Calling all interested Geeks!  TEDxAsheville is back and looking for volunteers.  The conference will take place on August 29th at 5:00 p.m. at the Orange Peel.  

The "T" in TED stands for technology.  Here's some of the new tech that will be implemented this year from the minds behind Asheville's own TEDx conference:

• The TEDxAsheville Droid App: Available on the Market at TEDxAsheville, it includes information about the conference, registration links, the speakers and schedule, and links to our Facebook and email addresses. It also includes an identical app for our sister event for youth, TEDxNextGenerationAsheville.
• Livestream:  There will be a livestream of the event.  We are pushing our livestream in an effort to be inclusive.  There are only 350 seats available in The Orange Peel, limiting our reach substantially.
• Scan Technology:  Our sponsor, MMS Direct, is encoding attendee badges with bar codes that will help audience members exchange information with a swipe of their smart phone.  We thought this was pretty cool.
• Computer Recycling Program:  In 2010 we will sponsor a computer recycling program sponsored by Charlotte Street Computers.  If possible, the computers will be refurbished and given to underprivileged kids in Asheville.  We are also sponsoring a cell phone recycling drive to benefit Cell Phones for Soldiers.
• Technology Partnership:  UNCA and AETV have agreed to partner with us this year on videography services.
  
• Volunteerism and Support Sponsorships:  We are a group of super geeks ourselves.  The team is as inspirational as the conference. We've all come together to work at our highest individual potentials to pull this thing off.  There is so much we could use your help with - from social media to website blogging and maintenance assistance.  Its so much more than one or even a few people can do.  Many opportunities are available.  The show is just around the corner and this is when its most fun! 

Jeff graduated with a B.A. in Finance from Appalachian State University in 1997 and worked in brokerage sales until he decided to go back to school to eventually receive a Ph.D. from Georgia State and become Assistant Professor of Marketing at UNC Asheville in 2008.  He teaches various marketing courses, as well as a course in applied business research.  His general research interest is in marketing and public policy.  Jeff enjoys spending time outdoors with activities such as mountain biking and rock climbing.

A combination of federal recovery grants to extend broadband connectivity in North Carolina has been announced by Gov. Bev Perdue on Wednesday, August 18, 2010.  The toal received so far this year will be $255 million.  These funds are targeted to create jobs and help improve economic development through increased access to high-speed internet access in underserved areas including the Western North Carolina region.

 “Increasing broadband access will create new jobs up front and provide a boost for local economies to create even more jobs and a better quality of life in the near future,” said Gov. Perdue. “These improvements are especially important in rural and underserved areas of North Carolina.”

The grants are part of the second round of Recovery Act funding for broadband projects from the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Agriculture.  North Carolina has already received over $140 million in recovery broadband grants.  Gov. Perdue joined North Carolina’s congressional delegation in personally advocating for North Carolina’s grant applications in Washington, D.C., during the past year. 

Please read this press release for more information:  http://www.governor.state.nc.us/NewsItems/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?newsItemid=1303