[vicsireland] Chairperson's Update

Hi All,

Here's your final instalment of the Chairperson's Updates from yours truly 
for 2007. 

The first thing to mention is the Open Day which took place on December 
1st.  As I said previously, I am delighted with how the event ran, and I 
was pleased to see the positive feedback here on the list.  Quite a number 
of things came out of this day, and VICS are following up on these at the 
moment.  You will be seeing the fruits of our labours in the near future 
both here and on our web site.

Kilkenny marked the last of our regional training days for the moment.  We 
are now working to further develop the training area of our web site, so 
watch this space in the coming months.  As always we are accepting 
tutorials etc from anyone who is interested to be posted on our site. 
Coupled with our list, I am certain the upcoming expanded training section 
will further one of VICS' main goals, which is to provide easily 
accessible learning and support opportunities for our members.  I'd like 
to thank Natasha Miskella who is working on getting our content ready to 
be published on the site.  She, as always, is doing a brilliant job.  In 
addition, I'd like to thank two great friends of mine for helping me 
compile training materials... The ever brilliant Paul Traynor, and Mr 
White Xmas himself, Brian (Baldy) Dalton.

I received an update this morning on our Assistive Technology Acquisition 
Grant scheme.  It seems to be working very well, and I am very impressed 
with the uptake.  For information about the ATAG, please follow the link:
http://www.ncbi.ie/news/press-releases/2007-11-19_assistive-technology-grant-could-meet-up-to-25-of-the-cost-of-assistive-technology
A special thanks is due to Stuart Lawler and Tim Culhane for their hard 
work on this project.  As I wrote before, I just couldn't see it coming 
off... Ah, misplaced cynicism... Well done lads.

Looking to the future, we have a fairly busy few months until the end of 
the VICS term.  In May I'll be handing over the reins to someone new, as 
by then I'll have held this position for three years.  So, I intend 
getting as much done as possible before the AGM.

Gerry Ellis and Ciaran Ferry are working on setting up a series of lunch 
time seminars at the Irish Computer Society's HQ, beginning in early 2008. 
 This is a really exciting prospect, and they are working hard to get a 
high impact list of speakers to take part.  I understand this list is 
extremely impressive thus far; keep up the good work lads! Details of the 
seminars will become available after Christmas.

I touched on updates to the VICS web site above.  This is a major project 
I am determined to see through in the coming months.  Our site is a 
fantastic one, and I intend utilising it's flexibility to expand it 
further to become an even greater resource.  As I said the training area 
will be extensively developed.  In addition the Infovics page will be 
getting a make over to provide archived material and more.  Our research 
branch will be expanding to include more outputs from the excellent work 
the team are doing.  The FAQ page will be enhanced, and you will see 
greater attention paid to our news updates etc.  Natasha designed the site 
in such a way as to facilitate this major expansion, so almost anything is 
possible! She is a wonderful person to have onboard.  Thanks Natasha!

Given the success thus far of the ATAG scheme as outlined above, it will 
be interesting to see what comes out of the review session which will take 
place early next year.  Stuart has been taking note of any comments which 
were aired about the project, and these will all be tabled at the session. 
 We will keep you informed on how things go.

So, that's it.  It only remains for me to wish you all a very merry 
Christmas and happy new year on behalf of the VICS Committee. 

Best wishes,

Tony Murray
VICS Chairperson

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