HELPNET NEWS
MARCH 2002
********NEXT HELPNET MEETING********
WHEN: 12:00 - 1:00, Thursday, March 21 (Bring Your Lunch)
WHERE: Peace and Justice Center, 170 Park St., Bangor
AGENDA: Demo of Organizer Database Software (see below),
Discussion of Application Service Providers (ASP's), anything else
attendees want to talk about
********************************
IN THIS ISSUE:
**ODB - A NEW, NEARLY-FREE DATABASE PROGRAM FOR MANAGING MAILING
LISTS, CONTRIBUTION RECORDS, AND ORGANIZING CAMPAIGNS
**CONDUCTING ON-LINE DISCUSSIONS - THE FUNDY FORUM EXAMPLE
********************************
ODB (ORGANIZERS' DATABASE) - A NEW, NEARLY-FREE DATABASE PROGRAM
We had a couple of messages on this list recently about ODB, a new program
that is being released by the Cambridge, Mass.-based Organizers
Collective. ODB is a simple, yet flexible database program specifically
designed for grassroots groups. It makes it easy to track contacts, create
labels and reports, record contributions, etc. Since the program was
written with advocacy in mind, there are predefined fields for House and
Senate District, Ward, Precinct, etc. There are also customizable fields
for activities, interests, constituencies, contribution sources.
Form what I've seen so far, I'm quite impressed with the program. Compared
with eBase (www.ebase.org), which we've also discussed on this list, ODB is
simpler and less powerful. But it is also much easier to understand and
use - I was able to install it and plunge right in within a few
minutes. I have installed it on my own computer to play with it, and have
tried to put it on one other person's machine. When I did that, we ran into
problems printing from the program,with Windows reporting a conflict
between ODB and the printer driver. I don't know yet whether this is
problem with that particular machine or with ODB. I have no problems
printing from ODB on my own network.
The program is a small download (1.45 Mb) from
<http://organizenow.net/odb.html>. The current version is a late Beta
(v0.8.8), but it seems pretty polished. The program is shareware -- if you
want to keep it after a 45-day trial period, they ask that you join the
Organizers Collective. Annual membership fees are listed as $30/year for
individuals and volunteer-based organizations, $50/year for groups with 0-1
staff, and $100/yr for larger groups. Starting with version 0.9, they plan
to distribute ODB as open-source software. I don't know whether this will
affect these fees.
I can demo (play show-and-tell with) the program at the March Helpnet meeting.
CONDUCTING ON-LINE DISCUSSIONS - THE FUNDY FORUM EXAMPLE
Most of us have some experience with E-mail lists, or listservs. The
technology has advanced to the point where it is really very easy to set up
a discussion list, and there are ASP's (like Topica) which will host a list
of up to 1,000 names for free. The harder part of the job is creating a
useful discussion. We've all been on lists that either had nothing
happening, or deluged us with messages, some of them long-winded and off-topic.
The Fundy Forum's "Timed Discussions"
(<http://www.fundyforum.com/tdlistserver.html>) are a nice approach to the
problem of conducting a focused on-line discussion. The Fundy Forum, has a
regular, on-going listserver. In addition to this, several times a year
they set up special "Timed Discussions" on specific topics. The most
recent one dealt with the subject of wharves in the Bay of Fundy.
Each timed discussion is a separate list, to which interested people must
subscribe. The discussion has a group of people who agree to be
presenters/moderators. After making initial presentations on the topic,
participants and moderators conduct a discussion for a limited time - a few
weeks - then the list is shut down. The list messages are archived on the
Fundy Forum Web site and are available to the public - you can check them
out.
I think this is an approach that many Helpnet members might consider. It
allows an on-line discussion and education process to take place, without
overwhelming either the resources of the sponsoring organization, or the
E-mail Inboxes of the participants.
Jon
Jonathan Falk
Pine Tree Folk School
RR 2, Box 7162
Carmel, ME 04419
(207)848-2433
<http://www.ptfolkschool.org>
**Folkschool-list archives are at:
<http://www.mint.net/folkschool/helpnet/archives.htm>
Sponsored by Pine Tree Folk School
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