What’s happening?

Join us at 1pm on 15 December 2009 @ Novas Scarman Contemporary Urban Centre Lasa, London E1 7SA for a networking lunch with members of LVSC’s STAN (Development Workers) and CASCADE (Information Workers) networks.

During the afternoon session we’ll be hearing a presentation from Mike Veitch on data mining and exploring what circuit riders, information workers and development workers can learn from each other.

Register here.

Is this for me?

If you are someone who provides technology support to non-profit organisations or someone who has an interest in using technology or maybe you’re an “accidental techie” who ends up looking after your organisation’s ICT – this is the event for you to connect with others supporting technology in the field.

It’s FREE and everyone’s welcome – but please confirm your place to give us an idea of numbers, etc.

Map: http://tinyurl.com/yhud2hs ]]> http://ictchampion.lasa.org.uk/2009/11/calling-all-london-circuit-riders-and-accidental-techies-15-december-09/feed/ 0 http://ictchampion.lasa.org.uk/2009/11/hillingdon-cvs-marcus-otite-back-in-the-saddle/ http://ictchampion.lasa.org.uk/2009/11/hillingdon-cvs-marcus-otite-back-in-the-saddle/#comments Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:47:50 +0000 Miles http://ictchampion.lasa.org.uk/?p=637 Marcus Otite is an old circuit riding friend we know from his time in South London with Superhighways.  It’s great to see him back in the saddle, riding the west London circuit with Hillingdon CVS.  Marcus is the new sheriff in town after Mike Veitch and Jason King previously upheld the IT law in Hillingdon.

This is Marcus’ introduction from UK Riders email list:

Hello list!

Loads success stories over the last 8 years I’ve been working for the voluntary and community sector (and some not so successful). Most of you know me as working for Superhighways which was a partnership of 6 CVS’s in the south London sub region, before becoming a social enterprise.

One of the projects I worked on was www.mertonconnected.com which is a community web portal for the voluntary and community organisation in the borough of Merton. I know many have tried and some have failed but I believe if designed and promoted well can be of great benefits for the community. (The proof is in the pudding) Looking at the diary and activities on the portal, members had contacted me saying they the local newspapers contacting them about events, the Merton council, local police, fire brigade, and many over community partnerships use and promote events on it. I believe every Council for Voluntary Service should have one for its members. It gives many groups (especially the smaller one) the opportunity to have a web presence and promote the good work they are doing in the community, and make them feel inclusive.

I’d like to add I am now work with Hillingdon CVS (Hillingdon Association for Voluntary Services) in west London, and hopefully I can mirror some of the success stories achieved with Superhighways and the South London CVS Partnership.

And finally a briefing of what Hillingdon Association of Voluntary Services ICT Development Work will support voluntary and community groups with in he borough of Hillingdon
•    Troubleshooting – both hardware and software
•    ICT best practice – e.g. Antivirus, backing up your data etc
•    ICT Healthchecks and strategy development – planning to meet your current and future ICT needs
•    Signposting to other support services and useful ICT resources – e.g. equipment suppliers and local training opportunities
•    ICT training for staff, volunteers and trustees
•    Development o ICT initiatives targeting clients and users
•    Support with ICT Accessibilities issues
•    Targeted BMER groups through signposting from Refugees in Effective and Active Partnerships (REAP)

And further down the years become a social enterprise like Superhighways.

PAVS How to set up a circuit rider service guide

Wales CVC Circuit Riders – new Circuit Riding guide published

In Computanews 151 we reported on what the Wales CVC Circuit Rider pilot project had achieved. They have recently issued a new guide to setting up a Circuit Rider project.

Download the PDF (512kb) here.

A big thank you to all of our guest speakers and riders for making this a great event to network and learn from each other.

• Rob Stead – SIP to Win: An exploration of Voice Over IP telephony with SIP, IAX, Asterisk,  Trixbox and Trunks.
• Kate White (Superhighways) – Moodle: Using Moodle as an online platform for learning resources.
• Mike Veitch (HAVS) – Visualising opportunities – from vBase to Google Maps.
• Sarah Lord-Soares (Lasa) – Circuit Rider skills development

We’ll be doing another London Riders event in March – so if you’d like to take on a guest presenter slot and share some non-profit technology applications that are close to your heart – let us know. We’ll be posting over at UKRiders email list shortly with a call for your proposals.

