Mary Jo Fruechtel / CIS 120 / VOLUNTEER SERVICE

COMMUNITYTECHNOLOGYCENTER MISSION STATEMENT FREE GEEK IS A NON- PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT RECYCLES TECHNOLOGY TO PROVIDE COMPUTERS, EDUCATION AND JOB SKILLS TRAINING IN EXCHANGE FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE

Computer life cycle is very short, 3-5 years By 2005, 63 million PCs will be retired In 1998, of 20 million obsolete PCs only 6% were recycled PROBLEM

We are throwing away resources and generating pollution. Cathode ray tubes from the monitor, circuit boards, batteries, and mercury switches all contain toxic materials, including lead, mercury, cadmium, and chromium. PROBLEM

Recycling computers - very time consuming One ton of electronic boards contains in #s 600 of PLASTIC, 90 of IRON, 65 of LEAD, 22 of ANTIMONY, 286 of COPPER, 44 of TIN, 40 of NICKEL, AND ONE OF GOLD One pound of gold is worth $6,000 RECYCLING

Many people lack the means to own a computer Those in the lowest income levels need computer skills in our changing world PROBLEM TWO

Volunteers donate their time in the time consuming recycling process and earn a computer by learning in the classroom how to put one together The recycling process diverts used computer equipment from the landfills THE MARRIAGE

To earn a FREEK BOX computer system 24 hours of Logging in donations Recycling-Salvaging Testing equipment VOLUNTEERING

Founded in April of 2000 Local community organi- zation operates the Community Technology Center in SE Portland Staffed by local computer geeks and volunteers Open from 12pm to 8pm Tuesday - Saturday WHO

LOCATED AT 1731 SE 10 TH AVE WHERE

Donated equipment is registered Monitors are a $10 fee “Gizmos” are logged into data bases Macs are saved for Eugene recycler HOW IT WORKS

Components that pass the screening process are tested and stored.

Obsolete or broken equipment is broken down for recycling or SALVAGING & RECYCLING Salvaged for valuable parts

RECYCLING Our industrial recycling partners collect the scrap. 97% scrap is reused

STATISTICAL DATA FREE GEEK has accepted the donation of over 40,000 used computers since Nov

EDUCATION Volunteers earn their computer system and an introductory class. Members who “graduate” from the member program can become eligible to take the FREEK BOX build class…learning how to build their computers from used parts.

Programs & Classes USE OF BASIC APPLICATIONS COMPUTER PROGRAMING (PERL) PRINTER & MONITOR REPAIR SOON TO TEACH: NETWORK ADMINISTRATION SECURITY

My initial reception was questionable because there were a flood of volunteers at that time. You tour the site Sign up for your first work day. Report for work-I logged in Gizmos. I learned a lot about the different components. You punch in and out to keep track of your hours. You can only schedule one work session at a time. My third work day was in recycling. This can be therapeutic or very physical. You learn how to take the components apart. I did not enjoy this as much. My Experience

SOURCES www. Freegeek.org Free geek brochure Free geek presentation