[ Grassroots News ] [ News Archives ]

[ View the Text version ]

Welcome to Grassroots News!

This monthly newsletter offers information and tools that can help you to make a difference in the world. Daily updates of news and resources are available on the Grassroots.org blog.(RSS feed)


One Newsletter
-----------------------------------------
Because much of the content of our previous newsletters overlapped, starting with this issue we've combined Grassroots News and Grassroots Client News into the new Grassroots News. Each issue will offer resources that enable both individuals and nonprofit organizations to Make Change !

Grassroots.org Web Site Highlights
-----------------------------------------
Each month our web site features a client, supporter and a staff member or volunteer. Using these summaries we'll introduce you to the organizations and individuals that work with Grassroots.org.

You may have noticed that a couple months ago when we introduced our new site, we also moved our blog to a new platform (WordPress). Besides accessing the blog from the web, you can subscribe to the blog using the RSS feed and an RSS reader or an e-mail delivery service like Squeet.com.

Free Web Design/Volunteers
-----------------------------------------
Grassroots.org provides free web design services to nonprofit organizations charities in the US and Canada. We can do this by providing organizations with their choice of either a web design volunteer or a WYSIWYG application that allows a non-technical person to create their own web site. If you work for a nonprofit organization and are interested in our web design services and are already a hosting client, just drop us a line at hosting@grassroots.org to let us know. If you are not a hosting client, you can apply for all of our free Internet services by completing this form.

If you would like to volunteer your web design skills, complete this application on VolunteerMatch.org.

Grassroots - eScrip Visa - Support Grassroots.org by Signing up with eScrip
-----------------------------------------
Show your support and help Grassroots.org raise money through your everyday purchases. The eScrip program allows you to make purchases at various merchants and have a percentage of those purchases go back to Grassroots.org. The eScrip VISA allows you to contribute money through all of your credit card purchases. Through your Everyday Purchases, you can give Extraordinary Results! Learn more about the Grassroots - eScrip fundraising program.

 

15th Annual Community Technology Conference
-----------------------------------------
Grassroots.org will be exhibiting later this month (July 27-29) 6 in Washington, DC when CTCNet hosts its 15th Annual Conference. The Community Technology Centers' Network (CTCNet) is a national membership network of community technology centers (CTCs) and other non-profits, united in their commitment to provide technology access and education to underserved communities. CTCNet works through the CTC Network to provide resources and advocacy to improve the quality and sustainability of CTCs. The conference will bring together 500 CTC practitioners and supporters from across the nation and deliver 40+ program sessions, half-day training workshops, feature panel discussions, networking and resource-sharing events.

Social Networking with Grassroots.org
-----------------------------------------
If you're a member of either of these networks, you can join the Grassroots.org groups on MySpace or Friendster.

Stop Child Poverty
-----------------------------------------
The focus of the Stop Child Poverty campaign is to raise awareness of child poverty worldwide, and to help everyday world citizens make a difference in the lives of children in need. Stop Child Poverty works to promote the United Nations Millennium Development Goals to cut extreme poverty in half by 2015. The campaign aims to keep governments on track by reminding them that citizens are deeply concerned about the welfare of developing countries. Along with helping governments reach the Millennium Goals, the Big Push will also urge world leaders, policy makers and global citizens to look beyond 2015 to a world that embraces the rights of children to live a full, happy, and healthy life.

Grassroots.org is proud to be a partner of Stop Child Poverty.

Save Our Landfills Recyling Campaign
-----------------------------------------
Grassroots.org, through Funding Factory, is collecting empty printer cartridges and old used cell phones to be recycled. According to the EPA, by the end of 2005 130 million cell phones will become obsolete during the year as owners replace their existing phones with newer models. The disposal will result in more than 65 tons of waste which, if deposited into landfills, will leak toxics and harmful materials into the environment, eventually finding their way into our drinking water and the air that we breathe. Similarly, each toner cartridge that is thrown away adds about four pounds of plastic, metal and chemicals to a landfill. Through the Funding Factory, cell phones and ink cartridges are recycled and refurbished, protecting our landfills. Let us know if you would like to get involved and we will arrange for a box to be delivered to you, free of charge. Fill up the box and drop it off at the nearest UPS or UPS affiliate merchant store. There is no charge to mail the box and Grassroots.org will receive financial support in exchange for these items. So, get involved, Save Our Landfills, and support Grassroots.org so that we can continue to deliver free services to charities and provide information to concerned citizens around the world.

