Media Kit/Social - Revision history

Halfasspete: add link

2006-03-27T00:17:16Z

add link

Halfasspete: added suggestion, category

2006-03-26T23:24:33Z

added suggestion, category

Halfasspete at 19:06, 15 March 2006

2006-03-15T19:06:09Z

Halfasspete: /* Digital Divide */

2006-02-12T18:19:17Z

Digital Divide

Halfasspete at 05:07, 9 February 2006

2006-02-09T05:07:42Z

New page

Free Geek as a Community Resource

Free Geek is a non-profit organization. We benefit our communities in numerous ways.

And by community, we don't just mean Portland - we are also part of many more dispersed communities. Open Source programmers, environmental organizations, workers' collectives.

We get computers into the hands of the "have-nots;" we keep lead out of the drinking water of third-world villages; and perhaps most importantly, we stay relevant by bringing our volunteers in a consensus-driven decision making process.

== Digital Divide ==

In the Information Age, technology is becoming an increasingly important tool. These days, computers and the Internet have become central to many of our lives. Gadgets that used to be used only by the technically-inclined have become indispensible for many day-to-day tasks:
* staying in touch with family & friends
* searching and applying for jobs, housing, government services
* shopping more effectively for better prices, greater convenience, or wider selection
* finding answers to innumerable questions, from minor curiosity to serious research

But many lack the most basic access to these advantages. The barriers are many: cost, education, and reliable help with basic problems are the most significant.

Free Geek effectively meets all three of these needs for our volunteers, for our thrift store customers, and even for other non-profit organizations.

=== hardware ===

Free Geek volunteers can earn a free PC after 24 hours' work. Those who need a computer right away can buy one for about $50 at our thrift store. And non-profit organizations can apply for grants of higher-end computers and other hardware.

=== education/tech support ===

We offer a free class, with a printed manual, with each computer we give away. The classes are 2.5 hours, and cover basic computer use. We offer more advanced classes as well, whenever possible. Topics have included photo editing, advanced system configuration.

Volunteers may get free technical support over the phone or email for a year after earning their PC. They can also bring in the PC for repair or replacement if it stops working.

=== internet access ===

Our volunteers can use our computers to get online. And we refer them to an inexpensive dial-up Internet Service Provider if they need to get online at home.

== consensus process ==
* synergy with open source
* gets people involved, demonstrating a healthy and inclusive democratic process
* guarantees relevance of FG going forward

== workers' collective ==

== jokeydude ==

== code name: ==
;consensus

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:17, 27 March 2006
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−	Note: consider using Lifestyles NW article as the bulk of this section, instead of writing a whole thingy of our own. -[[User:Halfasspete\|Pete]]	+	Note: consider using [[Lifestyles Northwest article]] as the bulk of this section, instead of writing a whole thingy of our own. -[[User:Halfasspete\|Pete]]
	----		----

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 Free Geek as a Community Resource
@@ Line 61: / Line 64: @@
 == code name: ==
 ;consensus

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 We get computers into the hands of the "have-nots;" we keep lead out of the drinking water of third-world villages; and perhaps most importantly, we stay relevant by bringing our volunteers in a consensus-driven decision making process.
-== Digital Divide ==
+== Digital Inclusion ==
 In the Information Age, technology is becoming an increasingly important tool. Computers and the Internet have become central to many of our lives. Gadgets that only "geeks" used to use have become indispensible for many day-to-day tasks, like:
@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 Free Geek effectively meets all three of these needs for our volunteers, for our thrift store customers, and even for other non-profit organizations.
 === hardware ===

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 == Digital Divide ==
-In the Information Age, technology is becoming an increasingly important tool. These days, computers and the Internet have become central to many of our lives. Gadgets that used to be used only by the technically-inclined have become indispensible for many day-to-day tasks:
+In the Information Age, technology is becoming an increasingly important tool. Computers and the Internet have become central to many of our lives. Gadgets that only "geeks" used to use have become indispensible for many day-to-day tasks, like:
 * staying in touch with family & friends
 * searching and applying for jobs, housing, government services
@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 * finding answers to innumerable questions, from minor curiosity to serious research
-But many lack the most basic access to these advantages. The barriers are many: cost, education, and reliable help with basic problems are the most significant.
+But many lack the most basic access to these resources. The barriers are many: cost, education, and reliable help with basic problems are among the most significant.
 Free Geek effectively meets all three of these needs for our volunteers, for our thrift store customers, and even for other non-profit organizations.
@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 === education/tech support ===
-We offer a free class, with a printed manual, with each computer we give away. The classes are 2.5 hours, and cover basic computer use. We offer more advanced classes as well, whenever possible. Topics have included photo editing, advanced system configuration.
+We offer a free class, with a printed manual, with each computer we give away. The classes are 2.5 hours (CHECK THIS), and cover basic computer use. We offer more advanced classes as well, whenever possible. Topics have included photo editing, advanced system configuration.
 Volunteers may get free technical support over the phone or email for a year after earning their PC. They can also bring in the PC for repair or replacement if it stops working.
@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 === internet access ===
-Our volunteers can use our computers to get online. And we refer them to an inexpensive dial-up Internet Service Provider if they need to get online at home.
+Our volunteers can use our computers to get online. They check their email, browse job and event listings, share photos. And  if they need to get online at home, we refer them to an inexpensive dial-up Internet Service Provider.
 == consensus process ==