[[PageOutline]] Work by the virtual group gathered (first) around IRC channel #mayfirst, after slipped to [https://pad.riseup.net/ro/r.u2wP8nLi0ipIMlUR an etherpad], where a very large discussion about MF/PL international relationship happened. This has now been entirely moved to this page. = I) Priorities, comments and specific proposals. = == A.- Reliability of hosting services -- Confiabilidad de servicios de hospedaje == #A_reliability * Ensure stable, fast, secure and reliable hosting services * Garantizar que los servicios de hospedaje sean estables, rápidos, seguros y confiables > Rob K: Consensus was that this is very important. '''For many members, web hosting is the primary thing that they look for from MFPL, and they want it to be stable.''' People are especially concerned about uptime / reliability and believe that should be a top priority. === Specific proposals === * perhaps it could be addressed by using virtual server replication and load balancers so that there's better duplication (if server A goes down, server B is still running and the load balancer fails over to that one??)... * What's the status of MF/PL servers regarding IPv6? If they're not running IPv6, then set that up. * Setup MF/PL servers in places besides New York City, especially in countries where there are MF/PL members. == B.- Recruit people historically excluded from technology, and promote their leadership -- Incorporar a la gente históricamente excluida del acceso a la tecnología y promover su liderazgo == #B_buildinclusion_promoteleadership * Recruit for membership people and organizations blocked from accessing, developing and having ownership over technology, and prioritize their participation as members of the leadership committee, the support team, the international committee and as representatives of the organization. * Reclutar miembros y organizaciones bloqueadas de acceso, desarrollo y teniendo propiedad sobre tecnología, y priorizar su participación como miembros del comité de liderazgo, el equipo de apoyo, el comité internacional y como representantes de la organización. > Rob K: A lot of people were excited about taking more of an "organizing" approach to doing this work, but weren't sure how we'd go about it. There was agreement that to reach out to people effectively, MFPL would need to be on the ground in communities around the world, or at least that there would need to be people there who were allied with MFPL. We discussed a few experiences related to this strategic priority: === Some experiences and thoughts === '''Local chapters''': Code For America has been very successful at creating region-based networks in a bunch of different cities and areas around the USA that engage the people in those areas in doing Civic Hacking. '''Programs targeted to specific communities''': Josue has been very active with the Techies of Color training program, a pilot project that was initiated in the last year and would love to see mfpl do more of these kinds of things, but tezcatl felt it would be a bit harder to duplicate it exactly the same way in México since they can't budget a program with the same characteristics. The final question was this: What, specifically, could MFPL do to support programs like Techies of Color? === Specific proposals === About recruiting people historically excluded of tech, we put our proposals about this in [#E_raise_membership_tech_capabilities priority E], around the idea of ''raising the capabilities of such groups is an effective way to get them more involved in MF/PL as organization''', and having a more effective leadership in their movements. == C.- Provide tech support to movement -- Proporcionar soporte técnico al movimiento == #C_techsupport_to_movements * Participate in and provide technology support to major left movement struggles * Participar y prestar apoyo tecnológico a las luchas más importantes del movimiento de izquierda === Specific proposals === * Continue setting up and improving software/hardware/documentation that supports multi-lingual dialogue both synchronously and asynchronously using text, images, audio, video, concept maps (e.g. Compendium software) and other formats. * Arrange ways for MF/PL hardware to relate with member-owned hardware under direct member control, such as home and office servers, FreedomBox (more a software project, based on plug computers), mobile phones, community wireless networks (redes libres), etc. == D.- Help build the libre/open source movement -- Ayudar a construir el movimiento por el software libre == #D_build_movement_for_freeandopensourcesoftware * Help build the movement for free/open source software and an open and accessible Internet, particularly within the broader left * Ayudar a construir el movimiento por el software libre y por un Internet abierto y accesible, en particular dentro del amplio movimiento de izquierda. == E.- Raise membership free software capabilities // Elevar la capacidad de nuestros miembros con las herramientas de software libre == #E_raise_membership_tech_capabilities * Raise the technology capacity of our members to use free and open source tools for organizing, empowerment and security -- through educational workshops, public awareness campaigns, and collectively improving our documentation including by harnessing resources within our membership network. * Elevar la capacidad tecnológica de nuestros-as miembros para utilizar las herramientas de software libre útiles para su seguridad, empoderamiento y sus procesos de organización -- a través de talleres, campañas de concientización y mejorando colectivamente nuestra documentación utilizando y promoviendo el intercambio entre los miembros de la red. === Specific proposals === * '''Engaging more people in solving trouble tickets''': Tezcatl suggested that we should look for means of letting people engage more actively in learning processes through solving problems together with the MF/PL support team. Also said tickets shouldn't stay open anymore since it leads to a lot of confusion about how it is best to participate in helping others. * '''Need for both process-oriented and technology-oriented documentation''' Patrick G wrote about this and give some proposals: * Process-oriented documentation means something like "Welcome to MF/PL, here are some common tasks that you might want to know how to do using the MF/PL infrastructure. 