Page 4 RAIN July 1982 Reach Out, Reach Out And Byte Someone by Steve Johnson As many of our readers know, the Rain Umbrella shelters both RAIN Magazine and another information-rich entity called the Rain Community Resource Center (RCRC). Drawing upon thousands of books, files and resource lists and utilizing several computer-mediated com- municaton systems and databases, RCRC staffers provide a wide variety of information services to community groups, government agencies and individuals. Steve Johnson, RCRC coordinator, is himselfa remarkable information resource. A pioneer in the publication of people's yellow pages, a co-founder of RAIN Magazine in 1974, and an experimenter with several early community-based applications of computer technology, Steve now has more than a decade ofexperience in bringing the benefits of the "information revolution” to grassroots organizations. Recently, he distilled his considerable knowledge and experience into Informa- rion and Communication Technology for the Community, a book prepared in conjunction with a conference of the same name sponsored by Portland's Center for Urban Education (CUE). It is an excellent guide to the implications of the emerging information-based society and to applications of the new electronic technologies which can help community groups better cope with the current realities of short staffs and non-flowing cash. For people intrigued by (and perhaps a bit wary of) such terms as "computer conferencing," electronic mail," and "datdxtse communication," this book provides concise descriptions and scores of examples of ways in which the new information and communication technologies are being (or could be) put to socially beneficial uses. The excerpts which appear below summarize possible community- based applications and escribe how groups around the country are already putting computers or telecommunications technology to use in a variety of intriguing ways. These excerpts can only provide a taste of the wide-ranging text and exhaustive resource listings in Information and Communication Technology for the Community. To get the whole story, get the whole book. See page 23 to learn how. — John Ferrell One of the characteristics of the 1970s that may be remembered long after others have been forgotten is the emergence of issue-oriented organizahons. Contrary to Philip Slater's commentary in "The Pursuit of Loneliness that Americans seek isolation, we are also organizers and belongers. In the 70s thousands of public interest, grassroots, neighborhocxl and other community- based groups were formed. Volunteer and ad hoc associations allowed individuals to work with others to provide for themselves and/or to work toward a common social goal. Now there is some sense that these groups are threatened with extinction. It seems more likely, however, that volunteer and community-based efforts, instead of dying out, will reorganize like a stadium-sized play of musical chairs. A resource-scarce economy is dictating the reconfiguration of many organizations into coalihons and consortiums as well as networks of groups and individuals in touch with one another electronically. In addition to looking to new cooperative structures, small organizations, facing the financial enmeh, will need to examine their underlying information base and communication efforts. A group may, for example, be expending an enormous effort to inform the community about a workshop it is sponsoring. Really satisfied if only 30 people show up, the group sends out a mailing to 500 people, purchases an ad in a weekly newspaper that, in theory, reaches 20,000 people, and develops public service announcements for broadcast television and radio which, again in theory, reaches thousands more. All this to reach the 30 people who will ultimately attend the
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