[CSL board] PARTIAL list of CSL projects

[Dan MacNeil]

Sorry for this, I'd meant to send it off to eric incomplete but not to 
y'all.


Dan MacNeil wrote:
> A list of projects might help deliberations.
> 
> I'll go back and look at recent discussion with an eye to pulling out
> action items for me (SWOT, 5 year goals & ??)
> 
> Particularly Melissa's good post:
> 
> http://lists.thecsl.org/pipermail/divinerightofkings/2007-July/000457.html
> 
> 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 fall.
> 
> Our biggest tactical problem is that John Miller, the developer at this
> point is not inclined to stick on past his current contract.
> 
> I'm inclined not to pursue Parker Foundation funding for this **if** we
> can find TA/adjunct money from the CS dept to pay John.
> 
> If Parker money is the only money available, we should go with that.
> 
> I am inclined to purse CDBG (community development block grant) money in
> the fall and early winter.
> 
> HOSTING
> 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 loss 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 on this project, I would
> characterize it as our second most important.
> 
> 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)
> 
> This is not $36,000 that these organizations would spend on their own.
> 
> Hosting gives us a bunch of small "real" scripting projects for volunteers.
> 
> Hosting gives us the knowledge we need to run web applications.
> 
> Given that hosting is the place that Free software dominates, it is
> important that we host.
> 
> 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.
> 
> TRAINING
> 
> We are doing zero training now.
> 
> Probably the only way we are going to get better volunteers
> 
> ON-SITE SUPPORT
> 
> CUSTOM SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
> 
> 
> 
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