The following notes were supplied by Paul Schroeder. My only contributions
have been to atempt to correct the spelling of a few names, and to clarify
the nature of the grants Karen Saum and I agreed to investigate (in the
final paragraph). Paul- thanks for doing this.
Jon
*************************************************
HelpNet meeting convened at noon, Tuesday Nov. 19, 2002, at Peace and
Justice Center of Eastern Maine
Attending: Ilze Petersons (EMPJC, moderator for the meeting); Jon Falk
(HelpNet coordinator), Paul Perrault (media center), Sue Owen(Helpnet and
UU Church), Bill Sullivan (Bairnet), John Dieffenbacher-Krall (Maine
Peoples Alliance), Phoenicia Kraemer (Mabel Wadsworth Womens Health
Center), Ralph Grimes (H.O.M.E.), Karen Saum (H.O.M.E.), Jim Campbell
(Community Media Center; "electronic cottage"?), Ellen Gray (Families and
Children Together), Barbara Kates (Families and Children Together).
[please fix and fill in the blanks...]
Two discussion items were on the agenda for discussion. 1) Relationship
between the Pine Tree Folk School and HelpNet, and redistribution of time
and accounting for Jon's work. 2) Discussion of the future of HelpNet,
especially toward sharing the tasks and benefits of participation.
1) Discussion of this item took only a few minutes. Jon is planning to
remove his consulting work from under the umbrella of Pine Tree Folk
School, whose mission does not include provision of computer consulting
services. This will also create a clearer distinction between his work as
facilitator of the HelpNet, and his work as hands-on technician. Jon
emphasized that there will be no change in what he is doing, only in the
administrative structure around his work. The changes will begin Jan. 1, 2003.
2) Introductions around the table gave a good start to the range of
interests and commitments of people who are involved in HelpNet. A basic
distinction was suggested by Barbara Kates, that some people are committed
to increasing technical capacities of everyone, while others mostly want
help, and are not too interested in either the technical details nor in the
teaching / learning possibilities. Much of the discussion seemed to be
aimed at helping people who are on the "I need help" side of this equation
to gain in motivation to participate in the learning / sharing side.
The range of participants was impressive, with several separate grassroots
technology efforts coming together: the growing community media center,
BairNet, H.O.M.E.'s history of helping low income people obtain and use
computers, and HelpNet. A specific outcome was the suggestion that a joint
meeting of these efforts, and perhaps similar groups, be held, probably in
February.
Jim Campbell stressed that future directions should start with knowledge of
capacities and needs, and he suggested simple surveys as a means toward
that, with some opportunity for people to register their interests and
skills, as a way to increase participation. Supplementing the known skills
of members with grant-supported workers ("barefoot computer technicians")
was also suggested, with caveats about supporting paid workers without a
strong administrative structure, office etc.
There was some feeling that some of the topics discussed on the HelpNet
listserv are too technical for most participants to follow. Paul Schroeder
suggested that everyone is sort of on the same level of skill, but that
certain topics might seem advanced or esoteric because they are not
relevant to the problems of everyone.
Trying to think of ways to get more people involved, to get to know who
each other are, and to all have an opportunity to share, the idea of a
rotating "guest editor" for a monthly electronic newsletter was adopted by
the group. The first issue will be distributed sometime in mid-January, and
will contain a summary of recent postings and problems, probably a "regular
column" from Jon Falk (and others?), and announcements of workshops and
meetings (including those of affiliated groups). Volunteers came forward
for the first six issues: Paul Schroeder, Jim Campbell, Bill Sullivan,
Phoenicia Kraemer, Ellen Gray, H.O.M.E.
The workshops given by HelpNet have been very successful and helpful, and a
few ideas were brought forward for more, perhaps convened by HelpNet
members, particularly on problems of small organizations: accounting,
database, etc. The newsletter will be one step toward getting a coordinated
calendar of these events. The existing HelpNet website might be hosted by
Bairnet, or access to it might be shared with the media center so that
updated FAQs and links could be added by the broader community.
In addition to the monthly newsletter, Jon and Karen will begin to
investigate grants that might be available for a "barefoot tech" program
(to be sponsored by H.O.M.E.), and Jon, Jim and Phoenicia will work
together to organize a meeting in February.
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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