Free Geek Chicago needs your help!

When FreeGeek/Chicago first opened in October, 2005, we hoped it would fill an important role in the Chicago nonprofit technology world. Since then, we have sold dozens of $50 computers, served over 150 volunteers, and responsibly recycled several tons of electronics. Our doors are open to anyone who wants to get their hands dirty and learn, regardless of race, class, gender, criminal record, geographic location, or anything else. We emphasize re-appropriation and reuse of old technology to help relieve the strain these technologies put on our planet and on other human beings. Our staff consists of a group of dedicated volunteers, governed by consensus. We insist on free and open source software as a fundamental right of computer users, and govern ourself in accordance with the principles of the free software movement. Today, FreeGeek finds itself in a challenging position. Our volunteer base is as strong and dedicated as ever. The staff continues to do great work and thanks to a concerted effort, we are finally doing a significant reorganization of our space. Thanks to a generous donation of resources from interns at marketing firm DDB, we have a very good video to help show the world what we do (http://eads.blip.tv/file/1147809/) and some great ideas for a new outreach campaign. Despite our progress, if our hardware and monetary donations do not pick up, FreeGeek/Chicago will have to consider calling it a day-maybe as soon as this winter. It's time to take action. We need your old computers. We need your friends' old computers. We also need the ones being discarded by your employer, your church, your community organization, your secret society. FreeGeek/Chicago makes sure that no component's life is unnecessarily cut short; if it can be used, we will use it. We minimize waste by maximizing use. If you would like to recycle an old computer, please drop by 3411 W. Diversey any Sunday between 11am and 5pm, or contact us at help@freegeekchicago.org to arrange a drop-off time or discuss a pickup. Monetary support, while not as crucial to our continued operations, would assist in covering our overhead, which consists primarily of recycling and rent. We also need your energies. We need assistance with a huge range of tasks: running activities in the space, soliciting donations, grantwriting, internal management, education and training, capturing media of FreeGeek's operation, space organization, handling online sales, and more. Even if all you can do is take two minutes out of your week to tell a friend, relative, or colleague about us, it will help. One of our newest staff members, Victor, often says that FreeGeek is on the verge of growing up as an organization. If we are to see FreeGeek/Chicago mature, we need your help. -- Jim Craner Managing Partner Chicago Technology Cooperative 312-480-8051 www.chicagotech.org jim@chicagotech.org ___________________________