To carry on reading notes from the London Riders network event on 8 December 2008 go below the fold…

Mike Veitch (HAVS) – Visualising opportunities – from vBase to Google Maps.

Slideshare
Demo Google map

Google Maps mashups are widely used to map data and demonstrate impact in a more immediate and visual way than tables and graphs.  However, the problem for us in the UK  is that the Google Maps Geocoding API doesn’t recognise post codes – it needs addresses in the form longitude and latitude co-ordinates.  The Royal Mail owns the copyright for the post code co-ordinates – and the licences are restrictive and expensive.

The good news is that plenty of third party solutions, including Mike’s have been developed to help us get around the problem with mapping UK postcodes. To give you a flavour of what can be done Base64.co.uk links to some great examples of Google mapping data from the US at HousingMaps – which shows houses for sale and rent from craigs list, and Chicagocrime which plots crime scenes for a particular day.

You can also use Google gadgets – or widgets – to maps a list of addresses in Google Docs & Spreadsheets to Google Maps – but again this won’t work for UK post codes. As a test, I tried it with our office post code which Google plotted to Bangkok – some 6,000 miles away.

Mike’s solution was developed to fit a particular need to export volunteering opportunities from Hillingdon’s V-Base to Google Maps.  Mike’s says his solution is available on request “as is and with no guarantees”.  To find out how he did it check out his presentation on Slideshare.

Rob Stead – SIP to Win: An exploration of Voice Over IP telephony with SIP, IAX, Asterisk,  Trixbox and Trunks.

Slideshare presentation

Rob gave a short talk demonstrating the benefits of VOIP or internet telephone calls.  He used a set up consisting of a laptop running the open source Asterisk/Trixbox software, hooked up to a Wi-Fi phone.

Also worth checking out:

• ZapTel - project providing open source drivers for computer telephony hardware.

• Wi-fi phone handsets – demand for these is increasing as companies begin to realise the cost savings of VOIP calls.  See here for an example.

Why use VOIP?
Cost effective – cheaper or free compared to “normal” phones (ie BT)
Flexible – expandable, great for remote workers/offices

See Rob’s talk on Slideshare for more detail.

• The set up demonstrated by Rob is 100% open source – this makes it free to download and highly configurable to your own needs;

• However, set-up is initially complicated – unless you have open source skills you’ll need to find someone to help you set up Asterisk/Trixbox and support it if things go wrong;

• Bandwidth – which determines the call quality and number of lines is still perceived as problem – but not so much in reality.  Using an ADSL line to make VOIP telephone calls should provide the same call quality as a BT landline;

• VOIP call charges to landlines, mobiles and overseas numbers are considerable cheaper than landline providers like BT.

• Because VOIP relies on the availaibility of the Internet it’s perceived as a deal-breaker for many people  – but broadband reliability is very stable and it’s less of an issue than it was 3 years ago;

• Always good to keep a landline as an emrgency back-up for when the internet is not available;

• Asterisk can be integrated with Outlook contacts using the Zoiper client software;

• Wifi phones – around £120 each

Kate White (Superhighways) – Moodle: Using Moodle as an online platform for learning resources.

Thanks to Kate on how Superhighways is using Moodle – an open source web platform – to publish and share training materials.  You can see more at: http://www.superhighwaysmoodle.org.uk/course/index.php

Notes:

• The project is still in the early stages of development.  We needed an some help from a Moodle developer to set it up, design templates and layout.

• Admin mode – can add topics, resources (of different types). Interactive functionality, quizzes, assignments etc

• Can add relevant RSS feeds so learners can subscribe to courses, etc

• Potential to be widely used – can offer to learners for online learning as well making materials available for classroom based learning;

• Can easily add forums to foster peer support

• Track who is looking at resources – restricted information, who is logged on when

• Integrate with payment processing modules

• Access levels – administrator, course creator, teacher, non-editing teacher…

• Bringing resources together already designed and pointing to other online resources.  Looking at how to fund this – charged to member, charge per course – number of options

Sarah Lord-Soares (Lasa) – Circuit Rider skills development

Slideshare presentation

Last up, Sarah led a discussion about Lasa’s circuit rider skills project. This project is working to create a set of principles, standards and a framework of professional learning to suppport riders and others supporting non-profit technology in their work.

