Albion Interactive History / Organizations

Forks Initiative
 
    

What is the Forks?

The Forks Initiative is a membership based community network in Albion, Michigan, administered by theAlbion Public Library and serving the City of Albion, Albion Township and Sheridan Township.Membership is open to individuals, non profits, and businesses.

The Mission of the Forks is to provide local access to electronic information that meets the diverseeducational, cultural and informational needs of our community equitably and cost effectively. The ForksInitiative focuses on access and the digital divide; consulting, support, and training; and recruitment oftechnology businesses. These areas will be addressed through such services as web hosting, e-mailaccounts, DNS service, customized training, and consulting.

Starting in 1995, the Forks began by providing affordable internet access before commercial providers cameto the greater Albion area.

When Albion College and the greater Albion community received a HUD (Housing and UrbanDevelopment) grant and a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Forks expanded in order to providea structure for accomplishing some community projects.

These projects include:

• Providing Internet access computers for public use in the the Public Library, the Volunteer Center, theGreater Albion Chamber of Commerce and City Hall.
• Automating the public and school libraries
• Providing free training for all community members through Albion College
• Working with the City of Albion on the Cable Committee and GIS project
• Assisting the creation of community technology centers in public housing.

How to Join
Any individual, non profit organization or for profit organization in the City of Albion, Albion Township orSheridan Township can join the Forks. Individuals with Internet passwords through the Forks may keepthem as general members. New passwords are available to regular members and partners.

The monthly Forks networking meetings (second Monday of each month, 11:30 to 1 pm at the PublicLibary) are open to the public. If you would like to be on the technology listserv, to be reminded aboutForks meetings and receive other information about technology issues, please send an email toinfo@forks.org requesting to be placed on the listserv.General Membership $100 per year

Membership on advisory board, attendance at monthly networking meeting

Internet access for existing subscribers

Consulting at member rate

Network specification and design, RFP evaluation, hardware and softwarerecommendations, web design, referrals, and limited hardware and software troubleshooting as available per hour.

Regular Membership

$250 per year non-profits & individual

$300 per year for-profits

Membership on advisory board, attendance at monthly networking meeting

Network specification and design, RFP evaluation, hardware and softwarerecommendations, web design, referrals, and limited hardware andsoftware troubleshooting as available per hour

Web hosting services

Up to 20 MB web hosting space within Forks domain

E-mail accounts: one e-mail account with 20 MB of space

Template webpage

Fee-based services

Additional space 10MB, $20/yr 50 MB maximum

Each additional e-mail account, $20/yr

Domain purchasing & pointing $70 per year (pointing only$35/year)

Search engine submission $125

Customized training market price

Internet passwords (current holders) $50 per year

Listservs $50/yr

Partners

$5,000 per year

Membership on advisory board, attendance at monthly networking meeting

Web hosting services: up to 50MB space

Email accounts: up to 11 with 20 MB of space

30 hours consulting

One Listserv

Fee-based services

Each additional e-mail account, $20/yr

Domain purchasing & pointing $70/yr

Search engine submission $125

Customized training market price

Server hosting $1,600 per year

Internet Passwords $50/yr

Listservs $50/yr

Source: Albion Community Web Server and Community Network in Calhoun County Michigan, http://www.forks.org/about/