Re: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN
The giving crowd has a series of think tanks and ideational ways of thinking that are meetings that they believe are educational for instance they recently renewed ideas about time. The document they used for thinking about year round schools was a project done in 1994, when time was less pressed by NCLB. The document was Prisoners of Time a report that still stands in spite of the fact that anything that talks about the difficulties in reaching teachers and schools has just about been taken down or sent to the cleaners. I find it interesting that so few of us are involved in their knowledgenetwork. I can see a senario for year round schools, but practicioners know that we just about have year round schools for teachers as summer projects have become compulsory and they are on demand to attend. But a conversation with practioners would have yielded some nuggets of truth. Sabbaticals have just about disappeared, time is more squeezed. I can't think how it was possible for them to discuss this withour being aware of the assault on time from outside sources, the needed community interface, the special days, and the selling of candy and wrapping paper. More than that , depending on the school or school system in which one works.. summer can be a time to charge batteries. I had two uninterrupted summers in my teaching life. How do we get access to the think tanks, such as PopTech, and the Aspen Foundation gatherings or the meetings indeed that the Foundations create for themselves. Or is it lese majesty? Sincerely Bonnie Bracey [EMAIL PROTECTED] -Original Message- From: Michael Maranda [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: 'The Digital Divide Network discussion group' [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sat, 17 Sep 2005 11:36:33 -0500 Subject: RE: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN (Reply at bottom) I think there is a larger issue that we might collaborate on. Funders do not seem to value the role of intermediaries and of knowledge brokers. I find many of the same challenges of finding money for the Tutor/Mentor Connection as DDN is finding for the work it does. Dan, I agree. Funders do not understand the perspective of the knowledge workers, brokers and intermediaries, ... Talk about challenges .. I could write a book. Much energy is lost in re-inventing oneself to fit the needs of funders. Bonnie Bonnie Bracey bbracey@aol com --- Very true...! So, to shape our field, we need to educate ourselves and educate the philanthropic community as to what is best for the field qua field and movement, and seek a new form of philanthropy. The other day I attended the Chicago Asian Giving Circle event The Art of Asian Giving at the Art Institute of Chicago. While not concerned about getting into details here, one important aspect was a diverse donor base and each donor at the $250 annual level having a vote in how the fund would benefit the community. I realize educating the philanthropic community can sounds a bit presumptuous, however, that's what we we're doing when we make the case individually as organizations through proposals or other solicitations. I'm suggesting we do so with some coordination for our field. -Michael Maranda ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
Re: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN
This group has so much to offer, and operates on budgets that ranking government and corporate officers would scoff at --- because it is so tiny. There are many examples of how bright ideas and a few dimes would do so much -- Taran's van in a box is as good as any. FEMA would spend more on the documentation than Taran would spend to have these in place in FEMA and other facilities across the country. So how do we acquire the resources that can ensure that the Tarand's and the Carvin's and the Shapiro's and the Abrhamsen's and the Pruitt's need in order to continue their extraordinary work? I say it is to hold, at least once a year, a 24 hour conference - held virtually of course - with at least as much effort to ensure an audience in the tens of thousands (at minimum) - either in real time or by way of community radio station broadcasts. You guys have the tools to do this. You have the brainpower to hold roundtable conversations that would be interesting to listen to over conventional radio - the NPR's of the world. Among the topics for consideration would be how to acquire funding so those with the skills could get funded. Another topic would be how to attract large audiences, not from the choir, but from the congregation we seek. At 2:16 AM -0500 9/19/05, Taran Rampersad wrote: Snipped out a few things and hopping in... Full agreement with Dan and Bonnie, and going from Michael's post... Michael Maranda wrote: So, to shape our field, we need to educate ourselves and educate the philanthropic community as to what is best for the field qua field and movement, and seek a new form of philanthropy. The other day I attended the Chicago Asian Giving Circle event The Art of Asian Giving at the Art Institute of Chicago. While not concerned about getting into details here, one important aspect was a diverse donor base and each donor at the $250 annual level having a vote in how the fund would benefit the community. One problem. The people with $250 are people with $250 to spend, which means that people below that amount don't get that vote. The diversity counts, but still... I know people working in NGOs who have never put a foot in the neighborhoods that they are supposed to be helping. $250 is one week's pay, before taxes, of someone that makes $6.25 an hour. Bear with me, this goes both ways. On the flip side, I've met people like Peter Abrahamsen who is doing work on getting internet access to the people at the center of Lake Nicaragua. He left Nicaragua a few months ago so he could earn more money so he could continue his work in Nicaragua. Peter, last I heard, was on this list and I apologize if I make him uncomfortable but I'm trying to make a point here. He's doing this completely on his own, at least the last I spoke to him. I wish I had a solution. I don't. But I think part of the solution is communicating what I see, and listening/reading what other people see. The people with money controlling the flow of money is what we