Department of Neighborhood Empowerment
Newsletter

March 27, 2003

Re: More Free Computers. Free Web Training. Congress Reminder.

MORE FREE COMPUTERS

We are still making computers available to any Neighborhood Council that has been certified, whether or not they have a governing board in place.

If you are a Neighborhood Council that has not yet asked for a computer, this would be a good time to do it. If you’ve already received one, there are many more available “as is.” Don’t be shy.

Model #1 is the best computer. Each one is a desktop model that uses an Intel Pentium II microprocessor. Each has 128 MB of memory, and a 4.8 GB hard drive. It includes a 17” monitor, basic mouse, basic keyboard, network card, and a CD ROM drive. We will provide them loaded with Windows 2000 Professional, and Norton Antivirus programs.

We realize that this configuration may not meet everyone’s needs, so we will do a one-time purchase up to $600 of upgrades for each Neighborhood Council. If your Neighborhood Council doesn’t need this computer, we will provide you with a $600 credit for the purchase of supplies.

This offer is in addition to the $50,000 that the City is providing each Neighborhood Council through the Neighborhood Council Funding Program.

Once turned over to the Neighborhood Council, the computers become the property of the Neighborhood Council. The City will have no responsibility for them, and they cannot become the personal property of any member of the Neighborhood Council. You will need to designate someone who is authorized to accept the computer on behalf of your Neighborhood Council. That person will asked to sign a simple letter showing that you understand that the computer must belong to the Neighborhood Council. It is strongly advised that you mark the computer and its separate components, and keep an inventory list.

For those who have never used a computer, or who would like to enhance their knowledge, the City will be helping with training on such topics as basic computer operation, using the most common software programs, and searching the Web. We will be sending you more information on this shortly.

If you would like to use any part of the $600 for upgrades, here’s list to choose from:

Through the City’s contract with EnPointe, you can also buy technical support with your $600 credit, including guidance on software and hardware installation, how to utilize various programs effectively, and basic troubleshooting. The hourly charge for their assistance is $50. They are also available to come to your site for an additional service charge of $25 plus their hourly rate. If you need their services, call us toll-free at (866) LA HELPS. Hopefully there will be at least one person who is involved with your Neighborhood Council who has computer skills. Schools are a good place to find computer savvy volunteers. We’re also in the process of lining up less expensive ways of providing the support you need.

If you would like a computer, decide what you want, and decide who is going to be responsible. Your Project Coordinator can provide you with an order form in Excel or PDF. Fax or e-mail the form to us. Our fax number is (213) 485-4608, and our e-mail address is done@mailbox.lacity.org. You can call for help at through your Project Coordinator or (866) LA HELPS. We can purchase other software packages for you if they are on the City’s purchase list. Apple software is not on. The amount of time that we’ll need to fill your order depends upon the help we will have available, and how fast the orders come in.

If you’ve already requested a computer, it was a Model #1, and addition Model #1 computers are now available, but “as is.” There will be no additional $600 upgrade offer. Models #2 and #3 are available “as is,” and we have plenty of them.

Model #2.

Digital. Pentium II. 266 megahertz. 64 MB of memory. 3 GB hard disk. CD ROM drive. 3 ½” drive. Sound card. Windows 95.

Model #3.

Compaq Deskpro 4000 DT. Pentium I.Celeron. 162 MB of memory. 4.8 GB hard disk. CD ROM drive. 3 ½ “ drive.

Need to call us?
Toll-free at 1 (866) LA HELPS.
Web site: www.lacityneighborhoods.com
E-mail: done@mailbox.lacity.org

FREE WEB TRAINING

The federal government’s Department of Housing and Urban Development offers free Web clinics. It includes simple do’s and don’ts about what to put on your Web site; how to organize the Web site; marketing the site; how to get technical support; and how get HUD’s free software. Please visit their Web site at www.hud.gov/webclinics. You will note that their next clinic is in San Diego on April 2 at the U.S. Grant Hotel. As long as we can put together at least 25 people who want the training, and this isn’t designed for techies but for ordinary folks, they should be able to schedule a special clinic in Los Angeles just for us. We at DONE will be real busy on that day preparing for the Congress of Neighborhoods. I was really hoping that somebody might be in San Diego that day, could register online with HUD, and report back on whether or not this is something we would want to organize for ourselves here.

SPEAKING OF THE CONGRESS

The deadline for getting a guaranteed spot in a workshop is March 31. After that, you’re talking your changes. All workshops are open at this time, but you know how everyone waits until the last minute.

Visit our Web site at www.lacityneighborhoods.com

Greg Nelson

213 / 485-1360
866 / LA HELPS toll-free
213 / 485-4608 fax
done@mailbox.lacity.org email