December, 2006: The Computeraid Group has not met since Sept 8 2005 and is dormant and effectively non-existent. B2C Recyclers closed down at 114, Campbell Street, Collingwood on September 12, 2006 and are now located at Factory 19/391 Settlement Road, Thomastown. Some MelbPC members still work there as volunteers by individual arrangement with B2C Recyclers. The Cranboune facility has also closed. Anyone wishing to make enquiries should contact Darren O'Brien on: Tel: 94656300 or e-mail: b2c@b2crecyclers.com.au Web: http://www.b2crecyclers.com.au January,2006: The MelbPC Survey about to be completed did not include the questions we submitted. There does not appear to be another way to gauge the views of User Group members, but an article on E-Waste was published in the December 2005 issue of PC Update, followed by a Letter to the Editor in February. Strong support for the ideas was also expressed in Editorials in both issues. For the E-waste article see: http://www.melbpc.org.au/pcupdate/2512/index.htm September 28, 2005: Eight members of the group met with Darren O'Brien Of B2C to discuss the current situation and ideas for further action. Darren is satisfied with the way current volunteers work in B2C on hardware. New volunteers may apply to him and will be allocated to a suitable activity,depending on their inclination and experience (especially in hardware and supervision of Work For The Dole attendees, due to lack of time for training). Other jobs which can be done include Stocktaking, Warehouse Supervision, Website Maintenance, Selling items on e-Bay, or Business Promotion. Michael Mullerworth proposed that the group should try to influence MelbPCUG as a whole to support awareness of electronic waste (E-Waste) and of recycling initiatives in the wider community. Also to exert influence on governments towards regulation (e.g., to ban computer systems from landfill), and on both government and manufacturers to establish Take-Back schemes such as the one recently opened in Boroondara called Byteback. Most members, although agreeing with the ideas, felt it was "too difficult". It was agreed to first test the feeling of the MelbPC Management Committee and then to assess the views of the members through questions in an online survey which is presently being compiled. No decision was made about a more formal structure for the Compaid group. Since then, the Committee has approved the idea in principle and offered encouragement, and two questions have been put forward for the questionnaire, as below: *Computer Recycling or Refurbishing Discarded computer systems are the main components of increasing toxic waste in landfill (70% of the lead, cadmium and mercury, as well as other dangerous substances). They should be recycled instead of being dumped in the ground. 1. The MPCUG should actively promote: a) Take-Back schemes for computer waste Yes No b) Banning such waste from landfill (as in the ACT) Yes No 2. To make Take-Back or Recycling schemes free to all users, would you approve a levy or surcharge on new computer equipment to help pay for them? (e.g., 5% on a $1000 system amounts to $50) Select from 5% 3% 2.5% Other No May 27, 2005: Com.IT/Recruitnet is now operating as Business To Community Recyclers (B2C) and as an efficient commercial enterprise. Volunteers need to be allocated to and accept specific tasks, and be committed to attending on their nominated days (or to notify the co-ordinator appropriately if unable to attend). See Dec 9 notice below. NOTE: No new volunteers are required as there is no staff menber available to induct or train them at this time. January 11, 2005:  (See Dec 9 report below) LAS VEGAS, January 3, 2005 Melbourne PC User Group received one of fourteen community service project "Jerry Awards" from the Association of Personal  Computer User Groups (APCUG) at their annual convention in Las Vegas. The "Jerry Awards" were named after APCUG founder Jerry Schneider. Groups winning a Jerry Award receive not only a certificate, but also a financial award to assist them with their project.  The Melbourne PC User Group's Computer Aid Project acquires and refurbishes computers which are then sent to Third World countries through World Vision or are donated to local charities and volunteer groups.  In their three years of operation they have distributed about 1,000 units. "Congratulations on the recognition from this award - recognition to both yourselves individually for your effort over recent years,  and recognition now to our User Group"-Dave Botherway, President, MPCUG "This award is well-deserved recognition for the work that has been done in the past. But a great deal more is achievable, let's use this occasion as a chance to re-focus our attention on the exciting contribution we can make both to our own communities and those of the world"-Ray Beatty  December 9, 2004: A meeting was held at Campbell Street to hear about the restructure of Recruitnet. Danny Gill of the Werx Foundation and Green Office will oversee the amalgamation of those businesses with Recruitnet under the name of Business and Community Recyclists (Collingwood and Cranbourne). It will be run on commercial lines, seeking ways to earn income because funding for activities like Work For The Dole (WFTD) is declining. This will include Training Courses and an Op Shop selling recycled office supplies. MelbPC volunteers may undertake activities as individuals or may take on projects as groups. Formal Volunteer Agreements must be completed. Strong commitment is required, including to specific hours of attendance (early notification expected if unable to attend on any particular day). Activities could include supervising WFTD attendees, Stocktaking, Warehouse Supervision, Website Maintenance, Selling items on e-Bay, or Business Promotion.

Background
Computeraid is the name coined by Ray Beatty, whose idea it was to start this Special Interest Group. Essentially, the group aims at encouraging people to recycle their unwanted computers, preferably by refurbishing them for use by needy persons in our own community or in the Third World. In developing countries there is the potential for greatest benefit, because the poorer nations are falling ever farther behind in terms of educational and technical facilities, and even older computers will be useful as educational and training tools.
Read the articles by Ray Beatty in PC Update at:

Who we are
The group was a loose network of volunteers who contributed work at a Recycling  facility in Collingwood called B2C (now at tel. 94656300, see Dec 2006 Notice above). Refurbished computers are supplied to non-profit community organisations as well as to the Third World. This part of its work was a partnership with World Vision, which is able to both source large numbers of computers from business and industry, and to despatch them to other countries which have requested them.

What we do
Some MelbPC members still work as volunteers by individual arrangement with B2C Recyclers. They dismantle, reassemble, and test computers, and also do other jobs. Later these machines are re-tested, and loaded with open-source operating system software (Linux), and similar applications (e.g. a word processor, Open Office).
 

Volunteering
Existing volunteers will continue to work at B2C.

Donations of Computerware
Computer hardware (complete systems or parts) is welcomed at Thomastown on Mondays Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 9 am and 4.30 pm. A donation of $ 5.00 is requested for each monitor or printer to help cover the costs of recycling. (Volume discounts apply). This will be tax-deductible, and a receipt will be issued.