British Columbia Community Networks
Wisdom from a Parksville Pioneer
Contact Info:
- Jim Swanson, Mount Arrowsmith Community Network
- Telephone: 752-5643 (h)
- E-mail: jims@macn.bc.ca
- HomePage -- http://www.macn.bc.ca
Key lessons learned about
planning and operating a CommunityNet...
- 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.
Jim's
Wish List! to expand and improve BC's CommunityNets in 1996
includes...
- 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.
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Page
For further information:
EMail: bccna@bccna.bc.ca
Phone: (250) 727-2489
(in Victoria)
Toll Free (BC): 1-888-727-2226
Fax: (250) 727-6418
This file was last edited: May 14, 1996