[Computerbank] Fee paying

[dtell]

I like what Pen has said.

In addition, and I did not see this mentioned, in view of the other
discussion about charity status you want to be very careful not to be seen
to be making people pay (donations ok but not mandated please!)

David Totterdell

----- Original Message -----
From: "The Moose(tm)" <moose at bovine.artificial-stupidity.net>
To: <computerbank at lists.linux.org.au>
Sent: Friday, July 06, 2001 4:58 PM
Subject: [Computerbank] Fee paying


> Hi All
>
> I.ve been following the fee paying argument keenly and it's obviously a
> very emotive issue. Here's my penni's :P worth.
>
> The idea of payment being equated with ownership is a reality but how do
> you ask someone who believes they have nothing for payment? We will always
> come across people who want to take advantage of us but does that mean
> their need for a computer is any less than another low income earner and
> should we even be worried about that.
>
> To me our core business is to " empower people through IT education"
> and as a trainer this is my goal. In this business we need to be as non
> judgmental as possible and as affirming as possible. One of the most
> important things we give recipients is a sense of self worth, they become
> members of the real community because they have a computer just like
> working people. All of a sudden they can feel like they are mainstream,
> not poor. Many of the recipients we see are wanting to go to school,
> become more employable, access the outside world and (often) want their
> children or grandchildren not to be educationally and socially
> disadvantaged by poverty.
>
> So what is my idea? Whilst preserving the dignity of recipients and not
> pressuring them at all, I would suggest that we make it known that we will
> happily accept financial donations for the computers. This could be added
> to the application form so by the time recipients reach training there
> will have been time for them to consider if they want to do this or not.
>
> As for fundraising we need more corporate sponsership and ad banners could
> be the way to go. Could we sell advertising space on the web site? CBV
> does have a small submissions group but this needs some more experienced
> people.
>
> That's all from me
> Penni :P
>
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