Check out Marc Osten (below) introducing Lasa’s London circuit rider project.

Notes:

• Level 3 competancies – is about understanding the non-profit sector, not just ICT skills;
• Level 4 competancies – is about internal communications, planning and assessment with orgs, technical support and maintenance. Look at specialities and not general skills.
• Process – structuring learning is better than general learning.  Looking at peer certification or Lasa certification of standards.
• Will also cover help with marketing to help circuit riders match their skills with VCOs.
• Personal learnering advisor to to help riders think through process and structure.

Computanews #150

Computanews started life in January 1984 as a Greater London Council funded newsletter, and twenty four years and 150 issues later it’s still going strong, and is now available as a free PDF only download (1.1MB)

In this special anniversary edition of Computanews we’ll be:

• Celebrating 150 issues of Computanews;
• Looking at how you can apply tools for campaigning, advocacy and the office to your mobile phone;
• Taking a quick look at web based drawing tools;
• Morgan Killick of ESP Projects Ltd reviews the Asus EeePC
• Michelle Hazelton of the Ethical Property Company looks at simple steps for Greener IT
• Lasa update us on their London circuit rider development project and new scheme to provide ICT advice to applicants to several London funders.

The next issue will be out in December 2008.

• CiviCRM – Michael Mc Andrew (Westminster CVS)
• Salesforce – Nicole Aebi-Moyo (BOND)
• How (and how not!) to run open source -based systems procurement – John Davies (IT4Communities
• ICT Handbook – Mike Veitch (HAVS)

We’ll be doing another London Riders event in early December – so if you’d like to take on a guest presenter slot and share some non-profit technology applications that are close to your heart – let us know.  We’ll be posting over at UKRiders shortly with a call for your proposals.

To carry on reading notes from the London Riders network event on 24 September go below the fold… 

CiviCRM – Michael McAndrew

CiviCRM (http://civicrm.org) is a customer relationship management (CRM) tool that you can install on your own webspace – and integrate with free and open source web based content management systems (CMS) such as Drupal (http://drupal.org) or Joomla www.joomla.org).

Michael currently works for Third Sector Design (www.thirdsectordesign.org).  He developed a CRM with similar functionality two years ago for a couple of organisations and is now migrating to CiviCRM.  Michael is involved in a project to deploy a CiviCRM installation for CVS organisations in partnership with Voluntary Action Westminster (www.vawcvs.org).

Other examples of CiviCRM in action include: VOSCUR (www.voscur.org), GMCVO (www.gmcvo.org.uk), Voluntary Action Rotherham (www.varotherham.org.uk), War Child (http://www.warchild.org.uk), Community Action Southwark (www.casouthwark.org.uk), Association of Volunteer Managers (www.volunteermanagers.org.uk).

• Michael also has his own CiviCRM blog and runs a UK user group for CiviCRM developers and users: http://forum.civicrm.org/index.php/topic,4402.0.html 
• Project started in early 2008 to redevelop the Voluntary Action Westminster website and build an eco system around so more than one developer can work on it, utilising different skills and availability of developers.
• Chose CiviCRM because its functionality did a lot of what was needed out of the box, and attracted by the fact that it was open source.  Advantage of CiviCRM is that it is a mature product with a large developer community and the ability to integrate with other source tools.
• Resistance – more intensive than Drupal and needs to be hosted on a tailored server.
• Reporting – search function that can be customised, new reporting module in development.  Currently, most reporting is done by exporting data to MS Access and Excel.
• Timescale for the VAW project is to have the CRM database ready by end of September and the CMS website to follow later.
• CiviCRM also lacks e-commerce options

Some CiviCRM developers – Circle Interactive, SCIP, Illuminate ICT, ESP Projects  

SALESFORCE – Nicole Aebi-Moyo (BOND)

Nicole gave us a demo and talk on how BOND (www.bond.org.uk) came to use Salesforce (www.salesforce.com/uk) – a web based Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool for integrating their web and back office database systems.

