Free Geek Startups

What's with all these Free Geeks, anyway?

They may or may not be using the name FREE GEEK, but there are people out there who are working on projects much like ours.

When we hear from someone who wants to start a freegeek or join a similar group in their area, we refer them to the startup email list, where they can search the archives for mention of their location or sign up and ask if there are lurkers local to them.

We came up with the Free Geek Principles in order to guide those who might want to use our name; sort of a copyright kinda thing, a distillation of what's most important to us about what we do.

Those using our name:

• Oregon: Free Geek Portland (that's us -- main web site)
• Indiana: Free Geek Michiana ( main web site )
• Pennsylvania: Free Geek Penn ( main web site )
• Washington: Free Geek Olympia (main web site)
• Ohio: Free Geek Columbus ( main web site )
• Illinois: Free Geek Chicago ( main web site )

Other projects we work with:

• Lane County CRRC (aka MacRenewal): Eugene, OR

Projects we've crossed paths with:

• Longrun Project: Ashland, WI
• Metareciclagem: Brazil
• ReLectronics: Bellingham, WA
• Interconnection: Seattle, WA
• Second Start Computers: Seattle, WA
• Recycle Hawaii / Community Technology Center of Hawaii: Hilo, HI
• Computer Bank: Australia
• Greenbriar Collective: Norman, OK

(very incomplete list!) (yeah! so when you are checking me out don't forget to update me!)

Starting a new Free Geek:

FreeGeek works on a lot of volunteer labor and a few, dedicated, paid staff. The rent, lights, and wages for staff are paid out of an income stream that is dominated by tax-deductible donations, sales of equipment in the thrift store, and sales of materials to industrial recycling companies. The willingness of the volunteers to put time and effort into the place comes from many sources, including: free computers to people who put 24 hours in (in one of our programs); to people who build 5 computers (another program); free food often around from random volunteers acquiring it as donations to a nonprofit or from dumpsters; classes, and the ability to learn things; forwarding of external job offers through to those who might want them; and finally, because we make it a cool place to work by not having a lot of formality.

Probably the most important thing is to have a group of people focused on turning the stream of stuff into a stream of usefulness, both by getting computers built and adopted, and by getting stuff sold, donations made, and equipment being recycled turned into actual, recyclable materials, and then those sold to vendors who will pay the most for them (while staying within the responsible recycling framework). If you can build the streams which generate revenue, you can build staff. If most of your staff people spend their time playing with the 'cool thing' that just came in the door, you're doomed.

That said, FreeGeek isn't particularly lucrative for anyone. At FGPDX, 15 paid staff make just a bit more than minimum wage here, after 5-6 years of operations.

Free Geek Principles

A short list of things that help you decide if you can call your new organization "Free Geek" or not.

Getting Your Own Free Geek Started

Advice on getting a Free Geek up and going.

Free Geek Bylaws

A copy of the official bylaws of Free Geek in Portland.

Site Analysis Guidelines

What kind of qualities to look for when picking a location.

Case Studies

Some stats about some Free Geek startups.

E-Waste Best Practices

The best ways to reuse and recycle.

Organizational Narrative

The story so far.

Free Geek Definitions

Confused by all these terms? Here's your dictionary.

Software Overview

What makes Free Geek in Portland run.

Free Geek Startup Franchise Application

More than just an application, it's a checklist to make sure you're thinking of everything that needs to be thought of -- and a tool to help decide if you're getting in over your head.

Being A Free Geek Ambassador

• Check in with the Free Geek Portland's Outreach committee before and after initial contact.
• Encourage other geeks to join the dicussion on the startup mailing list and irc.
• Show the Startup where the relevent wiki pages are.
• Maintain an understanding of how things are going for said startups

Here are a list of things for an ambassador to be aware of

• who is your primary contact at the Startup
• know how Startup Free Geek operates on a day to day basis
• know what jobs are filled by who and how they "do their thang"
  • whois the recycling coordinator
  • whois the network person/ do they have an ASS
  • who does their books
  • what education do they offer, how?
  • do they have a grants program
  • do they have a store? what do they carry? what principles guide their store?

Join the Mailing List

If you want to join in the conversation with other people starting (or wanting to start) a new Free Geek, you probably want to sign up for our startup mailing list. Ask and answer questions. Ask for and give advice.

Visit http://lists.freegeek.org/listinfo/startup/ to sign up.