consider to be the natural order of things. In capitalism, it is - and I'm not going to ding capitalism because I practice it as well. But the point here is that the value of people who freely volunteer their time and their energy for nothing more than a plane ticket have no say, and continue to have no say, because funding agencies choose where money goes to. It's fair to say that philanthropists do this as well, and while we can say what good has been done by philanthropy, I also think it's fair to say that philanthropy has been inadequate to the task. While I'm talking about this... well, I lean more toward Peter's side of the fence, something which has made me both friends and enemies. But there should be a middle ground. There should be a way for people who put in sweat equity to have more of a voice. I'm at a hospital in Guyana now, finishing up one stage of some volunteer work. This hospital gets donations all the time, and is grateful for them. They don't look gift horses in the mouth. But I can't help but notice the new wing, which was donated, but was donated with the understanding that no local people or materials could be used. In a few years, that wing becomes a liability for the hospital in costs. Why? Because the people with the money, who selflessly give it, selfishly decide where it goes a lot of the time. I'm sorry, I don't mean to offend, but that's what I see. On the flip side, not every person or organization who walks in can be trusted with money even in small amounts. Consider that at this same hospital, there were quotations for $1 million Guyanese dollars ($50,000 US, but it caught your attention) to network the same hospital. On one Saturday, with a cost of lunch ($3,000 Guyanese; $15 US) for the 1 lady and 3 gentlemen involved, plus the cost of the cable, connectors and switches, the hospital got the start of a functioning network. Why? Because they finally unleased their IT department. By looking at
Re: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN
For any of you who would like to take up John's offer, I'm hosting the next Tutor/Mentor Leadership Conference in Chicago on November 18 and 19. Part of this conference will be a symposium built off of needs assessment survey's we've done in previous conference that tell us the most important needs of tutor/mentor programs are people and dollars. In the symposium we'll set up 2-3 hour meetings where people will share their own experience and where we'll try to do a SWAT analysis of strengths, weakness, threats and opportunities to the tutor/mentor movement. As we brainstorm opportunities, our goal is that individual programs, or groups of programs will act on those ideas to create solutions. I'll be linking the face to face part of the conference with an internet portal where people who attend the Chicago conference, and who cannot come to Chicago for the conference, can add their own ideas and network with others around specific topics. I'll also be linking to the WiAOC online conference which will connect the T/MC with people from around the world. I'm hoping to do a workshop in that conference that links participants in WiAOC with the participants of the T/MC. The ULR for the WiAOC is at: http://www.vancestevens.com/papers/evonline2002/convergence2005.htm I feel that a digital learning, communications and collaboration strategy should be integrated into any volunteer-based tutor/mentor program, thus many of those organizations with a technology mission may already linked into the DDN and its discussions of collaboration, elearning and capacity building. I provide many links on my web site to enable a crossover from T/MC site visitors to DDN and its network. Thus, if any of you would like to take a role in presenting information, or facilitating discussions in the T/MC portal, please volunteer. At the same time, if any of you are organizing an on-line forum such as John has suggested, during this same time frame, I encourage you to link to the T/MC Conference, and to other conferences on the same topic, such as WiAOC. You can find more information on the Tutor/Mentor Conference at http://www.tutormentorconference.bigstep.com Daniel F. Bassill Tutor/Mentor Connection http://www.tutormentorconnection.org as on 9/19/05 7:33 AM, John Hibbs at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This group has so much to offer, and operates on budgets that ranking government and corporate officers would scoff at --- because it is so tiny. There are many examples of how bright ideas and a few dimes would do so much -- Taran's van in a box is as good as any. FEMA would spend more on the documentation than Taran would spend to have these in place in FEMA and other facilities across the country. So how do we acquire the resources that can ensure that the Tarand's and the Carvin's and the Shapiro's and the Abrhamsen's and the Pruitt's need in order to continue their extraordinary work? I say it is to hold, at least once a year, a 24 hour conference - held virtually of course - with at least as much effort to ensure an audience in the tens of thousands (at minimum) - either in real time or by way of community radio station broadcasts. You guys have the tools to do this. You have the brainpower to hold roundtable conversations that would be interesting to listen to over conventional radio - the NPR's of the world. Among the topics for consideration would be how to acquire funding so those with the skills could get funded. Another topic would be how to attract large audiences, not from the choir, but from the congregation we seek. At 2:16 AM -0500 9/19/05, Taran Rampersad wrote: Snipped out a few things and hopping in... Full agreement with Dan and Bonnie, and going from Michael's post... Michael Maranda wrote: So, to shape our field, we need to educate ourselves and educate the philanthropic community as to what is best for the field qua field and movement, and seek a new form of philanthropy. The other day I attended the Chicago Asian Giving Circle event The Art of Asian Giving at the Art Institute of Chicago. While not concerned about getting into details here, one important aspect was a diverse donor base and each donor at the $250 annual level having a vote in how the fund would benefit the community. One problem. The people with $250 are people with $250 to spend, which means that people below that amount don't get that vote. The diversity counts, but still... I know people working in NGOs who have never put a foot in the neighborhoods that they are supposed to be helping. $250 is one week's pay, before taxes, of someone that makes $6.25 an hour. Bear with me, this goes both ways. On the flip side, I've met people like Peter Abrahamsen who is doing work on getting internet access to the people at the center of Lake Nicaragua. He left Nicaragua a few months ago so he could earn more money so he could continue his work in Nicaragua. Peter,
