For those who like to read real life experiences in IT, there’s a newish blog from someone taking a new position as a IT manger in a non-profit. While based in New York, nearly all of it so far wouldn’t be out of place this side of the pond.

Non-profit information technology ain’t just about the money. Call it Technical Social Working. Today I Cried.

A blog post picked up in our haphazard trawl shows the hazard of trying to keep things clean using technology:

From spenceruk on LiveJournal

“I’ve just added my name to Cancer Research UK’s ‘Cancer 2020′ petition. It’s all about urging politicians across the UK to start planning today for the cancer challenges of tomorrow.

“Kewl thing to do - but slightly challenging since they are using some daft filter to stop people entering silly names on the site. Mine apparently contained some swear name which took me ages to figure out but I’ve come to the conclusion it must have been “ass” in my surname *sigh*. “

Here’s our latest addition to ‘Podcasts for beneficiaries’ (see previous item).
St. John Ambulance has added to its existing podcast facility of first aid information in an audio format with a programme of releasing new additions every Wednesday throughout the summer. The first batch are on how to treat sunburn, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. http://www.sja.org.uk/news/default.asp?id=1115.

Best UK charity use of podcasting so far? Agree or disagree? Let us know via the comments facility here.

The YouthNet blog takes up the charity podcast theme, with a focus on ones which are aimed at charity beneficiaries, rather than donors or sector workers.

Their TheSite.org web site for young people has added a multimedia section with podcasts, initially on their most popular subjects.

So anyone know of “any other great examples of innovative charity podcasts aimed at beneficiaries, rather than colleagues or donors?” (Other than St Johns Ambualnce, already in our podcast listings.)

YouthNet blog post.

Computer Weekly takes a look at “Two disparate charities [that] have successfully implemented open source software, saving money and creating happier users in the process.”

Migrant Helpline has implemented OpenOffice across some 120 PCs, instead of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel etc), while Contact a Family has implemeneted new systems including a major database to give all staff access to accurate information about services and support groups.

ComputerWeekly.com article - Open source makes a good donation.

This week’s VolResource email newsletter included a version of our last blog post, namely:

“The first podcast (audio files over the web) aimed at the UK voluntary sector, as far as we know, has been produced by the Fundraising Technology blog. It’s a good example of getting the basics right.”

That got a few responses, about other possible contenders for being first. Firstly, the Podnosh/Grassroots Channel - “Stories from active citizens in Birmingham” as this blog’s Link page says. Yep, but I was thinking more of a national audience, and had got this pigeon-holed as of mainly local interest, maybe wrongly.

Then the Media Trust has also produced what it calls a podcast, but to me is just a repackaging of seminar talks. Does that count? The Wikipedia definition of podcast says “method of publishing files to the Internet, allowing users to subscribe to a feed and receive new files automatically by subscription,” so it technically qualifies. But then I’m prejudiced against anything on the Media Trust web site, which is (and has been for a long time) startlingly poor for a charity promoting communication techniques to the sector.

The first edition of what is hoped to become “a regular and useful podcast for anyone interested in what is happening in the non-profit sector in the UK and beyond” has been put together by the person behind Fundraising Technology blog. It’s a nice example of how to do it.