'Los Angeles DataBit

1. Los Angeles DataBits
Volume 2, Issue 1 March 2002
Presidents Message Calendar of Events
We Are On Our Way… Jan 2001 we started the March
year with thirteen members strong. Jan 2002 we
2 HSCC Training (Each Saturday through August)
are over sixty members strong. Our goal is to
attract over one hundred members to BDPA Los Breakaway Technologies, 3417 Crenshaw Blvd.
Angeles by August 2002. Why? Because we
want to be one of the strongest BDPA Chapters in 10:am – 2pm
the BDPA Family. Why? So, we can attract a
National Conference to the Los Angeles area and
provide more opportunities for our members. 5 BDPA Program Meeting
First of all, I want to thank all the new members DWP Community Room 4030 Crenshaw Blvd.
for joining and next I want to encourage you to
take the next step. We cannot achieve these 6:30 (Networking) 7:pm (Meeting)
goals without your participation. Remember,
*************************************************April
BDPA is a global member-focused organization
that exists to provide professional development 2 BDPA Program Meeting
programs and services to position its members
at the forefront of the information technology DWP Community Room 4030 Crenshaw Blvd.
industry. At BDPA LA, we aim to achieve that
6:30 (Networking) 7:pm (Meeting)
goal.
This year, our focus is on membership, which
means you. We know that we cannot be the 6 HSCC Training (Each Saturday through August)
chapter we want to be without you involving Breakaway Technologies, 3417 Crenshaw Blvd.
yourself. And -- we need to hear from you! We
need you to tell us what we are doing right and 10:am – 2pm
where we can improve. And what we need do do
to get you involved. This is your chapter and it
will as exciting as and as good as we make it.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Within this newsletter you will find a membership
survey. Please take the time to complete. And 1 President’s Message
remember that your participation does not end
1 Calendar of Events
there. We have wonderful volunteer
opportunities on committees that you can start 2 Special Programs
influencing today. Come on and get involved!
2 Membership Notes
2 Member Profile
Angela White-Parker, President
Los Angeles Chapter
Los Angeles DataBits 1

2. • Senior Citizen Workshop, Reggie Watson
High School Computer
Training Program Starts • Introduction to the PC with Linux, Clay
Clayborne
March 2nd at Breakaway
• How to surf the internet and get "free stuff" ,
Technologies Eric Brasley
We are preparing for the High School Computer
Competition to be held in August at the national • Abiblestory.com – Michael Bradshaw
convention in Orlando. A successful team requires
committed volunteers. Here are a few ways that you Thanks to all of our members who volunteered their
can help out: valuable time to participate in this event. This was our
first-ever BFTAW event participation and it won’t be
1. If you are experienced in Visual Basic 6 we need our last. See you next year!
nd
you to teach on Saturdays starting March 2 thru
August 3rd; from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm at
Breakaway Technologies located at 3417 BDPA Participates in Tavis
Jefferson in Los Angeles.
Smiley’s Blacks In
2. Also needed are volunteers in the classroom for Technology Conference
general student support as well as support for
February 2nd, BDPA Los Angeles participated in
obtaining student lunches each Saturday.
the BIT Conference sponsored by Tavis Smiliey.
3. We hold a fundraiser each June for this event to This event offered an unprecedented
help defray the costs of sending our competition opportunity for BDPA Los Angeles to reinforce
team to Orlando. Please bring your enthusiasm! its community commitment by helping to
inspire and inform African American consumers,
If you are interested in participating in any committee entrepreneurs and professionals about
mentioned above please contact: Hermia Craft 310- technology including: a) Business, educational
and personal applications and solutions; b)
375-7105 or email: hcraft@sprynet.com Black Products and services; and c) Educational,
Family Technology career and personal development opportunities,
etc.
Awareness Week (BFTAW)
BDPA Los Angeles – Monthly
This past February, BDPA Los Angeles participated in
the National BFTAW event. BFTAW is a national Program Meeting Topics
Want to know what we will be up to in 2002 … mark
event that was first brought to the public by Career
your calendars!
Communications Group [publisher of US Black
th
Engineer Magazine & Hispanic Engineer Magazine] in March 5 , 2002 – Knowledge Management, Harry
Mc Elroy
1999. IBM provides generous support. Organizations
nd,
throught the nation participated in wide a range of April 2 2002 – FAME Renaissance Program
educational and fun activities related to technology Incubator Program, at FAME
during the week of February 10-16, 2002. th
May 8 , 2002 – Broadband Networks
th
June 4 , 2002 – Handheld Devices / Palm vs.
BDPA Los Angeles participated in the following
Pocket PC
activities: High Tech Sunday (Sunday) held at Grant
nd
A.M.E. Robert Gardner conducted a very informative July 2 , 2002 – Microsoft.net
workshop on “How to Purchase a PC”. th
August 6 , 2002 – HSCC Team Presentation
On Tuesday, we sponsored Family Tech Night at rd
September 3 , 2002 – The State of Programming
Breakaway Technologies where we sponsored the Languages (Java/VB/ActiveX/ASP)
following workshops: st
October 1 , 2002 – Recruiters Roundtable
• How to Purchase a PC, Michael Bailey
November 5th 2001 - Entrepreneurs Roundtable
December 3, 2002 – Pre-Kwanzaa
Los Angeles DataBits 2

