SCN: Re: Possible Roles for SCN -- and what we can do about it...

[patrick]

Doug,

I'll put your conference information on my Yahoo calendar and put it
up on the homepage in February.

Patrick


--- Doug Schuler <douglas at scn.scn.org> wrote:
> 
> Two quick things --
> 
> I wanted to add the idea of computer recycling to the list
> (thanks, Joe!).
> 
> I also want to second Lorraine's comments about SCN's non-profit
> status.  There are, of course, some restrictions on what we
> can do as a non-profit but they basically don't apply at 
> all to my suggestions.  One of the most important of the
> non-profit restrictions is that we can't spend over a certain
> percentage of our resources in lobbying efforts.  This means
> lobbying for *specific* pieces of legislation or candidates.
> It doesn't have an impact the ISSUE based educational effort
> that I was talking about it.  
> 
> There *are* some issues that arise with providing free
> ISP services I gather.  The Oregon Public Network (if I'm
> not mistaken) just concluded a multi-year hassle with the
> IRS over some of these issues.  There was a sort of
> compromise I hear but I do not understand the issues.
> If and when we move further in this direction -- and I'd
> support it -- there are some issues that we'd have to
> face.  I don't think it necessarily implies getting
> rid of our status, however.
> 
> -- Doug
> 
>   
> ******************************************************************
>    *     SHAPING THE NETWORK SOCIETY                               
> *
>    *          Patterns for Participation,Action, and Change        
> *
>    *                  http://www.cpsr.org/conferences/diac02       
> *
>    * Tomorrow's information and communication infrastructure       
> *
>    *   is being shaped today.                                      
> *
>    *                              But by whom and to what ends?    
> *
>   
> ******************************************************************
> 
> 
> On Wed, 31 Oct 2001, emailer1 wrote:
> 
> > I agree with Doug.
> > 
> > I would put two ideas first.  After those two things, the rest
> would become
> > doable.
> > 
> > First thing:  Become a stable ISP (internet hookup entity).  That
> might
> > require charging $5.00 per person per month but then we could
> give up the
> > non-profit status and do some high-powered lobbying.
> > 
> > Our non-profit status blocks us completely from doing numbers
> number 5, and
> > seriously cripples us from doing 1, 7, 8, and 9.
> > 
> > THEN, I would make sure that the SCNA e-mail was (a) as easy
> Outlook (could
> > use Outlook) and (b) was HTML able.
> > 
> > After that, we would gather members like lawns gathering leaves
> in fall.
> > 
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Doug Schuler <douglas at scn.org>
> > To: <scn at scn.org>
> > Sent: Monday, October 29, 2001 3:42 PM
> > Subject: SCN: Possible Roles for SCN -- and what we can do about
> it...
> > 
> > 
> > > Possible Roles for SCN -- and what we can do about it...
> > >
> > > SCNites,
> > >
> > > I've compiled a quick note which I think (HOPE!) may help us
> now and in
> > > the future.
> > >
> > > The first part of the note is a brief list of all of the
> possible roles
> > > for SCN I could think of this morning over my second cup of
> coffee.
> > >
> > > After this list I make a simple suggestion that I think could
> (help)
> > > guide further development on SCN.  I'd love to know what you
> think.
> > >
> > >
> > >  ------------------ possible roles for SCN --
> > > (PS.  there are many others -- let me know what they are and
> I'll add
> > them)
> > 
> > > [Note, I added numbers to Doug's list.]
> > 
> > > 1.    Assume a place at the table for developing city /
> regional / state
> > (and
> > > other?) ICT initiatives and policy.  (ICT = "information and
> > > communication technology)
> > >
> > > 2.    Provide low / no cost ICT services (email, listservs, web
> pages,
> > etc.)
> > >
> > > 3.    Provide useful civic and community content on our web
> site (and
> > other
> > > places?)
> > >
> > > 4.    Provide portal to Seattle community / civic information,
> > applications
> > > and services
> > >
> > > 5.    Agitate for socially responsible ICT policy locally,
> regionally, and
> > > beyond
> > >
> > > 6.    Perform training and other pubic education
> > >
> > > 7.    Help define and develop future community / civic
> information,
> > > applications and services
> > >
> > > 8.    Work with community / civic groups to develop relevant
> ICT
> > applications
> > > and services
> > >
> > > 9.    Take part in regional, national, and international
> coalitions to
> > > advance community / civic ICT goals.
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------------------
> > >
> > >
> > > If we asked everybody in SCN to prioritize these possible roles
> > > I'm assuming that we'd have some champions for each and every
> one of
> > > these roles.
> > >
> > > So which of these roles should we as SCN volunteers address?
> > >
> > > ALL OF THEM.
> > >
> > > But, people will say, we don't have the resources to do ALL OF
> THEM.
> > > That's right!  We don't have the resources AT THE MOMENT to do
> all of
> > > them.  So, at this point in time let's not do ALL of them.  In
> fact, at
> > > any given point in time, let's just focus on the ones in which
> we have
> > > volunteers who are willing to do the work.
> > >
> > > We have to realize that ALL of these issues are important and
> that they
> > > together form a coherent body of work that SCN stands for.
> > >
> > > We have, in fact, worked on all of them, at one time or
> another.
> > >
> > > I'm not against setting priorities.  We have to do that!  But
> that
> > > shouldn't be used as an excuse to rule out a relevant piece of
> work.
> > >
> > > Let's do the limited amount of work that we can do.  The way I
> see it,
> > > however, there is no reason to ban certain activities.  The
> situation
> > > is dynamic -- we need to be dynamic as well!
> > >
> > > Thanks!
> > >
> > > -- Doug
> > >
> > >
> > > * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  From the Listowner  * * * * * * *
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> > 
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> 
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