For Boot

I found this link during my searches. In the center of the page is a PDF link for 2008's education grants, I'm sure that 2009 and 2010 are similar.

http://www2.ed.gov/programs/gtep/index.html

Hope it helps!

R.B.

Feeling Better (Shawna's post)

Shawna,

I wish that I had more information to offer to you regarding the search for an organization to write for but I'm in the same boat. I was able to do a simple Google search with "non profit ___________ (topic)" in the search engine and surprisingly found a lot of information in a short time. I was also able to type "non profit (topic) texas" and found some excellent resources. I'm sure you already did this but I wanted to let you know that most of us are still looking for an organization too!

Best of Luck,

R.B.

Week 3: My Pet Peeve Is That Mac Users Are Forgotten

As part of this week's required post, I have chosen to discuss the duct-tape and bubble gum that we Mac users need to piece together small presentations that are cross compatible with a PC, presentation software like Adobe Presenter and Camtasia (both for PC only) can perform such tasks with fewer steps. The world is not going to switch to Mac anytime soon and the Adobe folks have been dragging their feet during the development of Presenter for Mac (Beta edition). So for my downtrodden, creative Macheads, here's a quick preview of how to make a PPT video with voiceover that the whole computer world can enjoy!

1. Complete a PPT slide deck in PPT for Mac

2. Open Garageband, create a "new project", and open a "basic track".

3. Erase the default "grand piano" track.

4. In PPT, go to "slideshow" and then "record narration."

5. Select "sound input", then "external microphone", then check "link narration"

6. Both PPT and GB are now open and prepped.

7. Quickly hit "record" on GB immediately followed by "record" in PPT.

8. Verbally narrate your project & advance each slide with the keyboard's right arrow.

9. Allow PPT to run on the last slide for an extra 8-10 seconds before stopping it.

10. Send your GB track to iTunes and convert to mp3 format.

11. Save PPT with"save as..."---> "format:movie (.mov)--->"options: background soundtrack"--->select the chosen track from iTunes---> press "ok".

12. Press "save" in PPT.

13. Close PPT and GB.

14. Wait 1-2 minutes and test your work.

Hope this helps someone!

R.B.

MOO Highlights This Week!

Just the Highlights: Tips and Tricks from Our Last GP-MOO Class (01-20-2010)

Highlights from our last MOO discussion included, but were not limited to, the following:

Heather got a new computer.

Brett’s computer was acting funny and he was unable to access Dr. Rice’s class page.

Monica, Brett, Boot, and others seem to be dialed-in, while Bea struggled with online information and resources and I was a “ship without a port.”

Local foundation centers are excellent sources to find organizations in need and various funding sources.

Monica is working to help Lanky and other exotic big cats in need. Some of the big cat conundrums while in rescue centers include issues of safety, staff training, insurance, and neutering.

If a problem is too large then break into “digestible chunks,” advised Brett.

Basic Proposal Writing Formula: Give us X, which helps Y, which prevents Z.

Instrumental Purpose: the professional term used for “getting the money,” (Marc), but Heather reminded us that allocations can include “equipment, etc.”

Need Statement: the introduction to a proposal that includes; 1.) a concise description of the problem, 2.) a proposed solution, and 3.) a suggestion on how the funder can assist.

Thesis: “an opinion presented as a fact that needs evidence to support it,” (R. Rice).

Pathos: emotional appeal

Logos: rational appeal

Ethos: appeal to character and credibility

GP’s can be political and it is the wise writer who researches the sponsor(s) before completing the proposal. I thought this sounded “covert” (LOL!) but was reminded that it’s just “rhetoric.” (Still laughing!)

Game and genre are interchangeable.

Use actual concepts from a sponsors mission statement in the proposal.

We explored the ethical quagmire of whether or not we should disclose the involvement of additional sponsors when writing proposals. Despite not reaching a clear consensus, I think we impressed our professor!!!!!

We discussed Bea’s blog and her grant ideas and concluded that “pathos” should be emphasized and Bea was a step ahead having already thought to bring a local PNG resident to her next meeting. However, this meeting may not come in time and Bea continues to race the clock because unless quicker action is taken, her cause may “miss the boat.”

I shared next and received some excellent advice. This newbie needs to focus on documenting sources, offering a better description of fund utilization, and ambiguity in writing. Thanks everyone, I appreciate the guidance!

We finished by offering ideas for the following week’s blog assignment.