3. Los Angeles Chapter
6709 La Tijera Blvd. #501
Los Angeles, CA 90045
www.bdpa-la.org
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PLEASE FILL IN ALL INFORMATION - PRINT or TYPE
Name __________________________________________________________________________________________________
Address ________________________________________________________________________________________________
City ___________________________________________________ State _________ Zip Code _______________________
Phone ( ) __________________________________________ email ____________________________________________
Employer _______________________________________________________________________________________________
Position ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Phone ( ) __________________________________________ email ____________________________________________
Would you like to be included in the BDPA-LA Membership directory? Yes No
How did you hear about BDPA ?
Newspaper ( ) Handout ( ) Website ( ) Referral ( ) Name ____________________________________
Please indicate your areas of expertise:
( ) Application Programming (Indicate languages) ______________________________________________________________
( ) Systems Programming ( ) E-Commerce ( ) Web Development
( ) Personal Computers ( ) Training ( ) Technical Writing
( ) Networking ( ) Entrepreneur ( ) Office Automation
( ) Management ( ) Consultant ( ) Analyst
( ) Database Management/Data Warehousing ( ) Web Designer Other (Please indicate):_______________
Please indicate committee of interest:
( ) Membership ( ) Education ( ) Fundraising
( ) Education/HSCC ( ) Public Relations ( ) Program
( ) Communications ( ) Technology ( ) Other (Please indicate): ____________
Type of Membership ( ) New ( ) Renewal
( ) Full - $75 ( ) Five Year - $300 ( ) Student – Full Time $15
Make check payable to: BDPA – Los Angeles Chapter
Los Angeles DataBits 3

4. Los Angeles Chapter
Officers Who’s New to BDPA
Welcome to the following new and renewing members!
Angela White-Parker
President
Billie Davis BOB Please fill this out
Vice President
Michael Bailey
Treasurer
Beverly Kelley
Recording Secretary
John Zeigler
Corresponding Secretary Volunteers Needed!
Do you have talent in the following areas
Tracy Oxley
Special Programs
that you would like to share?
Hermia Craft Membership: Come and assist us in
Education & HSCC membership management.
Harry Mc Elroy Website Designers: We need one or more
Program Chair individuals to coordinate and publish on a
Bob Gardner monthly basis our website.
Immediate Past President
Newsletter Coordinator: Come and assist
us in publishing and coordinating our
Program Meetings: quarterly BDPA Newsletter for Los Angeles.
First Tuesday of the Month
DWP Community Room
4030 Crenshaw Blvd.
Los Angeles, California
7pm
Contact Info:
BDPA, LA
6709 La Tijera Blvd #501
Los Angeles, California
90045
Web Site
www.bdpa-la.org
www.bdpa.org
Email
President@bdpa-la.org
BULK RATE
BDPA-LA US POSTAGE
6709 La Tijera Blvd. #501 PAID
Los Angeles, CA 90045 PERMIT NO. 98765
ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED Mailing Address
Street Number and Name
City, State 98765-4321
Los Angeles DataBits 4

5. Los Angeles DataBits 5

6. 2002 CONFERENCE
VIISIION,, STRATEGIIC FOCUS
AND KEY MEASURES
2002 Conference Vision, Strategic Focus and Theme
Vision Statement
The 2002 National BDPA Conference appeals to African Americans seeking new
opportunities for long-term success and a prosperous future. The Conference provides a
total Information Technology experience to High School and College Students, Information
Technology Professionals, Entrepreneurs, IT Senior Managers, Corporations, Academia,
Government Agencies and the Research community. This value-packed slate of offerings
given by field experts, exemplifies the BDPA commitment to provide state-of-the-art
training, professional growth and technical development, entrepreneurial opportunity,
technical resource offerings, and access to leading-edge technology to its members,
corporate supporters, and the community.
Strategic Focus
Exhibit the Next Wave of IT Entrepreneurial Functions, Features, and Services. Showcase
BDPA’s commitment in addressing the National Question of the Economic Divide via
Community Outreach, Technical Training Programs, and access to Information Build
partnerships and to raise seed money needed to take technology deep into the community.
Be a resource for career placement Provide training for our youth
Theme: ‘Changing the Culture of IT: From Access to Ownership”
BDPA is the premier organization for African-American professionals in the Information
Technology industry. For over 25 years, BPDA has fulfilled its mission and worked to "bridge
the digital divide" by providing career growth opportunities for its members. We have
increased technology awareness in our communities by providing educational and
professional development opportunities through various programs in over 45 chapters
across the country. While we have worked to "close the gap" and increase access to
information and technology, we realize, that the "Economic Divide" also exists. The gap is
widening in the areas of African-American producers and owners of technology. Join us in
Orlando as we focus on "Changing the Culture of IT: From Access to Ownership".
Making "IT" Happen through Collective Work & Responsibility and Cooperative Economics
Our African-American heritage and culture is filled with countless events of both individual
acts of heroism under harsh circumstances and unified feats of triumph (UMOJA ) over
adversity to restore our people and communities to their original greatness (KUUMBA). As
a people, we have come together to address issues from civil rights to the digital divide
(KUJICHAGULIA). BDPA has a legacy of bridging that divide over the past 25 years (NIA).
BDPA, with a renewed focus (UJIMA) to work together as African-American IT professionals
with access to information and technology, we can produce more owners and producers of
the technology (UJAMAA) instead of just consumers of technology. We have a tremendous
opportunity BDPA to showcase our professional and entrepreneurial talent, opportunities to
form new alliances and partnerships, create potential business opportunities for our
members who are entrepreneurs, as well as continue to fulfill our mission. Faith (IMANI) in
each other is what sets us apart. We can do it!
Los Angeles DataBits 6