On 1 September 2010 in Johannesburg –during the first leg of SANGONeT’s 6th Annual ICTs for Civil Society Conference - the Southern African NGO Network (SANGONeT) announced the University of the Witwatersrand Foundation as one of the winners of the 2010 South African NGO Web Awards.

The other two prizes were taken by the Cancer Association of South Africa and Habitat for Humanity South Africa.

Heather Regenass Director of Wits' Development and Fundraising Office was on hand to accept the award on behalf of the department. “We are thrilled that all the hard work has been recognized” said Regenass. “This award belongs to the entire development team who keep the site current by constantly sending through content; but especially to Sheila McCallum our webmaster – well done.”

We take pleasure in announcing that one of our websites – built for the Aryan Benevolent Home Council – received a 2010 APEX Award for Excellence, in the category: One to Two Person-Produced Web & Intranet Sites.

Over 3 700 entries were received this year, and competition was intense. To our knowledge, ours was the only South African produced website to win an Award.

Judges included John De Lellis, Editor and Publisher of Communications Concepts, Carolyn Mulford, Senior Evaluator for the Publication Evaluation Program and Senior Writer and Editor of Writing that Works, Christine Turner and Bill Londino.

The Aryan Benevolent Home Council is entitled to display the APEX logo on their website.

9th Biennial SAIF Convention took place from 25-28 May 2009 at the Protea Karridene Beach Hotel in Illova Beach, KZN. Sheila was there on Day 2, soaking up some great ideas, catching up with old friends and meeting some new ones.

On 16 September 2008, Sheila was invited to present a talk on Online Fundraising at the KZN branch of the Southern African Intitute of Fundraising.

Entitled, Your donors are online – are you there to greet them – Sheila's presentation emphasised the growth of online shopping in the South African market, and the need for fundraisers to embrace the new techology to reach potential supporters and donors.

Judging by comments made, most delegates found the session of great interest.

"I learnt so very much and came away greatly enriched,' - Sandra P, African Enterprise

'Thank you I really loved the presentation and found it most useful. I will be speaking to our IT people within the week!' – Karen, Thomas More College

"very useful ... I now have many ideas' - Ravind S, Dance4Life