[freegeek-e-newsletter] March FreeGeek e-newsletter
e-newsletter at lists.freegeek.org
e-newsletter at lists.freegeek.org
Sat Mar 26 19:16:48 PST 2005
Hi everybody! This is Free Geek's March e-newsletter. Our e-newsletter
comes out (approximately) every month. If you'd like to unsubscribe from
this newsletter, please scroll down to the bottom of this email and follow
the directions.
Contents:
I. Staff Changes
II. Volunteer of the Month
III. Gimp Classes at Free Geek
IV. The FreekBox 3
V. GEEK PROM
VI. GEEK FAIR
VII. Happenings Around Town
VIII. Wishlist
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I. STAFF CHANGES
As you may have heard, Free Geek has been going through some budget issues
recently. As a result of these issues, staff and council have been making
many efforts to save money as well as increase revenue. Although our tactics
have helped bring more money in the doors, our financial issues endured.
We've been keeping our overhead quite low for a long time, and our biggest
expenditure right now is staff costs.
After considering these facts, a couple of our staff have, sadly, decided to
step down so that Free Geek may continue to operate at a more financially
sustainable level. If you stop in to our facilities these days, you probably
won't see Geiner Vindas or Marlin Sweitzer. We recognize all that these two
have done to improve the printer refurbishing and operations programs at Free
Geek, we'll miss them dearly, and we wish them well. Marlin has taken an
early retirement and Geiner is now employed doing bilingual customer service
with a financial institution in Beaverton.
Other collective members have begun to cross-train in order to keep things
running as smoothly as possible.
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II. 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:
Gideon King!
Gideon has been a volunteer intern in the printer department for many months.
In light of the staffing changes mentioned above, Gideon has proven to be
invaluable in helping to show the staff how to get things done in
Printerland. His knowledge and patience is highly appreciated by all of
staff!
Thanks, Gideon!
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III. GIMP CLASSES
Every Tuesday evening in April, Free Geek's own Mark Niemann-Ross will be
teaching enrollees how to use GIMP, or "GNU Image Manipulation Program" at
Free Geek's facilities. For background, check the wikipedia
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIMP) or the official website
(http://www.gimp.org). Briefly, it is used for image processing and
manipulation. Very similar to Photoshop, but for Linux.
This class series is an experimental first-run. Those who sign up for the
class commit to all four classes (April 5, 12, 19, and 26). The cost of the
class is $20. The class will cover such things as Tools & Layers,
Manipulating Selections, and Animations.
Mark Niemann-Ross, besides serving on the Free Geek board of directors and
volunteering extensively for Free Geek events, has a degree in teaching, and
has taught GIMP classes before. During many of the daylight hours, he toils
for Adobe, working with 3rd party developers to create InDesign-related
plug-ins.
We're very excited that we can offer this class! Many thanks to Mark for his
volunteerism. To sign up for this class (remember that it's a 4-class
series!), call the front desk at (503)232-9350.
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IV. THE FREEKBOX 3
New, improved, upgraded, and lookin' good: we proudly announce the FreekBox
3! The software that we load onto the computers we give away to our
volunteers has been upgraded Debian Woody to Debian Sarge (see
http://debian.org/releases for info on these releases). All of the
applications on the FreekBox are now the newest available. This makes them
faster and visually more appealing, with more intuitive user interfaces and
better features.
Free Geek's distro team has fixed all the bugs, and are still adding programs
(for example, they're adding a program which will make it easier to connect a
FreekBox 3 to the internet via broadband). Laurel has even updated the
FreekBox Manual to be FreekBox 3 specific; it contains a shiny new glossary!
If you're interested in learning more about the working group that creates
the FreekBox distro or in helping out, come to the meetings! They're every
Tuesday at 7:15pm at Free Geek. You can also check out the distro email
archives at http://lists.freegeek.org/pipermail/distro/.
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V. GEEK PROM
GEEK PROM 2005: Kissed by a Daemon (A Glamorous Geeky Gala)
Friday, April 1
8pm - 1am
FREE GEEK
1731 SE 10th Avenue
Tickets $10 advance, $12 at the door
GEEK PROM: Be there and be square.
Our second annual GEEK PROM give Portland area geeks a chance to recycle
their high school prom memories, while contributing to Free Geek's efforts
to "help the needy get nerdy." GEEK PROM is as "formal" as you want to be,
open to anyone looking for a way to re-examine their high school angst
amongst friendly geeks. This year's event a fundraiser for both FREE GEEK
and the City Repair Project.
The prom, as usual, will be held in our large classroom space and meeting
room at our facilities in inner SE Portland. There is ample room for the
arrival of stretch limos, however, participants are encouraged to arrive via
ecologically sound transportation.
