On Fri, 17 Oct 2003 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > I know Goanet recently completed 10 years. > In less than 3 months, I have found out GOANET is the most powerful and > effective channel of media amongst the GOANS and others all over the > world. > > I do appreciate the efforts / hardwork put in by the Goanet Admin > (Volunteers), i also know it not an easy job to keep it going. > > Does GOANET receive any Goa Govt. Grants or any help ? (which it should). > Help from any other sources? say from Goaneters? > Ever had financial problems? > > Would appreciate if any one from the Admin write a few lines on its > internal working, saying how it is possible to keep going and whether we > goaneters can do any thing to keep it going in the years to come. > > Just curious (good to know about its problems etc, if any). > I am sure other goaneters would like to know too. > > Viva GOANET > > joagoauk
Thank you for the compliments, Joe. Perhaps Goanet is *one* of the effective channels for communication among Goans worldwide. There are others too... If everything works smoothly, then that is enough reward for the admin/volunteers team. Sometimes, we can't satisfy all parties, which can be disappointing. But it's all in the game. One thing I failedl to understand: why should Goanet receive Goa government funds? Personally, I think that would be a tragedy because (i) he who pays the piper calls the tune, as it is said (ii) a list like this, even if it attracts wide participation, thrives more on volunteer involvement rather than financial inputs ... in a word, money is not really needed (iii) our view so far has been against seeking *financial* support ... though we often seek volunteer support, from people like Vincente, Bosco, Daisy and whoever's willing to give it, to build the Goanet further. Financial problems? Good question... Part of the beauty of depending on a volunteer-driven network is that finance hardly plays a major role. AFAIK, Goanet has never fell into a financial crisis, howsoever minior... thanks to all those good people who've willingly given their time and energy for free. And to every member who keeps it active and interesting. [My strong bias is that, whenever possible, volunteer-driven ventures are far preferable to paid-for-in-cash ones. I've see what has been possible in the world of Free Software, and realise that there are *some things* that money simply can never ever buy. This includes solid volunteer commitment; people doing a job not because they have to, or are paid to, but simply because they choose to. While we all need money to live, a donation of time/energy by any middle-class professional is not something that saps our lives. This can go a long way in offering collective solutions to our common problems. Inspired by Free Software and Goanet, some of us in Goa and elsewhere tried something parallel in the field of ICTforDevelopment, see www.bytesforall.org.] Starting a list is easy; anyone can go to www.yahoogroups.com and launch one for free. But keeping it going, and ensuring it grows, that is a bigger challenge. Needless to say, every vocal or silent member of Goanet has also made this growth possible. Some of those who played a vital role in the past are no longer with us; we are grateful to them all the same. Oneday, perhaps a 'roll of honour' will be created on Goanet. We're still trying to compile our ten-years archives, from all the scattered fragments still available on the Net. We do need all the (non-financial) help that's possible.... Some things that are badly needed: (a) if you think this list is good, introduce it to other Goans/people interested in Goa (b) encourage new members to post more frequently by appreciating their posts which make sense to you (c) help build a more caring and sharing atmosphere on Goanet, instead of one of bickering and aggression (d) contact the admin team with ideas that could help a wider number get interested in Goanet. We specially need volunteers to write columns of specific interest to various groups of expat Goans. All ideas are welcome. Thanks again for your thought-provoking queries. FN ---------------------------------------- http://soccultureindiangoa.shorturl.com Goa's first and only Usenet newsgroup ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