1) Change your website from name.mayfirst.org to name.org. 2) Create a Drupal-based website. 3) etc." * technology-oriented documentation is what The Organic Internet essays focus on: learning how specific technologies work. == F.- Serve as a leading advocate of radical organizing strategies that use the web -- Avanzar y promover estrategias organizativas radicales que utilicen la red == #F_advocacy_radical_internet * Promote the Internet as a means for strengthening international alliances and struggles. * Promover al Internet como medio para el fortalecimiento de las alianzas y luchas internacionales. == G.- Build solidarity among members -- Cultivar la solidaridad entre miembros == #G_membership_solidarity * Build connections and solidarity among May First/People Link members both around our visions for the Internet and technology and around our broader struggles. * Desarrolar los vínculos y la solidaridad entre los miembros de Primero de Mayo/Enlace de Pueblo en torno a nuestra visión del internet y tecnologia y las luchas que compartimos en un sentido más amplio. === Specific proposals === * Build a database / directory (or communication hub) of radical tech cooperatives and service providers (like the Slingshot directory of infoshops) would be a huge step in the right direction. Use this to build alliances, recruit new members, and learn how to function as an organization. * Maybe facilitate a round table / community of practice to foment communication and collaboration between radical tech groups (I'm guessing this already exists in some ways.) * Coordinate with other information hubs and networks that gather relevant groups, such as the US Solidarity Economy Network. * Patrick G: Do a caravan of MF/PL members visiting each other and participating in events together (inspired by LibreBus Mesoamérica 2011 and LibreBus Cono Sur 2012). * Newsletters about what other groups are doing (already done in part by some of the Lowdown emails) === General discussion === * Patrick: MF/PL has sometimes been described as a "hemispheric organization of the Americas" and yet has members (and activities?) in Europe and Africa (and Asia?). So some clarification of (the) MF/PL vision(s) in terms of geography could help MF/PL decide what to focus on as an organization. I guess this relates to Priority G in a way. = Topics not included in the priorities = == About international relationships of MF/PL with other people. == ''Comment by Ollinca from México'', kindly translated to English by Rob K > I want to speak to the process of solidarity in Mexico and the struggle to bring organizations together. And I would say that for many organizations on the Mexico side - the decision to make this merger was very sudden. And the comments from the folks seem to be pretty satisfied with the structure - I think that's really important from at least the Mexican side that bring so much hard work and commitment to this movement. > > And I think that it's important to say that we need to do more work, more collective work. I feel that there are many members of this organization who may not know how to integrate in a more seamless way. I think people have a lot of good will and so hopefully we're going to be able to work in a way that's much more coordinated. > > And I think that, from the international perspective, the analysis of this relationship doesn't seem very equitable, and I think that folks that have some different perspectives on these issues - we're in a position now where we're going to be working together, and we need a lot of good will to be able to work together. == Solidarity with people and groups affected by the manufacturing of computer hardware == * PatrickG: As a group based on using this hardware, we (can) take responsibility to change the system of production and post-use. * Rob K: Yeah - I agree that MFPL has a big role to play in solidarity with FoxConn workers and people being exposed to toxic junk yards in India (and elsehwere). There is a VERY REAL cost of all of the technology that we use. = II) General discussion about the value we give to the priorities. = (Rob K) I think some of it comes down to the basic question of what MFPL is as organization - if it's primarily a provider of infrastructure, then yeah, the most important thing is the quality of infrastructure that it provides - if it's more of an organizing front working on building a social movement, then other things are probably just as important if not more so. gdm: Ok, so I think the current top two priorities are - improving internet stability (A); improving international collaboration (which is probably closest to B but also incorporates some of F as we've been discussing below) tezcatl: I'd be more oriented to E and B since that would be a clear priority in order to better our documentation, as somebody put on A priority (reliability of services?) we should have better documentation, most