Invitation to Community Groups

Limerick City Community ICT Steering Group would like to issue an open invitation to all Limerick based Community Grouyps to participate in our upcoming Community Technology Fair.

The event is part of the groups’ strategy to promote the benefits of technology in everyday life (home, sports and leisure, education, work etc). It will take place in Thomond Park Conference Centre on Saturday 1st November 2008 from 11.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.. The fair which is supported by funding from the Mid-West Regional Authority and Limerick Regeneration will feature 50 Interactive displays and a number of short snappy informal ‘How to’ workshops in break-out rooms. Most of the interactive displays will be built by community groups assisted by mentors from City of Limerick VEC, UL and LIT. There will also be private sector displays from technology companies such as Microsoft, Adobe, Nintendo, Bebo etc. For your information, I include a detailed description of the background and rationale for the event at the footer of this email, and also attach a link to a research report commissioned by our group earlier this year.

We are extremely grateful for the support of Munster Rugby and Thomond Park to date with this event including committing to (a) the Heineken Cup being available on the day, (b) Thomond Park opening their new Interactive Museum on the day as part of the event and (c) Munster Rugby Development taking a stand on the day highlighting the role of technology in the coaching and analysis of sport.

We would like to invite Community Groups to participate in the event by putting together a display, which highlights an example of a simple, yet innovative use of technology. The displays must engage with people and be truly interactive. Ideally people should not just see the technology in action but actually learn how to use it. The focus should be on practical and fun activities.

If you are interested in participating in the event please contact Elaine Doyle edoyle@paulpartnership.ie by Friday the 25th September 2008. For a list of some suggested ideas for stands on the day please click on this link http://techpromotion.wikispaces.com/

If you would like to participate in the event, but are unsure which technology to showcase or would like some support in advance of the event, an event briefing on the Fair will take place on Tuesday the 30th September at 2.00 p.m. in Our Lady of Lourdes Action Centre. If you would like to participate in the event but are not sure what your stand might consist of, please come along to the session. We will be providing mentors from the VEC, LIT and UL who will, where requested, support groups in advance of the event and/or on the day. We will also provide examples of ideas for stands. It also may be possible for a number of community groups to come together to put build a display. We would appreciate it if you could email Elaine (again by Friday the 25th )to let us know if you will be attend the briefing.

If you know of other community groups who may be interested in taking part in event, please let us know.