[CSL board] full list of projects

[Josh Harding]

Thanks for taking the time to write this up Dan.

I think a lot of what we can offer organizations are items that they
haven't identified as lacking. I vaguely remember this happening but
not the results: perhaps we could set up a simple survey page with
various directions we're thinking of going to gauge interest in them.

Also interesting would be the answers people have to questions about
their current infrastructure (how do you work from home? if your
office computer explodes, how would you continue to work?).

-Josh

On 8/10/07, Dan MacNeil <dan at thecsl.org> wrote:
> These are the things we do.
>
> One of the things we'll be doing at Tuesday's 7pm 2nd floor of Olsen
> hall board meeting is to set priorities among them.
>
> #########
> MVHUB
> If we have to choose one program, this is it.
>
> This is a web site/database of social services that is:
>
>      http://mvhub.com
>
>      1) Easy to use
>      2) Up to date
>      3) Producing Measurable Results
>      4) In successful use for 4 years
>      5) Free software
>
> Users find it easier to type search terms and click submit than they do
> to navigate screens of check boxes.
>
> 80%+ of all program and Agency records have been updated or confirmed to
> be up to date within the past 6 months. Every 6 months, each agency and
> program contact get an email asking them to confirm or update their
> records. Most agencies do this.
>
> We can measure exactly how many referrals we've made and we have the
> logs and reports to prove that the information in the database is up to
> date.
>
> IMNSHO, This is the program to support beyond others because the
> software is better than any other software with its purpose in the
> country and has the potential to help the most people.
>
> Last May till this October we have $20,000 in funding for this initiative.
>
> Our big strategic goal is to build a community of developers and
> volunteers around the software.
>
> Our biggest tactical opportunity is the chance to have mvhub be part of
> Fred's Software Engineering class in the spring.
>
> Our biggest tactical problem is that John Miller, the developer at this
> point is not inclined to stick on past his current contract.
>
> I am inclined to purse CDBG (community development block grant) money in
> the fall and early winter to pay me help Fred with the Software
> Engineering class.
>
> To move to the next level, state-wide, We'd need a full-time marketing
> and sales person and a fulltime developer/sys admin. The former to
> promise people features particular to their region and the latter to
> deliver on the promise.
>
> HOSTING
> As Eric points out, Hosting gives us the knowledge we need to run web
> applications.
>
> We provide email, web hosting and other services for 30 organizations. See:
>      http://thecsl.org/go/sales/services/
>
> We collect about $300 per year in voluntary fees. About 1/3 of our
> customers pay $60 each.
>
> This is and will be a huge, huge leader for us.
>
>      $2,500    bandwidth (paid by UML)
>      $45,000    sys admin labor (volunteer)
>      $2,500    equipment (paid by community foundation)
>      ------
>      50,000
>
> Given we make on average $20 per customer, the break even point is:
>
> 2500 customers = $50,000 / $20
>
> Despite the prospect of never making money, I would
> characterize it as our second most important project.
>
> We are competing with organizations that offer service for $10 month
> (with a year long commitment):
>
>      http://thecsl.org/go/sales/compete/
>
> We provide what would cost $100 per month in service to about 10
> organizations. (the other 25 or so we serve, don't ask for much service)
>
> These 10 organizations would not spend $1200 per year on email or hosting.
>
> Hosting gives us a bunch of small "real" scripting projects for volunteers.
>
> Given that hosting is the place that Free software dominates, it is
> important that we host.
>
> In terms of desktop support, which is likely to pay for itself  Hosting
> is the entry in terms of experence, connections and ease of use. People
> we provide desktop support can use the same username and password for
> local logins, for their email and for updating their web files.
>
> Eric points out that:
>
> Hosting is a tangible activity non-techies immediately 'get'
>
> Hosting establishes us in Lowell through engaging with other community
> non-profits, and therefore increases potential for future partnerships
>
> It's awfully nice, when applying for a grant: "Look who Burgess funded
> last year in our area.""Oh, we host their website!"
>
> Our biggest tactical problem is that there is about 60 hours of deferred
> maintenance that needs to be done. John Miller is working on MVHhub,
> Jack Doherty is taking a while to come up to speed and I've been
> distracted by the Boomer grant.
>
> To move to the next level, where we were capabale of hosting 2500
> organizations would take about $5,000 for equipment, about 1 month of
> time for somebody at my skill level and ???  of sales and marketing effort.
>
> ON-SITE SUPPORT
> We didn't get a lot accomplished with the Boomer grant, but people were
> grateful for what we did get done.
>
> Most non-profits in Lowell are struggling along with a random collection
> of spyware and virus ridden PCs. Backups are rare and even more rarely
> off site. When somebody's PC goes belly up, they lose their work and are
> unable to work until their PC is fixed.
>
> Based on the Boomer grant, We (Eric mostly) are pursuing $50-70K in
> funding for desktop support. (Parker, Burgess, CDBG) For that money we'd
> provide complete desktop support and training labor to 5-7 lowell
> organizations.
>
> After the first grant period(s) ended, we'd ask these 5-7 organizations
> to pay us $250 to $300 per year per PC. for maintence. This would amount
> to $10,000 to $25,000 per year in revenue and is approximately what it
> would cost of have a parttime PC guy (10 hours per week)
>
>   We'd ask the funders that do multi-year (parker, CDBG) to fund us the
> second year for for between 25-40K and add 5-7 more organizations to our
> list, the third year we'd be able to exist on fees.
>
> With standard setups, we'd be able to spend minimal time on the
> organizations
>
> Specific benefits we'd provide include:
>
>         file server
>         vpn
>         backups
>         disc imaging
>         roaming profiles
>         monthly training / check-in
>
>  From an end user perspective, we'd say:
>
>         If your PC dies, you won't lose your data.
>         If your PC has problems, we'll fix it within 72 business hours.
>
>         You will be able to work from any PC in your office
>         If your office burns down, you won't lose your data
>         You will be able to access your data from home.
>         You will use the same password for email and local logins
>         You and your staff will get relivant training
>
> TRAINING
> We are doing zero formal training now.
>
> Probably the only way we are going to get better volunteers is to train
> them.
>
> Having new VISTAs go through a few Linux certification classes will
> probably reduce the time it takes for them to get productive.
>
> We can charge money for training.
>
> To get the next level, where we are actually offering system
> administration classes, We'd need a skilled person devoted to that
>
> Probably the way to start is offer single session classes.
>
> CUSTOM SOFTWARE / WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT
>
> We've done this on an ad-hoc basis, but every time the work has not
> built on anything. We've done the work and taken away nothing but money
> and experience. Ideally, we'd like all or at least some of our custom
> work to be useful in future projects.
>
> When we got to the point where we had a person who mostly worked on
> MVHub, custom software might be a way to sustain lulls in funding.
>
> Rather than developing solutions for people from scratch, we'd probably
> want to contribute customer-specific tweaks to an FOSS project like CviCRM
>
> To move to the next level, we need somebody developing mvhub fulltime.
>
> LOWELL WIDE WIFI
> We don't have the resources to pursue this unborn project. With another
> solid system admin type on board this might changes
>
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