Hot Times in The Chill Room

Margaret goes head-to-head with Mark

Smack that ping pong ball (but watch out for Margaret Donahue's backhand and Mark Francillon's slice); toss that dart (but be careful, you don't to put someone's eye out); read a book, talk with other GCers or just catch your breath.

You can do them all in the new on the second floor of the Grad Center." The space formerly known affectionately as "2 West A" has been converted into "The Chill Room," a "pleasure dome" decreed by Academic Director Kevin Bell, for all members of the GC community.

Shiver me timbers, it's The Chill Room

Boasting the leather-bound chairs and sofa from the former executive suite (so you know they're comfy), a new ping pong table, a dart board (Kevin can explain the rules), and music, the room is just the spot to relax during break, have your lunch, and mix with fellow students and faculty.

Be prepared to enjoy this new facility this weekend. It's a super addition to the Grad Center. Loitering not prohibited. See you there.

Blogging Workshop

Jil MacMenamin

Join the blogging revolution. Grad Center alum Jil MacMenamin will conduct a FREE "brown-bag" workshop on blogging. During this one-hour workshop you'll learn how to publish and organize content, images, links, and other materials using blogging software. You'll also learn how to set up your blog for yourself and colleagues and to post comments and have discussions.

Saturday, October 8
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
To register, go to http://gradcenter.marlboro.edu/news

Greenfield Community College Links to Graduate Center

There's good news for students at Greenfield Community College. This highly-respected school known for its excellent academics is just down the road from the Grad Center in Greenfield, MA. Now, thanks to a recently singed "articulation agreement" GCC students earning an Associates Degree will be able to transfer directly into the Grad Center's Bachelor Of Science in Managing Information Systems program.

"This is a 'natural' for both institutions," says Grad Center Academic Director Kevin Bell. "We know that students earning their associates degrees in computer science or computer information systems at Greenfield will come well-prepared. At the same time, we can provide them the advanced courses and top-quality faculty that they will be seeking to finish their bachelors degree."

There are other advantages for the GCC students as well. First, all BS/MIS courses are conducted online allowing ease of "attendance" and flexibility of scheduling. Second, if students wish to avail themselves of Grad Center resources, the two communities are in close proximity making travel a minor issue. Third, the Grad Center will provide academic counseling and guidance for these students. According to Bell, that means "helping each student personally build an individual study plan."

Students wishing to learn more about the BS/MIS program may do so at www.gradcenter.marlboro.edu. The next trimester begins January 6.

Class Notes

Justin Grotelueschen, STM "03 wrote: My current job took an amazing turn for the better when my company, Internet Real Estate LLC, acquired the generic URL Podcast.com -- we're in the throws of building an Internet audio company entrenched in the Web 2.0 style, and we're forming alliances with some major players around the country and in Europe in the podcasting/radio/music/publishing spheres. I'm working long days and rocking out my own music and podcast/radio in my increasingly limited free time. Balancing my worlds is becoming a major exercise and I'm learning a ton.

In other notes, I took a trip to Romania and Moldova to visit a friend for a couple weeks in July, and the pics are here. And I had my ten-year high school reunion in mid-September but didn't get back to it in Nebraska. Hope all of you are doing well.

Tina DuBosque, ST/ISM'03 has let us know that she was recently hired as manager of the newly-formed e-Commerce Department at Defender Industries, Inc.. Located in Waterford, CT, it is one of the oldest discount marine catalogue companies (since 1938) in the US. Her responsibilities include managing web site and e-mail blast re-design projects, an aggressive search engine optimization program, current product representation online, ensuring an ongoing seamless web customer experience, and collaborating with a team of two graphics designers, the webmaster and an assistant.

Ken Larson, ISM '03 checked in recently: I am adjusting to my new surroundings here in Oxford, Ct.

For the fall season I am doing outdoor education (school programs) with the Mountain Workshop in West Redding, CT. I've worked with kids from first grade up to tenth so far. I have been assisting the program lead in running group activities such as raft building initiative, field games, and low ropes.

This past week I ran a rotation of the climbing wall at Camp Pinnacle in upstate NY for a 3 day overnight program. I got about 35-40 8th grade kids up that wall (some went blind folded) not to mention my climbing speed over the 3 days went from over a minute to 15 seconds on the most difficult wall! I always knew I was a little monkey.

Working with the kids has its moments...one just has to decide which ones are memorable for the right reasons (because they are all memorable, trust me).

I recently returned from an awesome trip to British Columbia, Canada in mid August. My brothers and I went up to BC and Washington State for about 3 weeks. Highlights were Mount Baker area and Manning, Cathedral, and Garibaldi (Whistler) Provincial Parks. BC, Canada is AMAZING!

