Diversity in High Tech: Organizing to Increase Access After I-200

[Rich Littleton]

Doug,

This is a most valuable sending.  Keep our feet to the fire.  Any ideas
about distributing these guidelines?

Rich



______________________________________________________________________

*****  Unless stated otherwise, this message may be forwarded.  ******

On Mon, 1 Mar 1999, Doug Schuler wrote:

> This is a follow up to Lorraine's message about SCN's earlier mission.
> 
> About seven (eight?) years ago in the earliest days of SCN -- while it was 
> still a CPSR/Seattle project and mostly just a gleam in peoples'
> eyes -- we developed a set of principles (appended below) which we 
> hoped could serve as a continuing guide to SCN's development.
> 
> Part of my interest in seeing that we developed this set of principles
> was that our mission would not get diluted or degraded over time and
> that we'd have something in writing that would continually serve as
> a reminder of the high goals that we set for ourselves.  My fear was
> that we'd forget these principles as time went on.
> 
> While I do see SCN and all of its volunteers as still at least implicitly
> abiding by these principles I thought it might be useful to send this
> out as a little reminder to all of us.  I wonder if these principles
> are as well-known as they should be; and as part of that I wonder if
> there is a way that people can readily find the principles when they
> come in via the scn home page or if they are sent a copy when they
> join SCN.
> 
> Athough technology and social circumstances are changing in many ways,
> I don't see that any of these principles are out of date nor do I foresee
> the day anytime soon when they are out of date.
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> -- Doug
> 
> PS. The principles are also @ http://www.scn.org/ip/commnet/principles.html
> 
> 
>                  ------------------------------------------
>                          Seattle Community Network
>                                       
>                                  Principles
>                  ------------------------------------------
>                                       
>    The Seattle Community Network (SCN) is a free public-access computer
>    network for exchanging and accessing information. Beyond that,
>    however, it is a service conceived for community empowerment. Our
>    principles are a series of commitments to help guide the ongoing
>    development and management of the system for both the organizers and
>    participating individuals and organizations.
>    
> Commitment to Access -
>    
>  Access to the SCN will be free to all.
> 
>   We will provide access to all groups of people particularly
>      those without ready access to information technology.
>   We will provide access to people with diverse needs.
>      This may include special-purpose interfaces.
>   We will make the SCN accessible from public places.
> 
> Commitment to Service -
>    
>  The SCN will offer reliable and responsive service.
> 
>   We will provide information that is timely and useful
>      to the community.
>   We will provide access to databases and other services.
> 
> Commitment to Democracy -
>    
>  The SCN will promote participation in government and public dialogue.
> 
>   The community will be actively involved in the ongoing development
>      of the SCN.
>   We will place high value in freedom of speech and expression and in
>      the free exchange of ideas.
>   We will make every effort to ensure privacy of the system users.
>   We will support democratic use of electronic technology.
> 
> Commitment to the World Community -
>    
>  In addition to serving the local community, we will become
>      part of the regional, national and international community.
> 
>   We will build a system that can serve as a model for other
>      communities.
> 
> Commitment to the Future -
>    
>  We will continue to evolve and improve the SCN.
> 
>   We will explore the use of innovative applications such as electronic
>      town  halls for community governance, or electronic encyclopedias
>      for enhanced access to information.
>   We will work with information providers and with groups involved in
>      similar projects using other media.
>   We will solicit feedback on the technology as it is used, and
>      make it as accessible and humane as possible.
> 
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  From the Listowner  * * * * * * * * * * * *
> .	To unsubscribe from this list, send a message to:
> majordomo at scn.org		In the body of the message, type:
> unsubscribe scn
> ==== Messages posted on this list are also available on the web at: ====
> * * * * * * *     http://www.scn.org/volunteers/scn-l/     * * * * * * *
> 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *  From the Listowner  * * * * * * * * * * * *
.	To unsubscribe from this list, send a message to:
majordomo at scn.org		In the body of the message, type:
unsubscribe scn
==== Messages posted on this list are also available on the web at: ====
* * * * * * *     http://www.scn.org/volunteers/scn-l/     * * * * * * *