2009/10/21: Focusing on "4 Good"
Focusing on "4 Good": We've spent the past several months discussing the "tech" half of what we do, so now let's focus in on the "4 good." Shelly Bowers (United Way of the Greater Triangle) will show us how United Way's volunteer matching service, Volunteer Solutions, works. NCTech4Good could use this service. Then we'll look at three projects: (1) Further define this NCTech4Good project. (2) An alternative school for middle-thru-high school students who’ve been expelled, fell through the cracks, etc., has a computer lab that is unusable because the computers run too slow. Needs a team. Leader to determine what needs to be done and coordinate. (3) Triangle Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
Location: United Way of the Greater Triangle, 2400 Perimeter Park Drive, Suite 150, Morrisville
Leader: Shelly Bowers, United Way of the Greater Triangle
Website: http://www.meetup.com/NCTech4Good/calendar/11497540/
Notes and discussion:
There were about 12 people. Good participation.
During pizza, we talked about outreach to nonprofits, how get in touch with nonprofits and find out their specific needs.
- Some nonprofits don't know how technology can help them and so don't ask for help.
- Put value on volunteer time. "Ordinarily this service would cost $x."
- Rather than say "You can get free help from volunteers," we could say "We can provide grants to 25 agencies to provide tech assessments, grants to 25 agencies to provide web site redesigns, grants to 25 agencies to assist in fundraising strategies, etc.
Shelly Bowers (United Way of the Greater Triangle) showed us United Way's volunteer matching service, Volunteer Solutions.
Judy has already signed up NCTech4Good as an agency, but has not posted any volunteer opportunities yet. She'll post three projects to start with:
- Further define this NCTech4Good project. This project needs a team (the attendees will be the initial team) and a team leader (Judy, with help from Shelly).
- An alternative school for middle-thru-high school students who’ve been expelled, fell through the cracks, etc., has a computer lab that is unusable because the computers run too slow. Dave offered Purple Elephant to update the computer lab, via email to Judy and Shelly. Faye (Purple Elephant) was at the meeting and will work with Judy and Shelly to followup. This project may have multiple tasks, such as (1) cleaning up the machines and (2) teaching the kids how to care for the machines.
- Triangle Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service (Monday, January 18th, 2010). Presents an opportunity for us to do something significant and get some publicity for our group. The plan is to offer Tech Assessments. We'll need tools (such as TechAtlas) and training for the volunteers.
We'd like to have followup meetings. United Way is a convenient place.
A few things followup items:
- Judy will create the above three projects for the NCTech4Good agency in Volunteer Solutions.
- Judy will create a special interest group for NCTech4Good and invite folks to join the group. The software used for groups provides email notification facilities for group members, so participants can post and communicate among themselves.
Similar local projects:
- Shelly and Judy will contact Jen about UNC-TV's plans regarding public media community engagement and volunteerism "for good."
- NetCorps is spearheading a statewide survey in North Carolina this year to identify the technology needs and issues of nonprofits. Update: Sean says they are still creatiang the survey.
- Technical assessment project of Triangle Community Foundation -- "technical" in terms of day-to-day operations, not anything to do with Technology/computers.
- Triangle Impact
- Purple Elephant
- Other NTEN 501 Tech Clubs and Net Tuesday groups in NC: We're the only 501 Tech Club in NC. There's Asheville NetSquared Meetup Group, 4 members, no meetups yet, founded March 2009, and there's Wilmington NetSquared Meetup Group, 5 members, no meetups yet, founded July 2009.
- At some point, we should let Jane Patterson, e-NC Authority know about the services we are trying to provide.