Greetings all. This is my first post, so perhaps this topic has been explored before.

I am the Founder and Board Chair of E-Democracy.Org. We host local online Issues Forums in ten communities. Led by local volunteer steering committees (think of service clubs spreading a century ago) our non-partisan, non-profit model building sustained citizen participation through an online town hall model. Examples: http://forums.e-democracy.org

As we are growing (now in three countries) I think a lot about how to create the distributed structure and rituals that support authentic local leadership and a sense of community ownership while building a global sense of "we" that maintains our standards.

Imagine that our network grows to 100 communities with an average of 300 participants per community and 10 or so core volunteers is each community who recruit, facilitate, and run the show. What can we learn from franchising today or the spread of service clubs (etc.) years ago?

Steven Clift E-Democracy.Org and Ashoka Fellow

shoot me an email at socialedge.org or palm44@covad.org... I am very interested in how you went about spreading to other cities.

Patrick O'Heffernan podcaster socialedge.org

Hi Steven --

and thanks for breaking the ice here. You might like to take a look at two of our previous events, though neither of them deals directly with the kind of approach you're working with:

Social Franchise: Is It For You? http://tinyurl.com/4ue5tu Why (And How) You Should Scale Up http://tinyurl.com/66p2pg

I am very interested in the kind (and depth) of community you are proposing, and hope this conversation will open up in some directions that are fruitful for us all.

I find it interesting that you use the term "rituals" in your post - "ritual" being a term that I as someone influenced by cultural anthropology and depth psychology think of as a very powerful ingredient in human culture. As the online space evolves, it seems to me that rituals and myths, both evolving on their own ("emergent") and skilfully devised ("intentional") will have a very significant role to play in social cohesion.

I'm hoping Jon Lebkowsky will join us here... I've alerted him via twitter.

Thanks again, and welcome.

There is a tremendous amount of under-utilized farmland in the 2/3 world, and the UN, World Bank, and IMF are all issuing grave warnings about the effect of rising food prices on the world's poor. One solution is to provide a very basic level of technical assistance to communities in order to ramp up their productive capabilities locally (particularly in places like sub-Saharan Africa, with lots of underutilized arable land). For example, there are already numerous pre-harvest (treadle pumps and other irrigation systems, high-quality seeds, and organic fertilizers) and post-harvest (solar dehydration systems, simple grinders, other low-cost processing equipment) technologies on the market to improve yields and prolong the life of crops to prevent spoilage. These technologies have a lucrative value proposition for both subsistence-level and small-to-medium size farmers - often, they can recoup the costs of their investments within one year. Why do I not find more discussion about large companies in the United States and the rest of the West partnering with local NGOs, manufacturing facilities, governments, and even the farmers themselves to provide access to these products along with associated training services? These products and services need not be free if they produce a greater yield, particularly with food prices being so high. One would think that this would benefit the companies' reputations, and give them a very positive brand image in new markets.

Thanks for your post. You write:

QUOTE > Why do I not find more discussion about large companies in the United States and the rest of the West partnering with local NGOs, manufacturing facilities, governments, and even the farmers themselves to provide access to these products along with associated training services? < UNQUOTE

What's your strategy? Who are you approaching? What's your next need? What question can you post to those who are reading here, that wiull get them involved in your project?

Thanks for the follow-up Charles.

To be specific, I have a relationship with an organization in Uganda that has 50 acres of land, 10 of which is currently farmed. So, I will be traveling there this summer to work with agricultural specialists to evaluate the relative profitability of a wide variety of projects they have dreamed up to further develop the other 40 acres.

