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A Publication Featuring The Information Services Technology of Maine State Government

Volume VII, Issue 5

May 2004

Flowers

How Am I Doing With The MIST?

Today the MIST – Maine IS Technology Newsletter is read on paper, and on-line by approximately 3,000 people each month. The MIST didn’t just appear – it has evolved over time. Its first ancestor, the "OIS/BDP" newsletter was published in August of 1988! Back then the Office of Information Services (OIS) had a Bureau of Data Processing (BDP). That first issue had a biography section (Bill Meehan), welcomed newly hired employees (Delores Crocker and Glenda Winn) and provided information on available training courses (on Lotus 1-2-3 and Microsoft Word etc.). Today, the MIST still includes this type of news - and much more. Initially the OIS newsletter was 4 pages; over the years the MIST has doubled to 8 pages.

The focus has expanded as well. Today I try to publish a mix of technology related articles from agencies throughout Maine state government. I am also interested in publishing articles regarding county and local governments’ use of technology, and their interactions with State government. The MIST editorial board also has expanded. For example, Colleen Gesualdo of Maine Department of Transportation often works with her colleagues to develop articles for publication in the MIST. Finding interesting topics is one of my greatest challenges. If you would like to contribute – as a board member, freelance reporter, or article solicitor, please let me know. We welcome input from all state agencies today.

Lastly, I attempt to vary the articles in terms of content - e.g. narrowly focused "tech talk" articles ... to "end-user" (those expecting technology to assist them perform their jobs) articles, ... to general information articles, ... to current events articles. Which brings me to my question …

"How am I doing?"

Please take a few minutes to e-mail me (mary.cloutier@maine.gov) with your reflections on the following questions. Feel free to offer additional comments and suggestions. I appreciate your taking the time to tell me, "how I’m doing" ... and will strive to incorporate your ideas into future issues.

Do you read the MIST monthly, and is it informative?
Have MIST articles helped you with your job? If so, which articles were the most relevant?
Should I drop the challenge or biography as regularly appearing features?
Can you suggest topics for future articles and provide the name and e-mail/phone of a contact for me to follow up with?
Would you like to become more involved with the MIST editorial board? What role would you like to play?

I’ll look forward to hearing from you soon. Thanks.

Flowers

[ Up ] [ Appleton Website First of its Kind ] [ Bath Puts Parcel Maps on the Internet ] [ Challenge for May 2004 ] [ Commute Another Way Day ] [ Educating Estonian Engineers ] [ Found on the Web ] [ From Our Readers ] [ How Am I Doing With The MIST? ] [ Looking for Public Land? ] [ Maine.gov Launches New Google Search Engine ] [ may2004/MIST_May.pdf ] [ Project GATE ] [ Promoting Public Safety: Using Educational Technologies to Build Safer Communities ] [ Transitions for May ] [ Well, I’ll be “DEM”ed! ]