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CN Associations

European Association for Community Networking

Association For Community Networking


European Association for Community Networking

EACN stands for European Association for Community Networking. It is not-for-profit international association under Belgian law. It has been set up by community networkers from Belgium, France, Italy, Spain and the UK to link local grass roots community activities at the regional and global levels and to increase the profile of local voices in global Internet and Information Society debates. (www.eacn.org)
Key aims of the EACN
  • Raising awareness of the benefits of CN;
  • Providing a forum for community networkers to exchange experiences and develop strategies to tackle key issues like unemployment, social exclusion, citizens rights and democracy:
  • Promoting CN alliances, partnerships and joint activities at the local, regional, national and global levels;
  • Identifying and demonstrating new community based models and partnerships for promoting and sustaining local economic development and social inclusion;
  • Alerting relevant agencies and institutions to the potential of community networkers to act as learning environments for developing and shaping the Information Society and local economic and social development;
  • Helping European citizens to actively participate in the design and the building of the European and global Information Societies;
  • Creating a more positive attitude within the business and media sectors towards CN;
  • Showing political representatives how community networks can help to reinvigorate the democratic process in each of the countries of Europe;
  • Developing a dialogue and effective partnerships with the European Commission, national governments, local authorities, the private sector and other relevant agencies.

The first European conference on CN was hosted by the RCM in Milan (Italy( in 1997. Attended by representatives from the EU and the US, this conference was an important landmark in bringing together European community networkers for the first time to share their experience of using ICTs as an effective tool for promoting the interests of local citizens. It was at this meeting that the initial links between a number of European local initiatives were made and the decision to develop a European Association for community networking emerged.
The second European community networking conference took place in Barcelona (Spain) in July 1998. Hosted by BCnet and the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, this conference brought together community networkers from across the globe. EU community networkers were joined by colleagues from Russia, Australia, Canada, the US, Japan and Argentina to exchange experiences and ideas on developing local citizen-based networks, designing digital cities, shaping strategies for universal net services and promoting social integration and community networking. One of the outcomes of this conference was the agreement to set up the European Association on a more formal basis. A small e@cn promoters group was put together for this purpose. Since then the e@cn promoters group has met regularly to develop a solid program of activities. Two key events were an e@cn workshop in Paris ! (France) in May 1999 and a one day e@cn conference in Sheffield (UK) in September 1999.
In the mean time EACN has been working collectively and individually to promote community networking at the local, regional, national, European and internatioanal levels.
In addition to developing and coordinating the Global CN 2000 initiative, the EACN has also been involved in:
  • The EU-funded Netizens project;
  • The Milan RCM civic network and the Region of Lombardy international workshop on ICTs, community networks and local economic development;
  • The Internet fiesta;
  • The villes d Internet network;
  • A two-day European workshop in Hourtin, France, on community networking issues;
  • The European Inspiration Society;
  • Research on ICTs, community networking and global issues.

(from www.eacn.org)

Association For Community Networking

 AFCN stands for Association For Community Networking in U.S.. It is an educational nonprofit corporation dedicated to fostering and supporting "Community Networking" -- community-based creation & provision of appropriate technology services. AFCN was founded in 1996. AFCN's mission is to improve the visibility, viability and vitality of Community Networking by assisting and connecting people and organizations, building public awareness, identifying best practices, encouraging research, influencing policy, and developing products & services. Communities need a way to assess and draw on local resources and strengths, to create local strategies to solve local problems. AFCN's focus will be to help find common-sense, practical ways to use the power of both electronic and personal contact to build healthy communities, and help each community decide for itself how they want to use technology.
AFCN has a small staff with long experience in starting and running community networks and a working board of dedicated and knowledgeable supporters. The membership is forming a network that will generate its own projects and collaborations. These will further the goals of the organization and build social capital across people, economic groups, and organizations. Membership will be open to individuals, institutions, small businesses, large corporations, government agencies, foundations and non-profit organizations.
The initial AFCN planning effort was funded by some of its future constituents, Apple Inc., and the University of Michigan, among others. AFCN formal organizational development and startup are being funded by the Kellogg Foundation and the Morino Institute, with continued support from those involved in its planning. Long-term, we expect financial support for AFCN to come primarily from membership dues, services and products, and grants.
AFCN, the Association for Community Networking is an association of community networks and related organizations, providing awareness raising, information resources for training, low cost access, and other services. It has over 100 member organizations

(from www.afcn.org)