Community Networking Conference, page 6 Paolo Subioli gave the only critical view of Italian civic networking. He works for the MUNICIPA network (Multilingual Urban Network for the Integration of City Planners and Involved Local Actors--whew!). They have found "it is very difficult to involve someone in using ICT who has not decided to do so on his own." And the most difficult of all to involve in any exchange have been the civic networks themselves! He attributes this to the limited structures of the network and the overworked employees/volunteers, who are mainly concentrating on involving other citizens and are seeking "legitimization, before both the public and decision makers." Day Three: Making Sausage, Laws, and a New Organization Although the crowds thinned out on the final day of the conference, there was representation from many countries to talk about the new association. Artur Serra opened it with a short statement of principles and goals that some were ready to sign after a brief reading, while others were opposed to the process and to the content. David Wilcox of the United Kingdom did a good job facilitating the discussion and allowing everyone to talk. Clair Sherman, who had helped coin the term PEOPLE FIRST for the EC's DG5, suggested they use that term for the whole project or with the addition of European Association for Community Networks. That was discussed and rejected in favor of European Alliance of Community Networks. Other discussions centered on software, target audiences, goals of the organization, where to find funding, and the challenges that continue to face North American groups and individual systems. The group will have a listserver and Web site, and will probably seek European funding to continue face-to-face meetings and to expand their membership. I sometimes made comments about what Americans had faced (or still had not solved) when it came to our own organization and to the problems faced by the now defunct NPTN. I still think the main choice they (and we) have is to decide if they are going to be a catholic, big tent organization or a more focused one with a credo and set of principles that will unite members but also exclude some peripheral groups. Kudos to Fiorella de Cindio, also, who was not only able to organize the meeting but was able to attend almost all of the sessions, present a couple of interesting papers, and with the help of her staff, make everyone feel at home at the conference and in Milan. Information on the conference Web site at http://cindy.usr.dsi.unimi.it/ecn97/. About the Author Overview | Digital Photography Course | Science with eMates | Spotlight Essay | Book Review | Community Networking | INET '97 | News Page One | Find It | Apple Computer, Inc. | Contact Us | Help