RE: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN
(Reply at bottom) -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, September 17, 2005 9:30 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN In a message dated 9/15/05 7:46:24 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I think there is a larger issue that we might collaborate on. Funders do not seem to value the role of intermediaries and of knowledge brokers. I find many of the same challenges of finding money for the Tutor/Mentor Connection as DDN is finding for the work it does. Dan, I agree. Funders do not understand the perspective of the knowledge workers, brokers and intermediaries, ... Talk about challenges .. I could write a book. Much energy is lost in re-inventing oneself to fit the needs of funders. Bonnie Bonnie Bracey bbracey@aol com --- Very true...! So, to shape our field, we need to educate ourselves and educate the philanthropic community as to what is best for the field qua field and movement, and seek a new form of philanthropy. The other day I attended the Chicago Asian Giving Circle event The Art of Asian Giving at the Art Institute of Chicago. While not concerned about getting into details here, one important aspect was a diverse donor base and each donor at the $250 annual level having a vote in how the fund would benefit the community. I realize educating the philanthropic community can sounds a bit presumptuous, however, thats what we we're doing when we make the case individually as organizations through proposals or other solicitations. I'm suggesting we do so with some coordination for our field. -Michael Maranda ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
Re: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN
Bonnie, I feel one of the obstacles we face in organizing is that we start with the traditional approach of creating a structure to solve the problem. Ususally this means that every participant gives up his/her position of ownership to someone else who assumes the role of leader. Most organizations are not confortable with this, thus don't do it, or don't participate actively even if their name is on the organization list. My approach is to skip this step. I've been building a network of organizations focused on helping kids to careers, by creating an on-line library of links to organizations that do this work, and by leading an advocacy on my web site that shows how these organizations are related and how they all need funding, not just me. By doing this for the past 12 years I've earned trust and many organizations are now willing to give time to participate in events that I organize to further the goals of building a better operating system. Thus, any intermediary who wants to increase his/her visibility and funding, can build a section of LINKS to every other intermediary that he/she thinks models this same type of thinking. If each group uses their own unique leadership to teach the value of intermediaries and to advocate for a flow of revenue to all of the intermediaries in their LINKS library, each will contribute to building greater visibility and a greater flow of resources to the entire network. As organizations demonstrate this consistently for many years, some will become intermediaries of intermediaries, using their various skills to draw people together, create better understanding, innovate tools all can use, etc. Over time, my hope is that this will lead to a growth in trust, understanding and goal alignment and an increse in resources for all of the organizations in the network, which will enable groups to move closer together in the way they might structure the way the collaborate. It's only when people and organizations say If it is to be, it is up to me. that they will begin to move in this direction. Dan Bassill Tutor/Mentor Connection http://tutormentor.blogspot.com Original Message: - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Sat, 17 Sep 2005 11:30:20 EDT To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN In a message dated 9/15/05 7:46:24 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I think there is a larger issue that we might collaborate on. Funders do not seem to value the role of intermediaries and of knowledge brokers. I find many of the same challenges of finding money for the Tutor/Mentor Connection as DDN is finding for the work it does. Dan, I agree. Funders do not understand the perspective of the knowledge workers, brokers and intermediaries, ... Talk about challenges .. I could write a book. Much energy is lost in re-inventing oneself to fit the needs of funders. Bonnie Bonnie Bracey bbracey@aol com ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ . ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
Re: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN and the Future...
Hola Andy and All ~~ Sometimes a vacuum in staff leadership can create more
space and lead to a larger realm of connected reality that involves more people
in different new ways not even imagined before. Over the last few years I have
seen the DDN grow, develop and mature as a positive creative force on the
Internet.
I Moderate a few progressive online groups with Yahoo, help spread the word
about the need to bridge the digital divide, and help encourage others in my
offline life {I actually have a life offline} to become computer literate, get
a computer and jump onto the Internet.
I remember a few years back when the Discussion List was on basic generic
topics such as really defining what the 'digital divide' is, the origin of the
terms 'haves and have-nots' and other early discussions. I myself was new to
the Internet, still trying to get the www right. Thus, we can see that real
life is a growing process with growing pains and nodal points.
