We're having our first code meetup in Seattle. This is the first in what will hopefully be a monthly series on open source code development and the NewsCloud platform.

At the first session, we'll be talking about LAMP-based open source development tools and the open source Facebook Application Newsroom framework. If you're interested in learning more about Facebook application development, this will be a great introductory session.

I recommend that you have basic PHP/MySQL skills to get the most from this session.

Please RSVP so we can keep a headcount of how many people to expect.

WHEN: Tuesday, April 22, 6:30 - 8:30 PM
WHERE: Uptown Espresso meeting room in Belltown (corner of 4th and Wall)

LEARN MORE:
http://blog.newscloud.com/2008/04/reminder-open-s.html

The Polar Bear Conservancy is a creative nonprofit here in Seattle. The ExDir
asked me to put the word out for a good Drupal contractor to help them migrate
their Web site platform. They basically have a simple iWeb site right now
(http://www.polarbearconservancy.org).

Their mission is to migrate three thousand polar bears to Antarctica in a
bipartisan effort to save the species -- the first drop goes South on Earth Day
in just a few weeks!

If you're interested, you can contact them at info@polarbearconservancy.org.

You can read more about them here:
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/3/31/155730/362

I'd appreciate it if you could spread the word! Thanks!

Hi all, awhile ago you may remember me griping about the ineffectiveness of Facebook Groups and Pages. They are easy to set up, but they are also quite limited in functionality. These features are not conducive to community-building, engagement or organizing.

Today, I'm releasing the first beta of a new open source Facebook Newsroom CMS application framework.

See the demonstration application site at Facebook:
http://apps.facebook.com/newsdemo

Today, I'm excited to announce the Drupal Newsroom Module beta powered by NewsCloud. The Drupal Newsroom provides an excellent way to add dynamic current events and news to your Drupal-powered Web site. It's also a great way to stimulate involvement and discussion in your online member community.

The Drupal Newsroom module provides a page for your Drupal-powered Web site with news stories based on specific topic(s) from NewsCloud.com or populated by your staff or site members. The newsroom module allows your members to browse headlines, read stories, vote, comment and post new articles.

My colleague Sarah Schacht of Knowledge As Power and I are co-organizing the kickoff of Seattle's first Net2 Tuesday. NetSquared is a Tech Soup venture to increase the adoption of Web 2.0 services by nonprofit organizations and others interested in creating a social benefit. The goal of NetTuesday is to create an ongoing peer-driven community event for the development of social software and real world applications in Seattle.

I've updated the NewsCloud project proposal to be more focused on a smaller Netsquared innovation reward. It's very narrowly focused towards making the platform more easily accessible to groups.

Please read the new proposal and post your comments and feedback.

Thanks!

Britt asked us to post an intro of ourselves. Here's a bit about me...

My name is Jeff Reifman and I'm the founder of NewsCloud.com.

I've posted the initial nomination for NewsCloud's Netsquared proposal. Please take a look and leave your comments on the Wiki.

Links:

Expanding Access to the NewsCloud Open Source Media Platform

NewsCloud Web Site

NewsCloud Blog

NewsCloud Wiki (information about our open source platform, API et al.)