“Five (5) Free Geek grant computers per month can provide sixty (60) computers in 12 months which can provide a school with two (2) student labs of thirty (30) computers each and save the school $42,000 cash. That can be enough savings to help fund one teacher for a full year.

Free Geek has provided over two hundred (200) grant computers to LOSD in the past three years and that has provided a savings of $140,000 cash which is enough to fund two master high school teachers for one full year and at some schools could help fund up to three starting teachers for a full year.”

Lake Oswego is not the only educational institution to have benefited from Free Geek’s Hardware Grants program. So far in 2012, we have granted out free laptops and computers (along with monitors, keyboards and mouses) to over 45 educational programs. Included in these disbursements were over 526 systems and 69 laptops! That can translate to thousands of saved dollars that, rather than being spent on technical infrastructure, can go directly to educating the youth of the greater Portland area. It’s also a whole lot of computers being reused instead of recycled, or worse, improperly discarded.

Recipients of Free Geek hardware grants this year include (but certainly aren’t limited to):
Agia Sophia Academy
Ano’s Art Academy
Astor K-8 school
Atlas Immersion Academy
Ballston Community School
Bethel Christian School
Childswork Learning Center Inc.
Conestoga Middle School
Emmanuel Christian Academy
Escuela Viva
FIRST Robotics Competition Team 1432
Forest Grove High School Speech and Debate
Grandhaven Elementary
Hope Chinese Charter School
Lanai High And Elementary
Leadership and Entrepreneurship Public Charter High School
Lewis and Clark High School
Mount Adams School District
Northwest Children’s Theater and School
Pioneer Montessori School
Portland Public Schools
Portland Village School
Portland Youth Builders
Reynolds Learning Academy: East Campus
Sunstone Montessori School
Tucker-Maxon Oral School
Village Free School
Wahkiakum School District

Ben’s higher focus since November of 2011 has been the Distribution Committee, or “Distro.”  Along with fellow volunteers Larry, Tim, and Tanvi, Ben was tasked with testing and choosing the best Linux OS distribution for Free Geek to replace Ubuntu Lucid 10.04.  “Mostly our target has been to find a distro amongst a set of predetermined user-friendly distributions,” says Ben.

In addition to all his great work on the Distro Committee, Ben also teaches the Linux Playground class.  In this class, Ben sets up eight laptops with a different Linux distribution on each so volunteers can experiment with them.  He describes it as “a lot of fun, and a great way to see and use a particular distro before you install it on your own machine.”

How did Ben become so Linux-savvy?  His father is an avid Linux user and got him started at an early age. Ben now has three operating systems on his computer and has even created an app for android called Freedom Zing.  He designed it for elections and it comes with 70 random zingers to use against either conservatives or liberals. Equal-opportunity zinging can be accessed via a quick search of “Freedom Zing” on Google Play.

Some fun facts about Ben that you may not know: he has lived in every corner of the US, takes three buses and a Max to Free Geek, and not only teaches chess to youth, he can even play it blindfolded! He told the interviewer that his favorite thing about volunteering at Free Geek is “being around all the computer and open source stuff and talking to people who also know about Linux, and having the community to interact with on that level.” Thanks to Ben for being such a star volunteer!

FG: What led or inspired you to get involved with Free Geek, and how did you end up working on the staff?
KW: I was in school and realized that after two years as a Computer Science student we had never opened a computer and looked inside! I was having a really hard time connecting the dots between the hardware and what we were learning from labs and books, so I told one of my teachers that I needed some hands-on time with a computer I could break or take apart, and he sent me to Free Geek. I never left. I started as a volunteer, then became an intern, then a temporary employee and finally got hired full-time.

FG: What is your favorite thing about your job?
KW: I love that at Free Geek we don’t judge people by the way they look, act, or dress. To me it seems like everyone is welcome to come in and try their hand at whatever takes their fancy. We do our best to teach anyone who wants to learn.