I believe the automatic blog idea is a good one, along with volunteer Editors
and
creating more of an open forum for the exchange of new ideas and ideals without
fear. The more open, free and creative expression is allowed on a given web site
then the greater the birth of new ideas, new analyses, new ways of looking at
old phenomena. Above all, we must be honest, open and willing to change!
The recent horrible disaster of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath was a
splendid example of how relevant the Digital Divide Network is for so many. It
helps to create
a sense of interconnectedness as oppposed to digital isolation.
Keep Building Bridges!
Brother Peter S. Lopez
Home Email = [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sacramento, California
Bcc: Humane Rights Agenda Talking Circle
+
Andy Carvin [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Hi everyone,
As all of you know, the last several years have been challenging ones
for nonprofits involved in bridging the digital divide. Funding
priorities of many donors have shifted, resulting in a shrinking pool of
financial resources. We at DDN have always prided ourselves on running
the site in a lean, nimble fashion to avoid cutting back services or
staff. Unfortunately, the current funding environment has put pressure
on us, like so many other organizations, forcing us to make difficult
choices.
So it is with great sadness and regret that I have to announce that DDN
editor Cedar Pruitt will be leaving the Center for Media Community at
EDC effective September 20. Over the last year and a half, Cedar has
been an extraordinary asset to DDN, helping shepherd the relaunch of the
site last December and growing the network to nearly three times its
previous size. Both Andrea and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with
her, and I have no doubt that list members appreciate all the great work
Cedar has done for the network. We are truly sorry about her departure
and wish her all the best.
Meanwhile, I think that we, as a list, need to have a public discussion
about strategies for making DDN sustainable during lengthy periods of
funding cutbacks. For example, should we explore having volunteers take
over certain editorial duties? Should we make some of the site's
homepage more blog-like, so articles get posted there automatically
rather than manually? Should we explore a wikipedia-like model that
allows all members to have equal editorial privileges? These are just a
few ideas off the top of my head - not necessarily good ones, but ones I
hope will help begin a discussion on the matter in the coming weeks.
Please join me in thanking Cedar for her time here at DDN - she will be
missed by all of us.
thanks,
andy
--
---
Andy Carvin
Program Director
EDC Center for Media Community
acarvin @ edc . org
http://www.digitaldivide.net
http://katrina05.blogspot.com
Blog: http://www.andycarvin.com
---
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Re: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN
In a message dated 9/15/05 7:46:24 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I think there is a larger issue that we might collaborate on. Funders do not seem to value the role of intermediaries and of knowledge brokers. I find many of the same challenges of finding money for the Tutor/Mentor Connection as DDN is finding for the work it does. Dan, I agree. Funders do not understand the perspective of the knowledge workers, brokers and intermediaries, ... Talk about challenges .. I could write a book. Much energy is lost in re-inventing oneself to fit the needs of funders. Bonnie Bonnie Bracey bbracey@aol com ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
[DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN
Hi everyone, As all of you know, the last several years have been challenging ones for nonprofits involved in bridging the digital divide. Funding priorities of many donors have shifted, resulting in a shrinking pool of financial resources. We at DDN have always prided ourselves on running the site in a lean, nimble fashion to avoid cutting back services or staff. Unfortunately, the current funding environment has put pressure on us, like so many other organizations, forcing us to make difficult choices. So it is with great sadness and regret that I have to announce that DDN editor Cedar Pruitt will be leaving the Center for Media Community at EDC effective September 20. Over the last year and a half, Cedar has been an extraordinary asset to DDN, helping shepherd the relaunch of the site last December and growing the network to nearly three times its previous size. Both Andrea and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with her, and I have no doubt that list members appreciate all the great work Cedar has done for the network. We are truly sorry about her departure and wish her all the best. Meanwhile, I think that we, as a list, need to have a public discussion about strategies for making DDN sustainable during lengthy periods of funding cutbacks. For example, should we explore having volunteers take over certain editorial duties? Should we make some of the site's homepage more blog-like, so articles get posted there automatically rather than manually? Should we explore a wikipedia-like model that allows all members to have equal editorial privileges? These are just a few ideas off the top of my head - not necessarily good ones, but ones I hope will help begin a discussion on the matter in the coming weeks. Please join me in thanking Cedar for her time here at DDN - she will be missed by all of us. thanks, andy -- --- Andy Carvin Program Director EDC Center for Media Community acarvin @ edc . org http://www.digitaldivide.net http://katrina05.blogspot.com Blog: http://www.andycarvin.com --- ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
RE: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN
Dear Cedar, Andy, and All, Hello and a million thanks and cheers for a job amazingly done! Hope you will stay in the network so we can carry forward our plans to rally our fellow Hampsters (Hampshire College students and grads) to do the work of sustainability which Andy has outlined in his note. Whatever you do and wherever you go, we all wish you the very best of everything, and please do keep in touch! May there be no divides between us, and may we maintain our digital bridges and build many new ones together, Janet (Feldman, [EMAIL PROTECTED]) ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