oriented to processes and task solving. We were talking about closing the tickets shouldn't stay open anymore since it leads to a lot of confusion about where can we participate helping other fellows. gdm: I'd put E third I think: some experience has been that organisations are reluctant to move to new providers if they can't guarantee uptime etc, and lots of groups still think in a very capitalistic way: we need to prove to them that free software/open source tech is as good if not better than what they are using already. As such, it needs to be at least equivalent in terms of availability for them. tezcatl: Well, I agree A is above at everything, after that, I think "building unity" It's more effective learning together (E as a way to B) rather than subscribing declarations (G) = III) General discussion (specially about international relationships of MF/PL with other people. = Nico Echaniz: it would be interesting to elaborate on how existing infrastructure and community hosting organizations can interact with MF/PL. We know others in the region ... Rob K: Yeah - even just a database \ directory of radical tech cooperatives and service providers (like the Slingshot directory of infoshops) would be a huge step in the right direction. Patrick G: I mentioned above creating some sort of map/directory. This might coincide with AnilloSur and N-1, since those provide a way for participatory / self-mapping and communication. Rob K: Yeah, and short of creating actual MFPL chapters in different places - this directory would be a huge help to people looking to connect with other radical techies in their area. Nico Echaniz: tyes, I believe this would be great. Maybe some sort of network, which does not necessarily imply MFPL chapters, but organizations with their own identities, sharing some common principles. === Thoughts from people from all around the world === gdm: (written by gdm based in the UK, but stems from conversation with ekes and clara who are in the Netherlands as well) - We don't feel that MFPL is very international - it's very America focussed (particularly North and Central for obvious... Patrick says: MF/PL has an explicit statement to become a hemispheric organization uniting the Americas, and I haven't seen anything in writing or video about involvement beyond the Americas (I joined a couple months ago). josue: Patrick there are a number of groups outside of the americas as active members Patrick: I brought it up because that's what I've been told about MF/PL, not as an idea that I created. It's in Alfredo's videos. gdm: Hmm. I'm not sure quite how to interpret that - does it mean, we should leave? Or, does it mean that there's something wrong with MF/PL philosophy, then? There are many explicit statements about MFPL providing technological access to a wider community, particularly groups that are of similar political thinking. Further, a number of the statements by people who are standing for leadership committee positions specifically talk about increasing international cooperation and trying to break down borders. PatrickG: I would prefer that it doesn't mean you leaving, though I also see some logic in geographical organizations. I think that with the wave of new members in Mexico, and the conversations I'm having here in Argentina, MF/PL is just starting to think about how to really function as a multi-local organization, or perhaps how to ally with similar organizations already established in other places, already providing functional services, such as Código Sur in Latin America. gdm: I agree there is some logic to geographical organisation, but there is also some logic to *not* organising geographically ;-) tachanka - of whom i and ekes are a part, although we three (inc. clara) all have individual memberships as well - is a non-geographical organisation, deliberately designed that way to try and overcome problems that may exist within certain legal domains. Tachanka has been a member of MFPL since it was formed and I didn't realise that there was an explicit statement about it being an americas-only organisation - this is certainly not obvious on the website (e.g. from looking at the about page) but maybe I missed that. PatrickG: Connecting the dots with a comment on IRC: 15:28 < rob_korobkin> how do people feel about the idea of creating local chapters - eg) Bay Area MF\PL, Vermont MF \ PL etc. seems like a necessary step toward accomplsihing priority two. There's a video, and some pages on the wiki, where Alfredo and others talk about becoming a hemispheric organization. I think this doesn't exclude people elsewhere, maybe it's just a first step at growing to connect more places, by starting close to home where MF/PL started, in the Americas. gdm: OK, I've not watched the videos as I don't generally have time nor that much interest in video, and it's hard to keep up with all the wiki stuff! gdm: I guess the point is, that there is actually a growing number of groups in Europe who make use of MFPL services (e.g. hosting, drupal provision etc) and yet we get lots of emails about essentially irrelevant subjects - "there's a meeting at the Brecht Forum this week" etc - which presumably are not of relevance to a lot of other people either. It might be better to have more generic/relevant email newsletters, and then to have local lists (or something). PatrickG: I've been a member for a couple months and gotten zero emails, though I think that's a technical bug. :-) Another point: If a goal of MF/PL is to break the north/south divide, that might be another motivation for focusing on the Americas, instead of focusing on connecting the rich northern countries with each other. I'm not saying such connection is outside my vision of MF/PL, I'm just pondering why there's a focus on the Americas. gdm: So, why has there been a big focus on MFPL doing projects in Africa?? (That may have preceded your time - I think it was around winter 2011-2012) josue: Africa projects came about for different reasons: 1) the world social forum was there. 