PR

Standing PR Committee;

Mission: PR Vision Statement (adopted by committee on May xx, 2009)

(Limmerick version)
Figure out what The Geek has to say,
And then say it in a Geeky way.
Spread the word to Joe Shmoe,
To the press and SludgeCo.
And then listen for 'boos' and 'hoorays.'

(Haiku version)
Discern the message.
Spread the word far, wide and well.
Shut up and listen.

Programs: In charge of media outreach & relations, ads & marketing, the main Free Geek website, tabling events and networking with other organizations.

Email: pr at freegeek.org

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Priorities (as established 3/12)

1. Thrift Store
2. $ Donations
3. Specific classes/events
4. Equipment donations
5. Ongoing volunteers
6. Institutional donors
7. Front desk
8. Nonprofit partnerships
9. Mission-related education
10. Day-to-day volunteers

Overview

PR is a standing staff committee which is responsible for media outreach & relations, ads & marketing, the Free Geek website, and networking with other organizations.

Check: PR Facilitator/Scribe

• The PR Committee meets every Wednesday morning. Generally, alternating Wednesdays are devoted to "working meetings."

Running a PR meeting

Please see Meeting Tips for essential habits of good facilitation. Also remember to use SMART guildlines to a basic check in on subject matter.

• Preparation
  • Check in with members well in advance of the meeting to see if there are any dependencies that are interfering with task completion
• Agenda contents - Should contain:
  • Previous commitments and Old business
  • New agenda items
  • Events and goals radar/timetable
• Agenda management - Agendas should only contain items with specific questions to be answered or with specific work to be delegated. Other items should be discussed out of meeting or moved into a working meeting.
• Assigning work for "working meetings"

Blurb about Free Geek

This blurb is a template for press releases and other PR publications. The PR committee is available to help edit this blurb to fit the parameters and purposes of any such publication, and welcomes any suggestions for changes or improvements. Suggestions and/or requests can be submitted via the suggestion box, or by email to punkrock (at) lists (dot) freegeek (dot) org.

Shorter version: Free Geek (www.freegeek.org) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that recycles technology and provides access to computers, the Internet, education and job skills in exchange for community service. We accept donations from the public of most electronic equipment, ranging from computers and printers to stereos, tablets, smartphones, iPods and other mp3 players. Free Geek benefits from a dedicated group of 500 to 600 active volunteers each month. Our volunteers evaluate, test and disassemble various components, which are either ethically recycled to reclaim useful materials or incorporated into refurbished systems loaded with Free and Open Source Software. There are multiple ways volunteers can receive a free computer in exchange for their community service. Many opt for the 24 hour adoption program, others learn to refurbish computers through the build program, and K-12 Portland students are able to volunteer for 24 hours in their communities to earn a free computer via the Plug Into Portland program. We also offer a variety of free classes, open to the public, on a range of topics from building job skills and navigating the Internet, to the use of free and open source software and programming skills. Computer hardware that does not go to Free Geek’s volunteers is granted out to schools, nonprofits and other community change organizations through our Hardware Grants program or sold online and in our thrift store to members of the wider community.

Longer version: Free Geek is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit community technology center that recycles technology and provides access to computers, the internet, education and job skills in exchange for community service. We accept donations from the public of most electronic equipment, ranging from systems and printers to stereos and mp3 players. Free Geek does most of its work thanks to the dedicated service of our volunteers; participation averages around 550-600 active volunteers each month. Our volunteers evaluate, test and disassemble various components, which are either ethically recycled to reclaim useful materials or incorporated into refurbished systems. These refurbished computers are then loaded with Free and Open Source Software. Free Geek has two flagship programs through which most of our volunteers get their start. The most popular is the Adoption program, wherein any individual may contribute 24 hours of volunteering in exchange for a free computer. In the Build program, volunteers build five computers for Free Geek and then take their sixth one home, learning to identify hardware and troubleshoot and assemble refurbished systems over the course of the program. Many Build volunteers continue to gain knowledge and contribute to the Free Geek mission by building Laptops, Macs and Servers, testing hardware, and instructing in the Build program.

In addition to the Build and Adoption volunteer programs, Free Geek also offers many internships to facilitate the building of higher-level skills in positions throughout the organization. We also offer a variety of free classes, open to the public, on a range of topics from building job skills and navigating the internet, to the use of free and open source software and Command Line. Computer hardware that does not go to Free Geek's volunteers is sold online and in our Thrift Store to members of the wider community, and granted out to schools, nonprofits and other community change organizations through our Hardware Grants program. Technical Support warranties are offered with all systems disbursed or sold, provided the user maintains a Free-Geek-supported operating system. Free Geek is also committed to electronic waste recycling and works exclusively with recycling businesses who engage in environmentally responsible practices to process the obsolete technology we receive. Free Geek is proud of being a democratically-run organization, and practicing consensus to make decisions at the management level. We are governed by a board of directors whose membership includes professionals in law, environmental advocacy, and information technologies, among other fields. Our board also reserves at least one quarter of its membership seats for active volunteers, and strives for democracy and transparency in its service to the Free Geek community.

PR Budget

• Ads
  • May $250
  • $10/month for other 11 months
  • $600 in Nov for Willamette Week Give Guide

• Tabling
  • $20/month EXCEPT $75 in April for Earth Day
• T-shirts, stickers, and similar merchandise (includes business cards)
  • We buy t-shirts twice a year ~$1500

• Networking/learning conferences and memberships
  • AOR
    • membership: $135/yr
    • conference in June: $470 (2 people, $235 each) (usually free, but we don't know)
    • mileage to Redmond, OR in June: $150 (under C7)
  • International Computer Refurbishing Summit in Toronto
  • $75 in Oct Membership in Sustainable Business Network

• Direct Mail Nov (TBD)

• Grant Research
  • $175 in Dec for Oregon Foundation Databook & CD 2009 edition

• Brochure
  • $250 in Nov 1000 B/W copies of brochure on 28 wt paper--trifolded

• Front Desk PR
  • $125 in Oct for Banner at Front Desk
  • $150 in Oct 8X10 Prints of Community recipient/volunteer photos & frames

Related Items

(This is for notes that indicate expenses that affect your committee but are actually classified under a different committee.)

• Conferences July $100 oscon (probably goes in HR -> Training and Education)
• $100 for website developer (probably goes in C7 -> Staffing Costs)
• $200/YEAR for mileage to conferences (C7 mileage reimbursement expense)

Webadmin

Check out our web stats!

• Webhits over the past year
• Webhits archive
• Webserver stats (lists which words are searched to find us, operating systems used when browsing the site, etc.)

Links

• Who does what
• Monitored by Outreach
• Stats and Testimonials - tidbits to support various marketing, advertising, PR materials
• Computer Collection Events
• Conferences
• Corporate Sponsors - cultivating corporate sponsorship for Free Geek programs.
• Give Guide
• Media Liaison
• Mailings - asking for money via letters.
• Pickups Intake
• Presentations/Lectures
• Tabling
• T-Shirts
• Stickers
• Log of Ads
• GeekVideo - documentation, proliferation, replication... consternation?
• Webadmin
• Ambassador Basics
• Neighborhood Association
• Free Geek Slogans