'The P

1. THE PHILLY PORTAL
Volume 2, Issue 1 Newsletter for Philadelphia Chapter BDPA Members January 2002
From the President’s Desk Calendar of Events
THOUGHT LEADERS IN ACTION
LOCAL CHAPTER MEETINGS
Beverly Chandran, President
PLACE CIGNA - 2 LIBERTY PLACE
Happy New Year! The 21st century will bring new 16 ST BETWEEN MARKET & CHESTNUT STS
TH
opportunities, in addition to continued challenges. TOPIC .NET DEFINED, MICROSOFT’S PLATFORM FOR XML WEB
Unfortunately, acts of terrorism, a plummeting market, LES HOLLAND, MICROSOFT CORPORATION
and large numbers of layoffs marked the year 2001. It DATE 01/18/2002, 6:30 PM
is evident that we were most severely affected by MEETINGS HELD 3 FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH (EXCEPT AUGUST)
RD
layoffs; in fact, many tenured African Americans NO PROGRAM MEETING IN FEBRUARY 2002 (SEE PAGE 4)
employed in corporate America were let go. So here
we are again, feeling the affects of a recession and
wondering how, where, and when the next opportunity BDPA NATIONAL BOD MEETING
will present itself. Wall Street analysts predict that by PLACE ORLANDO, FL
the 2nd quarter of 2002 the economy will begin to turn TOPIC NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
around. Presently, businesses are not spending as DATE 02/01/2002 – 02/03/2002
they continue attempts to regroup from last year’s stock MEETINGS OPEN TO ANY FINANCIALLY CURRENT MEMBER
market losses. HTTP://WWW.BDPA.ORG/NBODMEETING.CFM
Over the last two decades, the world has become BFTAW
technology driven; technology is the driver of new PLACES TBA (CALENDAR BEING DEVELOPED)
markets and businesses, as well as a catalyst for the TOPIC BLACK FAMILY TECHNOLOGY AWARENESS WEEK
rise in competition across every business sector. This DATE 02/10/2002
isn’t going to change, because some level of HTTP://WWW.ROUNDTHEWAY.ORG/TECHWEEK
technology is needed to make businesses run more FOR UPDATES
efficiently in every industry. If the state of the economy BDPA’S PROGRAM FOR BFTAW WILL BE HELD AT:
has you a bit depressed, don’t worry, because you PLACE CANAAN COMPUTER INSTITUTE
have chosen the right career path—technology. You TOPIC ‘DESIGNING CUSTOM TSHIRTS ON COMPUTER’
are in an organization that is committed to providing its’ DATES 02/10, 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM
members with information and services to close the 02/14, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
digital divide. There is clearly a need for a new focus
with new standards to measure the effectiveness of INFO: CONTACT MIKE BARNEY, MBARNEY@IT.NETCOM.COM
diversity within corporate America. Our corporate
sponsorship program will address this issue. BDPA NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Although many mission critical projects may have been PLACE ORLANDO, FLORIDA
put on hold, CEO’s are approving IT projects that are DISNEY’S CONTEMPORARY RESORT
tied directly to servicing customers and making the ‘CHANGING THE CULTURE OF IT:
business entity run more efficient—faster. Businesses FROM ACCESS TO OWNERSHIP’
are seeking talent in the areas of Customer DATE AUGUST 7-11, 2002
Early Bird Registration Fee: $350
Continued on the next page
THE PHILLY PORTAL 1
PHILADELPHIA CHAPTER

2. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK Continued
Relationship Management (CRM), eCommerce, project
management, SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft, C++ developer
skills, and security and disaster recovery, to increase
business revenues and improve customer service. And of
course, starting a business using any of these
competencies will prove to be profitable.
The BDPA executive board is very excited about raising
the bar in establishing new standards for the Philadelphia
chapter. We need your help. We are asking that each
BDPA member participate:
1. Complete the member survey you will receive in the
next couple of weeks. It is imperative that the executive
board reviews member profiles in order to develop
programs that will address the specific needs of BDPA
members based on informed decisions.
