Copyright, 1998 Duane Ruth-Heffelbower

Use of the Internet in Use of the Internet in Refugee ResettlementRefugee Resettlement

Information is PowerInformation is Power

Reacting to events long after the fact? Why didn’t you know this was coming? Having timely information about official policy and news events affecting your work is crucial to success.

Short response time for an RFP? What if you knew about it the day it was issued instead of waiting for someone to tell you?

The U.S. Government has The U.S. Government has embraced the internet for embraced the internet for information sharinginformation sharing

• RFPs are published on the internet RFPs are published on the internet the day they are authorizedthe day they are authorized

• Plans in process are communicated Plans in process are communicated over the internetover the internet

• You can know what is coming before You can know what is coming before it happensit happens

But my agency isn’t But my agency isn’t wired. How can I use the wired. How can I use the internet?internet?• Few refugee resettlement agencies Few refugee resettlement agencies

make any significant use of the internetmake any significant use of the internet

• E-mail is free to anyone with a E-mail is free to anyone with a computer and modemcomputer and modem

• Your computer can be connected to the Your computer can be connected to the World Wide Web for $20 a monthWorld Wide Web for $20 a month

Get Wired!Get Wired!

• In the next few minutes we will In the next few minutes we will show you how to take advantage of show you how to take advantage of this new electronic communication this new electronic communication phenomenonphenomenon

• Go home ready to join the Go home ready to join the communications revolution in communications revolution in refugee resettlementrefugee resettlement

Two Important Parts of Two Important Parts of the Internetthe Internet

• E-mail allows you to communicate E-mail allows you to communicate directly with one person or many at no directly with one person or many at no costcost

• The World Wide Web serves as an The World Wide Web serves as an international bulletin board where international bulletin board where things you need to know are posted, things you need to know are posted, and where you can tell people about and where you can tell people about your agencyyour agency

Sample World Wide Web Sample World Wide Web SitesSites

Fundraising on the Fundraising on the internetinternet

• All significant funding sources post All significant funding sources post their material to the internettheir material to the internet

• You can find funders, their You can find funders, their requirements, and download their requirements, and download their formsforms

• Internet prospecting is an art formInternet prospecting is an art form

E-mail extends your reachE-mail extends your reach

• Communicate instantly with anyone Communicate instantly with anyone in the world for freein the world for free

• Create a listserve to allow a group Create a listserve to allow a group to share with each otherto share with each other

• Archive the listserve so that anyone Archive the listserve so that anyone can follow your discussion any timecan follow your discussion any time

E-mail possibilitiesE-mail possibilities

E-mail allows talking with E-mail allows talking with someone who is never someone who is never availableavailable

• How often have you tried to get in How often have you tried to get in touch with someone who is never in?touch with someone who is never in?– E-mail waits until the recipient is readyE-mail waits until the recipient is ready

– Mail can be received any time from any Mail can be received any time from any computer in the worldcomputer in the world

– Your message will be received exactly as Your message will be received exactly as you intend, not as a message slip from you intend, not as a message slip from someone elsesomeone else

How to get on lineHow to get on line

• Connect your computer modem to a Connect your computer modem to a phone linephone line

• If you are on a network and want If you are on a network and want everyone to have internet access, everyone to have internet access, connect the network to a phone lineconnect the network to a phone line

• Sign up with an internet service providerSign up with an internet service provider

• Install e-mail and web browser softwareInstall e-mail and web browser software

Getting online 2Getting online 2

• If you only want free e-mail, call If you only want free e-mail, call (800) 654-JUNO. You can’t e-mail (800) 654-JUNO. You can’t e-mail formatted documents, but you can formatted documents, but you can send and receive text e-mailsend and receive text e-mail

• Internet service providers usually Internet service providers usually charge about $20/month for unlimited charge about $20/month for unlimited access to e-mail and the web and access to e-mail and the web and provide basic softwareprovide basic software

Getting fancyGetting fancy

• You can share formatted documents, You can share formatted documents, spreadsheets and presentations by e-mail spreadsheets and presentations by e-mail attachmentattachment

• You can publish newslettersYou can publish newsletters

• You can chat in real time with Internet Relay You can chat in real time with Internet Relay ChatChat

• You can even use free internet phone and You can even use free internet phone and videoconferencingvideoconferencing

Why get on the internet?Why get on the internet?

• To communicate quickly with funders To communicate quickly with funders and co-workersand co-workers

• E-mail allows immediate asynchronous E-mail allows immediate asynchronous communicationcommunication

– Get your message to people in your words at a time Get your message to people in your words at a time convenient to themconvenient to them

• Get your mail anywhere, any timeGet your mail anywhere, any time– E-mail allows people on the road to stay in touchE-mail allows people on the road to stay in touch

• Get funding information immediatelyGet funding information immediately– Grant opportunities are posted when they become Grant opportunities are posted when they become

available, not when a state coordinator mails them available, not when a state coordinator mails them outout

Don’t be left behindDon’t be left behind

• Those who use the internet have an Those who use the internet have an advantage over those who don’tadvantage over those who don’t

• Information is powerInformation is power

• Get the power for your agency!Get the power for your agency!