IGC Internet to Work with
MindSpring to Provide Access, Topica for Lists (7/22/99)
SAN FRANCISCO--The nonprofit Institute for Global Communications changed the way the
progressive community worked by introducing them to e-mail, online discussions, and the
Web. Now, with Internet access and email as common as cable television, IGC Internet is
changing to take its members of activists and nonprofit professionals into the Internet's
next wave.
IGC Internet announced today that the organization would place a renewed emphasis on
online content and technology training for activists and nonprofit professionals. Many of
the new online features will debut this fall on a revamped IGC gateway site for political
progressives.
To free up the necessary resources, IGC Internet will provide Internet access services
through MindSpring Enterprises, the award-winning Internet service provider. Also, IGC
Internet's email list services will be posted for free by Topica Inc., a leading provider
of email list services.
The transition will be transparent for most Internet access customers, since their e-mail
and web addresses will not need to be changed, and their monthly fee for Internet access
will remain the same for similar, unlimited access service. Also, MindSpring Enterprises
will provide services which IGC Internet could not, such as faster connections, more
technical support, and free web site space for
individuals.
Similarly, the owners and subscribers to the many email lists, or "listservs,"
hosted by IGC Internet will experience a seamless, but marked improvement in email list
services. Topica's free email list service will be tightly integrated into IGC Internet's
online community and combines best-of-breed list owner tools for hosting and managing
e-mail list discussions and newsletters with easy to use, centralized subscriber services
such as web-based management and one-click subscription.
"The announcement today does not reflect a change in mission for the organization,
but it does represent an important and exciting shift in how we fulfill our mission,"
said Marci Lockwood, IGC
Internet's executive director. "In many ways, IGC Internet in 1999 is a lot like an
emerging Silicon Valley start-up -- only with 13 years of experience.
"IGC Internet is proud to have provided online access to thousands of activists and
nonprofit organizations when the Internet was new and access not readily available,"
Lockwood added.
"Today, with companies such as MindSpring providing excellent Internet access and
Topica offering better email list services for free, it makes sense for IGC Internet to
focus on what we do best: progressive online content and technology consulting and
training for activists."
New features and services from IGC Internet, to be previewed this week during the PNN
Nonprofits and Technology Conference in San Francisco, will include:
--
Creating easy access to the content of member organization web sites through a unique
system for indexing and searching;
--
Attracting online donations for IGC Internet member organizations, in cooperation with
Entango;
--
Publicizing events using the web-based calendar functions of Protest.Net and Meta Events;
--
Posting job notices from the nonprofit and progressive community, in cooperation with
Idealist.org;
--
Urging action, recruiting volunteers, and sharing news;
--
Stimulating interaction among members through expanded discussion groups with moderators
and improved online conferencing.
IGC Internet will work closely with other organizations in the nonprofit and technology
community to integrate its new gateway site, online tools, and training programs with
similar efforts underway.
The shift at IGC Internet comes after a year of assessment and planning sessions among
staff, board members, and outside advisers. For more information, visit IGC Internet's web
site at: http://www.igc.org/igc/transition.
Since its founding in 1986, IGC Internet has sought to advance and inform movements for
peace, economic and social justice, human rights and environmental sustainability
around the world by promoting strategic use of appropriate computer networking technology.
For thousands of volunteers, activists and nonprofit organizations, IGC Internet provided
their first introduction to e-mail, online newsgroups and web browsing.
CONTACT: Institute for Global Communications
Burt Glass, 415/647-5561 or 415/561-6100;
http://www.igc.org
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