If you need additional information, please e-mail us at recycle@grassroots.org or go to this website.

Help Grassroots.org by Selling on EBay
-----------------------------------------
If you sell items on EBay, you can designate Grassroots.org as a beneficiary of a percentage of the sale. (There is a $10 minimum per item.) For more information, go to this web page. This contribution will help provide funding for our operations. Thank you for your support!

Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic
-----------------------------------------
Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D) is an educational resource, enabling those with print disabilities to complete their educations, advance their careers, and gain self-esteem. RFB&D was established in 1948 by Anne Macdonald to provide recorded textbooks to veterans blinded in World War II. RFB&D's materials are for all people who cannot effectively read standard print because of a visual, perceptual or other physical disability. More than 70 percent of those served by RFB&D last year were identified as having a learning disability. In fiscal year 2005, more than 7,149 volunteers, working in RFB&D's 29 recording studios across the United States, contributed 392,927 hours of their time recording 5,134 new titles.

Helpline for the Disabled
-----------------------------------------
A Handicapped Help Line is a free resource for the Challenged, Disabled, Handicapped, and their families and friends. People who call toll-free (from the US or Canada) 1-888-820-4357 (1-888-820-HELP) can receive information on resources available to people with disabilities in the areas of Advocacy, Alliances, Children, Church, Community, Counseling, Domestic Violence, Education, Elders, Family, Financial, Food, Housing, Shelters, Social Services, Teens, Transportation, Veterans, Youth and more.

Moodle: Free Learning Management Software
-----------------------------------------
Moodle is a course management system (CMS) available as a free, Open Source software package. Moodle was designed using sound pedagogical principles to help educators create effective online learning communities. You can download and use it on any computer, including your web hosting provider, yet the software can scale from a single-teacher site to a 50,000-student online university. For course providers, the software can be downloaded from the Moodle web site. See this list of sites that use Moodle, many of which offer their courses to the public. You can see some sample Moodle sites at the High School Student Online Classroom and Bean Counter's Accounting & Bookkeeping Tutorials.

Previous Newsletters
-----------------------------------------
You can view all previous Grassroots News and Grassroots Client News newsletters in the Grassroots News archives and the Grassroots Client News archives.

Volunteers
-----------------------------------------
If you are interested in giving back to the world community, consider volunteering your time and skills to Grassroots.org. We especially need web designers to develop and enhance web sites for our free web hosting clients. All Grassroots.org volunteer opportunities are now listed on VolunteerMatch. Review our listings to see if any of our opportunities match your skills, experience, and interest. (You can submit your information to us through the appropriate "I like this opportunity!" link on the page that describes the particular opportunity.)

Grassroots.org Shirts, Mugs, and More!
-----------------------------------------
You can now buy Grassroots.org merchandise at our online store. The store features shirts, mugs, prints, and more. Any purchases you make from our online store are tax deductible.

Donation Exchange
-----------------------------------------
This forum on Grassroots.org was created to facilitate the exchange of donated items. Organizations or individuals looking to donate items or those in search of obtaining donated goods should join in the discussion here.

Free Services
-----------------------------------------
Grassroots.org offers several free services to nonprofit organizations in the US and Canada:
- Free Web Services for nonprofit organizations (free domain name, web hosting and web design)
- Free Nonprofit Incorporation Assistance for nonprofit organizations

Discussion Forums
-----------------------------------------
Exercise your freedom of speech!!!

Our discussion forums are a great way for you to help and encourage others, to allow others to learn more about you and your organization, and to build relationships with others in the same field of interest. You can access all of the Grassroots.org discussion forums here. We encourage you to visit the forums, register, and participate.

Let your voice be heard!

Your Feedback
-----------------------------------------
Drop us a line and let us know what you want to see in future issues. E-Mail your comments to mailto:%20newsletter@grassroots.org.

Administration
-----------------------------------------
If others you know would like to view this newsletter, please forward this copy and have them subscribe to the newsletter.
To subscribe to this newsletter, use this form.
To unsubscribe, email us.
To view previous newsletters, go to the Archives.
If you have questions about Grassroots.org complete this form.

About Grassroots.org
-----------------------------------------
Grassroots.org provides free Internet, business and legal consulting services for charities in the US and Canada. We also provide information to the general public on various social issues through our network of 45+ topical web sites.