FW: [TechTalk] "Action Center" project idea for the ambitious, bored, or obsessive...

I've been quiet on the debian -np list for a while, but thought I'd
stick my neck out there again as I have slightly more time available,
expect another follow-up message in a moment!



-----Original Message-----
From: techtalk-admin-Y0+jBL/[email protected] [mailto:techtalk-admin-Y0+jBL/[email protected]]
On Behalf Of Michael Maranda at NPOTechs
Sent: Thursday, July 08, 2004 1:27 AM
To: techtalk-Y0+jBL/[email protected]
Subject: [TechTalk] "Action Center" project idea for the ambitious,
bored, or obsessive...


Greetings all,

I assume that many of you are familiar with the
"Action Center" element of many policy/advocacy web
sites.  The eff.org is a great example of such a
site....

(if you arent familiar, basically the sites determine
who your legoslators are, based on your address, and
these sites facilitate getting your message to these legislators through
email or fax or via printing which you can snail mail...)


So... I think it would be useful to community
technology interests if we establish and host such
services for our geo-political level(s)   state and
other municipalities if relevant.

It would perhaps also be of use and interest to the
other non-technology organizations we serve.

Where would we need to start?   I am hoping that some
open-source software framework exists,and all we would
have to do is supply our geographic/legislative detail
for state orother municipalities... but if not, I am
guessing that such a database wouldnt be too difficult
to design.

Skipping a step to the infrastructure level.. I guess
the capacity to send faxes and other modes of
transmittal may require some discussion (not ot
mention resources)  - any ideas?

If anyone out there is interested, lets take  a crack
at tabulating what such a project would entail...


database w/legislative district coding
address parsing utility to match legislators to the
individual

information with multiple contacts means for the
legislators (and updating of same data)

issues framed in timely manner related to legislation
or to advancinging policy goals in community interest
(this requires someone to do policy leg-work on
ongoing basis-so with this latter, I guess what I am
curious about is what it would take to establishthe
mechanisms for us in Illinois, and then using it our
making it available to those among us with interest in
pursuing coordinated policy efforts).


Well, I am serious about this endeavor.  I dont want
for us to reinvent the wheel, but not sure how to have
it available for use at the multiple levels relevant
to us in Illinois:  State (House/Senate), County, City
(Alderman), and other municipalities.   I had in mind
that the system would be extensible, as some one from
whatever municipalities should take the effort to be
on top of things in their area.

If I was to start with what I saw as immediate goals,
I would deal with State House and Senate, and
Aldermanic wards for Chicago.


(If anyone has ideas for fundingor other resources for
such a project, that would be welcome too)

Regards,

Michael
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