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Wisdom from a Parksville Pioneer |
Contact Info:Key lessons learned about planning and operating a CommunityNet...
- Jim Swanson, Mount Arrowsmith Community Network
- Telephone: 752-5643 (h)
- E-mail: jims@macn.bc.ca
- HomePage -- http://www.macn.bc.ca
Jim's Wish List! to expand and improve BC's CommunityNets in 1996 includes...
- Establish as broad a base of support as you can.
- Support local businesses as much as possible -- this helps to increase donations and benefits the local economy.
- Don't be afraid to ask for and negotiate hard for the services and equipment you need.
- Use the local media to raise awareness (i.e. regular CommunityNet articles in local newspapers).
- Be persistent (especially when applying for grants).
- Ask retired business people for advice and guidance.
- Funding for public access terminals.
- Establishing Community Steering Committees involving the local: civic and regional governments, college, school district, library, museum, ISPs, health council, and chamber of commerce to aggregate network demand for volume discounts and provin cial funding.
- Organizing meetings throughout BC on how a CommunityNet can work and providing demonstrations and assistance.