Our first IT Professionals Forum last month was a hit. The event was a sell out with 45 local IT Professionals gathering to network and learn from one another. Supporting the IT community is going to be something we continue on with and your help is needed. If you're an IT Professional, I would like to hear your suggestions for topics, speakers, and events that would be of interest to you. You can just shoot me an email, my address is at the bottom of this newsletter.

A big thank you goes out to all of you that have supported our Hot Spot project over the past year. We have met our goal of cataloging 50 wireless hot spots within the Region. It was no easy task and I appreciate everyone's hard work! Check out the new hot spot directory for yourself, I think you will be impressed.

Lastly, I will leave you with my favorite "hot" jokes. You know it's hot in Virginia when:

• farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying hard-boiled eggs.
• the cows are giving evaporated milk.
• you can eat hot chilies to cool your mouth off.
• you can make instant sun tea.
• you learn that a seat belt makes a pretty good branding iron.
• the temperature drops below 95 and you feel a bit chilly.
• you realize that asphalt has a liquid state.
• you've experienced condensation on your butt from the hot water in the toilet bowl.
• your biggest bicycle wreck fear is, "What if I get knocked out and end up lying on the pavement and cook to death?"

Hoping you enjoy the rest of the summer,

Jonathan Whitt, Executive Director

August 22 - CVCC

Join U.S. Congressman Bob Goodlatte from 10 a.m. until Noon at Central Virginia Community College’s Community Room for his annual Technology Conference. Congressman Goodlatte and invited speakers will cover issues pertinent to the changing technology needs of our region’s businesses. Conference attendees will have time to gather information and ask questions of representatives from the Region 2000 Technology Council and local universities. There is no charge to attend.

We have met our goal to promote, support, and catalog 50 locations within Region 2000 that offer Wireless Internet access. Check out the new hot spot locator map here! You can now view hot spots by locality and even view a Google map of their exact location.

To celebrate, we will be having a hot spot celebration at SissonCreative on the James Riverfront on August 31. Details on the event will be sent out to you later this month.

September 21

We are pleased to announce that Doug Tatum, CEO of Tatum Partners will be our guest speaker at our fall Wired Wednesday luncheon. Doug will be presenting "No Man's Land" a presentation given to select groups of CEO's nationwide. Mark your calendar now and plan to attend this dynamic presentation. More event details will be posted in next month's newsletter.

Join the Council Today

Welcome Cherry Bekaert & Holland, L.L.P. and CTA Communications, we are pleased to have you as new members of the Tech Council! Not a member yet? Click here for more information about membership. Benefits to Membership include:

COVITS 2005
September 18-20
The Greater Richmond Convention Center is the site for the 7th annual Commonwealth of Virginia Information Technology Symposium (COVITS 2005). Virginia's signature business and technology event is hosted by Secretary of Technology, Eugene Huang for the Governor of Virginia, Mark Warner. The COVITS 2005 theme is: "The Promise of the Digital Government." COVITS 2005 is nationally recognized as a key event where industry solutions meet government requirements. Issues and challenges facing governments and the solutions offered by the private sector will be examined. For more information and to register, please visit www.covits.org.

VPTC Fall Symposium
October 6
The Virginia Piedmont Technology Council is planning it's second annual Fall Symposium that will focus on "Mobile Applications and Wireless Networking: Understanding and Evaluating the Technology." The 2005 VPTC event will be held Thursday, October 6, 2005 at the Doubletree Hotel in Charlottesville. The Symposium is designed for large and small enterprises, educational institutions, healthcare organizations, and government agencies that are investigating, developing and using Mobile Applications and Wireless Technology. For more information and to register, please visit www.vptcfallsymposium.com.