To use a fitting example given the recent affirmation of Kickstart (http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2008/04/irrigation_pump.html), this is the type of accessible (read: cheap and easy) irrigation technology that would allow for further development of the land and greater profitability for the organization as a whole. This is good for seed and fertilizer companies that would benefit from further cultivation. So, inasmuch as these companies (or their affiliated philanthropic arms) are willing to pitch in for some of the cost of the manufacturing and distribution of these new technologies:

1) the farmer (organization) benefits from greater yields to reinvest in growth and the local economy; 2) the community benefits from greater food supply and potentially lower prices (though some could argue this pushes down prices for subsistence and single-family producers, lower agricultural prices are on the whole good for the poorest of the poor - I'm willing to hear from those who disagree); 3) in this case, the students in the organization's associated technical school benefit from having a fully-functional lab to learn about cultivation and perhaps some minimal post-harvest processing; 5) Ugandan manufacturers benefit through the production of the Ugandan-sourced equipment; 6) the company benefits from a positive brand image in that particular market; and 7) over time, the company benefits from a steadily-increasing demand for their seed and/or fertilizer technologies and associated services

So to pose it as a question: Do these models exist? If so, where? Are large MNCs doing anything at this small-scale, grassroots level? If so, which ones? Please reply if you know of anything like this.

I dont know how To raize meony or run a business . No one has shown me . I am ahead of my time ,All ive been is Fighting 24/7 The people who I trusted not only set me up set up a world and people Global FUTURE . Also I Have filed complaints On My former lawyer of DC . And NY Corp and Law Firm In NY , On behalf of all the people Global FUTURE Set up is sept 2004 See on my web page info . On Monday I made a Call to pep boys . CEO . left a message . Vist with him . They have a Tire called FUTURA see on my web page what how they have done For Years . FUTURE is 12 Years of my life and health ideas , There is already pend Trademarks , In USA ,UK, Europe For FUTURE we show usage threw the people and their ideas . want to help Invite you to come to bismarck ,ND Vist with me in person see who I AM, I am also looking for parters . Kent G Anderson FUTURE sm/tm 925 N Griffin Bismardk ND 58501 1701-223-0639 www.futurevisionaries.com milmntec@btinet.net

You posted here once before, and I asked you: Could you say in a single phrase or sentence what the word FUTURE can provide us with?

Thanks.

Hi Charles, Google 'Dunshalt Furniture On it's Way To Grenada' (well not yet;almost two 40'ocean freight container loads are tempoarily stored in Unit 3 Fife Food and Business Centre,Faraday Road Glenrothes stored for eight weeks thanks to Fife Council Estates surveyors and You will see what I have been up to recently.Surplus Educational Supplies Foundation is now a fully registered Scottish Charity SCO 39331 nd a registered limited charitabe company No .337348.Solicitors fees don't come cheap.I want an introduction to a philanthrocapitalist if such exists who will enable me generate the funds to assist in defraying transportation costs of educational resources to Grenada W.I that will to re-equip and help rebuild hurricanes Ivan and Emily devastated schools still awaiting reconstruction. Iam not loking or expecting handouts I want expertise and sound advice. Best wishes. David

Hi David:

I've been thinking of you since our "case study" back when, and I'm glad things are progressing for you. I'd love to see your tireless efforts rewarded. Your key point:

QUOTE > I want an introduction to a philanthrocapitalist if such exists who will enable me generate the funds to assist in defraying transportation costs of educational resources to Grenada W.I that will to re-equip and help rebuild hurricanes Ivan and Emily devastated schools still awaiting reconstruction. < UNQUOTE

Anyone who might be able to help David is invited to read more about his extraordinary work at:

http://www2.socialedge.org/discussions/scale/case-study

A brief taste:

David Miles Hanschell is a primary school teacher on the Island of Bute in Scotland. David was born and brought up in Barbados in the West Indies, and when he heard about the destruction of the neighboring island of Grenada in 2004's hurricane Ivan, he felt compelled to do something. With school closures, new builds and a continuous renewing of resources in Scottish schools he wanted to recycle the discarded textbooks, furniture, computers etc., and help Grenada at the same time.

Thus far, on his own initiative, he has been able to send four ocean freight containers of educational equipment out to Grenada, and is hoping to send more...

It's an amazing story

and David can use all the support we can find for him.

