Copyright, 1998 Duane Ruth-Heffelbower Use of the Internet in Refugee Resettlement

Information is Power Reacting to events long after the fact? Why didn’t you know this was coming? Having timely information about official policy and news events affecting your work is crucial to success. Short response time for an RFP? What if you knew about it the day it was issued instead of waiting for someone to tell you?

The U.S. Government has embraced the internet for information sharing RFPs are published on the internet the day they are authorizedRFPs are published on the internet the day they are authorized Plans in process are communicated over the internetPlans in process are communicated over the internet You can know what is coming before it happensYou can know what is coming before it happens

But my agency isn’t wired. How can I use the internet? Few refugee resettlement agencies make any significant use of the internetFew refugee resettlement agencies make any significant use of the internet is free to anyone with a computer and modem is free to anyone with a computer and modem Your computer can be connected to the World Wide Web for $20 a monthYour computer can be connected to the World Wide Web for $20 a month

Get Wired! In the next few minutes we will show you how to take advantage of this new electronic communication phenomenonIn the next few minutes we will show you how to take advantage of this new electronic communication phenomenon Go home ready to join the communications revolution in refugee resettlementGo home ready to join the communications revolution in refugee resettlement

Two Important Parts of the Internet allows you to communicate directly with one person or many at no cost allows you to communicate directly with one person or many at no cost The World Wide Web serves as an international bulletin board where things you need to know are posted, and where you can tell people about your agencyThe World Wide Web serves as an international bulletin board where things you need to know are posted, and where you can tell people about your agency

Sample World Wide Web Sites

Fundraising on the internet All significant funding sources post their material to the internetAll significant funding sources post their material to the internet You can find funders, their requirements, and download their formsYou can find funders, their requirements, and download their forms Internet prospecting is an art formInternet prospecting is an art form

extends your reach Communicate instantly with anyone in the world for freeCommunicate instantly with anyone in the world for free Create a listserve to allow a group to share with each otherCreate a listserve to allow a group to share with each other Archive the listserve so that anyone can follow your discussion any timeArchive the listserve so that anyone can follow your discussion any time

possibilities

allows talking with someone who is never available How often have you tried to get in touch with someone who is never in?How often have you tried to get in touch with someone who is never in? – waits until the recipient is ready –Mail can be received any time from any computer in the world –Your message will be received exactly as you intend, not as a message slip from someone else

How to get on line Connect your computer modem to a phone lineConnect your computer modem to a phone line If you are on a network and want everyone to have internet access, connect the network to a phone lineIf you are on a network and want everyone to have internet access, connect the network to a phone line Sign up with an internet service providerSign up with an internet service provider Install and web browser softwareInstall and web browser software

Getting online 2 If you only want free , call (800) 654-JUNO. You can’t formatted documents, but you can send and receive text If you only want free , call (800) 654-JUNO. You can’t formatted documents, but you can send and receive text Internet service providers usually charge about $20/month for unlimited access to and the web and provide basic softwareInternet service providers usually charge about $20/month for unlimited access to and the web and provide basic software

Getting fancy You can share formatted documents, spreadsheets and presentations by attachmentYou can share formatted documents, spreadsheets and presentations by attachment You can publish newslettersYou can publish newsletters You can chat in real time with Internet Relay ChatYou can chat in real time with Internet Relay Chat You can even use free internet phone and videoconferencingYou can even use free internet phone and videoconferencing

Why get on the internet? To communicate quickly with funders and co-workersTo communicate quickly with funders and co-workers allows immediate asynchronous communication allows immediate asynchronous communication –Get your message to people in your words at a time convenient to them Get your mail anywhere, any timeGet your mail anywhere, any time – allows people on the road to stay in touch Get funding information immediatelyGet funding information immediately –Grant opportunities are posted when they become available, not when a state coordinator mails them out

Don’t be left behind Those who use the internet have an advantage over those who don’tThose who use the internet have an advantage over those who don’t Information is powerInformation is power Get the power for your agency!Get the power for your agency!