PINInc has two main components:

1. RTPnet (www.rtpnet.org) is the technology and infrastructure component of PINInc, providing internet hosting and email services to local nonprofits. We offer competitive rates and a range of services, and have been providing excellent support for local nonprofits since 1995.

2. NC Communities (www.nccommunities.org) is PINInc’s community engagement component, focusing on education, training, and learning.

Website: The www.rtpnet.org website, which uses the Joomla! content management system, was significantly changed this year.

Membership: RTPnet Membership, currently 102 active, billable members, decreased during 2009 — lost 15 and gained 2. See Appendix: RTPnet Membership Changes for lists of new and lost members.

Their work suggested that RTPnet find ways to help customers with site maintenance, such as offering education to customers on how to maintain their sites. They recommended that we ask one of our Home Owners Associations to work with RTPnet to understand what their needs are for a website. Ashley Forest was suggested.

Michael and Colin created an excellent report and presentation and gave the presentation at the June 17 board meeting. Both have joined our advisory council.

NCCommunities.org and all the sites that run under it (PINInc.NCCommunities.org, OCLC.NCCommunities.org, NCLA.NCCommunities.org, NCWU.NCCommunities.org, ScrapExchange.NCCommunities.org, and Huntresses.org) were upgraded from Version 5 of Drupal to Version 6. Several new features were added and improvements were made, particularly in event calendars, user lists, slide shows, and general appearance.

PINInc advisor Sean Watson led an NCTech4Good meeting, "Overview and experiences with content management systems," June 17. The attendees expressed interest in more CMS presentations. Judy Hallman helped coordinate a followup session with the local Drupal Meetup group, "Why Use Drupal? - Presentation and Panel Q&A," September 2 at The Park Research Center. An NCTech4Good followup session on WordPress is planned for 2010.

• PINInc.org is the website for PINInc and includes mission-oriented information, lists of board members and advisors, information about the organization, including history and annual reports, and links to RTPnet.org and NCCommunities.org. This site gives us experience using WordPress.
• RTPnet.org is the website for users of our hosting services. This site gives us experience using Joomla.
• NCCommunities.org is a website for developing community engagement. This site gives us experience using Drupal and its multi-site hosting capabilities.
• PINInc.NCCommunities.org is a private site for directors, advisors, and volunteers. It's an online working place for committees and working groups. This site uses the NCCommunities.org software installation and gives us experience in multi-site hosting.

• The RTPnet Working Group will focus on RTPnet's existing business and customers, and possible service improvements. The first task is to form a small group to work with the Ashly Forest Homeowners Association to develop a model homeowner's association website. This working group will also be charged with reviewing and improving the RTPnet website and it's content, reviewing the services we currently provide, support, pricing, and business models. Andy Huyck and Amnon Nissan are members of this group, and Leandra Ganko is the leader.

  A committee to review hosting services and fees was also established. Committee members are Rebecca Currie, Warren Fuson, and Mike Rulison. Marjorie Fowler is the committee leader.

• The NC Communities Working Group will focus on how NC Communities, using open source software, can help nonprofits do their work better. The first task will be to form a small group to work on using the online tools available with NCCommunities.org to develop a private website for the PINInc board, advisors, and volunteers for internal communication, and to be used as a model for other nonprofit organizations. Judy Hallman, Paula Jones, Stan Martin, Jeff Mountz, and Sean Watson are members of this group, and Alice Denson is the leader. Other tasks: This working group is also charged with:
  • coordinating NCTech4Good monthly meetings
  • educational and collaborative projects, including planning a Tech Conference for June 2010, to coincide with the 20 year anniversary of the founding of RTPnet
  • how to use the public site NCCommunities.org to foster community and communication among individuals, nonprofits, and other organizations

In October, the organizers met to plan matching volunteers with nonprofit needs, including publicizing and tracking. The first volunteer project will be a Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, January 18, 2010.

NTEN and NetSquared support NCTech4Good. NTEN increased our monthly reimbursement from a maximum of $50/month to $75, and NetSquared pays for the Meetup group. Both provide opportunities to collaborate with organizations similar to NCTech4Good internationally.

The NCTech4Good meetings in 2009 were:

• January 13: Nonprofit website redesign, Leandra Ganko of LeGa Design Group and Elizabeth Turnbull of Turnbull Marketing Group, about 28 attended at Triangle United Way.

• February 10: eNewsletters, Rebecca Currie, an independent consultant, 5 attended at Wake West Regional Library.

• March 17: Introduction to Salesforce Constituent Resource Management system, Trish Perkins, a VISTA volunteer with Faith Action International House, Greensboro, 9 attended at Wake West Regional Library.

• April 7: Online presence for nonprofits, round-table discussion led by Judy Hallman, 7 attended at Earth Fare, Raleigh.

• May 20: Recap of Nonprofit Technology Conference, at Triangle United Way, Paula Jones and Judy Hallman. Leandra Ganko contributed her notes, 12 attended.

• June 17: Overview and experiences with content management systems, Sean Watson, netCorps, Technology Consultant, 25 attended at United Way of the Greater Triangle.

• July 15: User Centric Web Design, Saroj Primlani, retired, Coordinator of University IT Accessibility, NC State University, 20 attended at United Way of the Greater Triangle.

• August 19: What's happening in the area of technology and social change?, delayed to September 16, 4 attended at Earth Fare, Raleigh,

• September 16: What's happening in the area of technology and social change?, Justis Peters, Innovator, 9 attended at United Way of the Greater Triangle.

• October 21: Focusing on "4 Good," Shelly Bowers, United Way of the Greater Triangle, 12 attended at at United Way of the Greater Triangle.

• November 18: Planning Day of Service for January 18, 2010, Shelly Bowers, United Way of the Greater Triangle, 8 attended at United Way of the Greater Triangle.

• December 2: Social hosted by RTPnet in appreciation of its customers and friends, organized by Marjorie Fowler, 20 attended at Carolina Brewery in Chapel Hill.

• Association For Community Networking (AFCN). This organization is not very active.
• Community Technology Centers' Network (CTCNet). This organization was disolved in 2009 by its directors.
• N.C. Center for Nonprofits.
• NetSquared.
• Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network (N-TEN): RTPnet staff are Marjorie, Warren and Judy.

Meetings:

• January 8: Board and Advisory Council meeting at the Eva Perry (Wake) Regional Library in Apex. The board approved the four websites described above.

• March 26: Annual Board Meeting, Advisory Council members invited to attend, Bear Rock Cafe in Morrisville. Annual elections were done electronically, since there was not a quorum. Checking accounts will be moved from RBC to Wachovia, and CDs will be moved from RBC to Self Help Credit Union in Durham.

• June 17: We had an excellent meeting with our special guests Michael Frink and Colin Eckhart, recent graduates of the Elon University Executive MBA Program. Michael Rulison is stepping down from being responsible for billing with COIN and Warren Fuson is taking it over.

• September 24: Open Board meeting, China Express.

Board and Advisor Changes:

• Leandra Ganko and Jeff Mountz joined the Board
• Colin Eckhart, Michael D. Frink, Paula Jones, Carolyn Kotlas, Nancy Starr, and Sean Watson joined the Advisory Council.
• Andy Huyck replaced Mark Ishman as secretary

Board Members:

Advisors Council Members:

Appendix: RTPnet Membership Changes