Free Geek Timeline
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2000
- Formed initial board of directors
- Apr 13, Filed articles of incorporation in the state of Oregon [1]
- Apr 22, Earth Day at Pioneer Square in downtown Portland. First tabling event for Free Geek.
- Set up logo, website, and T-shirts
- Collected names at Earth Day event
- Created bylaws
- Applied for 501(c)(3) tax status with IRS
- Acquired space (rental, 5,000 sq ft)
- Sep 1, first day of business
- Developed network
- Dec, Established mailing lists for ASS, Education, Events, Hardware, Volunteer, News, Funding, Linux
- Dec, Developed first version of Freekbox
- Formed staff collective (3 people)
2001
In 2001 Free Geek was discovered by the media (necessitating a waiting list for volunteers). We started systematically distributing computers to adopters, established the Build program, and began providing internet access spots (GAP boxes) in the community. We were struggling financially, hoping for grants. By the end of the year we had established a volunteer run thrift store.
- Feb 17, Four computer adopters participate in the first "Getting Started With Your FreekBox" class and leave with Freekbox 1 systems.
- Apr 14, Big Meeting, discussed structure of organization
- Aug 11, Received E-cheivement Award from the National Public Radio program E-town
- Sep 21, Waiting list for adoption shifts is over two months long
- Fall
- Oct 25, All Volunteer Meeting
- Nov 10, Open House
- Dec, Expected funding falls through. Things look grim.
2002
This year saw the transition from (Mandrake based) Freekbox 1 to (Debian based) Freekbox II, the start of a quality control process, and the development of an imaging system
- Jan 12, All Volunteer Meeting (to discuss funding fall through ramifications). Decision to not sell of systems in the store.
- May, Staff expands to 4 people
- Jun, Community Council proposed
- Jun or Jul, First major corporate donation (100 or so Vectra Pentiums) allow us to catch up on FreekBox production. Freekbox 2 introduced.
- Jun 29, Geek Fair 2002
- Jul 26, Approved Sales Coordinator position at the first Community Council meeting [4]
- Aug, We begin selling systems in the store. Much discussion in the "Full Circle Back to Halt" thread. [5] The word "storebox" first used. [6]
- Aug 12, Proposed doubling of space via a lease (though already paying a storage fee for using the new space)
- Aug 13, Change hours of operation to 11 to 7 (was noon to 8)
- Aug 26, Council meeting. It is reported that folks in South Bend are interested in starting a Free Geek.
- Aug 26, We are running four build workshops per week
- Sep 24, Last "Getting Started" class for Freekbox 1.
- Sep 26, Possibility of doing consulting for City of Vancouver raised, but it may be related to prison labor (CREAM project) [7]
- Oct 2, Establishment of "social" email list [8]
- Oct 24, Staff members get paid $1,000 per month. Monthly expenses are around $9,000 per month. [9]
- Oct, Do we call volunteers "members", "workers", "volunteers", or what? Should everyone wear a badge of some sort? Discussion ensues. [10]
- Nov 21, Council Meeting: [11]
- Freekbox II released "into the wild"
- Problems associated with large grants going out of the country (Argentina/Ecuador) begin to get on our radar
- CREAM project proposal [12]
- Dec 19, Retreat planned [13]
2003
Discussed this year: laptops, propagating other Free Geeks, etc.
- Jan 15, Vagrant visits similar organization in Wisconsin [14]
- Jan 16, Free Geek Michiana posts to the council list at the mothership [15]
- Jan 16, First contact from ISP whiz to coho [16]
- Dec, Potato and fromage stunt pulled on Collab list.
2004
- Aug 6, Free Geek Principles proposed. [17]
- Aug 18, Principles approved at Free Geek Community Council [18]
2005
2006
- Jul 28-29, Intergalactic meeting. [19]
2007
- Mar 6, IRC meetup [20]