New Officers, New Year
The Connecticut Chapter recently held election of officers for the 2008 – 2009 year with the following results:- President – Michael Rawlins
- Vice-President – Herb Wexler
- Secretary – Aneta Hall
- Treasurer – Paul Linton
Email addresses and phone numbers will go up as soon as these individuals “formally” take office. The transition will take place in September
Congratulations to the new officers and particularly all the members who took the time to vote electronically. We eagerly look forward to speakers, chapter events and new initiatives to spring from the new leadership. Current officers will remain in place until the September timeframe, and both old and new officers have been meeting and collaborating to insure that the transition is smooth and seamless. A huge thanks is due Dr. Ruth Frank, the first (and only) President our chapter has ever known for her leadership and tireless efforts to get our chapter up and running during the past two years. Ruth will be staying on in the position of President Emeritus.
The new leadership has already identified at least a half-dozen outstanding programs/speakers for the coming months, and details will be posted as dates and particulars are nailed down.
Some topics already bandied about by the new officers include;
- A fixed number of meeting sites strategically located throughout Connecticut
- A “painless” way to pay dues via PayPal
- Encouragement of more social networking among the membership
- Occasional combined social/technical gatherings
So, we expect a lot of fuzzy plans and initiatives to solidify in the coming weeks and months. For the immediate future, current news will continue to be posted here on the Home Page. Visit often and stay informed!
Learn About the New Connecticut Chapter WikiWhy view this static, randomly updated, web page? The webmaster is lazy, but you needn't be. Get busy with the CT UPA Wiki where YOU can contribute and edit content and keep current with your colleagues!
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 had a very productive and very enlightening first year. Just check out our "Long Past" page to see how active we were for a first-year-chapter. 2008 promises to be just as active and we are already off to a great start with excellent programs planned for February and March. See the Headlines above, or view the upcoming page.
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 2007-2008. Election of new officers will be upcoming shortly, probably in the second quarter of the year. Stay tuned (check the Headlines or check the wiki) for latest news.
| Position | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| President | Dr. Ruth Frank | ruth.frank@pb.com |
| Vice-President | Dr. Beth Giurelli | bgiurelli@cox.net |
| Secretary | Indira Permalla | ipermalla@synapsemail.com |
| Treasurer | Indira Permalla | ipermalla@synapsemail.com |
Connecticut Chapter Wiki
Our first meeting of 2008 was held on Thursday, January 17 from 4:00 - 5:00. During this meeting we showcased and oriented everyone to the CT UPA Wiki. CT UPA Member Aneta Hall led the meeting. We appreciate her work in developing the wiki thus far! Now it is up to all of us to make the wiki successful for us!
The really, really neat part about the wiki is that any member of the CT UPA chapter can edit any part of the wiki. Ask questions, state opinions, develop a personal page, get in touch with colleagues. Wikis are both an information sharing medium, and also a social networking opportunity. Enough chatter...experience the Wiki now!
The wiki can be found at http://ctupa.wikispaces.com.
Members of the CT UPA will be given the opportunity to join
the wiki. Feel free to visit the wiki and work with it at any
time. The wiki is an excellent opportunity for CT UPA
members to connect better with one another, share resources
and learn more about what is happening within the field of
usability in Connecticut. We look forward to your feedback,
but especially your PARTICIPATION!
Boston
As a "relatively new" chapter, we would like to take a minute and acknowledge the kind assistance and support of two sister chapters in the New England - New York area. The Boston and New York chapters have welcomed us aboard, and have been very gracious in publicizing our presence to their membership. We are very excited about collaborative opportunities possible, and the spirit of cooperation shown by these chapters. It is certain that a close relationship with these other "local" chapters will be a win-win for all.
The Boston chapter is currently preparing for their seventh mini-UPA conference to be held at Bentley College this Spring. This conference is always an excellent, and very full, one day gathering and some of the Connecticut members are already preparing to attend. Do yourself a favor and check out the Boston web site for additional information and registration details.
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.
