Fall 1997

This newsletter is designed to outline events and happenings in the Arizona State Public Information Network and throughout the State of Arizona. If you would like to submit an article to be published in ASPIN News please contact:

Jim Casey
jim.casey@asu.edu
(602) 965-8437

 
ASPIN Sponsors the Homeless Person's Discussion List:

ASPIN is currently providing server space and technical support for the Homeless Persons's Network discussion list. (the following news release is taken from the National Coalition for the Homeless website)

Homeless People's Network Launches Internet Discussion List The Homeless People's Network (HPN) invites homeless and formerly homeless persons to join an Internet caucus.

Current or formerly homeless persons are encouraged to subscribe to HPN. HPN hopes to have archives soon, so that everyone on the Internet, housed or not, can hear homeless people's views on policies, programs and issues that affect homelessness. HPN will not censor posts, but members are urged to address how to end homelessness; treat facts and theories fairly; and write in a tone of personal respect.

To subscribe to the Homeless People's Network, email the listowner at: wgcp@earthlink.net

Leave the subject line blank, and in the text write:

subscribe hpn

In the next line, include the sentence: "I am currently or formerly homeless". If you wish, add where you found out about HPN (for instance, this web page).

The listowner will subscribe persons manually. HPN posts will then come as they are sent. Once subscribed, persons can either post or reply to the address from which HPN posts are sent.


NetDay 97:

NetDay97, Saturday, October 25, will launch a six month long NetDay event for many of Arizona's K-12 schools culminating in a NetDay II on April 25th. Co-sponsored by ASSET and the Arizona Department of Education, NetDay97 is a volunteer grassroots initiative of parents, students, teachers, administrators, community members, technicians from Arizona's high-technology companies, business sponsors and organizations.

NetDay97 volunteers will use the same technologies for schools that are used to wire companies and businesses. Installation tools, planning strategies and testing equipment will be available to schools that sign up to be wired on the national NetDay97 of October 25th or on any day through April 25th that you proclaim to be your NetDay.

The time to sign up for NetDay97 is now. All Arizona K-12 Schools (Public, Charter and Private) are listed on the NetDay97 website at http://www.netday.org/. Search for your schoolÕs NetDay Homepage. Schools that are wired, whether through NetDay or not need to update their schoolÕs information. If school is shown in ÒredÓ on the national map this means either you have not registered your schoolÕs status or you are not wired and need to register your school for NetDay97 on the NetDay97 website. Every school who signs up will receive a NetDay97 How To Guide.

NetDay local school organizers, corporate and individual sponsors and volunteers are also asked to sign up by school at http://www.netday.org/. Once your sponsors and volunteers have identified a school with which they want to work, ÒclickÓ on Sponsor, Volunteer or Organizer and register with that school. They will be contacted to confirm their sign-up. You may also register your school, schoolÕs volunteers and sponsors by calling ASSET at 965-1004 and asking for Irene in the NetDay Office or by e-mail at img@studio.kaet.asu.edu.

ASSET will broadcast the NetDay Pep Rally and the NetDay How To video at 12:30 PM on Friday, October 10th on Channel 8, KAET Phoenix and at 12:30 PM on Friday, October 17 on Channel 6, KUAT Tucson

School organizers should monitor the Arizona NetDay97 web pages at http://ade.state.az.us/netday97/ for new information or new volunteers and sponsors for their school. Volunteer certified technicians will collaborate with schools to develop wiring plans. Schools, sponsors and volunteers will purchase wiring kits and equipment specified in the plan. Wiring kits range from $325 to $650 depending on the school's needs. Information on wiring kits and their prices are on the NetDay97 web site.

Now is the time to prepare your school for NetDay97.


ASPIN Sponsors a KidsVoting Chat Room:

KidsVoting USA is launching its first ever CyberCelebration of Democracy via a chat room on the Internet with Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), Sen. Tim Hutchinson (R-Ark) and high school students from 20 states October 1, 1997, 2:30-3:30 PM EDT.

This high-tech celebration of democracy observes National Kids Voting Day and creates a real-time link between Capitol Hill and high school students from KidsVoting states across the country. Students will question senators Daschle and Hutchinson on issues from today's news including:
-freedom of the press
-affirmative action
-a topic to be chosen by participating students

The real-time chat connection, created and hosted by the Arizona State Public Information Network, commemorates National Kids Voting Day, the annual celebration of the one-of-a-kind program credited with nudging more than 600,000 more adults to the polls in 1996 alone.

Community and school-based KidsVoting USA is unique, virtually replicating the official voting process for youth. Students go to official polling sites on election day, accompanied by parent or guardian, to cast their own ballot in their own voting booth. High school students vote independently. Results are reported just as official results are.

Kids Voting USA is the only program in which election day attitudes and actions of youth and parents are actually affected. Communities with Kids Voting in place see adult voter turnout increase by 5 to 10 percent, a translation of more than 600,000 voters in November 1996.

Kids Voting USA is funded by the private sector. Champions of Democracy are America West Airlines, Blockbuster Entertainment, Ford Motor Company, Hilton Hotels Corporation, and JCPenny. Original funder is the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

For additional information contact:
Cynthia p. Dunne, Kids Voting USA (602) 921-3727, cynthia@kidsvotingusa.org
Dee Dee Murphy, Kids Voting USA (704) 391-3383
Paula Case, Kids Voting USA (602) 921-3727, paula@kidsvotingusa.org

To view the Chat Room, visit http://aspin.asu.edu/kidsvoting.


Children of Migrant Workers Make the Education Connection

The Conexiones Project at Arizona State University will begin fall classes September 27, at Arizona State University. Students will learn about career and education opportunities through a variety of hands on activities designed to build self-esteem and expose them to a campus environment.

The project identifies children of migrant workers where tradition and family obligations often discourage them from seeking an education past high school.

The Conexiones Project is currently funded and administered by ASPIN. If you would like to learn more about Conexiones, you may visit their website at http://conexiones.asu.edu or contact Andy Wasklewicz at (602 ) 965-8437 or andyw@asu.edu


Non-Profit Partnerships

An established presence on the World Wide Web is recognized as one of the most valuable tools available to non-profit groups seeking to develop a highly visible forum in which to promote their organizational efforts. ASPIN has positioned itself to levera ge its expertise and resources in the field of telecommunications in order to provide opportunities for Internet visibility to community organizations who may lack the ability and financial means to implement a global network strategy effectively and effi ciently.

The benefits available to our community partners include the following:

We are anxious to speak with you about the advantages a partnership with ASPIN would offer your non-profit organization. If you are interested in exploring these possibilities, please contact Jim Casey, ASPIN Program Coordinator at casey@aspin.asu.edu or (602) 965-8437.


 

[Return to ASPIN page]