Mediatech Foundation

Dear Trustees, Visitors, and Friends of Mediatech,
At our board meeting tonight, we’re going to make some important decisions that will affect our next five years of operation, and I want everyone to be aware of what I’m thinking.

BUDGET
We’re down to $3,700 dollars, so it is pretty important that we raise some money this fall.  With that I’d like to introduce the Mediatech 2.0 concept; the next 5 years. This includes the following objectives:

HARDWARE
• Upgraded hardware (6 Macs, 6 Windows with flat panel displays, webcams (for Skype), speakers and Fortres management software on Windows 7 computers. $12,000. Donate existing computers to local families.
• Three new gaming stations — another PS3, Wii and a handheld station with three permanently installed Nintendo DSs, with anchor plates. $850
• A projection systems in both rooms, for public use, with a good sound system in the community room for movies, etc. ($2500)
• A Webcam system

FACULTY
• A carpet cleaning
• New seat in the upstairs bathroom
• New paint, repair to some stairstep treads
• A live webcam on www.mediatech.org
• Three anti-theft cameras upstairs, that can be viewed from the main library desk
• Some art. I’d like to explore making Mediatech more of an interesting place, by putting some historical technology products on display. I put my loyalty to the library over my need to decorate, but still, Mediatech could be a lot more “cool” when you first come through the door, and I’m open to suggestions.

PROGRAMMING
• A Friday night lecture public series

• Summer flight simulation (first week of August), Mediatech open house and sleep over, and jail tour.

• Volunteer technology coaches — educators/teachers on staff to help novices use the technology

• New Years Eve Party, and other special events (to be synched carefully with Library).

• Increased hours and staffing in the summer.

• A pay-as-you-go, self cleaning coffee machine (that uses the cartridges) to be used on a trial basis for adults only (obviously)

• FAME. I still think this is a good idea.

OTHER IDEAS?

JOIN THE “FRIENDS OF MEDIATECH” GROUP
I’m going to form a “friends of Mediatech” group to start working to help the organization meet these goals. This will be an informal, non-incorporated group, all members are non-paid volunteers to work towards the 5 year plan.
• Sell remaining five $1000 stairsteps
• Design and print a new promotional flyer
• Help with the lecture series and appear at county events/fairs and so on.
• Help with mailing
• Help with game testers club and other events.

The objective will be to increase the value to the community, without raising taxes. We’ve come so far; let’s finish the job. Trustees are welcome to join the friends group. Tonight, I’m hoping to find a leader for this group to help us achieve our next goals.

See you at 7 PM.
* I know several of you have contacted me and can’t make it — so please apply the guilt toward trying to make our Dec. 9 Wed. night meeting.

Warren Buckleitner, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Mediatech Foundation
118 Main Street, 2nd Floor
Flemington, NJ 08822

http://www.mediatech.org

908-284-2006

2009 Board Meeting Dates and Events
December 9, 7 PM Wednesday Night, Community Room (Annual meeting)

How do we know what children do at Mediatech? We watch the children. By providing them open-ended access to the Internet and the latest video games, we can better understand how the play and learn from new media. That’s the idea anyway. Watch this video and ask “what are they learning?” “What skills are they applying? (besides burning ants).”

Ethnographers visit Mediatech

We just received versions of the game for every platform, including the DS. So let’s see how they differ (and if the game has any flavor).

Several of the drum sets have been inoperable due to the rigorous workout they get at Mediatech. The guys at RadioShack in Flemington have been so helpful–even soldering some broken wires on the PlayStation 3 drum set. The XBox 360 and PS3 drum sets work great now! Thank you so much!

Note that Warren won’t be there this Friday. He’s asking Sam and Alez to help organize the software.

I’m sad to tell you that we did not get the Robert Wood Johnson grant on Health Games Research several of you helped me prepare this spring.  According to Tim Crowley, the Administrative Coordinator for the the Pioneer Portfolio people at Robert Wood Johnson, we were among 180 people competing for 10 spots. Claudia and Anne, thanks so much for helping in preparation of this — I’m sorry it didn’t have a better outcome. W. Buckleitner

Craig Ellison shared some of his photos from Friday night’s event.

I’d like to thank the Hunterdon County Freeholders for give us access to the historic court house, where Lindbergh once stood, to celebrate the accomplishment was really the cause of the entire trial in the first place. It is important to understand Charles Lindbergh’s life and politics as a whole. He was a very controversial and celebrated figure, and to be fair, isn’t the most liked individual because of his politics.

We were celebrating the flight — not the trial — although they are inseparable. Like it or not, it is an indelible part of Hunterdon County history. We urge all visitors to this site who are interested in the trial and the life of Charles Lindbergh to understand the history of the times, and the complexity of his life. A good place to start may be wikipedia, but consider the source.

Also, thanks to educator/historian Harry Kazman for the footage  and Q/A of the actual flight, and Under Sheriff George Muller for the wonderful tour (and letting the kids in the jail cells!!!)  and panelists Will Richardson and Jon Pennington for their wisdom during the panel. Oh — the screen (from HCRHS) and the projector (from Software School) were also essential.