world wide web As we are using it here, the web allows us to model (show-and-tell) what it looks like to put communication first: to start with communication, with the real-life objective of enhancing the process and effectiveness of a community-based action group. Using this medium establishes an "always-on" contact point for anyone with Internet access, to share our resources, and to participate. The process automatically produces documentation in the form of web pages that can be arranged so as to tell a story. The story can be told in such a way that there is connection with those in the wider culture industry in Nova Scotia who may be interested in supporting our effort. No other medium has the potential to do so much for as little cost as the web. Anyone in your group who has an Internet connection probably also has potential to post a "personal website" (like this one) in space allocated by their access/service provider (ISP) at no additional charge. No other medium comes with a built-in set of basic tools that allows anyone to be a producer. In combination with email, the medium provides a means for anyone to immediately respond to the story they're experiencing. To avoid unrealistic expectations, it is important to realize that while anyone with Internet access can easily make and post a basic information and contact/response page, going much beyond that will involve a commitment to learning how to use the tools, and a willingness to spend considerable time in site development and maintenance. But since the the rewards of establishing a simple website can be so great compared to the cost, it's worth looking for someone in your community who'd be interested in helping your group use this medium. Or, do it yourself. It's also critical to remember that the web will not reach all the people who are important to your objectives. Not everyone in your core action group might use email or have Internet access. One of the interesting things about the web is that it actually makes it easier to deliver hardcopy of your information. Just print the page you've posted, and fax or hand it around. On using the web: more to come. Your additions to this information are very welcome. plainstyle html One way to begin using the web once you have internet access and a place to post your information, is to do what we've done to create this site. Using free web-editing software, and the simplest possible html coding (with a free on-line textbook), you can make pages like this. You can shortcut the whole process, if your needs are relatively simple, by downloading the source code for this page, and using it as a template. Take out our text, put in yours. The value to starting out in plainstyle is that creating a web-space on behalf of your organization will be a very interesting discovery process. You will want to change your presentation, in response to what people say about it. The less coding there is at the beginning, the less you have to change as the site evolves. This makes it useful for "draft" sites: where you put up preliminary material for a group to consider, and comment on, as a stage in developing a public website. Your comments, suggestions?

tools plainstyle html www consortium chebucto community net n.s. community access canadian freenets personal computers web editing software image-viewing software google others tim berners-lee ken-porter gerard macneil peter martin ryan neily

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