Also, out of the blue I started to do art. So, I am doing some art on my computer, and I have had very positive reactions from people I have shared my work with. I am looking into the possibility of reproducing them on canvas or print.

Shawn Conley, MIS '04 sent us: I am still employed at Bryant and Stratton College in Willoughby Hills, Ohio. I am the Academic Coordinator, I just got another promotion. I am about halfway done with a MBA program at Myers University in Cleveland, Ohio. This program is online as well. Other than that I am enjoying my nephew Carter who is turning 2 years old in December, enjoying the warm weather in Ohio until the snow hits, the NFL is on which means Browns fever and working hard to get through this tough but rewarding MBA program.

Kamini Fernandez, MSIE '04 emailed us: What's the weather like in Vermont? Here in Mumbai, India, it is the last month of Monsoon season and still heavy downpour! I am still working at the eSecurity consulting firm. I had plans giving the Check Point Security Expert exam but still not yet accomplished, since there is a product upgrade and hence change in the exam structure and topics. So, here I am starting from scratch!

Bob Levin, MAT '03 passed along: The newsletter is great. I really enjoy the pod casting. Great benefit - just need to bring up the mike volume a bit. Even with head phones on hard to hear classes. I will be monitoring them.

My update: still teaching high school in the area of communications technology (graphic design, web, video and photography). One child off to college in the area of video production and directing.

Lana Butler, MSIT '04 dropped us this note: I have moved to Portland OR Fl. was okay. I'm building my business and hope to have something ready soon. Portland is almost like NE but with rain.

Like to hear what everyone is doing and great to still have that connection NE. Happy Fall

Career Opportunities

The Brattleboro Tech Collective is a worker-owned technology collective, focused on workplace democracy and promoting a democratic society while supporting like-minded organizations in their work through developing websites and custom open source web applications.

We work primarily with perl and ruby on rails, building MVC (model-view-controller) web applications. We also do a good bit of database transfer/management/integration, CMS (content management system), web software setup, and the occasional flat-html site graphic design.

We're looking for people to help us in any of these tasks, while participating fully in the democratic management and maintenance of the collective. This means we're looking for people with good collaboration skills and a willingness to engage in non-technical tasks as well as strong technical skills. Currently we're hoping to find people with any of the following backgrounds:

• experience building or working within complex object-oriented, preferably model-view-controller systems
• perl, ruby on rails, php, or java struts
• web CMS software and other software installation, configuration, and maintenance
• web software support
• standards-based CSS/XHTML and graphic design
• sales
• cooperative management

Feel free to contact Dave Evans, worker-owner, via phone or email if you are interested in learning more about our collective. office: 802-281-4344 http://brattcollective.com

Systems Administrator and IT Coordinator - Co-op America Co-op America is a national non-profit organization dedicated to creating a just and sustainable society by harnessing economic power for social change.

The Information Technology Coordinator will have primary responsibility for developing and maintaining Co-op America's computer, office and telecommunications services. This includes specific areas such as computers, copiers, printers, network, phone, web, database and electrical issues as needed. The person is expected to become familiar with basic troubleshooting of all of these systems but will work with outside contractors as needed. This person will also assist with some list serv management and distribution duties. The largest block of time will be spent on managing computer and networking systems. Qualificiations:

• At least 3 years of experience managing general office IT systems.
• Ability to rapidly learn about various information, networking and telecommunication systems and apply that knowledge independently.
• Excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.
• Experience with Windows 2000 networking and MS Exchange server. Windows 2003 networking experience preferred.
• Strong planning and project management skills.
• Strong familiarity with MS Office software applications and MS Windows.
• Good communication skills.
• Flexibility in dealing with urgent system needs.
• Ability to easily understand verbal training and instructions.
• Ability to work to deadlines and remain focused and calm.
• Basic Web development skills.

Email resume and cover letter to R.Gaskin, techjob@coopamerica.org. No phone calls or faxes please.

*Instructors Needed*
Community College of Vermont is looking for instructors to teach the following courses online, during the Spring '06 semester, which runs from January 23 to May 5th:

CIS-1510 Introduction to Flash Animation
CIS-2152 Intermediate LINUX
CIS-2340 SQL Database Administration

If you are interested in teaching one or more of these courses, please contact Kelly White at the CCV Montpelier site at 802-828-4060 or whitek@ccv.edu

Fun Facts

Fletcher's Facts (Whimsical trivia from our own Kelly Fletcher):

• Google's name is a play on the word googol, which refers to the number 1 followed by one hundred zeroes.
• The average person falls asleep in seven minutes (good thing our classes are interesting).
• For our environmentally-conscious community members: it takes 70% less energy to produce a ton of paper from recycled paper than from trees.
• Good news concerning all your holiday cards: each time you lick a stamp you consume 1/10 of a calorie