Technology makes a difference! While access to broadband is important in many ways to successful community development, access alone is not enough. The North Central Regional Center for Rural Development, in cooperation with the Southern Rural Development Center, is offering a series of five online training sessions titled eCommerce: An Opportunity Whose Time Has Come. This series, based on what we are learning about the role of the Internet in business and community development, will provide information and strategies for addressing community-based technology opportunities and eCommerce applications related to online government and expanding business opportunities.

Purpose: Provide cutting-edge information on Extension practices related to eCommerce and develop an informal community of practice.

Who Should Attend: Extension educators who want to help their communities, local governments, businesses and entrepreneurs make more effective use of Internet technology.

This five-session online conference will use Breeze technology. Sessions will be held the second Tuesday of the month as follows:

February 13, 2007, 10–11:30 a.m. CST
March 13, 2007, 10–11:30 a.m. CST
April 10, 2007, 10–11:30 a.m. CST
May 8, 2007, 10–11:30 a.m. CST
June 12, 2007, 10–11:30 a.m. CST

Each session will include one hour of instruction and 30 minutes of wrap-up and questions.

Registration Fee: $10 per session, or $30 for all five sessions.

Registration Deadlines and Cancellation Policy: The registration deadline is February 12, 2007 (if registering for all sessions) or the day before each session (if registering for 1-4 sessions). There will be no refunds for cancellations of single session registrations. Refunds for all other cancellations will be determined on an individual basis.