TECHNOLOGY BUZZWORDS
2. Attend the next BDPA general member meeting. The
general memberL - E X T E is S I B Limportant, because this
X M meeting N very E M A R K U P
L A N G A serve you. We need your input –
organization existsUto G E
your ideas for new a methoddevelopment, education
XML is program of creating common
information formats which enables sharing of
initiatives, new membership and retention efforts,
corporate sponsorship, fund raising, and on the World
both the format and the data the 2003
Wide Web, intranets, and other venues. For
conference. Email notifications citing the date and time of
example, computer manufacturers might agree
the meetingon a be issued.
will standard methodology to describe the
information about a computer product
Remember that BDPA was created to provide services to
(processor speed, memory size, etc.) and then
African American peopleproduct information format with
describe the interested in, or working in the
field of information technology. Some of the brightest
XML. This standardization allows users to
send an intelligent agent (a program) to each
minds in the technology industry today are members of
the BDPA family. We are “Information Technology then
manufacturer's web site, collect data, and
make a valid comparison. XML can be used
Thought Leaders” ready for action. Taking action will lead
by anyone who needs to share information in a
to recognition, jobs in corporate America, and the creation
consistent method.
of new black owned businesses, which will benefit you as
XML is a formal recommendation from the
a member of BDPA as well as the community-at-large. In
this spirit, I World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and is
look forward to working with the BDPA family
similar to HTML (Hypertext Markup
for the next Language). Both languages use markup
two years to bring this chapter to the forefront
of the IT industry. to describe the contents of a file or
symbols
page. XML describes content in terms of what
data is being described. However, unlike
Annual Kwanzaa Celebration with
HTML, XML Mama Sandy a Griot[storyteller] the
is 'extensible', meaning that
markup symbols are self-defining and
unlimited. XML and HTML can be used
together in many web applications.
Beverly looks forward to seeing
C A L E N DYou at the next E N T S function
AR OF EV
BDPA
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
THE PHILLY PORTAL 2
PLACE SHERATON CHICAGO HOTEL & TOWERS CITYFRONT
PHILADELPHIA CHAPTER
CTR
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
DATE 08/15 - 08/18

3. African Americans’ Role in Civil War Member's Corner
Dean Reidy and Professor King Present Program BDPA Member PROFILES – New Officers
S & S Protective Services, Inc. and BSI International, Inc. Focus this month is on three officers in our new
present "The Role of African Americans in the Civil War" administration – all dynamic, dedicated, and well-rounded
on Saturday, February 9, 2002 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 leaders.
p.m. at the Philadelphia Room, 6th & Willow Streets Beverly Chandran
(between Callowhill & Spring Garden).
New President Beverly Chandran possesses diverse
Explore the "African American Civil War sailors and management, marketing, and technology experience.
soldiers Database Project" with Dean Joseph P. Reidy, She has expertise in business process engineering,
program management, strategic operational planning, and
Howard University Graduate School Associate Dean and quality assurance. Beverly is also an entrepreneur,
Professor Lisa Y. King, Morgan State University History recently starting a new business, i2Technology Group
Professor. Enjoy an informal buffet luncheon and music. LLC, a consortium of technology professionals with
Free admission (security will be provided). FOR offerings to corporations for establishing or improving
FURTHER INFORMATION call: (215) 829- 9212 business practices. She also keeps busy as an
Executive Member of the Red Cross’ Spectrum Awards
Committee.
Beverly is a hard working, highly motivated, well-
organized, professional. She loves to travel, takes two-
three trips a year, and once traveled alone to Japan, Hong
Kong, and China. Beverly subscribes to a holistic lifestyle
and is a vegetarian (90% she says with a smile). She
also has another business, Magnetic Energy, that
provides services to promote self-healing, therapeutic
massages, stress therapy, and empowerment counseling.
An avid reader, Beverly prefers nonfiction and
motivational books. She loves the outdoors and exercises
two-three times a week. Beverly is committed to making a
value-added difference to BDPA members through
innovative and aggressive new initiatives.
Award for Excellence in Technology
Darold L. Hamlin Scott Myers
BDPA member Darold Hamlin received the Award for Newly elected Vice President Scott R. Myers has over 15
years experience in IT Security and Networking
Excellence in Technology sponsored by Rep. W. Curtis
technologies. Scott has led numerous multi-site network
Thomas and the New Millennium Foundation Trust. deployments for financial, insurance, health care,
Darold, CIO for the Social Services Cluster of the City of manufacturing, and e-commerce firms. He has extensive
Philadelphia, is responsible for managing the technology experience in developing secure networks based on
programs and assets for several social services technologies such as Cisco Systems, Checkpoint,
Microsoft, and Sun. Currently, Scott is President of
departments. He also has responsibility for managing the
enTRANS Solutions, Inc., an information security
city's Digital Divide program, charged with bringing consulting firm. He is also Chief Technology Officer,
technology to all segments of the community. Unwired Plus, Inc. (www.unwiredplus.com), a firm providing
wireless network solutions to the education market. Scott
is energetic, enthusiastic, articulate, and committed to
Kudos to Jennifer Pierce contributing to the improvement of our chapter. With over
Many thanks to Jennifer Pierce, BDPA member and 10 years experience in photography, Scott has been a
Boeing employee, who sold 40 tickets to the Black freelance photographer for the past 3 years, focussing on
photojournalism, portraits, and fine art.
