NetSquared, an initiative of TechSoup.org - plone

Building a community network with Plone

stevem — Mon, 19 May 2008 10:56:36 -0400

I'm organizing the "Building a community network with Plone" session on May 28th, and would love feedback on what folks would like to hear and discuss.

The Davis (California) Community Network is a 501c3 that promotes the use of Internet technologies for local and regional community building. One of our key jobs is building the capacity of area non-profits, and one of our key tools is the Plone Content Management System. DCNs servers are now hosting something over 70 CMS sites for local non-profits and government agencies -- many of whom don't even know what a CMS or Plone is.

Nonprofits & Plone

Britt Bravo — Mon, 13 Feb 2006 20:13:40 -0500

One of our most recent case studies, the North Carolina Conservation Network, built their network using the open-source Plone Content Management System.

Coincidently, I recently received an email letting me know that Jon Stahl of ONE/Northwest will be leading a tutorial called, Nonprofits, Plone and Repeatable Success at the Plone Symposium in New Orleans March 8-10th.

NC Conservation Network

michaelatmo — Fri, 10 Feb 2006 12:45:30 -0500

Project Screenshot

Supporting organization

North Carolina Conservation Network

URL

ncconservationnetwork.org

Project Description

Over a hundred and twenty environmental and conservation organizations make up the North Carolina Conservation Network. Heather Yandow, the Network's Director of Development and Communication's says that they see their internet presence as a key component of their ability to advocate publically for their concerns. Because of this, they have been willing to take the risk of employing numerous emerging web-based communication techniques on their site.

The Network's website was designed by Netcorps and built on the open-source Plone Content Management System. On each page, readers of the site are able to sign up for emailed Public Alerts. The site also features a blog, updated every workday. Working with internet strategist Matt Gross, they determined that the blog should in some sense offset the less accessible nature of their more technical publications, such as their legislative alerts. The blog entries often feature photgraphs, are not afraid of a little humor, and frequently focus on "lifestyle" aspects of environmental issues. Despite the fact that they manage to post every day, Heather reports that the blog consumes on the average only 30 minutes of staff time per day. An RSS feed is available for the blog as well. The blog is managed directly in Plone; Heather says that while she misses a lot of features many dedicated blogging tools provide, they appreciate the direct integration of the blog and their CMS.

The site also interfaces online advocacy and donations managed by GetActive. Visitors to the site can send letters to state representitives and other decision makers, and make a donation to the Network.

It's a lot of tools. But the organization has no dedicated IT staff. Several of the staff members are responsible for some specific area of the organization's technology.