[1st-mile-nm] Madrid/Cerrillos Internet Center

[Richard Lowenberg]

The new Madrid/Cerrillos Internet Center is about to open, but has many 
set-up and long-term needs.
This much needed facility is the reincarnation of the center that 
Cibola Wireless initially set up in Cerrillos,
with ARRA NTIA stimulus funds.   After the two years of NTIA funding 
ended last year, Cibola pulled the plug.
Terry Ryder, who managed the original facility, has been working hard 
to find a new location and needed support to
continue to serve the needs of that under-served regional community.   
If you can help, be in contact with Terry.
RL
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INTERNET CENTER ABOUT TO OPEN IN TEMPORARY QUARTERS

Insurance and technical arrangements are nearly complete. The new 
user-directed Internet Center (Free Internet Center of Madrid-Cerrillos) 
is expected to open later this week in the shed behind 2876 Highway 14, 
with an initial 5 internet-connected workstations. Those who use and 
depend on the center will be planning scheduling, volunteer staffing, 
fund-raising methods, programming expansion, etc. All ideas and offers 
of assistance are welcome. First community brainstorming meeting set for 
Sunday, Feb 2, 2 pm, at the main 2876 building. (Yes, the "kickoff" 
meeting coincides with Super Bowl Sunday; that's just where the ball 
happened to land, sorry. There will be others.)

CURRENT FUNDING:

At the August meeting, the MCP allocated $300 for 4 months of equipment 
storage. $150 has been paid to cover 3 months of storage, Oct-Dec 2013. 
$50 is now needed to cover the fourth month, Jan 2014. Final result: 4 
months of storage at a cost of $200, rather than $300. (Thanks to Keith 
and Rebecca for special terms!)

At the December meeting, the MCP approved $450 in "safety net" funds 
for startup operational costs for 1.5 months. (One correction to the 
minutes: Rent alone is $200/mo, not $300; the additional $100/mo was for 
estimated utilities and operating expenses.) Nothing has yet been paid 
from this allocation. $350 is now being requested.

Formal request is now being made for the following disbursements:

$50 payment to Rebecca Nafey and Keith Kreitter to cover storage for 
the month of January 2014. (due asap)
$200 payment to Rebecca Nafey and Keith Kreitter to cover operational 
rent for the month of February 2014. (due asap)
$150 for insurance binder initial payment, due Feb 22. (Payee details 
to follow after binder is completed; policy request is in process.)

Rebecca will be billing the Internet Center for utilities each month 
according to utility company billing schedule.
All management, staffing, and currently even the internet connection 
are being donated.
Equipment, you will recall, is being donated by Cibola Internet.

In addition, a private donation of $1,000 was later made by an 
associate of Paul Macks. At the current monthly operational rates of 
$200 rent, $44 insurance, and an estimated $75 utilties, that donation 
alone will carry us for another 3 months (March - May 2014).

This will give the user-directed project time to initiate fundraising 
programs and other planning for long-term self-sufficiency.

THANKS TO ALL for continued faith and support!

(We can -- and are -- doing this!)

-- 
Terry Ryder
CerrillosNetCenter.01 at gmail.com
505-913-9909


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Richard Lowenberg, Executive Dir.
1st-Mile Institute, 505-603-5200
P.O.Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM 87504
www.1st-mile.org  rl at 1st-mile.org
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