[freegeek-e-newsletter] December FreeGeek E-Newsletter

Thu Dec 23 19:02:11 PST 2004

Hello out there! This is Free Geek's December 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. A Message From Oso
III. Computers for Kids Going Strong
IV. Staff Comings and Goings
V. Free Geek Offers Linux Certification Exams!
VI. Portland Alliance of Worker Collectives Makes Official Statement
    Concerning Burnside Bridgehead Development Plan
VII. Wishlist

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I. VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH

Every month, we recognize one volunteer for all he or she has done for
Free Geek.  This month's recipient is:

Bob Radloff!

Bob has been a consistent force in Receiving for the past couple of months.
He serves as a wonderful leader, processing donations, getting gizmos where
they need to go, keeping the area tidy, and training other volunteers. When
the front desk and receiving areas are bombarded with people and things at
the beginning of the day, we're thankful that Bob's very often there to make
sure things run smoothly.

Thanks, Bob!

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II. A MESSAGE FROM OSO

Dear Friends of Free Geek,

Another year has nearly passed by and we want to take this time to thank
all of the wonderful people that make Free Geek possible. Free Geek
depends on volunteers to accomplish much of what we do, and this past
year we've done more than ever before.

By the end of 2004, our computer recycling operation will have recovered 200
tons of e-scrap for the year (translating into 400 total tons diverted from 
the landfills) bringing our grand total to 500 tons recovered (1,000 tons 
diverted) since we began Free Geek in 2000. The re-use programs have returned
over 3,800 computers and 29,000 components to the community. Donors dropped
off over 208,000 gizmos and our fantastic volunteers have donated over
111,000 hours of community service to make it all happen.

This month Free Geek was privileged to be showcased as a worthy non-profit in
both the Portland Mercury
(http://www.portlandmercury.com/2004-12-16/feature2.html) and the first
annual Willamette Week Give Guide (http://www.wweek.com/giveguide). These
profiles just happen to coincide with our end-of-the-year fundraising push.
As of today, we still need to raise an additional $12,000 to meet this year's
fundraising needs. As you might have guessed, it takes a lot of money to
provide free services to the community. If you are able to contribute
any(more) funds this year, you will be helping to keep the "free" in Free
Geek.

Peace,

Oso Martin
Founder/Outreach Coordinator

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III. COMPUTERS FOR KIDS GOING STRONG

Our Computers for Kids Program is winding up the year with lots of action
and high hopes for the year ahead.  Liane and Nathan just brought a team of
about 7 kids to the Western Oregon Lego Robotics competition in Hillsboro.
While there, the group (named "Geeksters") competed against other teams to
make their programmed robots (made of Lego blocks) move miniature chairs,
drop coins into a piggy bank, and other tasks.  The Geeksters demonstrated
wonderful teamwork.

Back at the Free Geek facilities, Liane is leading a group of 5 kids from the
Native American Youth Association (NAYA) through the Build Program.
They're about halfway done, and are motivated, quick learners who love Free
Geek.  In fact, there are more kids at NAYA who want to do the program than
Liane can accommodate!  On January 7th, a new group will start.

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IV. STAFF COMINGS AND GOINGS

Allow me to introduce our newest collective member, Nathan Bennett!  Nathan
has volunteered at Free Geek for about two years.  He is a creative and
talented fellow: he knows volumes about desktop and laptop hardware, networks
with the best of 'em, truly enjoys working with people, teaches people
patiently and thoroughly, is familiar with the fine art of schmoozing (i.e., 
he's good at outreach), and makes art out of reclaimed computer parts. 
Currently, Nathan is leading the Homestreet Project (Collaborative
Technology's first, and very large, contract) to completion. He will most
likely move on to the Black Hole (our repository for laptops and weird
architecture machines). There, he'll dig for buried treasure, which we can
then sell in the Thrift Store or on Ebay.  Surely, he'll also teach
volunteers the mysteries of what he finds in the depths of the Hole.

Next, a big welcome to our new Front Desk Intern, Matthew Noel Harris!
Matthew's a long-time volunteer at Free Geek, and seems to know at least a
little bit about everything here, which makes him a great fit for the front
desk position. Free Geek will be paying him to work in the afternoons for
about 6 months.

Lastly, on December 17th, Ron Braithwaite spent his last day at Free Geek as
the Collaborative Technologies Program Coordinator.  He's decided to move to
British Columbia at the beginning of next year.  We've all learned a lot from
Ron.  Goodbye, Ron!  We'll miss you!

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V. FREE GEEK OFFERS LINUX CERTIFICATION EXAMS

That's right!  Portland area Linux folks can now come to Free Geek to take a
Linux certification exam.

We'll offer the Linux Professional Institute (http://www.lpi.org) Linux
101/102 Certification exam on Sunday, Jan 23, 2005.  Repeat exams will be
offerred on a fairly regular basis.  We'll also be organizing informal study
sessions preceding the exam.  These won't be classes, but will instead focus
on going over the subject areas covered in some of the training materials and
sharing each other's knowledge in advance of the test.

In keeping with the Free Geek tradition of trying to make technology
available to everyone, we have worked out a very special deal with LPI on
the test's pricing so we only need to charge $40 for the exam (it usually
costs $100).

If you're interested in taking the LPI exam at Free Geek, please visit LPI's
website and register to get an ID number.  Then email Laurel with your ID
number to reserve your spot.  Her email address is <laurel [at] freegeek
[dot] org>.  The test is limited to 35 people, and we won't accept
reservations beyond December 31st, 2004.

If you have any questions, please email Laurel.

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VI. PORTLAND ALLIANCE OF WORKER COLLECTIVES MAKES OFFICIAL STATEMENT
CONCERNING BURNSIDE BRIDGEHEAD DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Portland Alliance of Worker Collectives (PAWC) is a business alliance of
collectively-run organizations.  Free Geek has been an active member of the
organization for over a year, and is enjoying its  collaboration with
innovative, socially positive businesses.  Find out more about PAWC at
http://www.pawc.net (Laurel did most of the web design for the site!  Notice
how user-friendly it is...).

Recently, the Portland Development Commission called for comments from the
public about how to develop 5 blocks at the east end of the Burnside Bridge.
Two of the three development proposals that the PDC is considering involve
the creation of a Home Depot or Lowe's store in the area.  The third
development proposal called for mixed-use buildings, which would host
residences and local businesses.  PAWC issued its official stament in support
of the third proposal, which would encourage more foot traffic in the area,
keep money in the local economy, and discourage more traffic.  PAWC's letter
of support is posted on the bulletin board in Free Geek's lobby and at
http://www.pawc.net/pawc-burnside.pdf.

To find out more about the proposals, read some other comments from the
public, and send your own comment to the PDC, visit
http://www.pdc.us/ura/central_eastside/burnside-bridgehead.asp

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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 (or good scavenging skills!).  We'd very much
appreciate donations of any of the below:

- Type D vacuum bags
- Rubber bands
- Garbage bags: kitchen-sized and 33 gallon clear or white
- 8.5" x 11" single-sheet white printer paper (100% post-consumer
  recycled, if possible)
- Cardboard baler
- Printer cartridge refiller
- Panel/delivery van (diesel preferred so we can run it on veggie oil)
- #1 and #2 Phillips screwdrivers
- Big swaths of nice fabric to make the new classroom more habitable
- Food and drink for volunteers

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You've reached the end of another Free Geek email newsletter!  Hope
you've enjoyed the journey while it lasted, and have a wonderful holiday.

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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