Issues list

Change Name?
- Nonprofit Assistance Program (take a NAP)?
- Software, Hardware, Information, Tech Support (we deliver SHIT)?
- You got a better idea? Put it here.
Resources we have available:
- We know how to install, use and support certain software, for instance:
  - OpenOffice.org and most other apps that runs on a FreekBox
  - MediaWiki
  - RT
- We can provide a fair amout of hardware
  - FreekBoxen
  - GrantBoxen
  - Diskless Terminals
- We have volunteers:
  - who know stuff and want to help
  - who want to learn stuff and don't mind helping
- Programs:
  - Build
  - Grants
  - Tech Support
  - Education
  - Adoption (most useful for certain types of social service organizations)
There is a demand on the part of nonprofits for various types of training:
- Admin Literacy
  - Teaching them vocabulary
  - Basic Skills
    - Backups
    - Admin Mailing list
    - ?
- User Training (of various apps)
What are our goals
How is this financed?

The original goal

The original goal of the Free Geek Solutions (that became Collab) is stated here:

Create a consulting group, Free Geek Solutions Group, that will 
facilitate the adoption of Linux-based sustainable solutions for 
non-profit organizations and that will provide a significant stream of 
revenue into the Free Geek general fund.

We can delete the word "significant" for now, I think. But otherwise it still makes sense.

A basic rough proposal

Collaborative Technologies should:

consider changing its name: (to dissassociate itself from seeds of a bad reputation inside and outside of Free Geek)
re-invent itself as a a way to package existing Free Geek programs for Nonprofits: Hardware Grants, Technical Support, and Education would be the three corenerstones of the new program
initially add to that package only a few very easy to do things: a slightly expanded distro with a few extra packages that we already understand could add to our existing software and make a Nonprofit distro that is supportable, teachable, and much more useful to nonprofits
survey the nonprofit community about what additional services would be useful: The survey should only offer small, reachable steps beyond what we can currently do. Surveys are as much a marketing tool as they are information gathering, so this needs to be done carefully.
plan and maintain three stages defined by short term, medium term, and long term goals: As we complete each goal, we should adjust the phases. The short term stuff is on the plate right now, but the medium and long term goals give us a sense of direction.

Short term goals

Hardware: We can deliver FreekBoxen, GrantBoxen, firewalls, Diskless Labs, and necessary cabling, hubs, etc., along with printers. (This might cut into the amount of computer we can donate via our regular hardware grants program.)
Software: We could support most debian Linux (sarge) systems, especially thos with the stndard Freekbox image and applications, plus (probably) Samba, Webmin, and CUPS.
Education: Training on freekbox standard (adoption style), plus training on webmin. On site training could be made available , or it could be held at Free Geek.
Tech Support: We could offer support during regular tech support hours. We would try to to increase these as much as possible within our current resources.
Financing: We could charge a fee for diskless labs, and fees for the education (System Admin, Vocabulary, on site Training) and Tech Support services. (For example fees for networking and related classes, onsite training, and small monthly fees for tech support.)
Staffing: All staffing at this stage would need to be done with current paid staff and volunteers.

Medium Term goals

Hardware: all of the above plus enterprise level (fail over, redundancy, etc.) Maybe some additional peripherals like scanners and cameras as they are requested and we develop the capacity to suppor them.
Software: all of the above plus an off the shelf, non-customized database application for Linux and/or a generic front end to windows or linux databases.
Education: all of the above plus training on the non-custom database application.
Tech Support: Support during regular working hours.
financing: all of the above plus monthly fee for support, charging for education, charging for enterprise level hardware.
staffing: A part time coordinator paid for by the income streams generated by the program. Paid and volunteer internships.

Long term goals

Hardware: same as above
Software: all of the above plus custom database applications.
Education: same as above
Tech Support: all of the above plus on site support.
financing: all of the above plus charging for on site support and open source software development grants.
staffing: Full time staff as can be supported by the income streams and volunteer interns

Nonprofit Assistance Program Proposal

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