2) sahara reporters joined as a member Rob K: I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that I really don't think there's been an active attempt to exclude any radical techies from participating in MF\PL - regardleess of where they come from. gdm: I agree with that. PatrickG: So, then, let's update the language of MF/PL to reflect this reality. Rob K: For sure. Institutions of private capital sure as hell are global - we need to be too. gdm: another nod of agreement here :) PatrickG: I don't know where to begin, or what it means. I'd ask Alfredo, since he's the one who talks about a hemispheric organization in his video updates. Rob K: Yeah - he also talks a lot about internationalism. I think he'd be down to working with our European, Asian and African friends. Like, solidarity with Russian anarchist hackers would be awesome. PatrickG: I've wondered about where to find a map/list/description of similar organizations world-wide. Once we know who we are and what we're already doing, we can more effectively figure out how to collaborate on conrete stuff, such as service provision, service maintenance, training, documentation. I think we're in that process. gdm: Well, there are some political differences, so I think that such a mapping exercise is hard to do. For instance, I think that MFPL has quite radical politics in a US sense, but in a European sense, the politics of the organisation are rather more mainstream - particularly the hierarchichal structure (I've discussed this lots with Jamie over the years) but actually MFPL works well with several of the anarchist groups "over here" Rob K: I don't know if it's heiarchical so much as it's centralized. Seems to be a big circle stemming from new york and reaching out to people other places. the only real way i can see to change that would be to create autonomous, independent MFPL groups in different places PatrickG: With the influx of members in Mexico, and conversations here in Argentina about forming an MF/PL node, there are conversations about running servers in Mexico and Argentina. Even the concept of "an MF/PL node" is something I made up in order to have conversations here in Argentina about how we could participate in MF/PL here. gdm: It is definitely difficult, as much of the internet / technological systems are built on hierarchical methods. It's definitely hierarchical tho - and you're right, quite centralised as well. Autonomous groups would be awesome! But maybe a bit idealistic (we should struggle for our ideals though, no?) Maybe some better use of federated technologies would be good, although I'm not sure which would be best for that and I know there are already attempts to use friendica type things. Rob K: I guess, my vision isn't necessarily that we'd need to have autonomous technological infrastructure everywhere, so much as we'd have autonomous human infrastructure everywhere. Even just having self-sufficient local organizations mobilizing meet-ups, tech co-ops, skill-shares, free schools etc. (a lot of which is already happening and would just need to be networked) would go a long way. PatrickG: Some people here just plain won't join if there are only servers in the US. Also, sticking with centralized server hardware ignores what's happening with IPv6, FreedomBox, redes libres (free/libre/community-and-user-owned networks) and other projects/technologies that enable home-based hosting and otherwise distributed topology. gdm: There is at least one server in the UK!! PatrickG: For some people I've talked with here, they will only join when there are servers in Latin America, and preferably in their country and/or city. Partly due to the legal situations in those center-of-the-empire countries. Partly, maybe it's easier to influence telecom policy in the country where one holds citizenship, and some folks don't want to be beholden to the US citizens and gov't to define the policy that controls the servers where their data sits. Rob K: To bring it back to priority B - if what we're talkign about is recruitment and leadership development - you don't need a server bay to do that, you need people on the ground and in the community. PatrickG: Well, in Argentina I'm on the ground, and folks from Altermundi joined the conversation today (nicoechaniz, alamela) because they work with Código Sur (provides services similar to MF/PL, in a way, though less), and they have the capacity (or intend to soon) to setup servers in an IEX that's being built in central Argentina. Perhaps my tone is becoming more argumentative than I like. Rob K: Nah, you're fine Patrick. What do you think the folks in Argentina whom you're working with would want from MFPL? How can we support them best? I mean, I think that's the question we need to be answering. PatrickG: at any rate, all of this is left out of the CWD where official priority definition happened and is about to close or already closed. gdm: I think I don't / didn't understand what we were meant to be doing.... I was just providing a view from Europe as I don't really know how to feed back anythign into MFPL but thought there were somethings that could be improved Rob K: Tachanka - I don't understand it either, but I'm enjoying the conversation ;-) gdm: Me too! It's nice to talk with new