Freedonia Grant

Freedonia's Goals/Mission

In our 2007 Granting Period, Freedonia will prioritize applications that focus on economic alternatives. This may include:

.Organizing around economic issues, with a focus on economic alternatives .Organizing around alternative economic models .Research and development of practical ecomomic alternatives .building capacity and tools within groups working to address economic alternatives

Freedonia Mission Statement

Freedonia was founded in 1997 by Gary Moffatt as an expression of his lifetime commitment to anarchism and to building social and economic alternatives to capitalism. In keeping with this anti-authoritarian vision, Freedonia is a catalyst for the development of movements promoting radical democratic and systemic change.

Freedonia supports projects which:

   * generate, explore, analyze, and promote practical democratic social and economic models;
   * demonstrate or test models of democratic economic and/or political organization;
   * demonstrate or test approaches to implementing anti-authoritarian social change;
   * enhance ability to generate anti-authoritarian social change through development and expansion of skills, tools, and participation.
   * enhance practical co-operation among groups that share Freedonia's vision; 

In addition to funding projects, Freedonia also

   * Builds relationships with and among groups we support
   * Provides referals to other resources
   * Leverages other resources to advance our goals
   * Builds our own fund and capacity
   * Shares information about our work and vision
   * Reflects our commitments in our investment policy statement

THE GRANT QUESTIONS

Parent/Sponsoring Organization (if any):

Free Geek Portland, Oregon

Names of Officers/Officials (if any)

Board of Directors

Ifny LaChance

Scott Nelson

Simeon Veldstra

Signing Officers

David Repa

Sean Hill

Aim/Mission of Organization/Group:

FREE GEEK is a non profit community organization that recycles used technology to provide computers, education, internet access and job skills training to those in need in exchange for community service.

Year founded:

2006

How does your structure and mandate support Freedonia’s mission statement?

Free Geek supports Freedonia's mission statement in two main ways.

First, Free Geek operates in a non-hierarchal structure. Our decisions are consensus-based, and all of our communications are available to the public. Free Geek's transparency and dedication to inclusion is proof that a more positive way is possible for people to interact and conduct daily affairs.

Secondly, Free Geek offers an alternative economic model in the form of trading proportional amounts of personal labour for items needed.

Name/Title of Project:

Start-up

Goal(s) and Objective(s) of Project – What do you hope to achieve by the project?

Our goal is the successful start up of a sustainable community-based computer recycling organisation. To achieve this goal we have five main objectives.

• Computer Recycling
Free Geek's location will be a convenient place for individuals, organisations, and small businesses to recycle computer equipment. 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 will be offered a guided tour of the facility and will be shown how the program works and what happens to the donated equipment. They will then be asked for a voluntary cash donation to support our program. Approximately two-thirds of our customers need to dispose of monitors. Free Geek charges a $10 disposal fee for any and all monitors dropped off at our facility. It is anticipated that recycling customers will also 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 will be broken down into its base materials such as steel, aluminum, and copper. These commodities are then sold on the open market through our recycling partners. Sale of recycled materials provides a significant income stream to support operations.
• Computer Adoption
Free Geek's Adoption program, will enable individuals to exchange work in our recycling operation for a starter computer system of their very own. During their time at Free Geek, volunteers will be exposed to computers on several different levels. Volunteers 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 and keyboard. In recycling, volunteers learn about how the various pieces fit together and come apart. Testing teaches the volunteers how to insert and remove various components from the computer and how to run diagnostic software. After completing 24 hours of work, volunteers receive their computer and an introductory class on how to set it up and use it.
• Computer Building
This program will be more technically demanding. The Build program will create 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 Free/Open Source operating system and applications software. Each system passes a quality control test before it is released to an adopter. Volunteers agree to complete six computer systems in exchange for the training in how to do it. After completing six systems, volunteers are welcome to keep the sixth computer for themselves. The remaining five computers are distributed into the community through our Adoption and Hardware Grants programs.
• Computer Education
The education program's motto is "If we give someone their first computer, we need to teach them how to use it." These introductory classes will be the core of a curriculum that will be expanded to include computer building, Linux command line basics and advanced computer programing languages such as Perl and Python. Our classes will be taught by volunteer teachers. These teachers will work together to organise classes and document all of Free Geek's procedures to help train volunteers working in any area. Education is ongoing for volunteers from the moment they enter Free Geek to long after they receive their computers and have them 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 will receive more equipment than can be refurbished efficiently. In addition, the equipment donated does not arrive in equal amounts (i.e. approximately 10 good keyboards are donated for every usable computer). This surplus equipment and other donations that have some retail value but do not meet other program requirements, will be 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 working, usable equipment gets back into circulation, rather than being broken down for raw materials recovery. Free Geek will also sell various products such as t-shirts, mugs, stickers, and crafts made from recycled computer parts. The thrift store is a vital part of the Free Geek financial strategy for self-sufficiency.

Strategy(ies) and Activity(ies) of Project – How will the project work toward its goal(s)?

We have already presented our aims and intent to the original Free Geek in Portland, Oregon and have secured permission to use their name.

Scheduled public meetings occur on a monthly basis with impromptu organising and action being done through internet relay chat (IRC), email lists, and small informal meetings.

Individuals have been organised by interest and skill into workgroups designed to tackle our various startup needs. Each of these workgroups has a mailing list through which much informal organising is done between meetings.