Professionals Christmas party in December! Now that’s
member support!
THE PHILLY PORTAL 3
PHILADELPHIA CHAPTER

4. BDPA Member PROFILES continued
Gigabit Memory Chips
Duane Howard
Samsung Electronics was first out of the gate with a
gigabit memory chip. The world’s first 1-Gigabit NAND Our new Treasurer, Duane Howard, has extensive
flash memory chip is fabricated with 0.12-micron management and financial systems analysis experience,
technology. The new device boasts the world’s smallest including expertise in developing capital and operational
cell size that breaks the 0.1- micron2 barrier a record- budgets, income statements, and revenue forecasts for a
setting achievement in the industry’s scaling technology. Fortune 500 corporation’s senior management. Currently
The new device is expected to satisfy a variety of employed at Independence Blue Cross, Duane manages
applications: a professional staff with responsibility for financial
processing and managed care systems. He is a graduate
*PC Operating System of University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of
Windows NT can be operated with a single 1-Gigabit Business, with a dual degree in Accounting and
NAND Flash memory. Marketing. A ‘team player …who will work diligently to
support the efforts, goals, and visions of BDPA’s future’,
*Mobile handset: Duane is excited about serving in his new position.
The compact handset has been restricted to a limited Duane is a member of 100 Black Men. Also, he has
utilization of operating software due to the low-density attained a ‘Competent Toastmaster Distinction’ and is
memory availability. The new device that provides up to a Area #17 Governor for the Toastmasters’ organization. In
maximum 2 Gigabits resolves such demands. addition, Duane finds the time to serve as a youth
counselor (handling teens ages 13 thru 18 yrs old) at his
*Personal Digital Assistants: church.
For PDA’s, it will also greatly enhance battery lifetime
compared to the low-cost commodity DRAM. The non- REMAINING CHAPTER BOARD POSITIONS FILLED
volatile memory can preserve data over 10 years without
additional power back up. Emma Tramble, long time BDPA member, was recruited
by President Beverly Chandran, and has accepted the po-
*MP3 player / Digital camera: sition of Corresponding Secretary.
An original application of the NAND flash memory will
enjoy more memory capacity as the 2-Gigabit device is Kia Savage, BDPA member, has accepted the Recording
capable of storing up to 4 hours of audio files and 2 hours Secretary position.
moving picture images on the MPEG 4 standard. Congratulations to Emma and Kia!
For more info: http://samsungelectronics.com/
The new administration is in the process of reorganizing
and launching several new initiatives. Their objectives
include providing increased BDPA exposure in the
technology community, as well as the Philadelphia
community at-large; growing our membership rolls;
improving membership value to constituents; and
Who Is Philip Emeagwali?
preparing to host the national BDPA conference in 2003,
here in Philadelphia.
Monthly Program Meeting Changes
Superbrain of Africa • In lieu of the February program meeting, members
should support the Black Family Technology
He's developed the world's fastest computer --- and
that's just the beginning…… Awareness Week event, to be held…… The program
He left school in Standard 8 and lived with his family in a meeting is cancelled for the month of February and
refugee camp. But Nigerian Philip Emeagwali is now will resume in March
regarded as one of the world's best scientific brains --- a
man who has won truckloads of awards and is worth a • There will be a $5.00 charge to non-member
cool R200 million ... attendees of the Philly BDPA program meetings,
Tim O'Hagan reports from Cape Town, South Africa starting in March.
[Published in DRUM (Africa's leading magazine) on March
19, 1998].
THE PHILLY PORTAL 4
PHILADELPHIA CHAPTER

5. GET INVOLVED!! RBITP 2002 Kickoff
Come out to the Monthly Program Meetings! Roy Barnes Information Technology Program
Join a Committee! BDPA Philly is kicking off another year for our RBITP with
invitations to all 8th grade and high school students to
Why NOT – A Slogan for an Interesting Life!
participate in a high school computer-training program.
This is an annual program sponsored by our chapter as
BDPA needs interested members to work on various
part of its Education Committee Programs.
committees. Full descriptions of the functions and
activities of each committee can be found on the chapter During the program students obtain training in IT, BDPA
website:
history, computer programming, web technologies, and
www.bdpaphilly.org presentation and teamwork skills. The program fosters
the development of self-esteem, self-confidence, and
Committee Contact leadership skills. Students are afforded the opportunity to
receive instruction from IT professionals – our BDPA
Automation automation@bdpaphilly.org
Career info@bdpaphilly.org volunteers.
