Volunteers Wanted - We need you !

damien

Email research@irelandOffline.org to volunteer.

IrelandOffline wants to start kicking things up a gear and we really cannot do this without a lot of help from the membership. We've previously asked for your help and some have responded and the work you did for us was of great benefit. Again now we require help. We need 15 mins, an hour, whatever you can afford to give us every week.

One area where we will need significant help is with letter writing. We will be starting quite a few letter writing campaigns and will need as many people as possible to write to various people and groups on our behalf. Also if you are are a coder, a graphic designer or have a special skill you think may be of use then step right up and tell us.

I'll now quote from an email that was sent to us by Trevor about his views on volunteering:

The Internet for me has become and integral part of my life. I am fortunate enough to have an employer that actively encourages telecommuting and as I work in IT, providing out of hours support, the benefits of being able to connect work at ten times dial-up speeds cannot be underestated.

From a personal perspective, both myself and my wife are active users of the internet. From Superquinn, Amazon and Aer Lingus to aximsite, itv-f1.com and
Boards.ie, the internet is a never ending cornucopia of shopping, travel, news and gossip.

But I don't have broadband yet. Eircom told me 2005 was when it would be available in my neck of the woods. In a so-called modern European country, living no more than 30 miles from Dublin, my internet access was stuck firmly in the 20th century. Granted, it is now available to me, and I have ordered it, but it has taken a long time to get here.

This frustration with the slow rate of progress is why I volunteered for Ireland Offline. Now, I am a strictly "behind the scenes" kinda guy. I wouldn't for a minute think I could speak to the media, argue my point on a phone-in radio show or even appear on Prime Time, for that matter. But I can use a computer, I can use the internet and I have a little time to spare, so I can help out Ireland Offline. I asked Damien what I could do, and he asked me to compile lists of phone numbers and contact details - nothing too taxing, but
something that apparently made their lives that little bit easier.

The committee are a very dedicated bunch. So far, I really think they have succeeded in bringing our dismal broadband infrastructure firmly into the public domain. You can't open a paper these days without seeing some mention of broadband and the tales of woe that accompany it. No longer are the media referring to the internet purely in terms of porn and pedophiles, they now realise it is a vital part of our economic future. This change in mindset is in part thanks to Ireland Offline.

Momentum is now growing behind the group. When a journalist needs a consumer's viewpoint, they turn to Ireland Offline. It is a well known fact that the various groups and some telecom companies read the Ireland Offline forum on Boards.ie quite regularly. Members of the committee are being asked to appear on radio and television programs. When Ireland Offline speaks, people listen.

But the group still has a lot of work to do and needs your help to do it. From administrative to technical, they need all sorts of help. All they are asking for is an hour here, or an hour there, nothing too strenuous. So go on, volunteer to help out.

As they would say in a well known "foreign" supermarket chain, every little helps.

Email research@irelandOffline.org to volunteer.

seamus

Stickified

Dannygirl

Well, I offered my time about two months ago, or more. So far I have received one email from Damien saying he'd be in touch...nothing. Are you sure you really need help?? :rolleyes:

damien

I still have your email. We sent out another call as we need additional help for an upcoming project and wanted to include it in the last newsletter. It'll be 4 weeks or maybe less and then we'll be set to go.

I'll be sending an email out this week to our volunteers updating them.

damien

There is now a mailing list where you can sign up: http://lists.ie/mailman/listinfo/io-volunteers

Anyone that sent an email to research@irelandOffline.org has been signed up.

Thanks to Adam Beecher for setting up this list.

Nevyn

Signed up.
Just let me know what I can do to help.

HolyCow

I'll give a hand out.

I was originally shafted by eircom two years ago when they removed my dsl connection, more recently Irish Broadband who are charging me €90 per month for a 2mb connection that has never worked, ever phoned their support?

I run a web development company and arguably Irelands largest music download site cpu.ie so should be able to bring something to the table.

What do you need?

David

the Guru

Signed up let me know also

KamiKazi

just signed up

Ruu_Old

Email sent.

ripper_dc

Hi guys, im new to this site but i work in IT also. I own an internet cafe in cork and would be glad to help out as much as i can.

Richard

www.dotcomcafe.ie
www.digiworld.ie
www.corporatebranding.ie

cgarvey

IoffL has been disbanded, so they're no longer looking for volunteers, ta.