New Computer
Service Profits
Nonprofit Organizations
Gallie says, "Throughout my lifelong work with nonprofit organizations, it never ceased to amaze me that they all seemed to lack many of the tools necessary for basic operation. Each organization, rather than learning from others, tends to 'reinvent the wheel,' duplicating the work of similar agencies that have gone before." It is this basic need that prompted Gallie to institute a communications service for the sharing of information among nonprofit groups.
Based on his prototype at the Museum of Science and Industry, the National Public Computer is more than the typical BBS. It is not about computers; it is simply for use by computers. It is not a wide-open discussion forum for all the computer hacks to let off steam; it is a controlled forum for the exchange of directed information and ideas. It is not just of interest to nonprofit organizations; it is of interest to anyone needing information about nonprofit organizations and their activities.
Although future potentials of this system may be more exciting and intriguing, the NPC is already offering services that should be of interest to all nonprofit organizations, anyone planning calendar schedules, news gatherers, and others. Gallie is especially proud of the "common calendar" of nonprofit organizational events. The purpose of this calendar is not only to let people know when to go to various scheduled programs, but also to prevent organizations from scheduling on top of each other.
Frequently, nonprofit organizations receive support from the same relatively small proportion of the population. Conflicts in scheduling can cause "competition" for participants, volunteers, and -- equally or more important -- monies. Gallie hopes word gets around about NPC's common calendar to the extent that most nonprofit events are listed. Then, before scheduling one's own program, a quick check of NPC's common calendar (filename, DAYFILE) will guarantee a currently "open" time or day for the event.
Another benefit Gallie hopes will be derived from the common calendar is a merging of common efforts -- one of the prime objectives of NPC, overall. A quick scan of the calendar will allow an organization in the planning stages of a given program to determine whether it is duplicating efforts already underway. A representative of the group could then contact the other agency to determine whether a merging of efforts would be mutually advantageous, whether "holes" in one program could be filled by the other's program, or whether it would be advisable merely to drop the plans before time and money were wasted upon something that will already have been done.
A second NPC service already available is nonprofit press release. One of the bigger problems for nonprofit organizations is creating and disseminating press releases. NPC assists in this matter by providing a common ground for releasing and reading all nonprofit news items. A bonus for the person stuck with the job of writing this material for his or her organization is the file NPCFORPR, with suggestions for using NPC for press releases as well as some tips on how to write a press release.
A third handy and valuable service NPC provides for nonprofit organizations is a media list -- news director and public service announcement addresses already formatted for label printout and readily available for downloading. News director address labels are in file BDCSTND (think "broadcast") and public service announcement addresses are in file BDCSTPA.
Several other important info files include a listing of local elected officials, a list of March '88 elections offices and candidates, information about how to incorporate as a nonprofit organization, and guidelines for obtaining foundation grants.
The future for this system is both exciting and innovating. Already formed and forming discussion groups (conferences) allow directed intercommunication between subject-related conference members. Membership in the specific conference is required for access to the forum and its services.
Subprograms within the conference are and will be available for specific application as to the conference's needs. For example, the already formed teachers' conference plans to have a bulletin board specifically aimed at the interests of and for the use of teachers. A third-world news release organization is using the conference service to plan news-release strategies.
A "DOORS" subsection can be utilized by conference and nonconference groups. The future possibilities for this section appear to be endless. Nearly any regular computer program could be developed according to the needs of NPC or a specific conference.
Those interested in more information about the National Public Computer and its various offerings are encouraged to call, read the introductory message, and then read the file BBGUIDE or copy it to read later. Also of interest is the files directory (L in the FILES section), which has the file download names with a brief description of each file's contents. A helpful tool provided in this section is (S) a character search in all or selected directory lists.
For further information, contact Bob Gallie, editor, on the system.
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