Monthly Archives: February 2006

Open Source CMS

Posted on February 17, 2006 | 5 Comments

I’ve set up a new Links category, for examples of web sites from voluntary organisations which make use of open source Content Management Systems. That’s web server software which makes it easy to keep content up-to-date without any technical knowledge. Blogs like WordPress could be seen as a very basic type of Open Source CMS, but we’re thinking more of Drupal, Mambo/Joomla or Plone. (This week I went to a really good seminar on these run by Open Advantage in Birmingham – organisations in the West Midlands region should check them and/or MOST out.)

So far, only American examples found but hopefully British ones to follow.

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Posted in Frontline Action, IT and Internet

No social enterprise puzzle for Chinese

Posted on February 17, 2006 | Comments Off

A two-way exchange on the role and success of social enterprise between China and Britain gets a write up in China Daily: Social enterprises to play bigger role.

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Posted in Frontline Action

So, I Am a Volunteer and I Use the Web

Posted on February 15, 2006 | Comments Off

I was amazed to find that someone from Lambeth had spent more than 12 minutes having a look at my blog Multiple Sclerosis – MS Research Seeks Help ! Then, even more amazed that my blog is listed as an example to give ideas to charities.

I did it because it was there and free. I joined this blog for the same reasons. Also, I love using languages and writing websites using html, css or xhtml is very interesting. So, it is part of the new day job. I am a webmaster for two charities: MS Research for the charity helping to fund the MS Unit (I started by setting up a website saying that the MS Unit needed help with the website MS First) and Clover House Therapy. Every week, I help find research news on the internet for the researchers at the MS Research Unit in Bristol. When I have a moment of free time I find out what is new and free for volunteer webmasters.

Now, I wonder how long it took me to find out about the links to my blog from this blog?

Hey, I know, I could give you a link. Oh, it is so enjoyable…

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Posted in General

Misguided GuideStar

Posted on February 13, 2006 | 4 Comments

Must say I tend to agree with Adrian Sargeant on the misguided approach to GuideStar UK, in this December article from Professional Fundraising just published online:

Double trouble is on horizon for the sector, Adrian Sargeant on Professional Fundraising.

In it he says “….. I wonder who will use the site. Charities will, as they will want to
identify potential competitors or collaborators, and to look at their
performance. Academics will use the site for research. I suspect some
highervalue donors looking for an organisation in a particular cause
category might use it. But the idea that charity donors will flock to
the site and achieve £6m worth of value is nonsense.”

I’ll declare neutrality on his other point, whether “The sector has scored a huge own goal….. on the [fundraising] self-regulation scheme.” Probably, but then I don’t trust any professional fundraisers myself anyway!

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Posted in Sector Developments

Podcasts find a practical use

Posted on February 11, 2006 | Comments Off

Another imaginative use of ‘new media’ technology:

BBC NEWS | Technology | Podcasts reach Peruvian villages

UK charity Practical Action has married old and new technology to podcast twice-monthly [agricultural] updates to eight information centres in the Cajamarca region [of Peru].

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Posted in Frontline Action, IT and Internet

Learning about information management

Posted on February 9, 2006 | Comments Off

An interesting example fo e-learning on information management:

“The Information Management Resource Kit (IMARK) is a partnership-based e-learning initiative to train individuals and support institutions and networks world-wide in the effective management of agricultural information. IMARK consists of a suite of distance learning resources, tools and communities on information management.”

More such imaginative uses of the web, please!

Link sourced from APC Newsletter – see APC News . Readers may also be interested in Wireless Networking in the Developing World – not theory but learning from experience.

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Posted in Frontline Action, IT and Internet