CANBERRA ACT
August 1998

CASE Announces First Meeting

Thank you for visiting.

My vision is to establish a community net to serve Canberra and the surrounding regions. I have worked locally in both the community sector and the IT industry. I therefore know from experience that a need exists, and I can visualize ways in which that need can be met.

So, what's stopping me from doing it? Two things: legitimacy and resources. To be legitimate and credible in the long term, a community net must itself be community-based and accountable to its stakeholders. This means that it must be started and run by a group of committed believers, not an individual. The resources that are required include money, equipment, time, expertise (in a wide range of fields) and contacts.

One solution solves both problems. If the idea gathers enough of the right support, it can go ahead.

Posting these pages is my first move. If I get an encouraging response, it will be time to get down to real business with

1. a needs analysis and
2. a feasibility study.

Together, these two exercises should yield enough data to put together a proposal along the lines of a business plan or Prospectus.

At this stage I am offering a vision brochure depicting my private opinion of what is needed and possible. I have no doubt that the fact-gathering I have described will lead to changes and improvements, so everything on this web site should be taken as an exercise in 'testing the water'.

Please read on, and decide whether you can support it. If so, I would be keen to receive an email from you stating whether

1. you are willing to be involved in planning activities
2. you have expertise that might be useful in forming or running such a group
3. you may be able to offer time on a voluntary basis if the group is formed (specifying what you would like to do)
4. you wish to defer your decision on whether to become involved, but you have a comment or piece of advice to offer based on your reading of the vision brochure
5. you cannot contribute at this stage, but support the idea and would like to be informed of progress by email

Any other information, including tips about similar projects already underway, would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,
                                       
Darrell D. Burkey