FG: Can you tell our readers something about you that might surprise them?
KW: I love to surf, and usually try to get to some good water a few times a year. My mom was a surfer in the 60′s and she taught my brothers and me. I enjoy Kihei beach, and Kahului Harbor in Maui, but will try any beach. I am also a pretty good bow hunter and try to get out in the field as much as I can. Growing up, my family hunted everything we could eat. I have the most fun hunting with a bow because i think it is the most fair. You can stand across a canyon with a rifle and catch a deer, but with a bow you have to actually hunt.

FG: Have you learned any tips about working with computers that you think our readers may want to know?
KW: There is no “cheating” in computers! By which I mean that whatever you’re trying to figure out, there is documentation online somewhere that contains the answer, or someone else at Free Geek has had that problem and is usually willing to help. Volunteers who try to speed through the process without asking questions might miss out on important information and end up shooting themselves in the foot. My advice is to take it slow, ask questions and don’t be embarrassed if you don’t already know the answer to the problem you’re trying to solve.

FG: Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck, and why?
KW: If I saw a horse-sized duck I would try to ride it!

Linux, an open-source operating system, has many different distributions, or distros, maintained by various groups throughout the world. Each of these distros is updated, much like you see on other proprietary operating systems, on a regular basis. Since 2006, Free Geek has used Ubuntu, currently the most widely-adopted version of Linux, on all of our computers with an operating system. We chose this version for its ease of use and the robust support afforded by the greater Linux community and Canonical, the company responsible for Ubuntu Linux. Unfortunately, the version of Ubuntu we’ve been using since 2010, 10.04 Lucid Lynx, will only be officially supported until April, 2013. To plan for this transition, several Free Geek staff and interns formed the Distro Committee to research, test, de-bug, and document the next version of Linux for our computers.

First, the committee set out to define priorities for the new operating system. We talked to representatives of various areas of Free Geek including Tech Support, the Build Program, Education, and the Thrift Store. We also polled a wide cross-section of our computer users to discover what was important to them and how they use their computers. Major priorities for this new distro included a long support cycle (so we wouldn’t have to go through this process too often), compatibility with a wide range of old and new computer systems, and ease of use for both beginners and experienced computer users. Armed with these criteria, our intrepid Distro Interns began exploring and testing many of the various available Linux distributions. (Find out more about one of the lead Distro Interns, Ben Koening, in this newsletter’s Volunteer Spotlight.)

After collecting tons of data on various distributions, the intern team ultimately recommended that Free Geek adopt Xubuntu 12.04 (although it’s officially pronounced “zoo-bun-too”, plenty of people call it “ex-oo-bun-too”.) As you can likely tell from the name, this is a branch of the original Ubuntu distro. Unlike Ubuntu 12.04, which comes with the new-to-users Unity Interface, Xubuntu uses Xfce to control the way the operating system looks. This version was selected for many reasons including the same five-year support of Ubuntu 12.04, speed on both old and new systems, and an interface very similar to the one our users became familiar with in Ubuntu 10.04.

Although this new distro is officially supported for the next five years, that doesn’t mean you’re necessarily going to see it on our computers for that long. The Distro Interns will continue to work on documentation for Free Geek and look to new developments in the world of Linux computing in order to facilitate further changes as needed. Free Geek would like to thank our Distro Interns for all the hard work they continue to put into ensuring a satisfying computing experience for all Free Geek community members. If you happen to come across one of our Distro Interns (they’re hard to spot unless you know the secret Distro handshake…kidding!), please do the same!

Q: “If Free Geek makes money from selling electronics in the Thrift Store, why do you also ask for contributions at the Donations Desk?”
A: First of all, we are incredibly grateful to you, our donors, for your support of technology reuse in the larger community. If you choose not to contribute funds, your hardware donation is no less valuable or appreciated as a result. However, as a 501(c)3 nonprofit, Free Geek relies on a variety of revenue streams, one of them being charitable contributions, to support our volunteer programs and operating expenses. The suggested values we offer at the Donations Desk are based on the costs we incur from processing materials through Receiving. These costs are the same whether a donated item ends up in the Thrift Store or the Recycling Warehouse.

