Hi Aleksander,
On 9/3/2014 2:42 AM, Aleksandar Kuktin wrote:
> On Tue, 02 Sep 2014 01:18:58 -0700, Don Y wrote:
>
>> Yeah, non-profits aren't big on spending money -- unless they ABSOLUTELY
>> have to! E.g., want to test an LCD monitor? Set up a PC and just let
>> it run for a few hours! Want to clone disk drives (i.e., to build
>> several systems with identical hardware)?
>> Add a second disk controller to a PC and run the cables out through a
>> hole you cut in the side! Want to "bulk erase" disk drives? Set up
>> ANOTHER PC that just fills the volume with pseudo random data. (i.e.,
>> never BUY something to do any of these things -- *better*!)
>
> Actually, this is *probably* a proper mindset for running a successful
> business. Achieve more with less, the creed of the next seculum.
This can be a false economy. E.g., why power an entire PC to exercise
*one* LCD monitor? Why not "split" the signal and drive a dozen
monitors from one "video source"? After all, you are just interested
in putting an image on the screen so you can check for dead pixels,
flakey backlights, etc.! I.e., just because you have hundreds of
surplus PC's to choose from, doesn't mean that a better solution
might lie elsewhere (i.e., electricity isn't free -- it costs less
to drive a distribution amplifier/splitter than power an entire PC!)
>> Just identifying memory modules *should* be a simple project. The real
>> issue is doing it with a device that can handle lots of abuse by
>> *unskilled* workers (who have no incentive to do things right... they
>> aren't being paid, can't really be fired, etc.)
>
> So why the fuck are they there then? If they can't be bothered to *take
> care* of equipment they use to perform their work?
Because most non-profits/charities rely on VOLUNTEER labor -- people
who, in effect, tell themselves: "Gee, this sounds like such a GOOD
CAUSE! I would like to help..." (for the moment, ignore the fact that
many of these folks are retirees -- the sorts of people with "time on
their hands")
But, just wanting to help doesn't mean you are *able* to help!
(of course, the fallback position of "just donate money" is always
possible -- but often people don't have "surplus funds" that they
can devote to such use... especially "retirees").
The organization is then stuck having to decide whether to *refuse*
the offered labor (deeming it "inappropriately skilled" for the tasks
at hand) *or* accept it and try to find a good "fit" -- where some
value can be extracted from it.
Turning away volunteers has other downsides -- word gets around that
you're "selective" about who can help you in your Mission. Other
folks hesitate to offer *their* services -- for fear you will turn
them away as well!
"Oh, like you, I don't know anything about computers, either!
I won't bother offering my time, there..."
(Yes, but you are intimately familiar with import/export regulations
so *those* skills might be useful -- if you had only taken the
opportunity to *ask*!)
The trick, then, becomes one of trying to find ways of lowering the
skill level required for a particular activity -- so that LESS skilled
folks can perform it. E.g., if you need an engineer/technician to
research every DIMM/SIMM encountered, then that engineer/technician's
time is "wasted" on this task instead of building/refurbishing
equipment -- a skill that is much harder to "simplify".
Also, it is pretty hard to come up with a list of do's/don'ts that
covers even the most basic *assumptions* to which a technician/engineer
wouldn't give a second thought! Static sensitive devices, removing
power before inserting/removing components, making sure metal hardware
isn't lying on exposed circuitry, etc.
For example, one of the places I visited today had *piles*/stacks
of LCD monitors organized neatly. Of course, most are now TRASH as
they were all stacked with their screen faces leaning on (or, being
leaned on by!) the next monitor *above*/below in the stack!
"Oh! I didn't realize that was something that should be avoided..."
Do you "fire" this person for the mess they've caused? Wasn't it
*your* responsibility to ensure they knew EVERYTHING related to
WHATEVER they were tasked with doing ON THAT DAY? Remember, you aren't
paying them for their time... and, if you aren't grateful for their
efforts (i.e., if, instead, you are overly critical of or dismissive
in their failures), you risk them feeling unappreciated (or worse)
and, possibly, this attitude being conveyed to their other friends, etc.
> As I understand, the non-profit is fighting an uphill battle trying to
> muster resources for its work, but still...
Most non-profits/charities are understaffed (paid or unpaid). Here,
I think the only one that has an abundance of staff (volunteers) is
the food pantry. And, the tasks there are all essentially menial
ones -- filling boxes with foodstuffs, keeping the floors clean, etc.
So, virtually every volunteered hour can be effectively used.
At the opposite extreme, I know of a group that provides free dental
care. Hard to imagine them needing many people that are NOT dentists!