Re: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN
This is sad news :( I am very impressed with http://www.digitaldivide.net/ and I think Cedar had a lot to do with it. I refer people to it often as an example of good function. I like the content, ease of use, and design, though I haven't done as much with it yet as I would like. Thank you, Cedar. We appreciate what you've done (and Andy too). And I look forward to Andy's proposed discussion, when he gets back from his trip. Judy Hallman ([EMAIL PROTECTED], http://www.rtpnet.org/hallman) Executive Director, RTPnet, NC (http://www.RTPnet.org/) --- Andy Carvin wrote: [clip] Meanwhile, I think that we, as a list, need to have a public discussion about strategies for making DDN sustainable during lengthy periods of funding cutbacks. [clip] ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
RE: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN
Thirty years ago when I worked at EDC our overhead (indirect cost) rate was something like 100% of all direct labor costs. I wonder if that's changed, or if it varies for this project. It would be nice to know that in advance of martialling volunteers, since, if it's high, perhaps another nonprofit could manage those services at a lower rate for greater flexibility in direct expenses; if it's low, perhaps we could raise regional funds to decentralize some of the expenses and develop a fee structure to cover those that serve the entire international community. Before, like Judy Mickey, we put on our own show in the backyard, it's good to find out what other circumstances are working. Joe Beckmann Oekos Foundation -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Andy Carvin Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2005 1:34 PM To: The Digital Divide Network discussion group Subject: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN Hi everyone, As all of you know, the last several years have been challenging ones for nonprofits involved in bridging the digital divide. Funding priorities of many donors have shifted, resulting in a shrinking pool of financial resources. We at DDN have always prided ourselves on running the site in a lean, nimble fashion to avoid cutting back services or staff. Unfortunately, the current funding environment has put pressure on us, like so many other organizations, forcing us to make difficult choices. So it is with great sadness and regret that I have to announce that DDN editor Cedar Pruitt will be leaving the Center for Media Community at EDC effective September 20. Over the last year and a half, Cedar has been an extraordinary asset to DDN, helping shepherd the relaunch of the site last December and growing the network to nearly three times its previous size. Both Andrea and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with her, and I have no doubt that list members appreciate all the great work Cedar has done for the network. We are truly sorry about her departure and wish her all the best. Meanwhile, I think that we, as a list, need to have a public discussion about strategies for making DDN sustainable during lengthy periods of funding cutbacks. For example, should we explore having volunteers take over certain editorial duties? Should we make some of the site's homepage more blog-like, so articles get posted there automatically rather than manually? Should we explore a wikipedia-like model that allows all members to have equal editorial privileges? These are just a few ideas off the top of my head - not necessarily good ones, but ones I hope will help begin a discussion on the matter in the coming weeks. Please join me in thanking Cedar for her time here at DDN - she will be missed by all of us. thanks, andy -- --- Andy Carvin Program Director EDC Center for Media Community acarvin @ edc . org http://www.digitaldivide.net http://katrina05.blogspot.com Blog: http://www.andycarvin.com --- ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
Re: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN
cedar pruitt has done a superb job and i sure hope there are ways to bring her back to DDN sometime. her talents have made the DDN web site the jewel it is. i think sustainability of DDN could occur via an optional dues structure. those able and willing to pay annual dues could choose a level that fits them -- $15/year, $25/year or $50/year. given the 8000 members registered on the DDN web site, if even 1/4 of these people chose to pay dues, that would be a good step forward. the basic site and email list would remain free and open to the public. DDN has proven its value to me several times over. i've met new colleagues that will remain lifelong friends, i've gotten answers to questions that i would not be able to get eleswhere, i've grown in my knowledge and understanding via the DDN email list and i've found camaraderie that spans across oceans and national borders. i do also hope that the new google foundation might step up to the plate in this field. they announced that the foundation would be up and running before the end of 2005. when they are up and running, their web site will be http://www.google.org presumably they might have some interest in the digital divide. - phil ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
RE: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN
Hi Joe, edc's overhead is closer to 35 percent. But that isn't the major factor - it's more that there's been a downturn in funding digital divide projects and online communities Andy Carvin EDC Center for Media Community acarvin @ edc . org http://www.digitaldivide.net http://www.andycarvin.com -Original Message- From: Joseph Beckmann [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thu, 15 Sep 2005 16:03:07 -0400 Subject: RE: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN Thirty years ago when I worked at EDC our overhead (indirect cost) rate was something like 100% of all direct labor costs. I wonder if that's changed, or if it varies for this project. It would be nice to know that in advance of martialling volunteers, since, if it's high, perhaps another nonprofit could manage those services at a lower rate for greater flexibility in direct expenses; if it's low, perhaps we could raise regional funds to decentralize some of the expenses and develop a fee structure to cover those that serve the entire international community. Before, like Judy Mickey, we put on our own show in the backyard, it's good to find out what other circumstances are working. Joe Beckmann Oekos Foundation -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Andy Carvin Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2005 1:34 PM To: The Digital Divide Network discussion group Subject: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN Hi everyone, As all of you know, the last several years have been challenging ones for nonprofits involved in bridging the digital divide. Funding priorities of many donors have shifted, resulting in a shrinking pool of financial resources. We at DDN have always prided ourselves on running the site in a lean, nimble fashion to avoid cutting back services or staff. Unfortunately, the current funding environment has put pressure on us, like so many other organizations, forcing us to make difficult choices. So it is with great sadness and regret that I have to announce that DDN editor Cedar Pruitt will be leaving the Center for Media Community at EDC effective September 20. Over the last year and a half, Cedar has been an extraordinary asset to DDN, helping shepherd the relaunch of the site last December and growing the network to nearly three times its previous size. Both Andrea and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with her, and I have no doubt that list members appreciate all the great work Cedar has done for the network. We are truly sorry about her departure and wish her all the best. Meanwhile, I think that we, as a list, need to have a public discussion about strategies for making DDN sustainable during lengthy periods of funding cutbacks. For example, should we explore having volunteers take over certain editorial duties? Should we make some of the site's homepage more blog-like, so articles get posted there automatically rather than manually? Should we explore a wikipedia-like model that allows all members to have equal editorial privileges? These are just a few ideas off the top of my head - not necessarily good ones, but ones I hope will help begin a discussion on the matter in the coming weeks. Please join me in thanking Cedar for her time here at DDN - she will be missed by all of us. thanks, andy -- --- Andy Carvin Program Director EDC Center for Media Community acarvin @ edc . org http://www.digitaldivide.net http://katrina05.blogspot.com Blog: http://www.andycarvin.com --- ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. --- message truncated --- ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
Thank you for your immense patience, Cedar, and best wisshes (was Re: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN)
Dear Cedar, a thank you is not enough for your patience in explaining when I fumbled. And I fumbled a lot: uploading files, linking to articles, etc. Sure, others are more competent as a rule. But I can imagine what workload you had On the basis of the great work you did at DDN, you should get a new rewarding job - but I'll miss you a lot. Best wishes for your future. Claude -- Claude Almansi Castione, Switzerland claude.almansi(at)bluewin.ch http://www.adisi.ch http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADISI http://www.digitaldivide.net/blog/claude http://www.digitaldivide.net/community/languages ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
RE: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN
Hi Joe, edc's overhead is closer to 35 percent. But that isn't the major factor - it's more that there's been a downturn in funding digital divide projects and online communities Andy Carvin Here's my take. I manage a service that like many good projects began as a volunteer project and is now largely grant-funded, with some very wonderful legacy volunteers still involved. We've been extremely fortunate to get the support we do. We are thinking about ways to not lean on one generous organization to keep us funded, both in terms of equity (one state funds us... everyone benefits... let's fix that) and in terms of sustainability (all the eggs in one basket etc.). We brainstorm a lot of ideas. One is to sell services, which we have had some small but successful ventures at. (You can be a nonprofit and sell things. We're technically not a nonprofit but the principle stands.) Another other is to partner with organizations who can share some special benefits of our organization while participating in the cost-sharing as well. A third is to do NPR-style fund drives and/or simply ask for donations. A fourth is to heavily promote a store (tchotchkes for a good cause, basically). A fifth is to get more aggressive about grants (though grant dependency is hard, as you know). There are undoubtedly more. None of it is easy... all of it takes (or in the case of new ventures, will take) a lot of time that I'd rather use on developing and promoting the actual service itself. I would still rather go out and raise the money for our services than return to a model where volunteer services drove the mission. I say that, however, not being in your shoes. In any event, you have my sympathy. Craigslist is having a nonprofit boot camp in SF next month. I don't know if you can afford to go, but I'm going. (It's a car ride and $50 for me!) Maybe some of us nonprofit types should trade shoes for a month... I could run DDN and you could be a digital librarian. It could be rejuvenating. :-) Karen G. Schneider Librarians' Index to the Internet http://lii.org [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
RE: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN
It's always good to see old employers moving with the times. Thanks, Andy. There are a wide range of funders interested in what you're doing, and I wonder if there's a coordinated strategy to engage members of this group, their agencies, and EDC in maximizing everyone's opportunity through collaborative program and proposal development. It wouldn't take 8,000 subscribers, but, maybe a dozen places with a half-dozen targeted, joint proposals to stabilize several places at once. joe -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2005 5:15 PM To: TheDigitalDivideNetworkdiscussiongroup Subject: RE: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN Hi Joe, edc's overhead is closer to 35 percent. But that isn't the major factor - it's more that there's been a downturn in funding digital divide projects and online communities Andy Carvin EDC Center for Media Community acarvin @ edc . org http://www.digitaldivide.net http://www.andycarvin.com -Original Message- From: Joseph Beckmann [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thu, 15 Sep 2005 16:03:07 -0400 Subject: RE: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN Thirty years ago when I worked at EDC our overhead (indirect cost) rate was something like 100% of all direct labor costs. I wonder if that's changed, or if it varies for this project. It would be nice to know that in advance of martialling volunteers, since, if it's high, perhaps another nonprofit could manage those services at a lower rate for greater flexibility in direct expenses; if it's low, perhaps we could raise regional funds to decentralize some of the expenses and develop a fee structure to cover those that serve the entire international community. Before, like Judy Mickey, we put on our own show in the backyard, it's good to find out what other circumstances are working. Joe Beckmann Oekos Foundation -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Andy Carvin Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2005 1:34 PM To: The Digital Divide Network discussion group Subject: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN Hi everyone, As all of you know, the last several years have been challenging ones for nonprofits involved in bridging the digital divide. Funding priorities of many donors have shifted, resulting in a shrinking pool of financial resources. We at DDN have always prided ourselves on running the site in a lean, nimble fashion to avoid cutting back services or staff. Unfortunately, the current funding environment has put pressure on us, like so many other organizations, forcing us to make difficult choices. So it is with great sadness and regret that I have to announce that DDN editor Cedar Pruitt will be leaving the Center for Media Community at EDC effective September 20. Over the last year and a half, Cedar has been an extraordinary asset to DDN, helping shepherd the relaunch of the site last December and growing the network to nearly three times its previous size. Both Andrea and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with her, and I have no doubt that list members appreciate all the great work Cedar has done for the network. We are truly sorry about her departure and wish her all the best. Meanwhile, I think that we, as a list, need to have a public discussion about strategies for making DDN sustainable during lengthy periods of funding cutbacks. For example, should we explore having volunteers take over certain editorial duties? Should we make some of the site's homepage more blog-like, so articles get posted there automatically rather than manually? Should we explore a wikipedia-like model that allows all members to have equal editorial privileges? These are just a few ideas off the top of my head - not necessarily good ones, but ones I hope will help begin a discussion on the matter in the coming weeks. Please join me in thanking Cedar for her time here at DDN - she will be missed by all of us. thanks, andy -- --- Andy Carvin Program Director EDC Center for Media Community acarvin @ edc . org http://www.digitaldivide.net http://katrina05.blogspot.com Blog: http://www.andycarvin.com --- ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. --- message truncated --- ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide
RE: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN
Dear DDN Members, Thank you all so much for many things: your spirit, creative energy, goodwill and determination, not to mention your many warm wishes at this time of transition. I've grown a great deal while at the Digital Divide Network, and I'm very grateful to have had this opportunity. I have had the best colleagues imaginable, contact with a truly wonderful network of members, and I was fortunate to be able to be managing editor of the website at a very vulnerable and exciting time of growth and change for this online community. I'm glad I'll continue on as a member. As some of you have already found, my permanent email address is on my DDN profile, and I welcome you to contact me anytime at: cedar (at) mediakid.org. Meanwhile, I encourage everyone to check out this month's content on DDN. In our feature story, Joe Diamond of MASSCAP, the umbrella group of Community Action Agencies in Massachusetts, discusses the thriving IT Access Projects aimed at helping people become self-sufficient through IT education and job development. We're also featuring a story on the economic power of open source, the online tools that made youth more active in the last presidential election, and a profile of [EMAIL PROTECTED], an Australian non-profit venture aimed at delivering Internet access to the pedestrians, public transport and pushbikes on the information super-hypeway. Visit the website at: http://www.digitaldivide.net With that, I'm signing off as DDN's Editor. Thank you, all, again! Best, Cedar -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Andy Carvin Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2005 1:34 PM To: The Digital Divide Network discussion group Subject: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN Hi everyone, As all of you know, the last several years have been challenging ones for nonprofits involved in bridging the digital divide. Funding priorities of many donors have shifted, resulting in a shrinking pool of financial resources. We at DDN have always prided ourselves on running the site in a lean, nimble fashion to avoid cutting back services or staff. Unfortunately, the current funding environment has put pressure on us, like so many other organizations, forcing us to make difficult choices. So it is with great sadness and regret that I have to announce that DDN editor Cedar Pruitt will be leaving the Center for Media Community at EDC effective September 20. Over the last year and a half, Cedar has been an extraordinary asset to DDN, helping shepherd the