Meyer Memorial Trust

Part One - The Organization

INTRODUCTION

The technology revolution benefits many, but it also creates two serious problems. First, computers manufactured today have a very short life cycle. Large numbers of computers are deemed obsolete within two years and discarded. The National Safety Council reported that during 1997 more than 20 million computers reached obsolescence and only 11% were recycled or reused. At the current rate, by the year 2005, 350 million machines will become obsolete. Traditional methods of disposal of computer equipment have resulted in releasing dangerous toxins such as lead, chromium and mercury into the environment.[1] In 2000, Oregon generated 46,353 tons of computer and electronic waste but only 1.33% was recovered.[2] Without proper disposal or recycling of this technology, the resulting accumulation of toxic waste will create potentially disastrous results for the environment.

The second problem stemming from the advancement of computer technology is that many people lack even the most basic computer skills. This can deny them access to everything from getting on the Internet to getting a better job. In 1999 the U.S. Commerce Department reported that households with incomes of $75,000 and higher were twenty times more likely to have access to the Internet than households at the lowest income levels and nine times as likely to have a computer in the home. In 2000, the median income of a family of four in the Portland area was $53,700[3], below the national average of $62,228 [4]. These technological advances are only going to accelerate in the coming years, resulting in more people being left behind.

The concept behind Free Geek is to use these problems to solve each other. Computers bound for the land fills can be refurbished into working, starter computers for those who cannot otherwise afford them. Individuals with little or no disposable income can be trained to help process the diverted computers for reuse or recycling, receiving one of the refurbished computers in exchange for their efforts. The result is less computer equipment in the landfills and more equipment being reused. In addition, a wide range of people get access to computers and the Internet that previously could not; a win, win situation for everyone involved, summed up in the Free Geek mission statement:

Free Geek recycles used technology to provide computers, education and job skills training to those in need, in exchange for community service.

THE HISTORY OF THE ORGANIZATION

Free Geek was envisioned by the current executive director, Oso Martín in February of 2000. He saw a need in the community for access to no-cost or low-cost computer technology. Oso further learned that the large amounts of electronic waste going into Portland's landfills was becoming an increasing problem, and that much of the computer hardware being tossed away was still usable. He felt these computers could be set up to perform Internet, word processing, and other basic computing functions. Oso envisioned a non-profit organization that would serve two needs in the community at the same time: recycling electronic waste and helping to bridge the digital divide; and so, Free Geek was born. Oso quickly documented his ideas and published them on a website (www.freegeek.org) hoping to garner some interest. Within weeks of creating the first web page, Jim Deibele, former CEO and founder of Teleport, saw the information online and contacted Oso with a pledge of possible financial support to get things started. Oso presented the concept to Jim and convinced him to fund an exploratory venture to test the theory.

The next step in turning this concept into a working non-profit was to assemble a board of directors. An early milestone was the guidance and support of Anne Castleton, a visiting speech professor at Portland State University. With Anne's help a series of workshops were conducted to create the mission statement and bylaws as well as recruit potential board members. Along with Jim Deibele, Oso also recruited Laura Berg, a public relations consultant with many years of non-profit board experience, and attorney Ken McGair from the office of Davis, Wright, Tremaine, LLP, who currently provides pro bono legal council for the organization. With Jim's $35,000 of start up funding in hand, Free Geek was on it's way.

Next was the establishment of the Community Technology Center. This serves as a central location for donated hardware to be dropped off and processed. It also provides a place where volunteers can work together, sharing their knowledge and experience. From the very start, computer enthusiasts saw the potential of the idea and quickly formed a core volunteer group that would begin to develop the technology needed to run the operation efficiently and at the lowest possible cost.

Soon after the Community Technology Center opened, several articles appeared in the local media and quickly spread the word about Free Geek. Donated hardware began flooding in. So did the volunteers, from all walks of life and with widely varied technical backgrounds; from computer industry professionals wanting to lend a helping hand, to laid off construction workers looking to trade their free time for a refurbished computer. People from all over the Portland area and beyond participate in the program.

In a very short time, Free Geek has gone from an experiment, to a viable organization with a proven track record. Free Geek was recognized as a Founder of a New Northwest by Sustainable Northwest in May of 2003. Free Geek is regularly sought out by elected officials, government agencies and recycling advocates asking our advice and input on how to deal with the growing problems of electronic waste and bridging the digital divide. In the past year several nascent organizations around the country have been inquiring about how they can build on the work we have started. To that end, Free Geek is encouraging and supporting a sister project in the mid-west. Dubbed Free Geek-Michiana, this group has begun operations in South Bend, Indiana using some of the software and documentation that we have developed. Another group is exploring using our concept in Sheffield, England. We receive several inquires every month from around the world, wondering how this work can be replicated. Free Geek does everything we can do to help.

