1.) Need Volunteers? Does Your Organization Need Mentoring?
2.) Tech Tip
3.) Contentbank.org launches a news service about online content for low-income and other underserved Americans.
4.) Beaumont Foundation Grants

1.) Need Volunteers? Does Your Organization Need Mentoring?

Cisco is pleased to announce the launch of our new Volunteer Connection
System. As an Internet company, Cisco is excited to be leveraging online technology to bring community volunteering opportunities to nonprofits and our employees in an accessible, web-based application. This new volunteer connection system matches individual employees and employee teams to philanthropic opportunities in their community. In addition, it will also match the skills and experience our employees have with nonprofit organizations that are seeking specific expertise for themselves or their constituents.

We welcome "virtual" opportunities for those who may not be located near a large Cisco office (our large offices are located in the San Jose/San Francisco Bay Area, Greater Dallas Area, Raleigh, New York City, Boxborough and Herndon V.A.)

Examples of common "virtual" requests include: reviewing written material such as a brochure or content for a website on-line; helping with the development of a business strategy over the phone; technical troubleshooting.

You are welcome to register your organization in our system:
http://cisco.cybergrants.com/sgrquiz

Once you're in the application, you may request Cisco volunteers for your specific initiatives. (If an appropriate volunteer is matched at some point, you will be notified by email with instructions on how to proceed). We welcome one-time events as well as on-going opportunities. We hope this system will give your organization access to more volunteers and will save you time in recruiting, tracking, managing and communicating with those volunteers.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please send them to Barbara Jones at bajones@cisco.com.

back to top

2.) Tech Tip

Linksys BEFSR11, BEFSR41, BEFSR81, & BEFSRU31 DHCP Server and BOOTP Packet Vulnerability

A vulnerability has been identified with the BEFSR11, BEFSR41, BEFSR81, and BEFSRU31 Cable/DSL Routers. A flaw in the built-in DHCP server causes the routers to send BOOTP reply packets that contain sensitive information about traffic running through the devices as well as other random information about the router's configuration.

To find out what version of these routers you have and to upgrade your firmware to address this vulnerability, please visit http://tinyurl.com/27y3u. If you need technical assistance in upgrading your firmware, or any other technical issues, please email or Lassain R. Robinson, our Program Coordinator at 215-665-2590 or lassainr@uwsepa.org.

back to top

3.) Contentbank.org launches a news service about online content for low-income and other underserved Americans

Contentbank.org has launched the Newsblast, a weekly, e-mail news service focused on Web content of interest to those working with underserved communities. The Newsblast covers stories about new multilingual or culturally specific content, and Web information created for users with limited-literacy skills.

The Newsblast also tracks emerging trends like developments in local search engines, automated language translations, tools for easy content creation, and more.

Sign up for this free, weekly service today:
http://www.graphicmail.com/rwcode/subscribe.asp?SiteID=1885&Mode=subscribe

For more information, visit http://www.contentbank.org. Contentbank.org is a project of The Children's Partnership, a national, nonprofit child advocacy organization.

back to top

4.) Beaumont Foundation Grants

Beaumont Foundation of America has announced it's 2004 Community Grants program. This year programs in Beaumont's "B Group" states are eligible (see below). While the grant criteria seems quite a bit more restrictive than in the 2003 "A Group" states, it is still a source that eligible nonprofits should consider.

Funding for this program is from a class action lawsuit against Toshiba, the program provides Toshiba equipment to eligible organizations.

Deadlines are June 30 for Boys and Girls Clubs and Salvation Army organizations, July 30 for others:

"The following areas have been identified for potential CIPP placements:

Affordable Housing
Children's Hospitals
Children of Fallen Heroes
College and University Scholarship Programs
Faith-Based Initiatives
Foster Care and Mentoring Programs for Children
Homeless Persons
Persons with Disabilities
Restart Programs for Released Offenders
Senior Citizens
Additionally, the Foundation plans to continue grants to our national alliance partners, the Salvation Army and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Group B states include Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida,
Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts,
Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North
Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, and Wisconsin."

More information is at:
http://www.bmtfoundation.com/bfa/us/public/

back to top