[FreeGeek] Thx, Intro, support, sponsorship all in one

[Jennifer Campagnolo]

Hi Everyone!
Congratulations on getting so far in a short time with the reality of  
a FreeGeek here in Vancouver.
There are talented, thoughtful people involved here, hence the great  
evolution.  Thank you for all the organization, resources, and heart.
I was immediately certain of the concept and wanting to contribute.   
I'll be brief to catch up on the main areas.

Intro:
I love technology, reducing waste and helping people become self- 
sufficient.  FreeGeek's a natural.
My skill set in a nutshell - 12 years of matching technology with  
business needs/use, helping organizations do what they do better;
business process redesign; group facilitation, course design and  
communications; social sustainability; coaching and project management
I am a member of Board of Directors for both Vancouver Community  
Network and the Western Canada Wilderness Committee
I also worked with the Labour Environmental Alliance Society and  
learned a whole bunch about toxic trespass and the effect on the  
earth of our affluent effluent.
2 years ago, I worked with United We Can and saw the good but limited  
organization around computer recycling there.  It bugged me.
The operation was structured to give one person a job not build  
capacity.  FreeGeek is different.
I love the idea of spreading good opensource software, i.e. Ubuntu
Scott Nelson is a friend and has done great things in this City in a  
quiet Ninja way.  He leads me to good things and I appreciate it.

How I can help FreeGeek:
Capacity building and coaching folks who need support, maybe helping  
to build our way of working with people?  Not sure if we need it but  
we'll be in contact with some folks who can be challenged if handled  
without care.  The arrogant tech geek style won't help.
Bringing the information, maybe a workshop, on the toxic side of life  
to round out the experience.
At least, we must prepare people for the toxic side of handling the  
guts of their 'puters.
Unless I give up something big, I will have to have a secondary or  
perhaps tertiary involvement with Free Geek.
If we set up the organization with functional committees, i.e.  
communications, course design, funding, org. process, I can  
participate on one or two committees.

Sponsorship:
I'm not afraid to ask for money and write good proposals.
I think a natural sponsor would be The Recycling Council of BC http:// 
www.rcbc.bc.ca/
City of Vancouver might be good for a small annual kick in, and I’d  
also push us to larger organizations like HP, IBM, Dell for support.   
Since the powers that be are going to be taxing consumption and not  
the producers, the producers have a part to play.  The obvious notion  
that they’d want people buying new equipment may be sustained because  
more people will be able to buy new and pass off the old.

Association:
I like the idea of being associated with FreeGeek Portland and  
thereby buttressing and expanding the FreeGeek concept.
A network of FreeGeek operations increases the reach and  
possibilities for all and other operations.

Going Forward:
Safe travels to our emissaries headed to Portland.  Find out as much  
as you can about what works, how they feel about our association and  
who they get funding from.
We won't compete for funds but can look for synergies and cdn  
equivalents.

Peace out.

Jennifer Campagnolo
Mail: jcampagnolo at shaw.ca
Blog: www.anothergreenworld.org
Work: www.thehigherground.ca
Cell:  778-837-4343
Skype: jenvirtual
Motto:  AWARENESS, CAPACITY, CHANGE


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