Communication info@bdpaphilly.org The goal of the national BDPA organization is that all local
Corporate cr@bdpaphilly.org
chapters sponsor a computer learning program and
Education education@bdpaphilly.org
Finance finance@bdpaphilly.org prepare a student team for competition in the National
FundRaising fr@bdpaphilly.org BDPA High School Computer Competition held at the
Membership membership@ annual national BDPA conference. Our Philly chapter
bdpaphilly.org awards financial scholarships to those student participants
Communications communication@
bdpaphilly.org selected to compete at the national convention. The
Program program@bdpaphilly.com deadline for application submission is January 28, 2002.
For more information, contact:
Sharlene Roberson, Program Coordinator
610-355-2890 / svrqst@aol.com
Philadelphia Chapter Officers FREE EMAIL ADDRESS
President Beverly Chandran BDPA offers free email addresses to all members. Check
president@bdpaphilly.org out the following URL to apply:
Vice President Scott Myers http://www.bdpahouston.org/email/
Vp@bdpaphilly.org
Treasurer Duane Howard treasurer@bdpaphilly.org MEMBER RECOGNITION
Corresponding Emma Tramble Have you recently been promoted? Won an award?
Secretary cs@bdpaphilly.org Landed a new job? Started a new business? Acquired a
new degree or certification? We want to know! We’ll help
Recording Kia Savitz-Quick you to inform the technology world about your
Secretary rs@bdpaphilly.org
accomplishments by printing your good news in our
newsletter. Email your info to:
communication@bdpaphilly.org
THE PHILLY PORTAL 5
PHILADELPHIA CHAPTER

6. 2002 BDPA National Conference PHILLY CHAPTER SPONSORS
August 7 - 11, Orlando, Florida
You can register now for the 24th annual BDPA
SAP AMERICA, INC
conference. Visit:
SAP AG is the third-largest software company in the
http://www.bdpa.org/cpreview2002.cfm
world. Founded in 1972 by five former IBM systems
engineers, SAP now employs more than 24,000 people in
more than 50 countries. Companies of all sizes, including
BDPA MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
more than half of the world's top 500 companies use SAP
software. Customers using SAP software to increase their
There are very practical benefits associated with a BDPA
competitiveness and efficiency include Advanced Micro
membership, discounts such as:
Devices Inc. (AMD), Autogrill SPA, Chevron Corp.,
Colgate Palmolive Co., CompUSA, Deutsche Telekom
American Airlines AG, Eastman Chemical, ENI SPA, Fiat SPA, The Gillette
The American Airlines Star Number for the conference Co., Microsoft Corp., Minolta Co. Ltd., Mott's, Philip
discounts: 5181AV. Please note you can use this for AA Morris, Pirelli SPA, Robert Bosch GmbH, Royal Philips
Only (AKA American Airlines, TWA, Americal Eagle, LLC) Electronics, Security National Servicing Co., Siemens AG,
The discounts are as follows: Sony Corp., Statoil, Telecom Italia SPA, and Volkswagen
AG. In addition, SAP customers include dot-com
• AA/Oneworld only 5% off applicable companies around the globe, such as
• AA Only 10% 7 day advanced notice barnesandnoble.com, and Westell Technology.
SAP has leveraged its extensive experience to deliver the
if booked 60 days advance, discounts:
definitive e-business platform for the new Internet
• AA/Oneworld Only 10%
economy – mySAP.com™. The mySAP.com collaborative
• AA/TWA
e-business platform allows employees, customers, and
business partners to work together successfully –
Handtech
anywhere, anytime. mySAP.com is open and flexible,
Up to 15% Discounts on Online Training available for
supporting databases, applications, operating systems,
BDPA Members.
and hardware from almost every major vendor.
Hertz
10% to 30% Discounts for BDPA (Mention BDPA - CDP# Insurance Data
431590 ) Processing
Diversity Careers Magazine
Free Subscription for BDPA Members (A $104 value) CIGNA
Metropolitan
Black Enterprise Magazine Career Center
Discount on Subscriptions ($15 for BDPA Members)
BOEING
NEWSLETTER STAFF:
Sandi Anderson Editor, Writer
Michael Barney Contributing Editor
Sabrina Reeves Contributing Editor
Russell Jones Contributing Editor
THE PHILLY PORTAL 6
PHILADELPHIA CHAPTER