[freegeek-e-newsletter] February FreeGeek e-newsletter
e-newsletter at lists.freegeek.org
e-newsletter at lists.freegeek.org
Sat Feb 12 19:12:44 PST 2005
Hello out there! Welcome to Free Geek's February e-newsletter. This
e-newsletter comes out approximately every month. 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. 2004 Financial Report
III. Recycling Area Improvements
IV. Givin' It Away: Hardware Grants
V. Free Geek Events to Come
VI. Happenings Around Town
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 Pierson!
Bob's a retiree who volunteers at Free Geek not for his love of computers,
but because he thinks we do good stuff for the community. Bob is a mainstay
in recycling. You'll find him there almost every day. Besides being an
excellent worker, he's a very good teacher and supervisor to incoming
volunteers. Bob's great at applying ingenuity and force to disassemble odd
machines (like the 4-foot tall book binder that came in the other day), and
he also fixes up or builds necessary equipment without notice, whether it's
the crack in the steel cart or the stairs up to our steel bin. He's so good,
he sweeps the parking lot while waiting for our doors to open! How can we
help but appreciate Bob?
Thanks, Bob!
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II. 2004 FINANCIAL REPORT
This is a draft of the annual report for calendar year 2004. Look for the
complete report, including fancy graphs and charts, online at freegeek.org
sometime soonish.
SUMMARY
Free Geek had its biggest year ever in 2004, breaking all previous records.
We finished the year strong after struggling a little in the third quarter
to keep expenses down and income up. The third quarter of 2004 was the first
quarter where we did not out-perform the previous quarter since we began
Free Geek in 2000.
Expenditures
Staff: $282,907 (wages, taxes, worker's comp, healthcare)
Facility: 93,133 (rent, utilities, telco, insurance, maint.)
Admin: 17,554 (printing, mail/postage, supplies, program dev.)
Expansion: 10,848 (construction and equipment)
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Total: $410,442
Income
Programs: $178,596 (recycling, thrift store, education)
Funding: 164,602 (donations, grants, fundraisers)
Misc: 12,151 (tenant)
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Total: $355,349
Profit/Loss: -$ 55,093
We began 2004 with $51,718 in remaining grant money from the Meyer Memorial
Trust grant for ~$150,000, which we received in mid-2003. We ended the year
with a negative balance of -$3,376.
The short fall for the year (and into the beginning of this year) stems
mostly from the fact that the HomeStreet project that we were doing under
the Collaborative Technologies program went over budget. Free Geek paid out
$20,000 to help complete the project. Free Geek had to divert other
resources (mostly staff time) to the project during the latter half of the
year, which led in some degree to the poor performance in the third quarter.
Our financial situation has been looking up for the past few months, though.
Thanks to a feature on Free Geek in The Oregonian at the beginning of
January, we had our best month ever. In fact, because of the money crunch at
the end of the year, we've been working harder at creating more income for
the organization, and have gotten closer than ever to running Free Geek
without receiving any money from grants.
Just because we did well in January doesn't mean we're out of the forest,
though! In order to keep going, we need equipment and monetary donations.
Tell your friends about us!
Thanks,
Oso
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III. RECYCLING AREA IMPROVEMENTS
Our recycling area is getting more and more efficient, thanks to the efforts
of Free Geek's volunteers and wider community. First, because of donations
raised during last year's Geek Fair and additional donations since then, our
forklift now has a brand-new battery! Forklift batteries tend to be
expensive - ours cost about $2500. Thanks to its new life-giving battery,
our forklift no longer gives out while moving computer parts into the trucks
of our recyclers. Yea!
Another change in the recycling area is the addition, thanks to the
generosity of volunteer Tim Kutscha, of power drills along the recyling
bench. Because of these drills, our recycling volunteers can now
disassemble computer cases with speed and ease.
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IV. GIVIN' IT AWAY: HARDWARE GRANTS
Every month, the hardware grants group grants out about 15 grant-level and 15
freekbox-level boxes, as well as a fair amount of odds-and-ends like
miscellaneous video cards, diskless workstations, and keyboards. Because we
understand how difficult it is to find time to volunteer when you're running
a community-centered organization, we don't require hardware grant recepients
to volunteer to receive computers from us.
Who are the recipients of this veritable wealth of hardware and Linux
software? Local not-for-profit and community groups generally receive this
equipment from us, but we sometimes grant equipment to far-off places like
Africa or Bolivia. These groups use Free Geek computers for all sorts of
things, from providing internet access and computer skills to their
volunteers to promoting raquetball-playing throughout the state to giving
voice to independent points of view in the media. To date we have granted
over 1,500 systems to community groups.
