History of Free Geek

This is a draft of a new or in-progress document, and is likely to have a few people specifically working on it. You may wish to check in on the discussion page to see what the purpose of the document is and who's working on it; then feel free to give this article love and attention if have extra of those things.

---

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.

Programs: Past and Future

Central to the changes at Free Geek since its formal inception has been self-governance through consensus, as well as (since the first Big Meeting) our General or Community Council.

Functional Self-Organization

From its beginnings, a singular multiplicity of self-organization on the parts of many individuals and groups seemed to lead Free Geek to self-identify its present collective motion as a natural means of continuing it. Its history continues to seem embodied by its present experience, including what people remember. Its history is also implied (imaginarily) by its organizational doings, including its default fonts. These, like its milestones (significant goals achieved), mission emphases (collectively conscious decisions articulating and adjusting goals), changes of era marking adjustment to changes of circumstances etc., may be represented in various ways as motion within various metaphorical fields.

Continuing its movement today seems to depend upon both:

• remembering its past experience more or less precisely...

as well as

• continuing to embody it, as desired.

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 our eternal struggle against creeping Goldsteinism.

(...all the while, of course:

• rocking (and knitting).)

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, working groups, executive entities, etc., as well as 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 .

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.