[freegeek-e-newsletter] November FreeGeek Newsletter

Wed Nov 24 14:43:26 PST 2004

Hello out there! This is Free Geek's November 2004 installment of its
monthly e-newsletter. If you'd like to unsubscribe from this e-newsletter,
please scroll down to the bottom of this email and follow the directions.

Contents:
I. Volunteer of the Month
II. Computers for Christmas
III. Free Geek in the WWeek Give Guide
IV. Education Program Update
V. Free Geek Holiday Party
VI. Happenings Around Town
VII. Wishlist

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I. VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH

Starting with Geek Fair, we decided to begin honoring one volunteer per
month for all he or she has done for Free Geek.  This month's recipient
is:

David Schmitz!

David is here at 11am sharp (if not before) every day that Free Geek's
open. While he's here, he keeps an eye on the testing area, making sure
things are tidy and caught-up.  While slowly working his way through the
build program, he finds time to patiently teach basic testing to many of
our adoption volunteers.  He's also ready and willing to fill in as
needed in receiving. David's a stable and dependable volunteer, and we're
glad he's with us.

Thanks, Dave!

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II. COMPUTERS FOR CHRISTMAS

For the past few Fridays, Free Geek volunteer Jenn Dolan has been leading
6 low-income women through recycling, receiving, testing, and system eval
so they may eventually earn computers for their children for the
holidays.  As an added bonus, old-time volunteer Jayne Weigel (who was
recently married by Reverend Phil in Free Geek's hallowed new classroom,
by the way) took the time yesterday to teach the women some of the
nitty-gritty of hardware identification.

Says Jenn, "The participants are cool folks.  None of them has ever seen
the inside of a computer before, but they're all making sense of it...and
they seem to be enjoying each other."

We appreciate all the energy and hard work Jenn has put towards this
program to make it a success!

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III. FREE GEEK IN WILLAMETTE WEEK GIVE GUIDE

Speaking of gifts for the holidays, the Willamette Week has made it easy
to donate to a good cause this holiday season! The WW has profiled 30
deserving local organizations, and FREE GEEK is at the top of the list of
Environmental Organizations. If FREE GEEK can raise the most money from
people under age 35, the most $25 contributions, or the most money
overall, FREE GEEK will win an additional $1000! So check out the insert
in the November 17th Willamette Week, and visit the Give Guide if you or your
friends or loved ones would like to donate!

http://willametteweek.com/giveguide/

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IV. EDUCATION PROGRAM UPDATE

And now, an update from Laurel, who tends to possess an intimate
knowledge of the Education Program at Free Geek:

"With the help of volunteer Craig Imm, we've started a post-class
survey for FreekBox adopters. Future classes we develop will probably
also have a survey, so we can evaluate how happy the students are and
improve the offerings. This will also (hopefully) give us something
"measurable" for the purpose of grant applications.
Grant applications? Yes, for someday soon i'd like to be able to offer a
stipend for teachers. There are not enough people teaching the
classes we have already - the idea is that perhaps a small stipend will
make it easier to attract (and keep) good, consistent teachers. And of
course, we want to expand beyond the classes we have
already. There are plans for a few, which will be developed on the wiki
in the near future. They are mostly intended for FreekBox
adopters (and others of a similar skill level) who want to learn more
about computer use.

"People who want to take part in developing these classes or teaching them
should consider joining the classes email list and should keep an eye on
the wiki (http://todo.freegeek.org). Those interested in teaching the
FreekBox adoption class can talk to me and join the adoptionteachers
email list (http://lists.freegeek.org/listinfo/adoptionteachers)."

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VI. FREE GEEK HOLIDAY PARTY COMING!

It's time once again for Free Geek to say thank you to all our hard-working
volunteers, staff and all our friends who support us in ways too numerous to
mention.

This year's party will be on Saturday, December 18, starting at 8pm and
going until ???  It will be an all-ages party, and will include bands, beer,
and Free Geek-style fun.  Snacks will be mostly potluck-style, so dig up your
favorite holiday chip-dip recipe!  We'll set up a designated area for the
over-21 crowd to enjoy free beer and wine.

If you are interested in volunteering to help create this year's super-fun
event, please contact our volunteer coordinator (shawn at freegeek dot org).
We will need help with set-up and clean up as well as snack donations.

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VI. HAPPENINGS AROUND TOWN

*      *      *      *      *      *      *      *
Friday, November 26, all day
Buy Nothing Day

"For 24 hours, millions of people around the world do not participate --
in the doomsday economy, the marketing mind-games, and the frantic
consumer-binge that's become our culture. We pause. We make a small
choice not to shop. We shrink our footprint and gain some calm."
--Adbusters Magazine, founders of Buy Nothing Day

Why not spend time with your loved ones at home on the day after
 Thanksgiving?

http://www.adbusters.org/metas/eco/bnd/

Location: Anywhere you are

*      *      *      *      *      *      *      *
Friday, December 3, 8pm
KBOO Youth Benefit Party
All Ages

At Nocturnal, 1800 E. Burnside St., Portland

*      *      *      *      *      *      *      *
Saturday, December 4, 8pm
Don't Whine, Drink Wine! Benefit Party

A seasonal celebration for progressive activists. 7pm - 10pm at Hip Chicks
do Wine Winery. There will be yummy food, a belly dancer, wonderful music
and a no host wine bar. 10% of wine sales will go to a selected progressive
community organization such as BARK (http://www.bark-out.org).

Hip Chicks Do Wine, 4510 SE 23rd Ave, Portland. They can be a little hard
to find - see directions at the Hip Chicks website:
http://hipchicksdowine.com/about/directions.php

*      *      *      *      *       *      *      *
Saturday and Sunday, December 4 - 5, 1pm - 6pm
Winter Handmade Craft Bazaar at Nocturnal

Buy your holiday gifts directly from the artists who made them!  Local
 artists sell their DIY clothing, pottery, yummy treats, and trinkets.
 Live music will entertain shoppers, and the bar will be open downstairs
 for when they just need a break.

At Nocturnal, 1800 E. Burnside St., Portland
Free admission

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VII. WISHLIST

You might not know it, but many of our basic supplies (like printer paper
and TP) are donated to us by individuals with big hearts and a few extra
dollars in their wallets.  We'd very much appreciate donations of any of
the below:

- 8.5" x 11" single-sheet white printer paper (100% post-consumer
recycled, if possible)
- Cardboard baler
- Printer cartridge refiller
- Panel/delivery van (diesel prefered so we can run it on vegi-oil)
- #1 and #2 Phillips screwdrivers (we need lot's)
- Big swaths of nice fabric to make the new classroom more habitable -
Food and drink for volunteers

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Thanks for hanging on until the end of this newsletter!  I hope you had
fun reading it, and please send along any comments (or articles!) you may
feel like sharing.  Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Shawn Furst
Volunteer Program Coordinator
Free Geek
1731 SE 10th Ave.
Portland, OR 97214
(503)232-9350
info at freegeek.org
http://www.freegeek.org

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