When Technology Meets Desire Something Powerful Happens

 

Sometimes we miss the power of a tool we all have at our finger tips!

Each day, week or month something interesting and exciting is happening in our community, schools, parks, churches, or in our auditoriums. That’s especially true in rural communities. And each time these special events happen we only wish that someone from a large radio station, newspaper or television station would pay attention and cover the event. It’s time to take a closer look at that tool we have at our finger tips – the Internet.

The Pratt Telecommunity Center has produced more than 300 events live on the Internet during the last two years and has created interest and excitement each and every time. No one in a rural community has produced more events than the Center. Events have been local, regional, of state interest and even multi-state. These events have been cultural, community oriented and sporting events. We’ve covered pageants, graduations, festivals, baseball, basketball, football, golf, wrestling, high school, college, professional, all star games, and state finals. There really is no limit to the ability to use the Internet as the means to communicate, promote, and encourage attendance at any kind of event. And more importantly, there is no limit to where people can be to participate in your event. For instance, just the other day we finished covering the Miss Kansas Pageant on the Internet. People could watch almost as it happened. At 10:15 pm Amy Shaw was announced as the new Miss Kansas for 2000. At 10:20 pm, five minutes later, Amy had received her first email of congratulations from relatives in Illinois. Amy, was still standing on the stage celebrating her accomplishment.

Imagine having the ability to produce your own event, getting viewers from every part of the world, and for some local businesses, getting them customers. Actually it’s not that difficult, and it doesn’t always require the best and the newest in technology. But it does have a significant impact. Recently, the Olathe Daily favorably compared the events done from Pratt to those being done by ESPN. It’s based on sound planning, doing what the your technology permits, and understanding who you’re viewer will be. This seminar is intended to provide the answers to those very questions and is a hands-on opportunity to develop the tools and techniques needed to immediately go back and take advantage of this powerful tool. Better yet, it’s also a chance for you to have an immediate impact on the perception your neighbors have of these new technologies.

What you will leave with:

  • An appreciation of the impact of your web broadcasting developments on your community.
  • Knowing more about the Internet and the potential of the Internet.
  • Able to select the resources needed to support a web broadcasting capability.
  • Planning an event that goes beyond your user’s expectations while also planning for problems.
  • Practice at creating applications that create that event on the Internet, including capturing interest weeks before an event, broadcasting and creating interaction during the event, and creating an attractive location for people to visit once the event is completed. This will include discussion and preparation for using today’s streaming video technology, and much more.
  • Knowing a model that can be followed to reduce the risk associated with your web broadcasting development.
  • Developing a strategy that leads not only to the broadcasting of events, but encourages local businesses, schools, and governments to seek out your assistance in creating their own web presence and assistance in funding these web broadcasts.
  • Free access to tools and created web sites for particular types of events to reduce the time needed for development.

Who should attend?:

  • Individuals responsible for creating an awareness of a community and the happenings within a community.
  • Athletic directors, alumnus or boosters of high school and college sports programs.
  • Computer professionals who are responsible for developing a web presence for schools and/or communities.
  • Students in journalism or media looking to take their classroom activities into a dynamic, real world situation.

Program Faculty

Greg Smith is President of Rural Health Futures, Inc. and the Pratt Telecommunity Center, Inc. Greg has been in the technology field for more than twenty-five years and has extensive experience in technology application development. His computer knowledge, experiences in the health care and economic development fields, and familiarities with rural issues have created many unique opportunities for rural communities. Greg has led the development of the web broadcasting capabilities of the Pratt Telecommunity Center and has participated in broadcasting each of the 300 events broadcast by the Center.

For more information about Greg Smith click here >>>

Find out what others have said about the Center’s efforts by clicking here >>>

America Online Foundation on the efforts of the Pratt Telecommunity center >>>

Costs

This seminar will be held at the Pratt Telecommunity Center located at 109 E. Third St. in Pratt, Kansas on Sept 12th beginning at 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. A 30 minute lunch break is included so that participants can sample Pratt’’s interesting downtown area. Cost for the seminar is $125.00. Students may enroll for half price. Class size is limited to ensure that each participant has an adequate opportunity for exploring the technology. Seminar costs include refreshments to be served during morning and afternoon breaks. To register you can call (316) 672-5995 or register online by clicking on the link: register now! For available lodging check the Pratt community web site at www.prattkan.com.