Providing a Forum Linking Technology and Business Resources in the Upper Valley

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Brief History The Upper Valley Computer Industry Association (UVCIA) was founded in 1993 in a collaboration between the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College and a group of Upper Valley businesses and consultants; the UVCIA was envisioned as a forum for discussions of matters of interest to people working in computer technology related fields. Meetings of the association were held initially at the Thayer School but the venue was soon moved to the Coolidge Hotel in White River Junction, VT. To accommodate work schedules, meetings began at 7:30 am. Presentations and discussions were normally concerned with aspects of computer technology. Attendees came from throughout the Upper Valley and benefited from the discussions as well as from the opportunities to network within the computer-related industry. The focus of the UVCIA was broadened in 1997 in recognition of increasing requirements for business and management discussions. As a result, interest in UVCIA programs increased substantially. Several significant changes followed: Meetings were moved to the Fireside Inn, Lebanon, NH The Board of Directors developed and adopted a Mission Statement Regularly scheduled monthly meetings were initiated at which breakfast was available and a nominal fee was charged Meeting agendas were developed to include both business and technical topics, and pro bono guest speakers were sought out and engaged by the Board Four 2-hour seminars per year, focusing on a single topic to greater depth, were added A new Board of Directors was nominated and elected A Corporate Sponsorship Program was established to enhance the quality of educational programming and other services provided to UVCIA members from the Upper Valley community Formal bylaws were developed and adopted The UVCIA was established as a 501(C)(6) not-for-profit professional association and was incorporated in New Hampshire The UVCIA awarded two $1,000 college scholarships for study in a technical field to two Upper Valley High School seniors in 2000 The scholarship program, from 2001 through 2004, has awarded annual awards to recipients who have maintained satisfactory GPAs The UVCIA would like to enhance its successful scholarship program. Matching grants and contributions from member companies have enabled funding to date. The UVCIA believes it should fully fund a scholarship endowment. To do so, it is seeking the financial support of Upper Valley businesses.

contact: UVCIA Berry Dunn McNeil & Parker 46 Centerra Parkway, Suite 210 Lebanon, NH 03766 email: reservations@uvcia.org info@uvcia.org posting@uvcia.org scholarship@uvcia.org webmaster@uvcia.org the web uvcia.org

© 2004 UVCIA