Q: “How do contributions stack up against your other sources of revenue?”
A: We earn about 65% of our revenue through sales in our Thrift Store, bulk sales and online sales. Another 20% comes from recycling vendor payments and pickup fees. The remaining 15% comes from individual contributions, many of which are made at the Donations desk, but some are also sent to us in the mail or transacted through our Paypal account. A portion of recycling expenses that would otherwise affect our budget and our donors’ pocketbooks are also offset by our membership in the Oregon E-cycles program.

Q: “How can I stay informed about how Free Geek is using the contributions and other revenue you receive?”
A: There are various ways to keep tabs on our operations, programs and financials. You can obtain a free copy of our most recent IRS 990 forms on the NCSS website. If you want to follow the progress of our projects and programs on the ground, look no further than our meeting minutes. Minutes from all Free Geek committees and working groups (short of confidential business and executive sessions) are available to the public via subscription to our Minutes email list. Our board of directors is also receptive to answering questions from the public; inquiries about board business and the steering of Free Geek as a whole can be directed to board-discuss AT lists DOT freegeek DOT org. Lastly, if you have a question and aren’t sure where it should be directed, email info AT freegeek DOT org, and a staff member will follow up with you promptly.

As one might expect, running a successful robotics club can be an expensive proposition. Fortunately, Team 1432 has garnered much support from various businesses that have an invested interest in employing local highly skilled problem-solvers. Even with this support, the members of Team 1432 wisely look to the Free Geek Hardware Grants program to satisfy their needs for computer equipment to help them create, pilot, and share the successes of their competition-grade robots.

According to their recently completed Hardware Grants request: “The computer parts on this list will help us finish a computer capable of running Autodesk software and we can have another one enabling three students at a time to learn Autodesk Inventor and PTC, a C.A.D. modeling program. This will aid us in building our robot and teaching students highly desirable job skills. The items on this list will also help us with our robot presentations during the year and for years to come. The projector will show a slide show about our program and what we have done at schools, and during community outreach activities. The laptop will allow us to control our robot during the events we go to throughout the year. (Events like the Marion County Fair, Multnomah County Fair, school visitations and other neighboring community events.)”

Team 1432 patiently waited for two months as we worked to provide them with four desktops with dual core processors, two laptops, a projector, two touchscreen monitors, two headsets and various other miscellaneous components. With our assistance, these youths are able to explore new possibilities in robotics and continue to participate in robotics competitions. Of course, it doesn’t hurt when they give us wonderful feedback that reminds us why we keep on providing a valuable service to our community: “We appreciate all of the support that Free Geek has given us in the past and have always proudly displayed your logo on our robot and mentioned you on our website. Your support has made it possible for us to participate in the FIRST robotics program and that is changing our lives. We can’t begin to tell you thanks enough. Many thanks for that you have done, made possible and continue to do.”

If your primary contact with Free Geek has consisted of dropping off donations, or purchasing something from our Thrift Store, you may not realize that our operations are largely powered by volunteers who come here to learn workplace-readiness or computer-based skills, socialize with wonderful people and otherwise give back to their community. We could not continue to offer free computers, printers and other electronics to non-profits, schools and community change organizations without our amazing volunteers. In recognition of their tireless efforts, on Saturday, July 21st, we hosted our annual Volunteer Appreciation Barbeque, in the Free Geek parking lot.

Liane Cooking Up Some Vegetarian Grub

The party was a great success! Volunteers brought their friends, parents, kids, and siblings, bringing attendance to roughly 250. We played games of cornhole, chess and hackeysack, listened to hot summer jams on the stereo, and ate ourselves into a coma; hot dogs, vegetarian/beef burgers, cole slaw, potato salad, beer and lemonade were all enjoyed in abundance. One volunteer even brought home-baked brownies (although we were hoping for more participants in the brownie-baking contest, the single batch that came in was delicious enough to compensate)!

As the food supply dwindled away, we raffled off some awesome prizes. Volunteers took home a snazzy desktop system with hi-def 22-inch monitor, keyboard, speakers and mouse, as well as a high end Toshiba laptop, three DVD players, and a reverb amplifier. Gift packages and certificates from a variety of local businesses were also distributed.

