Data-Scribe Blog | Musings & News

We've moved our blog directly under our new and improved Web site. Now, we will be focusing more on technology topics of interest to nonprofit organizations and construction contractors. You can check it out along with our calendar of events..

I'm watching the television show Identity tonight. If you haven't seen the show, it's the one where a contestant tries to guess the identity of a bunch of strangers based on looking at them. It's basically a matching game - the contestant is given a list of possible identities. Some of the identities tonight were Plus-Sized Model, Harlem Globetrotter, and NY City Firefighter.

As I was watching the show, I couldn't help but feel that this was perpetuating certain stereotypes. How can you tell if someone "looks" like they fit certain characteristics?

I had someone mistake my identity the other day. Brett and I were at a computer store looking for a printer. I was on one aisle and Brett was on another. As I was rounding the corner, one of the sales associates stopped me and said, "Young lady, did you have questions on anything?" in kind of a condescending tone. I said that I didn't and continued to walk toward Brett. Then, the sales associate said something that surprised me (although it shouldn't have). He said, "Oh, you're with a guy, so of course you don't have any questions."

I was tempted to whip out my business card and tell him what I did for a living. But I realized that it wasn't worth it. It's pretty sad that people still think that woman = technological idiot.

We can all learn a lesson from this by examining our assumptions about our clients, customers, and donors. Certain characteristics go with others. But, ultimately, it comes down to the personal relationships that we build. Assumptions can get us in trouble.

The blog has been quiet for awhile. We've been busy little bees working to set up our training registration system. Now nonprofit organizations and small business can search for, register, and pay for our computer software training online.

Also, if you're unable to attend one of our open enrollment classes, you can request a private training session (held either onsite or via our online classroom).

Check out the Data-Scribe(tm) training registration site and sign up for a free account (it's a good way to get discounts!)

And here's our calendar for April 2007:

3rd Microsoft Access 2003 Level 1
4th QuickBooks 2006/2007 Level 2
5th Microsoft Excel 2003 Level 1
6th Microsoft Project 2003 Level 1
11th Microsoft Excel 2003 Level 2
17th Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 Level 1
18th FileMaker Level 1
19th Microsoft Project 2003 Level 2
24th Crystal Reports Level 1
25th QuickBooks 2006/2007 Level 1
26th Microsoft Access 2003 Level 2
27th Microsoft Word 2003 Level 2

Please join me and the rest of the AIBA Board and membership at this great event!

"BIG-BOX SWINDLE: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for America?s Independent Businesses"
by Stacy Mitchell

AIBA, the Albuquerque Independent Business Alliance, is sponsoring Ms. Mitchell to speak and conduct a book signing on Tuesday, March 13. The event is co-sponsored by Page One Bookstore, where the event will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. (with Ms. Mitchell speaking at 6:00). The public is invited. Page One Bookstore is located at 11018 Montgomery NE. Light refreshments will be served, courtesy of Flying Star Cafe and Satellite Coffee.

With the Albuquerque City Council considering a moratorium on ?big box? developments, this is a timely and interesting issue to address in Albuquerque. Join us to learn more about the issues of local economics and how they are impacted by "big-box" developments.

According to the book, mega-retailers are being charged nationally with fueling many of our most pressing problems ? from the shrinking middle class to rising pollution to diminished civic engagement. Yet a growing number of communities are successfully countering the trends and rebuilding their local economies, according to Stacy Mitchell. Mitchell contends that the "explosion? of Independent Business Alliances and buy-local campaigns across the country is a
very encouraging development of the last few years.

Additional information about the book and its author may be found at: www.bigboxswindle.com.

?Across the country,? Mitchell writes, ?people are coming to similar realizations about the value of locally owned, independent businesses? as well as the high cost to communities and local economies of the corporate retailers that have grown to dominate so much of our landscape.?

BIG-BOX SWINDLE argues that the rise of the mega-chains is not simply a result of consumer choice. ?To a scandalous degree, big-box retailers are a product of public policy,? Mitchell says. ?Driven by an erroneous conviction that chain retailers boost employment and expand the economy, elected officials have actively fostered and underwritten their proliferation.? Noting that big chains only appear to bring communities economic growth, Mitchell details how in reality they impose numerous hidden societal costs and contribute far less economically than they take away.

For more information about AIBA, go to www.keepitquerque.org

AIBA Sponsors include: City of Albuquerque (Dept. of Economic Development), Data-Scribe?, PNM, Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Cultural Center, Vaughn Wedeen Creative, Women?s Specialists of New Mexico, Flying Star Caf?, First Community Bank, and Aurora Publishing.