We're Back!
The 2010 edition of the CTUPA Chapter promises to be bigger and better than ever! I really don't have the foggiest idea why, but it seemed to be an energizing thing to say. However, I digress - it is late and I simply want to get the message out that the February 2010 Newsletter is available. Read it now and it will tell you all you will ever want to know. Having said that, I promise not to wax philosophical simply because I am an engineer, and don't know what waxing philosophical means. If you don't really feel the urge to wade through a really sharp Newsletter (for once I am being serious - this is an EXCELLENT edition) , the most important item to note that our next Chapter meeting will be on Thursday, March 4 at (by now you know the drill) Open Solutions in Glastonbury. Follow the yellow brick link . . .
Paying Your 2010 Dues !
We have great news for our members! We have made paying your yearly dues simple and painless (i.e. now you have no excuses). Our Connecticut Chapter now has a PayPal account, and all you have to do to remit your 2010 dues is go to PayPal and email $25.00 ($10.00 for students) to ctusability@gmail.com. What could be easier? If you're not familiar with this method of sending money (I certainly wasn't) all the assistance you might need is right on the PayPal site.By the way, if you are not familiar with PayPal, please note you don’t even need a PayPal account to use their service. You can still pay your dues right from the PayPal web site by using your Visa, Master Card, Discover or American Express. Be assured that the transaction is secure - PayPal has a spotless reputation for protecting customer data and employing the very strongest encryption and data transmission technology. To alleviate another obvious fear, we at CT UPA never see, or have any access ever, to your credit card information – that remains confidential between you and PayPal.
Yes, receipts will be available.
Long story short, let’s all start paying our dues. Just click
About Us
The Connecticut Chapter of the Usability Professionals Association (CTUPA) is one of the newer chapters of UPA. Our charter was officially ratified in December 2006, and we've had a very productive and very enlightening first couple of years. You can review our "Long Past" page to gain an appreciation of the types of speakers and topics we have covered in the past few years. Although we really can't classify ourselves as a "new" chapter anymore, we must admit that we are still searching for and defining what we have been, and what we want to be. Lately we have been moving to the edges of "classical usability/human factors" and have been exploring teaming with related organizations and subject matter. Exciting times lie ahead and we are certain that we are now on a growth path. Please come join us!
Purpose
We share goals with the National Chapter of the Usability Professionals Association
- Provide an international network through which usability professionals can share information about the techniques and methodologies in the profession.
- Create an inclusive community for those interested in usability, whether it is their primary focus or a related discipline.
- Change new product development processes to include a concern for the people who use them by presenting the business case for usability in product development to colleagues, customers, the public and governmental agencies.
- Increase the body of knowledge about usability and user-centered design through professional education, meetings and conventions and other professional interchanges
Officers
The Connecticut Chapter has selected the following individuals to serve as officers for 2009-2010.
| Position | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| President | Michael Rawlins | president@ctupa.org |
| Vice-President | Andrew Siegel | vicepresident@ctupa.org |
| Secretary | Brandon Marino | secretary@ctupa.org |
| Treasurer | Paul Linton | treasurer@ctupa.org |
Photos and biographies of each of our officers are available here.
Other Local UPA Chapters
Although Connecticut is, relatively speaking, a small state, it doesn't always feel that way when driving from Stamford to, say, Hartford for a chapter meeting. We realize that attendance at monthly meetings can be challenging when the distances involved are just a bit more than we might want to navigate after a long day's work or in one of our beautiful New England winter wonderland storms. That said, we would be remiss if we failed to mention that there are other "local" UPA Chapters in the Tri-state - New England region. Our goal is to promote the usability profession, and not simply to grow Connecticut Chapter membership roles. If any of the chapters below provide an easier venue or interesting programs by all means give them a look. All of these chapters provide a free mailing list, and you have nothing to lose by keeping abreast of what is going on in our field.
Boston
The Boston Chapter of the Usability Professionals’ Association is a highly active community for persons with individual and professional interests in usability, user experience design, and their many related fields. Membership is free, and we invite you to take advantage of all the benefits membership has to offer. These include access to job listings, networking opportunities, event notifications, collaboration projects, resume-building activities, and more. In addition the Boston Chapter sponsors the mini-UPA conference every year, that is arguably the premier UPA event in New England.
New York
The New York Chapter serves New York City, Long Island, New Jersey, Westchester, and southern Connecticut. It is one of the largest and most active chapters in the UPA, and a peek at their web site will confirm just how active they are. They have lively and informative programs practically every month, and consistently feature high profile and leading experts in our disciplines. Connecticut members would be smart to join the New York mailing list to keep themselves apprised of the high-quality offerings in New York.
New Hampshire
The New Hampshire Chapter of the Usability Professionals' Association (UPA) provides networking and professional development opportunities for usability professionals, information architects, interaction designers, and other user experience professionals and students in the Seacoast and Southern NH regions. Their mission is to foster the growth of the local usability community and to provide an environment for members to exchange information on tips, tools, methodologies, and technologies related to usability.