Started development of a new database and website for BOND in April 2008 with the requirements specification and data cleaning.  BOND had previously been using an old Access database which was working to some extent, but not suitable for the website overhaul.

The web development project was well funded with £25,000 each for database and website redevelopment.  Nicole put together the specification and received 6 or 7 responses to request for bid.  Of those two providers came within budget and both were recommending Salesforce as their preferred solution.  BOND’s project has come in under budget and is not likely to be charged next year.

Staff buy-in – demo presentation of Salesforce to the staff team showed mock ups of how it could work, and this instilled confidence that it could meet BOND’s needs.

Free – applied for the free, non-profit version of Salesforce, which is available as a donation to registered charities. 

Users need to bear in mind the cost of time and resources needed to customise Salesforce to your own organisations.  However, there is a large developer community and good support resources.

BOND used a developer for a number of reasons:

• had money
• new resource
• very involved development

Licencing – Salesforce gave 10 free licences to BOND.  They contacted Salesforce direct and had no problem obtaining additional free licences for their staff.

Database hosted is hosted on Salesforce servers – need to check where these are geo-located are for Data Protection reasons.

Upgrades to Salesforce are published every 6 months and are automatically integrated into the system.

Training – Nonprofit Admin Workshop is available for charities at the discounted rate of £300 (standard rate is £1,950)

UK user group http://usergroups.salesforce.com/nonprofits_uk/ based in London to share experience and ideas:

Future plans for BOND – database has gone live, website goes live in November, then integration of the two to follow later.

Nicole also helps run a community orchestra and showed us their implementation of Salesforce.  This site was developed for free using Salesforce employees as volunteers.

• Note that security verification is needed if trying to access from a new machine
• Can create website forms from the database (including redirect page) gives code that can be pasted in to website
• Can be used to send mass emails – vertical response (available to download as an add-on)
• Data can be exported out of Salesfore to Excel
• Need to consider data protection, risk and security issues when client data is being hosted externally, as is the case with Salesforce
• Suggested that anyone interested in exploring Saleforce should try trial enterprise version – then fax charity registration number to obtain complete free version.

Bespoke Database development experience – John Davies (IT4C)

John gave us a short talk on IT4Communities’ (www.it4communities.org.uk) experience of managing a bespoke database system designed from the ground up.

• The old system was based on a Microsoft .ASP front end using an Access database -never come across any other organisation using such a set-up
• Decided to start again as it could not be rescued – IT4C wanted to retain Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) so that it could move away from the developer if needed
• The new system was launched system in May 2006 after initially working with one developer.

Problems with first developer meant that to complete the development a second developer was required.  Because open code had been used IT4C was able to show sample code to new developers to ensure that it was of a good standard  - and developers were happy and able to work with it.

Conclusions

• no source code – no payment
• incremental delivery enabled verification of code before payments
• show previous work and get expert to check code quality
• went for a small supplier able to focus better on IT4C’s needs rather than a larger developer with many clients

 Where next for IT4C?

• move to something like Salesforce or CiviCRM
• investigate growing web 2.0 options
• go fully open source to a product with a substantial user-base and community of developers

Technical handbook – Mike Veitch (www.havs.org.uk)

 Mike Veitch has developed Technical Handbook – a paper-based system that allows organisations to record in one place key details – passwords, router config, contact name at tech support company, web domain renewal dates, etc).

All organisations need the tools to access their ICT resources.  The information that has to be stored (eg names and contacts of support organisation, passwords) is often scattered in fragments in different places – this makes it difficult to put together the whole picture.

For small organisations, information is often held by one person – who always needs to be sought to find out information.  The question is where to keep this information.

The IT handbook is designed to allow people to gather the small pieces of information

•  not a computer based solution - paper based  A4 folder
• contains router configuration etc
• information or where the information is located

Currently looking to review and seek funding for print of final version.  Organisations will get in electronic form that will be restricted to support organisations and Circuit Riders.  Essentially this is an IT system documentation tool but needs a name, suggestions welcome.

Although this tool is separate from a traditional ICT health check it can be used in conjunction to document information from a Health check.

Copyright issues not settled yet, looking at Creative Commons licensing.

