History of Free Geek

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This is the history of Free Geek.

Free Geek started on the 13th on some month in 2000.... .... and now it's 2007 and we rock the (opensource-community-building-digital-divide-elimination) party that rocks the (recycling-for-the-environment-free-computers-for-volunteers) party.

Functional Self-Organization

Multiple Organizations

From its beginnings, self-organization on the parts of many individuals and groups led Free Geek to self-identify its collective motion as a natural means of continuing it. Its history seems embodied by its present experience, including what people remember. Its history is also implied by its organizational doings, including its default fonts.

Continuing its movement today depends upon both:

• remembering its past experience with some precision... as well as
• continuing to embody it.

Reading here, new staff members and others may:

• vicariously experience achievements and challenges of past years,
• discern presently useful similarities and differences between scenarios and situations which Free Geek has previously responded and adapted to,
• become aware of touchstones of its historical evolution and progression and, yes,
• share circumstances and events of losses and setbacks within their own contexts, too.

And all the while, of course:

• rocking.

By Eras

e.g., Before the Beginning, the Beginning, the Collaborative Technology thread, Board Activation, etc.

By Milestones

e.g., firsts: for instance, load to recyclers, adopted boxen, Council meeting, incorporation, hardware grant, paychecks for employees, Geek Prom, Geek Fair, etc.

By Functional Self-Organization

e.g., history of committees, their Council interactions, their interactions with previous and subsequent developments and circumstances, etc.

• the first working group was the Ass group. In the beginning they built the computers for the adopters. Interesting insights into this foundational process have been synthesized here (and of course elsewhere).

By Mission Emphasis

e.g, its continuing focus, dynamic alignment with ever-changing circumstances, synchronization with past practice, etc.

By Person

e.g., personal experience and observations of major changes to organizations and operations, first-hand experience of decisional paths through and past crises and opportunities, remembrance and testimonials, etc.

By External Relationships

e.g., speakers, hosted events, grants, media notice, durable relationships with other peeps and orgs, the passage of time itself (simple chronology), etc.