Amber, Front Desk Intern Extraordinaire, with the laptop she won in the raffle

Misty Fall, one of the organizers of the event, remarked that “usually volunteers and staff are in smaller quadrants within the building working on separate but connected tasks. The BBQ was a wonderful opportunity to see everyone outside on a sunny day eating, drinking, playing, and talking to each other. It was so satisfying to plan and experience this great opportunity to express our appreciation of all the hard work and awesome attitudes our volunteers bring to the multi-tasking, fast-paced world of Free Geek.”

Big ups go to Misty and the rest of the BBQ planning team for putting on this great event without a hitch! We also could not have pulled off this wonderfully fun day without significant support from partner businesses in our community. Special thanks go to our sponsors: Cellar Door Coffee, New Seasons Market, City Bikes, Dave’s Killer Bread, Ninkasi Brewing, Pacific Pie Company, Hotlips Pizza, Widmer Brothers Brewing Company, and Jolly Roger Restaurant.

If you’ve visited the Front Desk recently, you’ve probably run into Eli, who recently joined our staff in the role of Front Desk and Receiving Support. We thought the Free Geek community might like to get to know Eli a bit, so we sat down to ask him a few questions.

Eli playing with his dog, Guapo

*How long have you been with Free Geek, and what were you doing before you joined the staff here?
- I have been working at Free Geek for just over 2 months, and it has been fantastic. Before Free Geek, I worked at The Walking Company which is a comfort and arch support footwear store. Previous to that, I was an office assistant to the Food Service Director at Mount Hood Community College. I’ve also been known to teach Tennis during the summer, but it’s been a few years since I did that!

*What do you enjoy most about working at the Front Desk?
- The front desk is a great place to meet and interact with the volunteers and donors. These people are the most important individuals that contribute to Free Geek, either through their hard work in our volunteer areas or by donating their used technology to us. It also is a very positive place to work because many people are thrilled to be able to contribute to our mission. These donors in particular get peace of mind knowing that we ensure chain of custody over the items we recycle, and that once we receive their used technology we will do everything we can to reduce the waste it will create.

*What was your first impression about Free Geek, and what has surprised you about working here?
- I was awed by Free Geek when I started here. From the social perspective, it was clear that Free Geek volunteers truly loved spending their valuable time with us. From a sustainability standpoint, seeing how much effort is put into reuse was very encouraging and exciting. The warehouse is a fantastic place to be directly involved in ethically recycling electronics and keeping harmful chemicals out of the earth.

- I’ve been surprised to discover how many educational opportunities we offer. In each volunteer area I have learned a great deal about various hardware and the relevant components that make them work. On the scholastic side, I am still blown away by quantity and range of classes that we offer to the public for no charge. To me life is a never ending journey of learning, and it is clear that Free Geek aims to be an educational facility for people of all ages and paths.

*What do you wish the average visitor knew about what goes on in the warehouse and production areas behind the Front Desk at Free Geek?
- I think that visitors would become even more amazed with Free Geek if they really understood how important and helpful the volunteer workforce is here. We are truly indebted to the volunteers who have been around for years, have spread the word and have tirelessly given back to the community at large and to Free Geek itself. The literal tons of material we are able to recycle ethically each month are broken down by volunteers. The systems we are able to donate out to individuals and nonprofits are all built by folks who have taken the time to learn from us and volunteer in our build program.

*What is one thing that our readers might be surprised to learn about you?
- I go by Eli (pronounced L-E), but my real name is Elishaya Wisnievitz (First day of class nightmare!) I was supposed to be named after my great grandfather, named Shaya. At the last second my 10-year-old sister insisted that they modify Shaya because it would be too strange. So it is Maya, my dear sister that I can thank for having a fairly simple nick name. I am also the first person in my direct family to be born in the United States and go to a university. While I wasn’t sure how I would fare with a degree in Philosophy and Religion, I knew that the ideas and discussions I had at Boston University would always impact how I viewed the world in a positive manner. My family is from Mexico and I enjoy practicing my Spanish with volunteers and some staff members here!