Annual Report, 1998 - the year's in review

Bruce McComb, Ronda Evans and TCFN kids, Evan and Nickole

1. Do we have free E-mail services?
2. Do we have free access to computers/Internet?
3. Do we have computer training at low cost?
4. Do we have sites for public access to technology?
5. Do our non-profits use computers to communicate?
6. Do our non-profits have web pages explaining their services?
7. Do our youth have access to the Internet and training programs?
8. Do our low-income families use computers to find information about jobs and services?
9. Do our disabled residents have access to adaptive equipment in order to take full advantage of the Internet and computer technology?
10. Do our immigrants and migrant workers have access to Information Technology in their own language?
11. Is there a non-profit organization helping non-profits use Information Technology?
12. Is there a computer recycling center that gets refurbished computer into the hands of the "have-nots" of the Information Technology age?

The Foundation received grants, free software, donated hardware, and lots of volunteers to set up Centers where the public has free access to Information Technology. Centers established to date include:

• Amistad Learning Center
• Amistad Elementary School
• Arborwood Learning Center
• Edith Bishel Center for the Blind
• Kennewick Housing Authority
• Kennewick Senior Center
• New Hope Baptist Church - Pasco
• WA State Migrant Council -Pasco

Additionally, RECA Foundation's Executive Director serves on the advisory committee for Kennewick Community Education and has taught Internet classes for several years.

The Executive Director also serves as Secretary for the Human Services Coalition and has been instrumental in helping a large number of HSC members and other non-profit groups set up free WWW pages and free e-mail accounts.

1. Community Technology Centers must have top-down management commitment AND must have bottom-up (end-user) participation in day-to-day operations.
2. The Computer lab is a place to learn about Information Technology, receive initial training and hone developed skills, but real progress requires a computer in the home.
3. Generally, the public is still unaware of the Foundation's work. High visibility and continual awareness campaigns are required.

GII Awards: The RECA Foundation (Columbia Basin Public Information Network) was a semifinalist in the 3rd Annual Global Information Infrastructure (GII) Awards - in three Categories: Community Networking, Public Access and Promise the Children.

Our Town: The Foundation continues to host this program. Two of last year's participants were winners in the international competitions.

The Foundation's Columbia Basin Public Information projects (CBPIN) were one of 10 "successful, cutting-edge.." projects to present at the Connecting All Americans for the 21st Century: Telecommunications Links in Low Income & Rural Communities (February 25 - 27, 1998) in Washington D.C. The Foundation was the only community network invited. A detailed discussion of the RECA Foundation's approach to mitigating the digital divide is located on The Columbia Free-Net in the "Last Mile" selection.

With the Foundation's assistance, two young quadriplegics are now accessing Information Technology with voice actuated computer systems. They are both students working toward eventual employment. The blind have used their TCFN e-mail accounts for years. And now more blind are learning to use Windows and other Information Technology. One user said that "having a computer is almost as good as seeing."

The Foundation became a registered service provider for the State of Washington and received nearly $5,000.00 from the Department of Social and Human Services (DSHS) in 1998. Services provided included a virtual Developmental Disabilities Resource Center (hosted on TCFN) and a computer for a Developmentally Disabled child. The Foundation also provided Internet training for the Columbia Industries Summer Youth Hire Program.

The Richland Lions Club provided a $1,000.00 gift to help pay for the cost of the Foundation's RYSC (Americorp) volunteer at the Edith Bishel Center for the Blind. The Club also provided a Pentium class computer to the Foundation for use by a quadriplegic client.

Increasingly, individuals, businesses, educators, and organizations are seeing the positive impact of equal access to Information Technology. People are getting jobs or better jobs. At risk youth are getting better grades and staying out of trouble. Homebound seniors are "getting out" into the world and staying in touch with family and friends through e-mail. This year the Arborwood Family Learning Center was born because the Arborwood apartment owners and managers understood the value of a Community Technology Center in the middle of a low-income area. The center was open Monday through Thursday from 9:00am - Noon for ESL (English as a Second Language) classes for about 35 Bosnian refuges. The Center was open in the afternoons as an after school homework center (low income white, Hispanic, and Bosnian kids). The Center also functioned as a Computer Recycling Center on the weekends. A neighborhood food bank was operated by the Foundation. The apartment owner was so impressed at what had been accomplished and how the community had come together in support of each other, that he will provide an additional 3-bedroom apartment in 1999 to be used as a computer lab and computer recycling center. The Computer Recycling program has provided dozens of computers to the Community Technology Centers as well as placing computers in the homes of the "have-nots".

The Social Concerns Committee of CUUC obtained a small grant that paid for utilities, phone line, some supplies, and small food allowances for low income volunteers at the Arborwood Family Learning Center. Volunteers spent many hours reading to the children, talking with adults who were learning English, and helped supervise the computer lab.

The Center continues to be a major goal of the Foundation. The Arborwood Family Learning Center is now functioning as the beginning of the EAC.

Funding. Income in 1998 was up from 1997 by about $3,500. The following is a summary of income (rounded):

Details are listed in the 1998 Financial Report.

Sponsors (rotates hourly)

Past Sponsors

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