North Dakota Information Technology Council

Happy Holidays!:
ITCND’s board of directors and staff would like to wish everyone Happy Holidays!
Strategic plan and work plan approved:
The ITCND board of directors met Dec. 16 and approved ITCND’s 2009 strategic plan and work plan.

The 2009 work plan identifies three top priorities for ITCND:
1. Implement the 2009 Legislative Agenda
2. Develop and implement IT Career Awareness Program
3. Explore a membership networking initiative

These priorities were developed as a result of ITCND’s annual strategic planning session, which was held on Oct. 13.

If you have any questions or comments regarding the strategic plan or work plan, contact ITCND Executive Director Deana Wiese.
Be a voice for IT at the North Dakota Legislature:
North Dakota’s 61st Legislative Assembly convenes on Jan. 6. ITCND is active in the legislative process as an advocate and lobbyist for IT issues. As with any organization, ITCND looks to its members for support in encouraging the use, growth and development of IT through legislation. One way to help is by testifying about IT issues important to you. Legislators enjoy hearing from people working in and dependent upon different industry sectors; you provide the personal connection to the issues. Grassroots lobbying can be very effective, and ITCND would appreciate your voices of support.

ITCND will send out a legislative update every Friday during the session. In each update, a list of committee hearings will be posted. Stay informed and read up about the issues facing the IT industry in North Dakota. If you feel passionate about an issue, please contact ITCND and offer to testify at a hearing. Hearings before North Dakota legislative committees are generally informal, and the process is simple:

Before the Hearing You Should…
1. Find out when and where the bill will be heard, and be on time for the hearing. Usually, once a hearing is closed on a particular bill, no further testimony is heard.
2. Plan your testimony. ITCND can help you write and prepare your testimony. If ITCND knows of others testifying on the same bill, it will help you coordinate your testimony to avoid duplication.

At the Hearing You Should…
1. Be present at the start of the hearing. All persons present usually get a chance to speak; however, it is not always possible to give everyone a chance to speak. If you do not get the opportunity to testify, your presence may be acknowledged and you will be asked if you favor or oppose the bill. You can always submit written testimony.
2. Sign the witness sheet at the lectern. List the bill number, your position in favor or opposition of the bill, your name, lobbyist registration number (if applicable) and who you represent (if other than yourself).
3. Wait your turn. The chairman will announce the beginning of the hearing on a particular bill, and the clerk will read the bill. The first speaker is usually the bill’s sponsor. The chairman then asks for testimony, first from proponents and then opponents.
4. Begin your testimony by addressing the chairman and committee members, giving your name, address and why you are there. For example, “Mr. or Madam Chairman and members of the committee, my name is John Q. Public from Scranton. I’m in favor/oppose this bill because…”
5. Be brief and conversational. There is no need to be nervous or worried about doing something wrong. Legislators are your friends and neighbors who want to hear what you have to say.
6. Expect some questions and comments from committee members. If you do not know the answer to a question, offer to follow-up on the issue.
7. Respect other testimonials by avoiding clapping, cheering, booing or other demonstrations.

After the Hearing
1. Some committees vote right after a hearing, others wait until the end of the meeting and others postpone voting until another meeting.
2. All committee action is public, so you can stay and listen to the committee debate and vote if you wish.
3. One or two days later you can check with the committee clerk, your legislator, ITCND or the Legislative Information Kiosk to find out how the committee voted on the bill.

Your involvement in the legislative process is important to ITCND and to North Dakota legislators. Please inform ITCND by calling 701-355-4458 if you are interested in learning more about testifying on IT-related issues.

Legislative Hearing process provided by the North Dakota Legislature’s website.
Skills USA judges and sponsors needed:
North Dakota SkillsUSA will host its annual competition and conference April 5-7 at the North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) in Wahpeton. SkillsUSA is a national organization that serves trade, industrial, technical and health occupations students in high schools, career and technical centers and colleges. It is committed to preparing students for leadership in the workforce through occupational and leadership competition and training. Approximately 600 students and advisors are expected to attend the 2009 event.

There are three competitions relating to IT: internetworking, programming and computer maintenance. North Dakota SkillsUSA is looking for judges and sponsors for these competitions.

Judges
Two judges are needed for each of the three competitions. The time commitment would be Monday, April 6, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The judges need to have certain skill sets for each competition. Internetworking: Knowledge of programming routers and switches as this competition involves designing and setting up networks. Programming: Knowledge of reading and understanding written code as this competition involves programming several projects using Visual Basic. Computer Maintenance: Knowledge of working with hardware components and installing operating systems as this competition involves building a computer from components.

Sponsorship levels
Any level of sponsorship would be greatly appreciated. Monetary sponsors, scholarship sponsors or prize sponsors are all welcomed. Awards will be presented to students the day following the competition, Tuesday, April 7, between 8 a.m. and noon. Sponsors have the opportunity to exhibit their business/organization, meet and visit with the winning students and present the awards they sponsored.

The deadline to sponsor is March 1 in order to be listed and acknowledged in the North Dakota SkillsUSA State Conference program.

Contact Ray Hintz, Supervisor of Information Technology at the ND Department of Career & Technical Education, at 701-328-1720 or visit the North Dakota SkillsUSA website for more information.
Laptops and projectors requested:
The 20th annual Marketplace of Entrepreneurs will be held in Bismarck Jan. 13-14 at the Civic Center. Projectors and laptops will be used during various classes that will be held during the event. Marketplace is in need of four laptops and 14 projectors from the evening of Jan. 12 until the end of day Jan. 14.

If you are willing to borrow a laptop or projector for use at the event, please contact Dirk Monson, Technology Director for Marketplace, at 701-214-5734 or Marilyn Kipp, Director of Marketplace, at 701-663-0150. Any contributions will be recognized in-kind at Marketplace for Entrepreneurs.
ITCND represented at career expo:
As part of its IT Career Awareness Program, ITCND had a booth at the Health, Tech and Trades Career Expo in Fargo on Dec. 11. More than 2,000 freshman students and their teachers were in attendance. Many took advantage of the opportunity to chat live via web cam with North Dakota IT employees about job opportunities, skills required and classes needed to pursue IT careers. This was through coordination with the North Dakota Department of Commerce Career Conversations program. Also featured at the booth was information on occupations and postsecondary IT education options at North Dakota two- and four-year institutions.





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