response 1 of 29:

Feb 6 03:45 UTC 1995

   I don't think we've ever really done much to look into that type
of funding.  Or if anyone did, I don't think the results were publicized.

   If we could get some sort of funding, or money for capital equipment,
then it might be interesting.  The one stipulation that a lot of us
would probably make, however, is that we'd be free of all sorts of little
'strings' that might be attached with the money.

   Now, perhaps thats just foolishness on my part; I don't know.  But
as much as I'd like to get oodles of goodies for Grex, I worry that such
manna would wind up costing Grex.

   But what do I know?  Maybe there is a place what would find Grex's
ideals just peachy, and fork over a SPARCServer 1000 or six...

response 3 of 29:

Feb 6 04:30 UTC 1995

Maybe because Grex is engaged in inter-state communication?  Dunno.

response 5 of 29:

Feb 6 04:35 UTC 1995

As a Michigan non-profit corporation, do we haven any more local
opportunities for govt. grants?

response 7 of 29:

Feb 6 05:53 UTC 1995

Grex is a non-profit organization; but it's not part of the government;
the people who are ultimately "in control" of grex are the members; both
by virtue of the fact they are the people who fund grex ("the power of
the pursestring") and through the explicit right to propose and vote on
policy.  Grex is under federal, state, and local jurisdiction; but that
just means Grex has to conform to those laws; and that if it didn't,
suit would be brought in those courts.

I don't think Grex is particularly hurting for money.  While Grex could
always use more money, it's not in any danger of "going under"; and the
only real issue seems to be how to manage the growth without losing the
good things we have going here.

If we were going for more money, I think we'd want to think in terms of
capital expenses we could afford - such as a larger Sun or a collection
of sun's, rather than in terms of operational expenses.  The former is a
one-time expense that will certainly help us.  The latter puts us on
weak ground with respect to the government, and gives them a much
greater voice in grex than we might wish.  A good example of how this
works is with the 55 mph speed limit - the Feds in fact have no right to
set such a limit, but because the states have grown dependent on federal
highway funds; they have no choice but to impose the 55 mph limit
regardless of their feelings.  This is, in fact, exactly how "power of
the purse strings" works.  You can see the republicans trying to do
something quite similar with funding for the arts, and for PBS, today.

response 9 of 29:

Feb 6 07:48 UTC 1995

If anyone has any suggestions of how to squeeze bucks out of the gov't, I'm
all ears.  I have no doubt that it's possible, given its size.  But until
concrete sources are proposed, it's impossible to say whether a given
funding source is a good idea.  So, any specific funding source proposals?
 
Btw, while everyone could always use more money, the "regime" seems pretty
happy about Grex's current finances!  Did you see danr's latest balance?

response 11 of 29:

Feb 6 17:48 UTC 1995

For federal grants, probably the NSF would be our best bet.  But yes, I
think our chances aren't all that great.  For private funding, the first
place to look might be PBS -- all those people who fund programs there.
I would guess the first step is to compile a list of names & addresses.

response 13 of 29:

Feb 7 00:48 UTC 1995

   You are probably right.  But it might not hurt to look around a
little.

response 15 of 29:

Feb 7 04:26 UTC 1995

    Well, what does it say?  Is there any juicy data in it for Grex?

response 17 of 29:

Feb 7 15:08 UTC 1995

        Hm. I'm not sure about the concept.. I do have my misgivings..
I mean, with all the "government is wasting its' money here" reports
that I keep seeing on television, do we really want to take the chance that
we'll be on next week's "Your Money, Your Choice", slot on ABC World News
Tonight?
        Yes, it's wild speculation, but it's worth a thought..

response 19 of 29:

Feb 7 17:57 UTC 1995

Right. You will find that most of them grant to social service agencies
(often in only their own home area) or educational institutions. For
all of them, you have to wrtie *a very good proposal* to explain how
community and social needs will benefit from the grant. There better
not be anything frivilous involved.

response 21 of 29:

Feb 8 03:40 UTC 1995

I think Rane's got it right.  Before we start looking for money,
let's figure out what we're going to do with it first.  We've *never*
had a problem raising funds once we figured out what we wanted.

response 23 of 29:

Feb 10 03:51 UTC 1995

Gummint grants??????? <barf!> 'Nuff said! Trust me.