Metropolitan Austin Interactive Network

Categories: community networks, networks
Website: 
http://www.main.org/
Location:
Bastrop, TX

MAIN is a non-profit organization whose mission is to establish and operate efficiently a community-access computer network. The purpose of this network is information sharing and communication among the people and governmental, educational, commercial, cultural, religious, and civic organizations, in order to enhance lives and make the best use of community resources.

MAIN is a non-profit corporation registered with the State of Texas, with filed formal Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. It has received 501(c)(3) non-profit status from the Internal Revenue Service.

Supported Projects

Webmaster and Outreach Coordinator
Nicholas Lewis
8/2005 — 8/2006

MAIN is currently seeking an AmeriCorps VISTA member to serve as Webmaster, helping maintain web content on multi-platform network operating center with system tools that include Linux, NT, Apple OS and HTML, Drupal and Civicspace. Additional assignments include working at MAIN CTC/public access sites located in Texas Workforce Center and Bastrop Public Library, plus outreach efforts to engage underserved community members.

As an unfunded 501c3 offering free online support for other nonprofit groups, we have to strive for powerful but low-cost means to deliver services. Nick has helped completely overhaul our online operations, converting some key servers and sites to new automated Content Management Systems (CMS) software, esp. drupal and civicspace. This conversion has proved very complicated and we have a long way left to go, but without VISTA help it simply would have been unthinkable.

Two examples of productive outcomes are a new national community ICT resource project and a local community writing project . Though far from perfect they’re good programs that would never exist without our VISTA volunteer.

Nick helped completely overhaul our online operations, converting some key servers and sites to new Content Management Systems software, esp. drupal and civicspace. Though the very newness of the software has caused unplanned complications and delays, we’re managing to create a great many new content sections and features.


Transmission Project