[rtpnet-list] News release on RTPnet's 15 years of service

[Judy Hallman]

To rtpnet-tact list and rtpnet-list:

I'm planning on sending this to Chapel Hill News very soon. Let me know 
ASAP if you see something that needs to be changed. -- Judy

___

For Immediate Release
September 27, 2005

RTPnet Celebrates 15 Years of Service
Group's work bridges the Digital Divide

CHAPEL HILL - RTPnet celebrates 15 years of community service. RTPnet is
a volunteer-driven nonprofit corporation dedicated to helping North
Carolina nonprofit organizations leverage the power of the Internet to
promote and support their missions.

"We are especially proud of our VISTA program," says RTPnet Executive
Director Judy Hallman, of Chapel Hill. RTPnet has had nine full-time
volunteers in five years through Americorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service
To America). Projects include:

. Providing technical support and training support to several community
technology centers in Orange, Durham, and Wake counties.

. In cooperation with Duke University, designing and conducting an
after-school program to help children in Durham develop computer skills.

"Damita Chambers (Durham) and Vahid Nourani (Carrboro) have each
completed a year of service with RTPnet this month," says Hallman. Their
work covered several areas, including:

. Coordinating the 6th Annual RTPnet Conference and Community Technology
Awards, a professional development conference, which drew 100
information technology professionals to Chapel Hill.

. Coordinating the activities of a collaboration of nonprofit technology
assistance providers, called TechCoop, and the new Triangle 501 Tech
Club formed by TechCoop. The goal of the Triangle 501 Tech Club is to
expand the skills of the people who provide technical support for
nonprofit organizations through informal learning opportunities that
encourage networking and socializing.

. Supporting services for Triangle United Way, especially Teaming for
Technology, a program that recycles used computer equipment and donates
them to nonprofits and schools.

RTPnet membership fees provide funding for VISTA positions. RTPnet
offers its nonprofit members Internet hosting services, including Web
hosting, domain hosting, and email lists.

According to e-NC data, home computer ownership in urban counties of
North Carolina has increased from 64% in 2001 to 71% in 2004 and in
rural counties ownership has increased from 55% in 2001 to 59% in 2004.

While those numbers are promising, RTPnet will continue to push for
equal access to computers and the Internet for all North Carolinians.
RTPnet is looking ahead to the future of community technology and
expanding collaborations. To learn more about RTPnet, visit us at
http://www.rtpnet.org.