relaunch of the site last December and growing the network to nearly three times its previous size. Both Andrea and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with her, and I have no doubt that list members appreciate all the great work Cedar has done for the network. We are truly sorry about her departure and wish her all the best. Meanwhile, I think that we, as a list, need to have a public discussion about strategies for making DDN sustainable during lengthy periods of funding cutbacks. For example, should we explore having volunteers take over certain editorial duties? Should we make some of the site's homepage more blog-like, so articles get posted there automatically rather than manually? Should we explore a wikipedia-like model that allows all members to have equal editorial privileges? These are just a few ideas off the top of my head - not necessarily good ones, but ones I hope will help begin a discussion on the matter in the coming weeks. Please join me in thanking Cedar for her time here at DDN - she will be missed by all of us. thanks, andy -- --- Andy Carvin Program Director EDC Center for Media Community acarvin @ edc . org http://www.digitaldivide.net http://katrina05.blogspot.com Blog: http://www.andycarvin.com --- ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. --- message truncated --- ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. winmail.dat___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
Re: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN
I think there is a larger issue that we might collaborate on. Funders do not seem to value the role of intermediaries and of knowledge brokers. I find many of the same challenges of finding money for the Tutor/Mentor Connection as DDN is finding for the work it does. I'd like to see an expanded conversation on ways intermediaries in every social sector could be more consistently funded. At the same time, I'd like to see these intermediaries more consistently collaborating on building visibility and increasing funding for the work they do. Dan Bassill Tutor/Mentor Connection www.tutormentorconnection.org on 9/15/05 4:21 PM, Joseph Beckmann at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: It's always good to see old employers moving with the times. Thanks, Andy. There are a wide range of funders interested in what you're doing, and I wonder if there's a coordinated strategy to engage members of this group, their agencies, and EDC in maximizing everyone's opportunity through collaborative program and proposal development. It wouldn't take 8,000 subscribers, but, maybe a dozen places with a half-dozen targeted, joint proposals to stabilize several places at once. joe -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2005 5:15 PM To: TheDigitalDivideNetworkdiscussiongroup Subject: RE: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN Hi Joe, edc's overhead is closer to 35 percent. But that isn't the major factor - it's more that there's been a downturn in funding digital divide projects and online communities Andy Carvin EDC Center for Media Community acarvin @ edc . org http://www.digitaldivide.net http://www.andycarvin.com -Original Message- From: Joseph Beckmann [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thu, 15 Sep 2005 16:03:07 -0400 Subject: RE: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN Thirty years ago when I worked at EDC our overhead (indirect cost) rate was something like 100% of all direct labor costs. I wonder if that's changed, or if it varies for this project. It would be nice to know that in advance of martialling volunteers, since, if it's high, perhaps another nonprofit could manage those services at a lower rate for greater flexibility in direct expenses; if it's low, perhaps we could raise regional funds to decentralize some of the expenses and develop a fee structure to cover those that serve the entire international community. Before, like Judy Mickey, we put on our own show in the backyard, it's good to find out what other circumstances are working. Joe Beckmann Oekos Foundation -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Andy Carvin Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2005 1:34 PM To: The Digital Divide Network discussion group Subject: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN Hi everyone, As all of you know, the last several years have been challenging ones for nonprofits involved in bridging the digital divide. Funding priorities of many donors have shifted, resulting in a shrinking pool of financial resources. We at DDN have always prided ourselves on running the site in a lean, nimble fashion to avoid cutting back services or staff. Unfortunately, the current funding environment has put pressure on us, like so many other organizations, forcing us to make difficult choices. So it is with great sadness and regret that I have to announce that DDN editor Cedar Pruitt will be leaving the Center for Media Community at EDC effective September 20. Over the last year and a half, Cedar has been an extraordinary asset to DDN, helping shepherd the relaunch of the site last December and growing the network to nearly three times its previous size. Both Andrea and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with her, and I have no doubt that list members appreciate all the great work Cedar has done for the network. We are truly sorry about her departure and wish her all the best. Meanwhile, I think that we, as a list, need to have a public discussion about strategies for making DDN sustainable during lengthy periods of funding cutbacks. For example, should we explore having volunteers take over certain editorial duties? Should we make some of the site's homepage more blog-like, so articles get posted there automatically rather than manually? Should we explore a wikipedia-like model that allows all members to have equal editorial privileges? These are just a few ideas off the top of my head - not necessarily good ones, but ones I hope will help begin a discussion on the matter in the coming weeks. Please join me in thanking Cedar for her time here at DDN - she will be missed by all of us. thanks, andy -- --- Andy Carvin Program Director EDC Center for Media Community acarvin @ edc . org http://www.digitaldivide.net http://katrina05.blogspot.com Blog: http
