Howdy folks,
I hope this post finds all of you in good holiday spirits! I’d like to thank those of you who responded to and showed your support for the Wild Rockies InfoNet in last year’s support plea. And again I’d like to ask your support for the work I’ve done this year, and will need to do next year to keep these services up and running. It takes many hours of time and commitment on my part to provide these services to you, and I seldom ask for anything in return. But this year I would like to ask all of you to consider making a small contribution to us by visiting our website at
and using our PayPal account to do so.
It’s been a busy year for me, building websites, and managing our systems. We still provide community services via our listserves, offering free access to the Missoula Community News, and other lists supporting the work of nonprofit organizations like MUD, WVE, High Plains Films, the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, and others. Our MIssoula Community News listserve has a subscription base of over 600 people! And I’ve spent considerable time this fall helping the local Occupy movement build their online and technical infrastructures, and am helping to do the same with OccupyMontana.
And with all of this comes my (what is finally turning into) my annual request for support. Most of you have been using our services over the years with little prompting from me for support. But I have put in many long hours lately with upgrades, maintenance and I have spent much on our upkeep, and keeping our domain names registered, so it is time once again for me to reach out to our community and ask for a little support. I have offered free technical support to our users over the years, time which I do not receive reimbursement.
I have a link for you to use my PayPal account to easily offer your support to the InfoNet. if you’d rather, you can mail your support to me—my address and contact information also is listed on the site and in my signature file below. As a guideline, asking $25/year for a custom email account isn’t too much to ask. And many of you have relied on the goodwill of others to help me continue these services. And any donation you may have to help us defray the costs of providing free services to the many good causes around would be greatly appreciated!
I hope this note finds you all well, and surviving the tough economic times surrounding us. I am doing well, and managing to stay afloat.
Keep in touch!
Jim Coefield
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Wild Rockies InfoNet
Box 4784
Missoula, MT 59806
406-880-6954
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I’d like to welcome everybody to the newest incarnation of the Wildrockies Slate. The Slate has been dedicated to providing support and services to nonprofits and activists in the Wild Rockies Bioregion since 1995. While we have undergone many changes and changed locations and affiliations, our mission is still the same. Our aim is to continue providing services to those working tirelessly to protect and preserve the values of the the land that we have all come to cherish.
I have provided a sketch—a teaser, maybe—of the Slate, a place to gather ideas and information about this place we have come to call the WIld Rockies. Check back often, as I will be rolling out much of what I plan to offer in the future.
And thank you to those who have encouraged me and supported me over the years to continue on in this pursuit!
One of the new features of this website is a way for all of you to show your support. Many of you have been using our services for many years, whether it be email accounts, list servers, web site hosting, phone support, computer repair, software installations, upgrades and technical support.
Much of what I do has been in the spirit of service, knowing that all of you are doing great work, and if I can can assist you in your endeavors, then I can also share in your accomplishments. While all of the time I spend volunteering is time well spent, it does not pay the bills. We recently have invested considerable resources in our recent upgrades, not to mention hundreds of hours building and maintaining the Wild Rockies InfoNet so that all of you can continue on with your missions. Nobody pays me directly to do this—I get no grants or no paycheck. What I do get is the opportunity to occasionally reach out to those whom I have supported over the years, and ask for your assistance when the time is ripe. And that time is now.
I often hear from you about how you can support the work that we do. So I have provided you with links to my PayPal account where you can show your support at a level that meets your ability. I have not asked for any support from the general community for several years—almost three years for many of you. So I only ask that you decide what is fair, and to offer what you can afford to help support us.
Many thanks,
Jim
Some of you may have been aware that there have been changes in our services recently. Over the years, we have changed locations several times, and moved from one network services provider to another.
After moving to the second floor of the Wilma Building with the Big Sky Conservation Institute in 2004, last year we moved upstairs to the 3rd floor offices of High Plains Films and the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, where we are located today.
At the end of October, we upgraded our Internet connections, and all of our associated networking gear. Last month, we upgraded hardware and software from our old legacy equipment that we utilized while at the Ecology Center, at the old Ceretana Grain Mill site. Last year we installed a new high volume listserver for use by the Film Festival.
So it is with grand fanfare that the end of this year finds us with new equipment and new technologies, which have allowed me to construct the new Wild Rockies Slate with state of the art tools. I anticipate much fun as I continue to construct this website, and provide a new venue for people to participate in. I’ll provide updates as it progresses, and will undoubtedly contact many of you for contributions.
