Changes between Version 3 and Version 4 of wsf_ic_membership_app

Timestamp:

Mar 11, 2010, 10:51:11 PM (14 years ago)

Author:

alfredo

Comment:

--

wsf_ic_membership_app

@@ -21 +21 @@
 '''Describe your organisational structure, staffing and decision-making procedures'''
 
+We are a very loosely structured organization. Our Leadership Committee determines the over-all structure, strategy and focus of our organization and Co-Directors carry that out day to day although several LC members participate in various decision-making functions.
+
 '''Indicate the main thematic area(s) of your work (environment, human rights, labour, etc)'''
 
+Our work is within the Internet, one of the largest mass social movements in human history that has arisen out of the need to collaborate and communicate as humanity faces major social crisis and potential extinction. In that context, we find ourselves interacting with movements and organizations focussed on practically every social issue.
+
+
 '''Briefly describe your organisation’s activities, campaigns and major focus areas/issues'''
+
+Our work is divided into two parts: resource sharing and activism. While they are separate, both are related and viewed, in the bigger picture, as part of the same work.
+
+Resource sharing is what would normally be called "services". In this area, MF/PL has been involved in Internet service provision for over 14 years making us one of the oldest "providers" in the world, certainly among the oldest politically progressive providers. But we are not a provider. Aside from membership dues, our members pay nothing for services. Our members collaborate on everything including provider "technical support". All our processes, including discussions about our policies and future plans, are transparently carried on on system that encourages participation by all members.
+
+Activism. MF/PL works in coalitions of all kinds, participates in events, and works on campaigns of all types. Most prominent among these is our leading work within the US Social Forum and the Social Forums world-wide. While we have assisted with technology set-up at several Social Forums, we organize the technology of the United States Social Forum by organizing and leading a team of progressive techies nationwide who come together to do the set up of registration, media center, and collaborative blogging on over 100 computers (running FOSS) which are networked and on-line at the Social Forum venue.
+
+MF/PL is the developer of the Collaborative Democracy Workshop, which is used by groups and events world-wide seeking to collaborate on discussions and issues. It's one of the decision making tools used by the leadership of the US Social Forum.
+
+We've sponsored and/organized dozens of events over the last three years and are represented at public events in the United States virtually every month.
+
+We are also the authors of the book "The Organic Internet: Organizing History's Largest Social Movement" which is available on-line (both for free in pdf format and also in print edition).
+
+- For each area or activity, please describe the outcomes you are working for, achievements and challenges experienced, and the people (beneficiaries or target groups) who you think have benefited, or will benefit, from your work. 
+
+We have benefitted by our growth. We have benefitted through the increased consciousness about the political issues facing the Internet, particularly Free and Open Source Software, and 
+
 
 '''Do you have any organic link with the government, political parties, churches/religions, corporations/companies or other special interest groups. If yes, kindly explain your link/relationship'''