Not-for-profit and community groups (not individuals) may apply for hardware
grants through Free Geek's program by visiting
http://www.freegeek.org/grants.php and filling out the web form. Priority is
given to local groups (and all the better if the group is willing to send a
volunteer to assist in building their computers!).
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V. FREE GEEK EVENTS TO COME
Smashtacular
Saturday, March 5th
1pm until we run out of supplies
Have you ever been mad at your computer technology? No, it doesn't always
listen, really listen, when we want it to. In fact, sometimes it can make
you feel like smashing it to bits. Well, now's your chance. On March 5th,
you can come to Free Geek and buy a pet printer in exchange for a few
dollars. How you use that printer, well, that's up to you. But if you
happen to want to destroy your pet printer, along with all the hardware
frustration that your new pet represents, Jhasen will have a variety of tools
with which to do the job.
Geek Prom
Friday, April 1
Time TBA
Our second annual fundraiser prom is already in the works. Dress is as
formal as you want it to be, but we encourage all who attend to dress
(somehow) for the occasion. It should be a full night of dancing and fun.
If you're interested in volunteering for or donating food or door prizes to
the event, send an email to events [at] freegeek.org.
Geek Fair
Saturday, July 9
noonish until early evening-time
Woo! Geek Fair's coming! Our yearly street party happens on the street out
in front of our facilities, and is a way for us to celebrate Free Geek, its
volunteers, and other like-minded organizations in Portland. This year's
event should be super-fun, with music, booths, a raffle/silent auction, and
much more. If you're interested in volunteering for, coordinating an aspect
of, or donating raffle or silent auction items to Geek Fair this year, send
an email to events [at] freegeek.org.
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VI. HAPPENINGS AROUND TOWN
Worst Day of the Year Bike Ride
Sunday, February 13
10 am
Meet at Lucky Lab
915 SE Hawthorne
Contact: Ayleen: 503/546.8864 Ayleen [at] CommunityCyclingCenter.org
Finally, an outdoor event in Portland that cannot be spoiled by the weather!
The Worst Day of the Year Ride is an 18-mile bicycle tour of downtown
Portland – rain or shine. With four stops along the way and piping hot chili,
cornbread and chowder back at the Lucky Lab at the end, this is an event not
to be missed. Register early for a discount. Special in-store registration
rates open January 6th, 2005 at River City Bicycles, Lucky Lab Pub, REI or
any Bike Gallery location.
The Worst Day of the Year ride is a benefit for the Community Cycling Center.
Proceeds benefit the CCC's bicycle safety programs for low-income youth. See
http://www.communitycyclingcenter.org/wdyr.html for more info.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Lighthouse Farm Sanctuary Community Work Party
10am - 1pm
Saturday, February 19
Salem, OR at the Lighthouse Farm
see http://lighthousefarmsanctuary.org/workparty.html for directions
Lighthouse Farm Sanctuary is a farm outside of Salem that rescues farm
animals from abuse, and/or slaughter and offers them a care-free way to live
out the rest of their lives. The farm workers invite the community to come
and help out during their work parties. At the work party, you'll clean the
goats' hoofs, clean out the animals' living quarters, and hang out with some
pretty spunky and cool animals. Be sure to bring your own (vegetarian)
lunch and wear appropriate clothing. Visit
http://www.lighthousefarmsanctuary.org for more info.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mini-Bike Winter Olympics
Sunday, February 20
1-5pm
NW 19th and Savier
Tour da Bomb (finale) begins at 9pm on the Hill.
Mini-Bike Winter Olympics: "for everyone who rides in this rainy crap". An
afternoon full of zoobomb-style olympic events, culminating in the Tour da
Bomb, a race from the top of Washington Park hill. There will be tropies for
the winners of the events. It should be a good time.
There's other events planned for Mini-Bike Winter. Check out
http://www.zoobomb.org for details.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
City Repair Square Dance
Saturday, February 26
7pm
Mississippi Rising Ballroom
833 N. Shaver at Mississippi
$8 donation at the door
Dust off your dancin' shoes and poof-up your crinolines for the Second Annual
City Repair Square Dance! This benefit for the 2005 Earth Day Celebration is
sure to bring a smile to your face and a bounce to your step. Swing your
partner with caller Bill Martin and a live string band. The event is all
ages, and no experience is required, as all dances will be taught and called.
Beer and refreshments will be available, and, of course, western costumes are
encouraged!
For more info on this event, as well as on Earth Day 2005, visit
http://www.cityrepair.org.
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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
- Dish soap
- 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)
- Big swaths of nice fabric to make the new classroom more habitable
- Food and drink for volunteers
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Once again, you've made it to the end of the Free Geek e-newsletter. Happy
trails, and we'll see you next time 'round!
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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