Hi Charles, Many thanks for picking up my thread.It's acknowledgement from the likes of Yourself in a forum such as this, and Others along the way,that helps to maintain the momentmum of my initiative. What's new? On Monday 21/04/2008 I was over in Edinburgh to see a business adviser with the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce( has had experience in the field;worked with VSO in Tamil Nadu for several years;was interested in my efforts to deliver another five containers of educational resources to deserving schools in Grenada.Later that day met a marketing economist with a lot of experience gained from working in Zambia and Sierra Leone,who was also encouraging me to persevere with Surplus Educational Supplies Foundation. I hope to have some mentoring from an MBA faculty member at the Strathclyde University Business School before to long;more of that in my next post. On the way back to Glasgow I stopped off at Grange Dock/Grangemouth to see the transport company that have four of my containers in temproary storage and make arrangements for the next delivery to the Grenada Boys Secondary School. One has to journey hopefully; and I must remind myself, that at times like this, when I appear to be becalmed in the doldrums, that I have been privileged to have achieved so much albeit a drop in the bucket; with good will and indispensable assistance from the corporate world. I am currently reading Peter Drucker's Innovation and Entrepreneurship. My reach continues to ever exceeds my grasp. Hope all goes well with You&Yours. Best wishes.Aye David

Dear Friends,

I am the founder and chairman of the International Network of Social Entrepreneurs and as such I am particularly interested in sharing with other members a few insights on how to leverage Social Media Marketing for Social Entrepreneurship; here is my last article on the subject:

Breathing, Networking, Marketing… © 2008 by Christophe Poizat - All rights reserved

Breathing, Networking, Marketing... all describe mandatory activities ensuring our survival as individual and the survival of our business; networking and marketing are like our left and right lungs... it's a fact, if we don't breathe we die within minutes, if we fail at networking and marketing properly, we soon end up in front of a bankruptcy court as another chapter 11... so it's not a question of whether we should do it or not but rather how we should do it.

With the world entering tough economic times, marketing efficiently has become even more critical. Marketing, networking should be an integral part of our breathing... our marketing and networking activities should flow as easily and effortlessly as our breathing so that people feel attracted to our offer and feel enticed to hear more about what it is we can do to help them resolve whatever problems they are experiencing.

Remember, the main goal of your networking/marketing activities is to establish a trustworthy relationship with people who will eventually become customers and even better: repeat customers. Instead of touting about your products or services right off the bat, you'd better get to know people's needs first! Nothing will happen unless trust is established, unless a rapport is created, eventually developing into a long-lasting relationship; people as we know are usually more enticed to do business with someone they feel they can trust, it's only human.

With the emergence of social networking platforms and social media marketing, opportunities abound; opportunities to do things wrong too... more and more people enjoy being part of on-line groups based on common interests rather than geographies. Instead of joining the gazillions of social networking groups that already exist, why don't you create your own? solutions exist to do that for free (i.e: Ning.com or Collectivex.com)

social networking has become an absolute must in today's business context and if you know how to invest your time and energy wisely the ROE (return on efforts) will be paramount: chances are you will have made more friends and will have met in just a few months more partners with whom you will enjoy doing business with for many years to come than you would ever have expected and thought possible.

A common mistake made when building one's on-line presence though is to start building without a vision, without a clear purpose in mind. People need to be able to identify what you stand for and what makes you different when they visit your on-line community; you need to build a brand, a reputable one that is. Attraction is based on clarity, simplicity and authenticity.

Once your objectives are clear, it's time to go to the playground and start building and that's where guerrilla marketing will come in handy; by applying its basic principles, strategies and weapons, you will be able to create a highly diverse community of passionate individuals in no time (i.e: I have built the world largest web 2.0 community of social entrepreneurs with 2100+ members in less than 4 months by simply applying the core strategies and tactics of guerrilla marketing).

Entrepreneurs, business owners, business consultants and artists alike have a unique chance to cash in big time on the relationship economy once they understand how to harness and leverage the incredible potential that social networking and social media marketing is yielding. More than ever, the Internet is reshaping how business is done in today's global economy. Web 2.0 has brought a cornucopia of collaborative tools and Web 3.0 is relying heavily on artificial intelligence and will enable new applications being invented to make our life easier so we have more time to spend on our marketing/networking activities!

Regardless of technology, the adoption of a sound and proven model of success for marketing your products or services will always remain what makes the real difference. Tough times call for drastic decisions, in every economic downturn, some people end up in front of a bankruptcy court and some people prosper. When the going get tough, the tough get going as the saying goes, only when they know how. Predictions for the world's economies for 2008 and 2009 are not that great and that puts an emphasis on improving the effectiveness of your marketing and its efficiency.