Would like too see electronic version available to those who do support, ie circuit riders, library of components that are useful to organisations you work with

Get Involved…

Will be put on to UKriders (www.ukriders.info) email list as a trial version.

Lasa is working with The City Bridge Trust over the next year to provide support to voluntary and community groups based in London on all aspects of ICT, elements of funding bids to the Trust and others. The project is also supported by the Wates Foundation.

Lasa can help:

• increase the efficiency of current ICT equipment, saving time, money and resources;
• plan and assess major new systems that will improve the delivery of services;
• budget for and assess quotes and purchasing options;
• establish sound arrangements for ICT support;
• gain a greater understanding of ICT strategy, management and best practice (including accessibility issues).

Lasa’s Building Bridges to ICT Excellence Project Consultant Ian Goodman said “We’re delighted to be able to offer this service to London’s voluntary sector. By providing advice on proposed ICT developments and current issues we can pass on the skills and knowledge organisations need to manage their ICT and build capacity. We can help by talking through issues and signposting to online resources.”

This advice service is available to organisations who considering or are in the process of applying for funding to The City Bridge Trust or Wates Foundation or, by referral from the funders, already in receipt of a grant. Referred organisations can take advantage of a more ‘hands-on’ Circuit Rider service including, where appropriate, an ICT healthcheck, technical consultation and follow up work.

All material for the Project has been funded by The City Bridge Trust and Wates Foundation. However, this in no way means that applicants using this information to apply for funding from the Trust or Foundation are guaranteed success or to be funded for the full amount requested. Organisations are therefore encouraged to utilise the advice when applying to other funders, for example, statutory bodies.

To access the service or for more information see www.lasa.org.uk/circuitriders or contact Ian Goodman at Lasa on 020 7426 4473 email igoodman@lasa.org.uk

Even if organisations don’t qualify for this Project there’s a vast range of free ICT advice and resources over at Lasa’s Knowledgebase (www.ictknowledgebase.org.uk) and Suppliers Directory (www.suppliersdirectory.org.uk).

The project builds on Lasa’s successful Circuit Rider project, funded by The City Bridge Trust and the Big Lottery, which ran between 2005 and 2007. The evaluations from the Project can be downloaded from http://www.ukriders.info/reports where you can also find a link to the Trust’s overview of building ICT capacity in London’s Third Sector organisations through Circuit Riding.

If you’re an accidental techie, a circuit rider or someone who supports the ICT of voluntary sector organisations in London  – this is the network event for you to connect with others in the field.  It’s FREE and everyone’s welcome – but please confirm your place at http://londonriders.eventbrite.com to give us an idea of numbers, etc.

**What’s On**
Following suggestions from London riders we’re looking at databases / CRMs with our presenters giving us some insight into why these tools were selected, collaboration, migration, project roll-out, successes, and lessons learned for successful technology projects.

* CiviCRM – Michael Mc Andrew (Westminster CVS)
* Salesforce – Nicole Aebi-Moyo (BOND)
* How (and how not!) to run open source -based systems procurement – John Davies (IT4Communities)

Mike Veitch will also be giving us a demo of Tech Book and how it can help organisations better manage their ICT resources.

* My Tech Book – Mike Veitch (HAVS)

The good folks at Lasa will be updating London’s rider community with:

* Circuit Rider standards and skills guide – Ian Runeckles
* Lasa’s ‘Building Bridges to ICT Excellence’ project – Ian Goodman

And lastly, there’s time at the end for you to share with us your ICT project or wish list for next time.

**Book Your Place**
3-5pm Wednesday 24 September 2008
Community Action Southwark, 8th Floor, Hannibal House, Elephant & Castle, London SE1 6TE

Google map of venue.
Please confirm your place at http://londonriders.eventbrite.com

**Transport**
Tube: Elephant & Castle (Bakerloo & Northern)
Train: Elephant & Castle (Thameslink)

If you know of colleagues who’d also be interested in coming along – please pass this invite on to them.

We’ll also be blogging the forum, so follow the latest here: http://www.lasa.org.uk/ictchampion/

**Anything else?**
As with the previous network event, we’ll be continuing the networking at a local hostelry, so please join us afterwards.

See you all there!