The dream continues - last October Bruce McComb and I had the
good fortune to meet and spend time with 3 Russian citizens from
Krasnoyarsk-26 [K-26]. K-26 is a formerly secret city that was
involved in the production of nuclear weapons materials. They
have much in common with the Tri-Cities and Hanford. One of the
many things learned in this initial, grass roots exchange is that
the only reliable means of continued communication is Internet
e-mail. A part of my dream is to make Internet e-mail an integral
part of the Tri-Cities On-Line (TCOL) and carry the "e-mail
for everyone" philosophy to other community information services.
1993 also saw a sharp increase in the "hype" about the
"Information Super Highway". It has also been said
that there is a great deal of money being spent on constructing
the highway but little attention given to building the cars.
The "cars" are the organization of information itself
and the vehicles necessary to insert that information onto
the "highway". So many times in this past year I saw
events scheduled in conflict with other events, meetings that
overlapped, fund raising efforts that could have been far better
coordinated, and a lack of effective collaboration between the
various social and human services organizations. Systems like
the TCOL will go a long way toward eliminating these wasteful
processes.
Community computing systems [free, open access, community information
services] are evolving everywhere. They are becoming an important
component of the National Information Infrastructure (NII). The
RECA Foundation is one of a handful of national organizations
(all non-profit) that are dedicated to developing and implementing
these systems. Let 1994 be a year where all of us have our voices
heard and make informed decisions for the good of our communities.
Ronda Evans
President
The RECA Foundation is a Washington nonprofit organization; founded September, 1992; exempt from federal income tax as described in section 501©(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; and classified as a publicly supported nonprofit organization. Initial funding was provided by the estate of Richard T. Lincoln to help provide information to senior citizens about estate administration. Services were expanded to include information dissemination as a public service and to assist other non-profit and public organizations. The Foundation has operated the Tri-Cities On-Line since 1992 as a demonstration project and research and development (R&D) platform.
The Tri-Cities On-Line has gained steady readership while operating as an R&D platform. Just some of the new additions and activities are listed below:
The concept of "Community Computing" was born in Cleveland,
Ohio in 1984 by Dr. Tom Grundner. Dr. Grundner's initial demonstration
system grew into the Cleveland Free-Net in 1986 and he is now
the President of the National Public Telecommuting Network (NPTN).
The NPTN was founded in 1989 as a non-profit organization to
promote the Free-Net system and assist communities in establishing
and operating community computing systems.
Today the Cleveland Free-Net receives over 10,000 calls per day
and the Free-Net network has grown to 30 systems, with Organizing
Committees in 80 more locations (5 in Washington State including
the RECA Foundation). There are several other community computing
projects, all operated as non-profit enterprises, around the country.
The common thread running through all of these projects is community
support. For example:
City Net, Cupertino, Ca. was started in city hall and grew
into a separate, non-profit, organization supported by public
and private enterprise, including Apple computer.
Heartland Free-Net, Peoria-Bloomington-Normal, Il. A part
of the NPTNs Free-Net network, it is supported by Caterpillar,
the City of Peoria, Illinois Bell, Peoria Journal Star, 2 hospitals,
a bank, and hundreds of volunteers.
La Plaza TeleCommunity Foundation, Taos, NM. La Plaza
is governed by a five member Board of Directors assisted by a
Community Advisory Forum. The graphic interface and software
is being co-designed by La Plaza and Los Alamos National Laboratory.
An interim system for research and development is expected to
be operational by late winter, 1994.
The RECA Foundation differs from all other community information
systems in that it is based on a PC based hardware/software system.
The heart of our system is "POISE". POISE (Public
Online Information Service) is a concept similar to the Freenet.
There are several key differences between POISE and Freenet.
Freenet uses UNIX technology, POISE uses PC (DOS/Windows/NT)
technology. Freenet systems rely on traditional fund raising
to support operations; POISE has developed an underwriting program
to make their systems self-supporting (once the R&D phase
is completed). POISE is forming a development team that will
ensure that the POISE hardware and software systems maintain pace
with technology while still providing access by older technology
computer systems.
POISE Development Team. The team is being established
to define system requirements and develop a "turnkey"
community information system that can easily be implemented anywhere
in the world. The turnkey system includes hardware, software,
"boilerplate" menu systems, operating procedures and
philosophies; and marketing, promotion, and underwriting programs.
The initial team consists of the Foundation itself, Galacticomm,
Inc. (the online software manufacturer), and a community advisory
board.
The RECA Foundation will join the NPTN and similar organizations
that further the cause of making public information free and accessible
by the public. We will continue to pursue the POISE project,
working to add key members such as Microsoft, a PC manufacturer,
and one or more loaned executives from community organizations.
The Foundation will launch a multi-media public awareness campaign
while raising funds through the underwriter program. Additional
community participation will be recruited and put into action
to make the transition from demonstration project to fully operational
community computing. Major funding will be solicited from major
grant givers to assist the longer range goals such as the development
of "turnkey" community computing systems.
Darwin Perkins Vice President. Network Program Manager, Boeing Computer Services.
Bruce McComb Secretary, Executive Director, and full time volunteer System Operator (SYSOP) for the Tri-Cities On-Line.
Therese Howe Marketing Manager, Print Plus.
Sharon Grant President, Grant Consulting and counselor, The Wellness Center.
Sharon Babcock KCTS 9 Washington (TV) - Director of Education
Linda S. Cameron Kennewick School District - Public Information Coordinator
Lucy Harding TriCities Contact Dial - Executive Director Help
Jack L Moine Jack L Moine Accounting - CPA & Tax Returns
Bart Preecs Boeing Computer Services - Technical Editor
Sheldon Shore Badger Mountain Antennae - President
Dr. Matt Smith Kennewick Family Medicine, Inc.
Wally Summers Baker Boyer Bank - Vice President
William W. Talbot IDS Financial Services - Personal Financial Planner