TECHNOLOGY COMES TO RAINBOW

In August, the Center launched its first web site, www.rainbowcdc.com. The web site represents the culmination of Rainbow's involvement in a Strategic Technology planning process which took the agency through a number of planning, self examination, and projecting processes to determine the role technology needed to play in carrying out our mission.

It all began late last summer when Rainbow was one of eleven non-profit organizations invited to participate in a strategic technology planning process through the
Not-For-Profit Center of the Greater Worcester Community Foundation. We formed an in-house tech team of staff/board members to identify needs (hardware, software, training, etc.), to inventory current capabilities, and to determine future goals and objectives. The process involved the practical as well as the ideal.

Directors of the participating agencies met regularly, under the director of Marc Osten, principal of Summit Consulting Collaborative, to examine resources, develop outcomes, determine the short and long term impact Summer Fun on their organizations, and to discuss sustainability. It was a peer education process whereby we could learn together and support one another. While all the participating agencies were very different in terms of size and mission the need for strategic technology planning, barriers and successes were all very similar.

Rainbow was at a crossroads at the time this project began. We were in the process of purchasing a new client/employee database, not all computers were networked, and only 3 staff members had access to email and the Internet. With the planning assistance and knowledge gained from our participation in this project, the Center gained the confidence and expertise to move forward with our database plans, network all computers to a server. and connect everyone up to the Internet. While we are making progress, technology training continues to be an ongoing need and concern. The lessons learned have also assisted us in budgetary planning to allow us to hopefully continue to meet our technology needs in the future.

Under the direction of David Lapierre, principal of the Dave Lapierre Group, the Center was able to develop a web site (ahead of schedule), which went on-line in August. The web site provides information on programs, fund raising activities, and employment opportunities. Our newsletters are published on-line as well. The web site is connected to a number of different search engines so that we can be located through a variety of linkages. And it is working! By mid-September the site had been visited over 11,000 times during the month, all pages had been viewed and we have received inquiries from individuals looking for employment. We encourage everyone to view the web site (www.rainbowcdc.com) and we welcome your feedback.

As the Center begins to update its strategic plan for the next few years, unlike our past strategic planning process, technology will become an intregal piece of future strategic plans.

Summer Fun

Summer camp for our school age program children provided many opportunities for fun and excitement. For nine weeks a bus load of 75 children left Plumley Village each morning to go to our camp site at Treasure Valley, the Boy Scout Reservation. Each day was packed with many activities including swimming, games, arts & crafts, science and literacy activities, hiking, etc. as well as nutritious meals, thanks to our camp cook Susan MacWilliams.

In addition to daily activities, the children were exposed to a number of wonderful opportunities through the field trips that were planned. The experiences will be memories for a long time. How many times can you go home and say "I went horseback riding today?" Well, our children can! We also took a ride down Route 395 to the Pequot Museum, a native American tribute to the Pequot tribe. And, of course, what is a summer experience without a trip to the Douglas Park waterslides?

As part of our programming activities we are always trying to provide our children with interesting educational experiences. What a better place is there in Central Massachusetts to visit than Old Sturbridge Village? The 18th century environment was a wonderful learning atmosphere for all. The trip to Mystic Seaport opened the eyes of children by giving them the opportunity to experience the 19th century seaport village. For some children, this was their first opportunity to board a boat. While the experience was met with uncertainty for some children, their fears soon gave way to excitement. The children also had the opportunity to tour the Plastics Museum in Leominster to learn how plastic is processed. The hands on activities were interesting and fun for all. And of course, no well-rounded educational experience would be complete without the opportunity to visit the theatre. Our children were able to watch a performance of Robin Hood at the Foothills Theatre.

Summer ended with our annual camp show. Camp counselors did a wonderful job preparing the children to perform a variety of camp skits for their families who were invited to camp for an evening of entertainment and dinner. Children are excited, parents are proud and everyone is exhausted. Another wonderful summer has come to a close.

Our special thanks to members of the community who responded to our summer camp appeal, which assisted us in giving these wonderful children so many memorable experiences.

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