See y’all next week!

R.B.

Week 2: Need Statement

Dear Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack:

My name is Dr. R. M. VonMatterhorn and I represent the Society of Rural Health (SRH), a 501 (c)3 non-profit group dedicated to the improvement of educational healthcare resources in the rural communities. Please find our recent grant proposal enclosed with this letter.

While the healthcare crisis is troubling to small town citizens and big city dwellers alike, we can agree that finding quality healthcare and primary care medical services in New York or Los Angeles is easier than in Frenchtown, Montana. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agrees and noted in recent postings that rural residents tend to be in "poorer health" with fewer medical and healthcare-related resources. Generally accepted theories for such discrepancies include hospital closures, underdeveloped insurance coverage, and a shrinking supply of medical personnel. As a result, clinicians and rural medical facilities may have limited access to computers and, ultimately, new research data. This technological shortfall often translates into decreased CME activities, medical library resources, and up-to-date research outcomes.

One rational solution is to develop medical educational resources and databases that are specifically designed for the smaller screens of cellular phones, PDA Smart-phones, and net-books; which will inevitably level the intellectual playing field among healthcare workers. Ironically, despite limited funding for technology in some of these centers, most clinicians, and the general population for that matter, possess web-browsing cellular technology. In fact, as of late 2008 over 4 billion cell phone subscribers worldwide had collaboratively formed a virtually interconnected world. The widespread adoption of mobile technologies throughout all locational demographics is best illustrated in the 39% annual growth rate of cellular phone integration in Africa between 2005-2007. Hence, a modicum of hard-work and a minimal amount of funding could assist America's hardworking rural healthcare workers in caring for this country's rural patient population which traditionally consists of a larger elderly cohort.

The aforementioned solution is two-fold and consists of:

1.) developing a medical database that is maintained by volunteer urban-based resident physicians and

2.) posting the information, data, and medical studies to the Internet in a condensed mobile format that is easily accessible and implementable among technologically challenged rural facilities.

The SRH has already contacted, screened, and organized 52 resident physicians from 15 university-based urban medical centers and 4 computer science graduate students who have already committed to participating in this mission. Your approval, participation, and release of $250,000 of the USDA's Rural Development's Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program will help to improve the healthcare information utilized in the treatment of America's rural population.

Sincerely,

Dr. R. M. VonMatterhorn

{The SRH and Dr. VonMatterhorn are fictional; however, the remaining data and need are real.}

Blog Review: Mark

Mark's theme of connecting both grants within the same industry is inspired and will most likely significantly decrease the overall research involved as the presentations are likely to overlap. I look forward to learning more from Mark.

R.B.

Blog Review: Amanda

Amanda's plan and overall cause is excellent and, of course, I enjoyed the animal participation angle. On a side note, dogs are amazing and can even sniff out various forms of fungus and bacteria on grape vines; hence, some Napa vineyards now have dogs on staff (true story!).

I like the desire to reform our ailing healthcare system, but am justly skeptical that political backdoor deals will be traded for our well-being. Unfortunately, insurance company "triage" is already deciding what will be covered and for whom. I hope that Amanda, Angel Service Dogs, and all of the devoted volunteers can gain a foothold early and bring true change!

Best Wishes,

R. Brandt

Thanks Bea!

Thanks Bea for the tip regarding blog browsing from a central location! Obviously, it works!

R.B.

Changing With Technology!

My interests are deeply rooted in the current conversion of our healthcare system's antiquated patient charting system to a more efficient, more reliable, and more versatile EMR (electronic medical records) alternative. While voluntary at this time; new healthcare legislation, upcoming federal medicare requirements, and third-party billing protocols are going to demand a paradigm shift in procedure, documentation, and utilization regarding patient information and medical charting. Furthermore, the dissemination of this information via computers, the Internet, and newly introduced hand-held mobile mediums is rapidly approaching although more research and development are needed. Our current political and financial climates coupled with impending legislation will most likely demand that solutions be cost-effective, secure, and expandable. However, such solutions must remain user-centric to facilitate an accurate and reliable transfer of data due to the obvious dangers that medical miscommunication can cause. Therefore, I would like to petition federal grant money to study the aforementioned problems and their solutions.

Welcome!

Welcome to my new blog. Class begins tomorrow night so I will patiently wait to see how we will use this technology. I am looking forward to meeting you all and hope to see some familiar names during our chat!

Best Wishes,

R. Brandt