|
|
|
|
| Project: | Refurbishing Computers |
| Project Name: | The Phoenix Project |
| User Group Name: | Central Maryland User Group |
| Location: | Ellicott City, MD |
WHAT we do
Project Description:
The Phoenix Project in association with The Central Maryland User Group (CMUG)
and the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). Over the last 12 years we
have refurbished over 12 thousand computer. The majority of which has gone to
schools through out the state of Maryland.
In the last three years we have also work with community associations and churches to set up peer to peer LANS using DSL connections to allow person who do not own a computer access to the Internet. With the community association or the church paying for the DSL connection it allows those who otherwise would not gain access to the internet to have access. In those three years we have set around the Baltimore are over 70 of these peer to peer networks. Ranging from 4 to 25 connected computers. This has all been done with volunteers we have in 12 years no paid staff except for our connection to Volunteers in Service to America VISTA has supplied us with staff which are paid for by VISTA. And MSDE has provided us with space for the last 10 years.
The Phoenix Project
C/O CMUG
8623 Spruce Run Court
Ellicott City, MD 21043
How we will use award money:
If we are lucky enough to win the Jerry award. We will use the money to buy supplies for the
program which we are always short on such as cables, memory etc. We will also allow us to award
our volunteers by holding annual picnic lunch to thank all those people who volunteer for us
month after month and year after year.
HOW we do what we do
The Phoenix Project over the last 12 years has developed procedures as to how we
repair computers and what software we use on them.
We install Windows 98SE as our operating system with the help of the Maryland State Department of Education and the National Cristina foundation (www.cristina.org) and Compumentor (www.compumentor.org) we have purchased licenses for Windows 98SE.
For loading the operating system we have a volunteer who created a script that loads and sets up the operating system. We will make that script available to any group that may request it.
We use a set of boot disks to clean up and format the system. Those files and disks will be sent free of charge to any group that requests them.
But before we load the system with any software we run a complete set of tests on the system We have an older copy of the AMI testing software we use to test the system, Attachment 1 (DOC file) one is a form that the volunteers use to test all parts of a donated system.
All of the software we have for loading, other then the operating system, is freeware and shareware. Attachment 2 is a list of the freeware and shareware we load on the system.
Attachment 2 (DOC file) is the procedures we use including screen shots as to how to install the software, and arrange icons on the desktop. So recipients will know what software in on the system.
We will upon request make the boot disks and the CD-ROM available to any group that makes a request for it.
The CDROM will contain all the files we use and all the software we minus Windows 98SE.
We also have available a Database for keeping records that was created for the phoenix project by a MBA graduate group from Johns Hopkins University as there project for their MBA's.
The database keeps track of inventory, donations, recipients and much more and it open so that it can be modified for any groups use.
It uses Access as its database engine.
Attachment 3 (DOC file) has screen shots of the Database.
I will copy on a CDROM for all groups who request:
To help with publicity you will want to try these areas.