ICT Hub March 2008 Newsletter
The content of this newsletter was last edited on 8th August 2008
Welcome to the trustees and governance issue. How well does your organisation apply governance to ICT and what are the boundaries between staff and volunteer, manager and trustee? As the Hub launches a new guide to ICT governance (of which more later), find out why governance is important and what you and your organisation might do better.
Contents
Articles
What can you do to improve your ICT Governance and why do you need to?
Thoughts and reflections for trustees, staff and volunteers.
ICT
Governance in the Voluntary Sector
- A perspective and overview of ICT Governance. What you need to
know and what to do about it.
Engaging Trustees in ICT
Governance - How organisations can better engage trustees (and what’s in it for them).
ICT Governance Action
Plan - How to make your lives easier and your organisation performance better.
ICT Procurement - How do we best go about buying software and services and what needs to change?
Case studies of the month
Trustee communications - How does ICT support busy trustees effective governance?
Holding accountable - Getting the best out of ICT staff and trustees through accountability.
Resources from ICT Hub Knowledgebase
- Eight Secrets Of Effective Online Networking - Tips, tricks, and tools for using and managing your social networks wisely
- Determining Your Social Network Needs - Getting the most from online tools for social networking
- "What's In There?” - Opening Up The Box This article describes the major hardware components of a PC, what they do, and what to do if it goes wrong
- "Who's That I Just Talked To?" - Contact Management For The Voluntary Sector How to track organisational constituents and donations
- The True Costs Of Free And Low-Cost Software, Is That Bargain Really A Bargain? - Understanding the true costs of free and low cost software
- See www.icthubknowledgebase.org.uk for more articles
Resources and News from the ICT Hub and around the web
A cure for your nightmares?
From Nightmare to Nirvana is the new ICT Governance Guide from the ICT and Governance
Hubs. Featuring step by step guides to engaging trustees, building a case for ICT with
management committees and addressing key governance issues of risk and return on investment, the
guide could make a big difference to your trustees attitudes to ICT.
Order a copy or download
the pdf online.
Circuit Riders Conference 2008 – Standards and Skills for the Sector.
Over 60 Circuit Riders attended the fourth national Circuit Rider Conference in
Birmingham. To find out what you missed or to review any of the workshops; all materials,
notes and photos from the sessions are available here.
Silver Surfers Day – 23rd May 2008 is a day to mark in your calendar.
Silver Surfers Day is a great opportunity to support older people with digital literacy and
to involve your community in helping them use ICT. If your older trustees aren’t IT literate maybe
this is your opportunity to build new skills and make all your lives easier. Find out more at
www.silversurfersday.org.
Do you have an innovative IT solution?
Microsoft UK has launched its third annual DesignIT competition, inviting IT professionals to
come up with ways to solve charities' IT challenges through innovative and creative ideas. Closing
date 21st March 2008
www.microsoft.com/uk/designit.
Charities score low on website accessibility
AbilityNet report on the state of the nation at
www.abilitynet.org.uk/enation10.
Ten Things Your IT Department Won’t Tell You
The Washington Post helps us get around company acceptable use policies and do the things we
need to do
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118539543272477927.html?mod=todays_us_nonsub_journalreports.
Why internet fundraising is so cool (and can raise a few million)
What can you do to raise funds on the internet and how does it compare with other methods of
fundraising. The world’s largest orphan charity have some thoughts
www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/charity-news/editorial.htm
More thoughts on the future of internet fundraising
www.fundraising.co.uk/blog/2008/02/04/where-are-we-going-check-link-below-see-future-internet-fundraising.
Debunking six myths of the data protection act
Ever thought someone was spinning you a line on the DPA?
www.out-law.com/page-8840 An introduction to
data protection at
www.icthubknowledgebase.org.uk/dataprotectionactintroduction.
More quick links to tech news for the voluntary sector –
Here’a
s one our London regional champ prepared earlier.