Pauline Prior-Pitt’s ‘North Uist Sea Poems’ has won the prestigious Callum Macdonald Memorial Award for pamphlet poetry. The judges were unanimous in their decision and the award was presented by Lesley Duncan, poetry editor of The Herald, at a ceremony at the National Library of Scotland on 15 May 2006.
Between October 2004 and January 2005, Pauline visited the shore at Sollas beach, North Uist, and wrote about how the sea was on that particular day. The sequence finishes with poems about the dramatic storm that hit the islands on January 11th 2005. For details, including how to order a signed copy, visit her nice wee site: www.pauline-prior-pitt.com.
It’s quick, it’s clear, it’s easy to find your way around. Everyone loves it. - Pauline Prior-Pitt.
Today saw Nice Wee Sites involved in a large event in the high-tech and comfortable surroundings of Nunton Steadings in Benbecula.
Several speakers ran presentations and workshops on aspects of website design and maintenance. Our first presentation gave an overview of the Isle of Berneray Community website, concerning how we went about the design, obtaining content, involving the community, and maintaining the final website.
Our workshop later that day, entitled “So you think you want a website?”, went into more detail about the criteria and decisions involved in commissioning a website. This was a more open session, and an enthusiastic group of potential website owners grilled Nice Wee Sites on many aspects of getting and owning a website. Nunton Steadings has broadband, meeting and conferencing facilities, so we could demonstrate lived editing of a website.
After winning through through to the final of the Calor Scottish Community of the Year Awards 2005, the Isle of Berneray community website picked up a commendation in the category of “Community Enhancement through the Internet”.
To quote from the award press release:
In determining the outcome of the awards, the judges sought best practices within community groups, which could be used as examples to others throughout Scotland. “All twelve of this year’s finalists have demonstrated exceptional community focus, with a number enjoying active discussion forums and inclusion,” comments Dr Douglas Cruickshank, Community Enhancement through the Internet judge, and course leader for MSc in e-Business at The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen.
“The emphasis of this award is firmly on how communities use the Internet to improve local communication and promote community life. Most importantly the sites have to be accessible and easy to navigate rather than focussing on clever design techniques. This has been successfully demonstrated by the Isle of Berneray (www.isleofberneray.com) website and its ‘three clicks’ policy.
The Internet has had a profound effect on how we locate information and a remarkable number of Scottish communities have capitalised on these opportunities to promote interactivity and community spirit. With a population as small as the Isle of Berneray, the website has become a valuable tool in successfully promoting the area and knowledge sharing between residents,” continues Dr Douglas Cruickshank.
The Isle of Berneray community website (www.isleofberneray.com) was launched on the 3rd of May, 2005. The website contains information on how to visit Berneray and what to do on it once you are there. It also provides a one-stop place for details of all accommodation, businesses and services on the island. The centrepiece of the website is a gallery of pictures of life on the island.
This is excellent and just what Berneray needs. It is good that all of this information is in one place. - Donald MacLean, Chairman of Berneray Community Community.