Eric Odom talks to us about how the Sam Adams Alliance is using open source software to bring transparency to the corners of American democracy that often go overlooked.

Jed Sundwall: What is the stated mission of the Sam Adams Alliance?

Eric Odom: The Sam Adams Alliance has existed for a year and a half. It's a 501(c)3 that focuses and education and information and it also has 501(c)4 because of our work across the country with activists and leadership training.

Mark Surman, expert on collaboration, community building and social technology talks to us about how the Shuttleworth Foundation is kick starting South Africa's knowledge economy by using the principles that have made open source so successful.

Hi everyone - I'm Jim Craner; I'm the managing partner of a nonprofit-focused web development group, the Chicago Technology Cooperative, and I'm really looking forward to meeting everyone at N2Y3! I'm an Advocate and one of the volunteer developers for the Movesmart.org project (N2Y3 profile) - a mashup providing housing-seekers with information on neighborhood amenities, quality of life indicators, affordable housing opportunities, and the services and programs of community based organizations.

We're having our first code meetup in Seattle. This is the first in what will hopefully be a monthly series on open source code development and the NewsCloud platform.

At the first session, we'll be talking about LAMP-based open source development tools and the open source Facebook Application Newsroom framework. If you're interested in learning more about Facebook application development, this will be a great introductory session.

I recommend that you have basic PHP/MySQL skills to get the most from this session.

Please RSVP so we can keep a headcount of how many people to expect.

WHEN: Tuesday, April 22, 6:30 - 8:30 PM
WHERE: Uptown Espresso meeting room in Belltown (corner of 4th and Wall)

LEARN MORE:
http://blog.newscloud.com/2008/04/reminder-open-s.html

{Cross posted in various forms at Vancouver Drupal Camp Group, Urban Vancouver and Now Public - please spread the word}

First there was an idea, then we chose a date (May 9-10), set up a relevant Drupal Group, now there is a location (SFU Wosk Centre and Workspace) and finally a Drupal Camp Vancouver website.

Indeed, the rag-tag band of volunteers is steadily working to wrangle Drupal Camp Vancouver into a knowledge-sharing fest of unparalleled fun and untold benefits.

Consider this notice that DrupalCampVancouver.org is alive and slowly percolating up with the relevant details and useful information including Sponsor info (and checklist), Volunteer info (and organizer props), and the important Call for Speakers.

Registration will open this week so keep your eyes open for details to be among the chosen.

For those who don't know, Drupal is an open source Content Management System which powers many of your other favorite community driven sites like Now Public, Net Squared and Urban Vancouver plus activist minded projects like desmogblog, happyfrog.ca and many many more.

How can you help?

Great question! 'Tis a busy time for all (including many involved with Open Web this week) so volunteers are important to spread the work around. Big thanks to those who've signed on so far. Have a bit of time? Then consider signing up by Contacting the organizers to help out (no big deal eh) and see ya at DrupalCampVancouver.org.

The hunt continues for finding contributors for our project, but being one of the winners sure does help. Our corporate malfeasance wiki, Crocodyl.org has attracted a large number of qualified and interested people, so reaching out to those folks has been really useful.

We have one contributor who works for Mozilla, some people from Wikileaks and a couple of avid Wikipedians with expert technical know-how, so we are keeping our fingers crossed that these folks will join up officially soon.

Anyone interested in helping out, please contact me at ian [at] corpwatch.org. Thanks!

Hi all, awhile ago you may remember me griping about the ineffectiveness of Facebook Groups and Pages. They are easy to set up, but they are also quite limited in functionality. These features are not conducive to community-building, engagement or organizing.

Today, I'm releasing the first beta of a new open source Facebook Newsroom CMS application framework.

See the demonstration application site at Facebook:
http://apps.facebook.com/newsdemo

The fourth Tuesday of each month, social changemakers and web innovators get together to network, mix, swap stories and ideas, build new relationships and learn.

All those interested, involved, or employed in nonprofits and that recognize the importance and utility of technology in the sector are invited to join us for discussion and exchange.

Because culture belongs to everybody.

Everybody should be able render their cultural heritage in digital form, as well as have access to this heritage, now and in the future.