During our first three years Free Geek was awarded nearly $124,000 in grants, including our first two successful grants for 2003: $20,000 from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and $5,000 from the City of Portland. During this same period we have raised over $110,000 through donations and sales. We have progressed from an organization that was 96% supported by grants in 2000, to one that was only 19% grant funded in 2002 - with a 362% increase in our budget during the same time period. Heading into our forth year, Free Geek is ready to expand our operations to increase the impact we have on the environment and the community and generate enough income so that we will be completely self-sufficient by the end of 2005.

1. Poison PC's and Toxic TV's, Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, 2001.

2. 2000 Disposal and Recovery of Selected Materials Report, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.

3. 2000 Portland Area Median Income, US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

4. 2000 Median income by state, US Census Bureau.

Primary Free Geek Programs

COMPUTER RECYCLING

Utilizing our central location, Free Geek is a convenient place for individuals, organizations and small businesses to recycle computer equipment they no longer use. By accepting all computer equipment, in any condition, we make the choice of where to go to dispose of computers a simple one. Everyone who drops off computers for recycling is offered a guided tour of the facility and is shown how the program works and what happens to the donated equipment. We then ask for a voluntary cash donation to support our program. Approximately 67% of our customers need to dispose of monitors. Free Geek charges a $10 disposal fee for any and all monitors dropped of at our facility. Beyond the required monitor fees, over half of all recycling customers make a voluntary financial contribution in appreciation for the work they see being done to protect the environment and to help others. Computer donations are the exclusive source of computer hardware for both Free Geek's infrastructure and the equipment provided back to the community. As part of the recycling process, non-repairable and obsolete equipment is broken down into its base commodities such as steel, aluminum, and copper. These materials are then sold on the open market through our recycling partners. Sale of recycled materials provides a significant income stream to support operations.

EARN-A-COMPUTER

Free Geek's flagship program, Earn a Computer enables individuals to exchange work in our recycling operation for a starter computer system of their very own. During their time at Free Geek, clients are exposed to computers on several different levels. Clients work in three basic areas, receiving, recycling and testing. In receiving they learn to identify hardware and become familiar with the use of the mouse, keyboard and a graphical user interface. In recycling, clients learn about how the various pieces fit together and come apart. Testing teaches the clients how to insert and remove various components from the computer and how to run diagnostic software. After completing 24 hours of work, clients receive their computer and a introductory class on how to set it up and use it.

BUILD-A-COMPUTER

One of the more technically demanding programs, the Build a Computer program creates all the computers needed for our other programs. Volunteers are taught how to build computers working exclusively with used parts. The tested hardware is assembled into standardized desktop computers that are then loaded with an operating system and applications software. Each system passes a quality control test before it released to a client, or as we say, "adopted". Volunteers agree to complete six computer systems in exchange for the training in how to do it. After completing six systems, volunteers are eligible to keep the sixth computer for themselves. The remaining five computers are distributed into the community through our Earn a Computer and Computers for Kids programs.

COMPUTER EDUCATION

The education program began with the notion that "If we give someone their first computer, we need to teach them how to use it." The Introduction to your FreekBox class is the core of a curriculum that has been expanded to include computer building, Linux command line basics and advanced computer programing languages such as Perl and Python. Volunteer teachers work together to organize classes, as well as documenting all of Free Geek's procedures to help train clients and volunteers working in any area. Education is ongoing for clients and volunteers from the moment they enter Free Geek, to long after they receive their computers and have it set up in their homes. We believe that everyone has something to learn and everyone has something to teach. The education program focuses that energy to provide the latest in computer skills development for an extremely low cost. Volunteering time, taking classes and the hands on experience with computers are also excellent resume builders for computer professionals looking to increase their chances for employment.

COMPUTER THRIFT STORE

Free Geek receives more equipment than can be refurbished efficiently. In addition, the equipment donated does not arrive in equal amounts (i.e. approximately ten keyboards are donated for every computer). This surplus equipment and other donations that have some retail value but do not meet other program requirements, are sold through the Free Geek Computer Thrift Store. Monitors, printers, keyboards, cables and speakers are among the many items available in the store. This ensures that good, usable equipment gets back into circulation, rather than being broken down for raw materials recovery. Free Geek also sells various products such as t-shirts, mugs, stickers and crafts made from recycled computer parts. The thrift store plays a vital part of the Free Geek financial strategy for self-sufficiency.