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The Champaign-Urbana Community Wireless Network (CUWiN), Mid-Rivers Community Wireless Network, and Free Press invite you to join us for a Community Wireless Networking Summit, March 31-April 2, 2006 in St. Charles, MO (right outside St. Louis). "Imagine & Implement: The 2006 National Summit for Community Wireless Networks" will focus on grassroots action; impacting national regulations and policies; and building the coalition of community groups, researchers, policy leaders, decision-makers, and activists working to create better broadband services and telecommunications infrastructures.

With Network Neutrality under attack and broadband service continuing to stagnate, it's time we organized to take the public airwaves back from corporate interests and put the public interest back in the spotlight. Community Wireless Networks are often owned by the communities that deploy them and offer better services for cheaper prices than traditional ISPs. Anyone interested in making the "public interest" the number one priority in broadband service provision should definitely attend this summit.

Community Wireless developers from across North America will be demonstrating cutting-edge technologies; researchers and programmers will discuss recent breakthroughs and developments; and policy-makers and funders will strategize with participants on the new initiatives being launched and how we can make an impact in DC.

More summit information is available online at:

www.wirelesssummit.org

Register online at:

www.wirelesssummit.org/register

Have questions or want to present? Send us an e-mail at:

cu-wireless-summit@cuwireless.net

See you in St. Charles,

--Sascha Meinrath
Summit Director

The next official CUWiN Hack Night will be at the IMC next Wednesday starting at 6pm!

Here's the details:

When: 6pm-??? on January 25, 2006

Where: The IMC -- 202 South Broadway Ave. (AKA "The Post Office", AKA "The big neo-greco-old-federal-looking-building with the big pillars) -- enter through the main door. Downtown Urbana.

What: CUWiN Hack Night

Who: CUWiN experts and neophytes, tech-geekery & Luddites, the wirelessly curious, interested & addicted.

Please come, bring all things interesting. RSVP to sascha@cuwireless.net if you'd like pizza.

Hope to see you then!

CUWiN's latest release includes major improvements over earlier releases. Multiple locations have already been piloting the new software and we're looking for new locations and organizations to help proof the software and help bring things to version 1.0.

Help Maintain the CUWiN Community
If you are interested in using CUWiN software, please consider taking a moment to tell us a little about yourself. By filling in this form, you are helping us to build better user data, which we can use to improve our research and development grant applications. Your information will not be released to any outside person or persons outside of the Champaign-Urbana Community Wireless Network.

Release Notes

This CUWiN release is version 0.6.0, issued on January 17, 2006.

CUWiN is hiring a new position to be a part of our Urbana, IL team. This VISTA Intern will be involved with user support, fundraising, and the day-to-day operations of the CUWiN project. Along with the stipend and healthcare benefits provided, CUWiN will help arrange accommodations and help get this team member settled within our local community. If you or someone you know would be interested in working on one of the premier open-source wireless projects in the world, please contact CUWiN at cu-wireless-support@cuwireless.net before January 30, 2006.

--Sascha Meinrath
CUWiN Project Coordinator

More info on CUWiN: http://www.cuwireless.net
More info on VISTA: http://www.americorps.gov/about/programs/vista.asp

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Job Description

Communicate CUWiN's vision and mission to people and organizations
outside the project.

Ensure that CUWiN has adequate operating capital. Create
effective fundraising strategies. Solicit gifts from persons,
corporations, and foundations in support of the project.

Identify and reach out to underserved communities. Help new
communities use CUWiN's software to create new wireless networks.

Keep the project website up-to-date. Staff the email "helpdesk."

Skills

Has experience maintaining websites and mailing lists.
Understands fundraising activities for non-profit organizations.
Knows how to write a grant proposal. Can use email and instant
messaging effectively in a chaotic office environment. Can learn
new computer and Internet technology quickly, and explain it
to lay persons. Working knowledge of wireless networking,
especially WiFi, is a big plus.

We are looking for a well-presented, detail-oriented, outgoing person with good communication skills and a desire to work in a fast-paced
environment.

Management

The CUWiN Project Coordinator and Technical Lead will be
available daily to guide VISTA members. VISTA members will
send to the CUWiN staff regular progress updates on fundraising,
outreach, and website administration.

Pay

VISTAs receive a $10,748 Stipend (the living wage for a single
person in Champaign-Urbana), a $4,725 Educational Award,
healthcare, et cetera.

This weekend - Friday November 11 to Sunday November 13th - will be an historic moment for our community. We want you to be part of it.

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The Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center will open its community space in the downtown Urbana Post Office building!
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Last May, the IMC purchased the Post Office building - thanks to the generous help of our capital campaign contributors!

This historic building boasts a huge 5000 square foot space behind the post office lobby. The postal services will remain. The rest of the first floor, which has gone unused for many years, has been converted into a performance space, media production facilities, a library & reading room, and meeting space. We are starting discussions on adding a cafe, bookstore, food store, or restaurant - come envision with us!

This summer/fall we undertook a major construction project - replacing much of the roof, separating and securing the post office space, adding a wheelchair accessible bathroom, and building a broadcasting studio for Radio Free Urbana.

* Come take tour of the building this Friday at 1 PM. *

* On Saturday, come celebrate the new space with a 5-band show (rock genre): 7pm until midnight. All ages, smoke-free, alcohol free. $5 donation. *

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The IMC will co-host a Radio and Wireless Barnraising with the Prometheus Radio Project!
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