These workgroups are:

• Governance
We are moving toward a March 2007 inaugural AGM at which we will shape our bylaws and solidify our definition of consensus-based decision making. Discussion is currently centring on the consensus issue as this will largely govern how we make future decisions.
• Location
We are in the process of sourcing a centrally-accessible location to operate from. The location will be near major transit routes to assist our volunteers in reaching us and must have enough space to work on received computers and sell from our computer thrift store. This search is largely being done by word of mouth with discussion focusing on how each location will affect our overall strategy and other goals.
• Recycling
As much of our intake will be in the form of unusable computers and hardware, recycling is a major priority. We are in the process of interviewing local recyclers as possible partners in our recycling program. This interview process includes querying them on their own processes and values, and making sure they meet our standards of responsible recycling.
• Software
We are deciding which software will be installed on the computers we build and what software we will use for our internal operations.
• Communication (Publicity/Fund raising/Outreach/Events)
This groups work is extremely important. They are responsible for making the Free Geek name known. Already they have organised a Free Geek movie night. This group also works on grant writing, our business plan, and any documentation regarding Free Geek.
• Content (Website/Listserve)
Our content group is very active, redesigning our website to present an accessible face to anyone seeking to learn who we are and what we do.
• Curriculum (Education)
While we don't have a facility to work out of, we are still providing education through our Linux Clinic. The Education group decides what to teach in the clinic and who will be on hand to help people who come to the clinic nights. This group will also be a forum for volunteer teachers in the future.
• Health & Safety
As electronics carry the hazards of injury and toxic materials, we recognize the need to organise around health & safety. This is in the early stages and will become more active upon finding a location and beginning to develop our processing procedures.

Area(s) of Work – The project addresses the following of Freedonia’s identified priority funding areas.

• "Organizing around economic issues, with a focus on economic alternatives"
Free Geek will directly address the economic disparity between those who are able to afford expensive, up to date computer equipment and those who cannot.
• "Organizing around alternative economic models"
Free Geek offers an alternative economic model through it's volunteer programs. Volunteers can obtain free computers and access to the Internet in exchange for their labour. There is no money required by this model in order to receive goods.
• "Research and development of practical economic alternatives"
• "Building capacity and tools within groups working to address economic alternatives"
(Are they refering to helping other groups? If so, we could mention our hardware grants to non-profits)

Why is this project necessary?

The Free Geek project is necessary for several reasons.

Every year the Greater Vancouver Regional District buries 20,000 tonnes of computers, monitors, printers and TV sets in landfill sites.[1] Not only is this waste highly hazardous to human and animal health and the environment, but much of it is still highly usable or it's basic components recyclable. (perhaps I have made the sentence too long)

Free Geek will help to stop dangerous waste from making its way into the general environment. Through responsible recycling, hazardous materials can be reclaimed and recycled or re-used, diverting them from the landfill.

We will also be able to stem the tide of useful equipment being thrown away before it ceases to function. For economic reasons, many organisations and individuals go without computer tools which could help to improve their access to information access and dissemination. Free Geek will identify and redirect these tools into the hands of those who need them.

The current digital divide in Vancouver is another reason Free Geek is necessary. Many of societies most vulnerable people have little or no access to the Internet. In these modern times, it can be the difference between finding apartments, jobs, and government assistance or not. Free Geek seeks to bridge this divide.

Likewise, Free and Open Source software is in a position to challenge the dominant consumer-controlling economic model of proprietary software. As all of the machines we produce will be loaded with FOS software, we will act as a strong advocate of an alternate method of software creation and sharing.

(not sure if we need to do footnotes??) [1] Electronic trash to be banned, William Boei, Vancouver Sun, Wednesday, September 27, 2006

How does your project relate to Freedonia’s program goals?

(Errr which program goals?)

Why is your organization/group best qualified and able to undertake this project?

We are a diverse group of individuals with a wide range of experience in all of the areas required to achieve success in this undertaking. We have experience with:

• Community organisation and activism
• Non-profit operation
• Computer hardware and software
• Recycling logistics
• Consensus-based governance
• Occupational Health and Safety

Geographical Region/Scope of Project:

The Free Geek project will focus on the Greater Vancouver Regional District of BC, but hopes also to provide the groundwork for other similarly motivated projects starting up in other areas.

Who will benefit from the project?

The Free Geek project will provide a general benefit to all by helping to relieve pressure on the environment due to the release of toxic electronic waste into the landfill.

Due to economic circumstances, a large portion of our volunteers will likely have limited experience with and infrequent access to computers. Free Geek will provide these people with useful hardware and skills training to put it to good use.

How will you involve the project’s beneficiaries, and communicate with them?

As a large portion of our direct beneficiaries will be our volunteers, they will be integrated into and even help to direct our operations. Communications will begin with volunteer training and go right up until software training when a volunteer walks out the door with their own computer.

Project Evaluation – How will you determine the effectiveness and impact of the project?

Effectiveness and impact will be measured through multiple channels:

• Statistics
Measuring the volume of donations which would otherwise likely end up in the landfill will give us a sense of the impact we are having on waste diversion.
• Feedback
Feedback from our volunteers will tell us how we have performed in providing them with the tools and instructions required to help with their work and to make use of the hardware they have received.
• Financial stability
Producing a financially sustainable non-profit organisation

Proposed Starting Date:

??May 1, 2007??

Budget – Please provide a detailed budget for the project (this may be submitted as an attachment).

Greg and David to work on Budget

a) Total cost of the project$ b) Amount requested from Freedonia$

Other funding sources for the project (if any):

Other sources for funding include our $10 disposal fee on CRT monitors, and private donations.

Other relevant information that will help us assess your application (please feel free to include attachments):

Website - freegeekvancouver.org