OpenConcept eNewsletter #2

Hello, We are sending this eNewsletter to OpenConcept.ca Customers to try to keep you better informed. 1. Ottawa's Open Source Weekend, Jan 25-26 2. Ottawa - Impacts Institute, Communications Savvy Breakfast Seminar, Feb 6 2. Jakob Nielsen's Alertbox for worst mistakes in 2002 3. Creating PDF's WITHOUT Adobe Distiller 4. Creating PDF's WITHOUT Adobe Distiller 5. A New Licencing Project for Creative Works 6. Bouncing emails 7. Highlighted Campaigns -- 1. Ottawa - Open Source Weekend, Jan 25-26 http://osw.ca/ On 2003 January 25 and 26, a coalition of computer professionals, students, and volunteers will host an Open Source Weekend in Ottawa, Canada. The events will be spread across the city and throughout the weekend to showcase the dynamic world of open source software. OpenConcept will be presenting their multi-lingual Content Management System, Back-End.org -- 2. Ottawa - Impacts Institute, Communications Savvy Breakfast Seminar, Feb 6 http://www.impacs.org LEARN THE KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL, STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS Communications Savvy Breakfast Seminar February 6, 2003 8:00 am - 10:00 am Breakfast will be served, starting at 8:00 am Rotary Room - Travelodge Hotel and Convention Centre - Ottawa West 1376 Carling Avenue, Ottawa 613.722.7601 Are you a not-for-profit with a message? Are you worried it might not be getting through to the right people? IMPACS, Canada's only not-for-profit communications agency, can help. Join us for breakfast and a fast-paced, 90-minute presentation on the keys to successful, strategic communications. We've helped hundreds of not-for-profits get their messages into the mainstream media. A growing number of not-for-profits are recognizing the need for our sector to do a better job getting the right messages out to the right audiences. But cutting through the clutter has never been so difficult. Communications Savvy provides tools and techniques for you to do exactly that, and to make sure your messages are heard. To Register: All participants must pre-register Phone: 1 877 232 0122, ext.104 Email: amalr@impacs.org Download our registration form at http://www.impacs.org/pdfs/workshopregform_jan02.pdf Breakfast Seminar registration fee ($38) plus GST=$40.66 IMPACS works with not-for-profits and charities to help turn up the volume on civil society. Read more about our work at www.impacs.org. -- 3. Jakob Nielsen's Alertbox for worst mistakes in 2002 http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20021223.html Every year brings new mistakes. In 2002, several of the worst mistakes in Web design related to poor email integration. The number one mistake, however, was lack of pricing information, followed by overly literal search engines. -- 4. Creating PDF's WITHOUT Adobe Distiller http://www.flora.ca/pdf.shtml One of OpenConcept's founding members produced the above document which allows Windows users to do this without spending a cent. It's a great resource for folks who want to be able to publish. -- 5. A New Licencing Project for Creative Works http://www.creativecommons.org The Licensing Project will build licenses that will help you tell others that your works are free for copying and other uses but only on certain conditions. You're probably familiar with the phrase "All rights reserved" and the little © that goes along with it. Creative Commons wants to help copyright holders send a different message: "Some rights reserved" and our "CC Creative Commons" logo. -- 6. Bouncing emails http://www.doubleclick.com/us/knowledge/documents/trend_reports/dc_q3ema... http://ezine-tips.com/articles/management/20021009.shtml The rate of bounced emails is up. The second link indicates some measures that you can take to make sure that you stay in touch with your clients/members. - Make it easy for users to update their email addresses through your web site. - Verify the emails that you collect to see if they are valid - If you have phone or snail-mail for your members, contact them this way and ask for a valid email. -- 7. Highlighted Campaigns http://www.rootingoutevil.org/ http://www.openconcept.ca/ploughshares/ -- If you have any questions about hosting, custom web applications or online campaigns, please feel free to contact us. Mike President, OpenConcept Consulting mike@openconcept.ca