IN THIS NEWSLETTER
InterConnection Newsletter
www.interconnection.org

June 2004

IN THIS NEWSLETTER

1. Enhanced Solutions Website Launched
2. Ecycle Event "An Overwhelming Success!"
3. Sammamish Computer Collection Event Details
4. Stage One of Global Tech Aid Belize to Start on June 17th
5. Microsoft Donates 154 Computers
6. Earth Corps to Receive to Receive IT Training from IC
7. New Volunteer Accountant
8. InterConnection Editor’s Choice in UN’s World Volunteer Web Newsletter
9. Charles and Maria Eugenia Wed
10. A Plea for Laptops
11. Newsletter Name Change
12. Special Thanks
13. Website Donation Showcase

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1. Enhanced Solutions Website Launched - www.websites.interconnection.org
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On May 1 the new Enhanced Solutions Website Design services website was launched. Enhanced Solutions are website design services for non profits, businesses and individuals. The new website includes complete website design, hosting and maintenance packages and a list of other services including graphic design, database programming and Flash animation. Special packages include $399 for a complete website and $4.95 for website hosting. All profits from Enhanced Solutions are used to fund InterConnection's efforts to connect non-profit organizations in developing countries to the Internet. Visit www.websites.interconnection.org

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2. Ecycle Event "An Overwhelming Success!"
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InterConnection, Computers for the World and Ballard Rotary carried out an overwhelmingly successful electronic waste event at Ballard High School in Seattle on April 19, 2004. Over 1000 computers, monitors, TVs and other electronic items were collected. Thousands of dollars were raised for InterConnection and Computers for the World. Some of the collected computers will be sent by World Computer Exchange Seattle to schools in India.

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3. Sammamish Computer Collection Event Details
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On May 1, 2004 InterConnection collected 47 computers, 72 monitors and 8 printers during its computer collection event at Margaret Mead Elementary School in Sammamish, Washington. Anish Badshah organized the event for his high school senior project. Anish did an outstanding job at planning, marketing and carrying out the event.

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4. Stage One of Global Tech Aid Belize to Start on June 17th
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On June 17th, 2004 Jeremy Bennett will travel to Belize to carry out the first stage of the Global Tech Aid program. Mr. Bennett will be hosted by the non profit Help for Progress. He will carry out a training and computer needs assessment for Help for Progress and collect and prepare website materials for the Forest Garden Network website. On his return he will work with InterConnection Virtual Volunteers to create an interactive website that supports the Forest Garden Network project. Next year InterConnection volunteers will return to Belize to set up a computer center for Help for Progress and carry out web site design and computer skills training workshops.

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5. Microsoft Donates 154 Computers
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Microsoft donated 154 almost new, Pentium IIII computers to InterConnection. The computers will be made available to non profit organizations locally and abroad. Our thanks to Justin Thumler who obtained the donation for InterConnection.

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6. Earth Corps to Receive IT Training from IC
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Earth Corps, a Seattle based environmental non profit, received a grant from Rotary to receive Internet technology support from InterConnection. Grant funds will pay for website design and computer training workshops carried out be InterConnection staff. Workshop participants will be international volunteers who work with Earth Corps. Our thanks to Mark Howard with Earth Corp who attained the grant that will pay for InterConnection’s services.

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7. New Volunteer Accountant
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Donna Cryan agreed to support InterConnection by volunteering as the accountant. She will help keep track of income and expenses and set up a new online accounting system. Thanks Donna!

If you live in the Seattle area and would like to volunteer for InterConnection contact brennick@interconnection.org

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8. InterConnection Editor’s Choice in UN’s World Volunteer Web Newsletter
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The United Nation’s World Volunteer Web featured InterConnection’s Virtual Volunteer program as the Editor’s Choice in their June 2004 newsletter. IC’s program was highlighted as an effective and convenient way for volunteers to work from home and help to achieve the UN’s Millennium Development Goals. www.worldvolunteerweb.org

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9. Charles and Maria Eugenia Wed
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Congratulations to InterConnection’s director Charles Brennick and Maria Eugenia Gallitelli. The couple wed on May 22, 2004 in Everett, Washington. They plan to have another wedding in Maria Eugenia’s home country, Paraguay, in December 2004.

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10. A Plea for Laptops
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We receive an overwhelming number of requests for laptop computers from non-profits abroad. We need laptop donations to meet some of these requests. You can donate your laptop by bringing it to InterConnection's Seattle office. If you do not live in Seattle, we are willing to pay shipping costs if the laptop is a new model, 500 MHZ and above.

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11. Newsletter Name Change
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You might have noticed we changed the name of our newsletter from IConnect to InterConnection Newsletter. Why? Readers were starting to refer to InterConnection as IConnect and another organization has a newsletter called IConnect. So to make things clear we decided to change the name to the less catchy but more descriptive name, InterConnection Newsletter.

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12. Special Thanks
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Akhtar Badshah took advantage of Microsoft’s employee matching funds program to donate $1,205 to InterConnection.
Karen Worthington donated $50 to InterConnection. She received a Nivacle belt donation gift. You can receive donation gifts by clicking on the donation button on the front page of www.interconnection.org

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13. WEBSITE DONATION SHOWCASE
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The list below showcases websites recently donated by InterConnection and our Virtual Volunteers. To date, InterConnection has provided 116 websites to non-profits in 40 countries. Special thanks goes to Hadi Sulistio InterConnection Virtual Volunteer coordinator.

Youth in Action, Tanzania
www.youthinaction.interconnection.org
A volunteer-powered organization working to uplift the standard of living among the youth of Tanzania.
Website Created by Virtual Volunteer Sarah Semark

Youngstars Foundation, Nigeria
www. youngstars.interconnection.org
Facilitating youth empowerment for self-actualization and participation in nation building.
Website Created by Virtual Volunteer Terry Bates

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If you would like to suggest a resource for IConnect let us know by writing to iconnect@interconnection.org