Internet 101: Plugged In's Outreach
Plugged In, a nonprofit that introduces disadvantaged kids to technology, has used email to contact potential donors and buyers of their services. Below is an email they have asked all of their volunteers to forward. In addition, they have posted this in various usenet groups, mailing lists and bulletin boards.
Note how Plugged In starts by clearly stating that this is a promotion email. Following the philosophy of the Internet ("you own your own words"), they call a 'duck' a 'duck' while explaining why and how often they use email for outreach. The email itself provides information about Plugged In, how to subscribe and how to unsubscribe from the mailing list.
Subj: Fwd: our kids will put YOU on the Web Date: Thu, Jun 1, 1995 5:09 PM PST From: KimUp@eworld.com This is a group I volunteer for. FYI. Best, Kim ------------------
Forwarded message: Subj: Fwd: our kids will put YOU on the Web Date: 95-05-26 19:30:01 PDT From: KimUp To: AAIN ------------------
Forwarded message: From: webbed@pluggedin.org (Plugged In) Date: 95-05-26 18:01:14 PDT - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This is a promotional announcement for a fundraising project for Plugged In. Plugged In is committed to making no more than 4 promotional announcements each year. Please distribute this message electronically to your friends, colleagues and other interested parties. Please do not post in places where this would not be appropriate. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Impress your friends and associates by being the first on your block to have your own World Wide Web home page for personal or business use. The teens at Plugged In will create a home page for you or your business on their World Wide Web server or yours, including text, graphics, and even audio and video, for a small donation. Say you're looking for a job, or even a date--post your resume on your homepage so high-tech companies know you're technologically savvy. Or post your photograph and interests and skip the hassle of the personal ads. Or pitch your company's products or services to prospective clients and customers alike on the rapidly-growing world-wide community connected to the Internet. The teens at Plugged In are embarking on a new project to put you on the Web and provide part time jobs for kids in East Palo Alto. To get your own Web page, and support Plugged In's programs, contact Plugged In by sending e-mail to webbed@pluggedin.org or visit the Plugged In homepage at http://www.pluggedin.org/. You can also call 1-800-225-PLUG, or send a check to Plugged In, 1923 University Avenue, East Palo Alto, CA. 94303. Homepages for individuals: $50.00 for 1 page of text $60.00 for 1 page of text and 1 photograph or graphic images $75.00 for up to 3 pages of text, graphics, and links (Additional $50.00/hour to further develop your page). Home pages for businesses: $300.00 for up to 3 pages of text, with logo and links. We will enter you page in the Yahoo Internet directory. (Additional $75.00/hour to add photographs, graphics, forms, imagemaps, links and further develop you page). All amounts are minimum suggested donations. 60% of your donation is tax deductible. All work is quality-checked by adult staff and submitted to you for review prior to posting. Projects are taken on a first-come, first-served basis, so don't wait, sign up today to have your homepages built! ----------------------------------------------------------
Plugged In is a non-profit group dedicated to bringing the educational opportunities created by new technologies to low-income communities. To subscribe to our mailing list, send email to info@pluggedin.org, type Subscribe in the subject field. To remove yourself from our mailing list, send email to info@pluggedin.org and type Unsubscribe in the subject field. You can visit us on the Web. Our URL is http://www.pluggedin.org/ ----------------------------------------------------------