a grant from the Design Arts Program of the National Endowment for the.Arts has organized a Designer's Software Exchange (DSE). The DSE acts as a clearinghouse that Gatalogs and distributes public-domain software and software donations from its members. Membership in the exchange costs $25 annually, which covers the cost of producing and mailing a softwar.e catalog and updates. Indiyiduals .who donate software to the exchange may have.their fees waived. The exchange is seeking software such as space pro- .gramming and planning, estimating, ene~gy, lighting, acoustics, ,and graphic design aids. For tnore information, contact Professor Harvey Bryan, Labora-
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