DJs Deaf Child, Co and Pariah will be providing the old school Hip Hop, Drum
n' Bass plus 70's, 80's and other random cool stuff. When not dancing you can
get your picture taken in the Photo Booth, vote for Prom King and Queen and
play everybody's favorite mingling game: Meet the Geek! GEEK PROM is an
all-ages event. A 21 and over cash bar will be serving beer and wine. Hors
d'oeuvres (yum!) and non-alcoholic beverages are included in the ticket
price.
GEEK PROM dresses, outfits and accessories will be available for sale in the
Free Geek Thrift store for super cheap! (nothing over $5 - on sale from
Tuesday, March 22 until the day of the prom - while supplies last). Tickets
are $10 advance and $12 at the door. There is a limited quantity, so get
yours today! GEEK PROM 2005 Tickets are available at the following locations:
- FREE GEEK 1731 SE 10th Ave.
- The City Repair Project 2126 SE Division
- Back Space 115 NW 5th Ave.
For more information, visit http://www.freegeek.org/geekprom
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VI. GEEK FAIR
Saturday, July 9
Afternoon-time
Free Geek
Geek Fair is gearing up! It'll be a great festival this year: lots of music,
refreshments, and fun! Smashtacular will be making another appearance, and
I've heard rumors of a collaboration with our friends at Backspace cafe
(http://backspace.bz).
Do you or (someone you know) want to host a booth at Geek Fair in order to
sell crafts or get the word out about an organization? Get in touch with us
at events [at] freegeek.org.
Also, 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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VII. HAPPENINGS AROUND TOWN
Bunny on a Bike Ride - 2nd Annual Peninsula Park
Sunday, March 27, 2:00p (length: 3hr)
Peninsula Park
N. Albina and Ainsworth
Meet at the Gazebo near the Rose Gardens
Join the 2nd Annual Bunny on a Bike ride in Portland!
Come at 2 pm for the Mini Bunny on a Bike Ride
inside Peninsula Park followed by an egg hunt. Kids and big
kids on mini-bikes are welcome to ride. At 3 pm, the Bunny
on Bike Ride will hit the streets of North Portland on a leisurely
loop ride followed by a tea party!
Bunny attire expected!!
To see photos from last year's ride go to: Bunny Ride 2004
(http://redbatpress.com/bobride_snapshots.htm) or check out Ayleen's Bunny
Ride Photos (http://www.yeabikes.net/bunny.html).
This ride is sponsored by Red Bat Press http://redbatpress.com
Contact: Carye Bye, caryebye at redbatpress.com, 503-248-4454
* * * * * * * *
Don't forget about Geek Prom!
Friday, April 1, 8pm-1am
Free Geek
1731 SE 10th Avenue
$10 advance, $12 at the door
* * * * * * * *
The Downtown Farmer's Market is back!
Starting Saturday, April 3
Saturdays
8:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
1800 SW Broadway at Montgomery
(South Park Blocks at Portland State University)
Go and get your fresh veggies and meats straight from the local farmers who
grow and raise them. The Farmer's Market also offers starts, fresh cheeses,
chocolate, mushrooms, honey, flowers, crafts, and more! Every Saturday in
April will feature garden talks and demonstrations.
http://portlandfarmersmarket.org
* * * * * * * * -
Earth Day: Celebration of Localization
Saturday, April 23, 10am-10pm
Sunnyside Environmental School
SE 34th and Yamhill
The City Repair Project, in collaboration with a wide range of
community organizations, local businesses, artists, schools and
individuals, is offering a unique way to celebrate Earth Day 2005 in
Portland. Some highlights of this family oriented event include:
· 100+ booths of local sustainable businesses and environmental
organizations
· A local farmer's market and organic food vendors
· Better Transportation Fair featuring bikes, bio-diesel, and other
forms of green transportation
· Kids' Village: a collaborative effort of many educational and
artistic organizations including the students of Sunnyside Environmental
School who co-created it and features face-painting, crafts, music and
storytelling.
· 3 Stages for music and performances featuring diverse local
performers and run by Ethos, a nationally recognized Portland nonprofit
organization focused on music education
· Health & Wellness area featuring holistic health practitioners
offering massage, consultations, and other services
· Service projects throughout the City in conjunction with SOLV
· Friends of Trees annual fruit tree giveaway
Plus, Free Geek is a Coalition Sponsor of Earth Day. Come see us at the Free
Geek booth!
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VIII. 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: 33 gallon clear or white
- 8.5" x 11" single-sheet white printer paper (100% post-consumer
recycled, if possible)
- Cardboard baler
- 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 (especially chocolate)
**Want to be our dish soap or TP sponsor? If you donate some or all of the
money, we'll use our People's Food Co-op discount to buy
environmentally-friendly soap and TP (thus keeping these purchases in line
with our environmental ethics), and Saint Liane Kocka will pick them up!
Contact liane [at] freegeek [dot] org if you're interested.**
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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 [dot] org
http://www.freegeek.org
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