people that I don't really know and hear their thoughts on the organisation :) Rob K: Yeah - I'm starting a section below where people can write a couple sentences about who they are and what they're working on. PatrickG: What do people here want? First, checking out MF/PL to see what's up. Beyond that, we'll continue the conversation in coming weeks. So far, Código Sur exists and provides web hosting and website design and maintenance to community projects throughout Latin America. But there's nothing like MF/PL in the sense of the Statement of Unity and the function as a hosting provider where I can make my websites myself, and the internal democracy of MF/PL is also quite different from the way Código Sur functions. gdm: There's some hosting available in the uk, of various sorts. however, most of our really political stuff we host overseas - tachanka has some servers colocated with MFPL in nyc, and some in Canada with koumbit.org as well as a few others in various places that are less publicly-orientated. There are also other UK collaborations that I think would work well with MFPL - but it's very hard to explain exactly what/why people should do that if MFPL is such an American-focussed organisation (as I mentioned earlier). gdm: I guess my big desire for MFPL is for language to become more unifying (on an international level) and less exclusory, and for people to become more aware that the audience is very broad.... I must say, that if there are $20,000 dues to come in, that's probably quite a lot of members, including many groups which have multiple individuals in them, so that's a lot of people! Rob K: Yeah - I think there are so many people who see the power and value of the Internet and are looking for something that won't just be a front for corporations to data mine the shit out of our communities. gdm: Yep, that's definitely true over here too - lots of people share very strongly the (IT) values of MFPL PatrickG: Worth asking nicoechaniz and alamela directly what they think. Also, Santiago Hoerth, a founder of Código Sur, is in touch with Enrique (of Mexico), though I don't know how much or what their conversation is. Nico Echaniz: this is an odd place to chat :) but anyway... I'm nicoechaniz from AlterMundi/CodigoSur. We currently provide hosting and other services to lots of latin american organizations. We would like to talk about how MFPL and CódigoSur/Altermundi can interact to benefit both organizations. PatrickG: Perfect, you found us! Nico, do you know Tachanka? And did you read your way here from above? Nico Echaniz: part of it actually :) i just thought I would pitch in since you were talking about AM/CS :) PatrickG: Good. So, from what you've seen so far, what's your current response to the question of "What do people in Argentina want from / with MF/PL?" Nico Echaniz: well, I believe we have similar objectives and it would be interesting to find a way to share resources for example. We do this with guifi.net in Cataluña, Spain. As you noted, we are planing to set up new infrastructure here in Argentina and maybe this (or part of it) could be a "joint venture" with MFPL. Our "target" is usualy organizations and movements where people have very little technical skills and we develop our work around that situation. Our CMS is developed for this specific "target" (I don't like this marketting term.. but well); we also ara part of the CLiC mmm college? (escuela). It's name: Cultura Libre y Comunicación, which is a project focused in popular education on these matters. It's a joint effort from 3 organizacions (from cuba, ecuador and us). I beliebe we have much to talk about :) and see how we might interact; though this medium is a bit awkward hehe gdm: What's your CMS? er, and your website? ;-) (response from Nico and Patrick): http://www.codigosur.org the CMS is http://www.codigosur.org/proyectos/cyclope-gpl called Cyclope, and the documentation is in a neat language of describing the software modules as the organs of a mammal or other vertebrate animal. and it's specific website: http://cyclope.codigosur.org/ and development/documentation in English: http://codigo.cyclope.ws/ (this one moved to the one below... we need a redirect) ...and some more http://forja.codigosur.org/projects/cyclope gdm: Thanks :) josue: yes, this medium has been very challenging for me. it would be great to figure out how to better dialogue with you all! there is ALOT for us to talk about, and work on together! PatrickG: As far as collaboration with MF/PL here in Argentina, one possiblity I see is using the MF/PL organizational concept (redefining what a hosting provider is and how it functions) and maybe even the MF/PL name in order to gather people together, and use some of what the new members here pay to contribute to buying servers for Altermundi/CS. Nico Echaniz: that might be interesting. though, regarding name and project trajectory Código Sur is probably better known in latin america... because of it's involvement in the social movement since the first foro social mundial. so we should find a way to collaborate while mantaining identities... I believe... The opportunity to buy servers together could be great for all parties involved I believe. I don't know much regarding where exactly MF/PL hosts it's servers and wether it would be interesting to MF/PL to host some infrastrucrure here in the south, where, for one, there's no FBI :) PatrickG: At least, the FBI/CIA/NSA doesn't have official jurisdiction. The MF/PL servers are all in New York City as far as I know, though earlier today someone mentioned a server in the UK. There are details in this support ticket: https://support.mayfirst.org/ticket/5939 And earlier conversation about an Argentina node here: https://support.mayfirst.org/ticket/6115 gdm: The server in the UK i think is a monitoring server. Nico Echaniz: well USLA is the other organization I believe it would be interesting to have some collaboration agreement with. josue: there is a server in europe somewhere and one in canada. i think hosting servers with other allies/partners is a great idea! gdm: hehe, I was thinking we were discussing F ;-) I think it fits under B as well :) Rob K: Well even in F - the Internet can strengthen alliances and facilitate radical movement building without being hosted in the area where the content is coming from \ going to. === What do people want from MFPL (extracted from above): === (Rob K and gdm prepared this section): - To "see what's up," "stay in the loop" - be kept informed about what's happening within the radical technologist movement and hear about new projects that they might be able to participate in and utilize in the work that they're already doing. - To help foster a sense of radical purpose \ mission to ongoing projects - uniting many different kinds of projects happening in many different places with a shared spirit of what this work is all about and why it's important. Lots of projects don't really have that - they do good work, but they don't have the emphasis on radical democracy or the dedication to fostering ownership \ autonomy that MayFirst! does - it would be good if MayFirst! could help spread that culture and philosophy. - To build a truly international community of radical techies \ shared infrastructure. There are questions about the extent to which MFPL is really doing this (some in Europe feel it's too focused on the Americas), but nobody else is doing this either. Capital is global, we need to be too. Being positive, this can be done fairly easily by changing some of the language that is used and being aware that MFPL is now a much larger organisation and more widely spread geographically than it maybe once was (when things were primarily in or near NYC). We also talked about creating a directory of radical techies around the world, maybe eventually moving toward actually creaitng local chapters in different places. - Share resources - as MFPL builds out its own infrastructure, people in other countrries working on similar capacity building efforts are looking to MFPL for collaboration and sharing. - There were lots of suggestions on things that MFPL can do: * clarify the objectives * newsletters about what other groups are doing (already done in part by some of the Lowdown emails) * create local groups/chapters/mailing lists to connect people on a more regional basis * compile a directory of groups \ individuals doing radical tech work around the world. = Other Topics = == Solidarity with people and groups affected by the manufacturing of computer hardware == * PatrickG: As a group based on using this hardware, we (can) take responsibility to change the system of production and post-use. * Rob K: Yeah - I agree that MFPL has a big role to play in solidarity with FoxConn workers and people being exposed to toxic junk yards in India (and elsehwere). There is a VERY REAL cost of all of the technology that we use. * tezcatl: This is a point could be included as a practical way to implement priorities B and C notes from the end of the morning session (posted by rob korobkin): = Who was involved in this conversation: = * '''Rob Korobkin''' - I'm an organizer, writer, techie currently living in Portland, ME about to move to Vermont as part of an effort to radicalize the labor union of state employees there. I'm currently looking for people who have experience overhauling membership databases for mid-size organizing fronts and have some sense of what the best media technologies are for reaching out to seniors. * '''gdm''' - member of tachanka. i'm based in .uk and have been closely involved with MFPL since 2005 when i helped work on colocation with jamie and dkg (also tachanka members). i had a conversation with ekes and clara (from .nl) on friday about feeding some stuff back into MFPL which is i guess how this side track thread started. * '''josue''' - co-founder of mfpl. on the leadership committee for the last two years. based in austin, tx. work for the progressive technology project, which has been developing PowerBase, a branded version of CiviCRM, specifically for use by community organizing groups. we currently have 60+ groups using PowerBase. all of it hosted on mfpl. josue - would PowerBase be a good solution for a radical labor union with 6,000 members? right now we've got a sql database with a super-simple Access front-end on it. i'm looking for a better option. * '''Patrick Gibbs''' - joined MF/PL a couple months ago after watching it for a couple years. Participated in LibreBus Cono Sur in September and took conversation about MF/PL on the road through part of Argentina. * nicoechaniz is a member of Código Sur an AlterMundi. CS provides hosting and infrastructure for social movements and NGOs as well as "formación" through educación popular initiatives (someone please translate that :). AlterMundi focuses on appropriate technology, now mainly developing Free Community Networks. * '''tezcatl (Jesús Franco)''' is a recent member of mayfirst, first participating as translator for RiseUp documentation, presently I'm one of the translators of MF/PL, wikigardener and jack-of-all-trades in open source things here in Mexico, I've helped here several organizations to empower themselves through free and open source software and secure ways to use internet.