Difficult times cause problems for many businesses, including social entrepreneurs, but as always times of change bring great opportunities for those with the right information, the right mindset and the courage to take decisive action. More than ever, it is becoming vitally important if not a matter of survival to have access to laser-focused and inexpensive marketing strategies and tactics to recession-proof your business. Yes, it is possible to increase one's profits during tough times; Guerrilla Marketing can show you how at minimal cost. How long has it been since you had the health of your business checked? now is probably a good time to have it assessed by a certified guerrilla; I would be happy to help you recession-proof your business and increase your profits, even during these tough times.... Because only successful entrepreneurs can really make a significant contribution, I am 100% committed to your success.

Sincerly, Christophe Poizat

Organizing "The Most Prestigious Marketing Event of 2008" with Jay Conrad Levinson, Mitch Meyerson, Monroe Mann and Alexandru Israil – on the French Riviera, for more details, visit: http://gmfrance.com

Author Bio:

Christophe Poizat is a professional dreamer, a social entrepreneur, certified guerrilla marketer, mentor, business coach, speaker, author with 20+ years of international consulting experience who has lived on four continents; for more details, visit: http://christophepoizat.com

Christophe is also the founder and chairman of the International Network of Social Entrepreneurs, a global Web 2.0 community for Social Entrepreneurs to connect, share, collaborate and promote social entrepreneurship worldwide. For more details, visit: http://inse.collectivex.com

Hello Social Entrepreneurs,

Focus: Reducing Extreme Poverty in the World by teaching a specific subject. Based on the guidance - Teach Them to Fish and They Eat for a Lifetime.

This involves a important observation about the dramatic negative consequences created when any human being, anywhere on earth, cannot Add and Subtract skillfully. Consequently: Help a Million Kids to Add and Subtract and Watch the World Improve.

In my life I noticed that there is one particular key skill ( piece of knowledge ) that’s very easy and inexpensive to deliver (plant). And it has a vast influence on any individuals economic (money) dealings and the need to use the skill comes up on a daily basis throughout everyone’s entire life, no matter where a person lives in the world. Money dealings or things related to economic dealings are a common thread for the great majority of all humans and success or lack of success with money dealings, as well as the thinking skills involved, has a powerful effect (positive or negative) on any persons entire life.

I also noticed that when a human was able to Add and Subtract skillfully, that particular know how influenced all of their thinking and evaluations about everything, and in a very positive manner. It affected the way they processed all thoughts and emotions. And this skill had a dramatic effect upon their ability to plan into the future to achieve success. Even if they were in extreme poverty.

When I noted the great amount of success being derived from just having the basic skill of being able to Add and Subtract properly, it became apparent that the world would dramatically improve if we made sure all of the kids everywhere were able to Add and Subtract.

So I personally started working on this world wide change. That’s why I made a video about Reducing Extreme Poverty in the World and posted it on the internet. A google search for - theartroberts (no spaces) finds this video immediately.

I do believe in all rescue right now, but I believe that believe rescue must be combined with - Teach them to fish so they will be able to eat for a lifetime.

I’m very interested in all comments, suggestions, ideas and input about this concept. Obviously there are hundreds of areas of basic knowledge but this particular focus is on making sure all kids can Add and Subtract skillfully as a way to improve and change the world.

Hi Art, I just checked out your video and completely agree that " if we give free education it doesn't need to cost us much but allowing ignorance is an expensive disaster that never ends, ....( especially as) 1 out of 2 children in the world, or I billion live in poverty".

I'm interested in how you intend to distribute your products and interactive learning wheels to children in the developing world?

Hi Jo, Wed April 23rd.. Good to see your reply. Actually I simply give Wizards away free to any situation where there are needy kids without educational basics. My new Webstore is being constructed but if you click to this link, you'll see photos and examples of what I'm doing under the Third World Wizards http://www.kidsmemorywizard.com/index4.html People are not generally aware that kids, anywhere in the world, quickly learn from a game without adults. It's amazing and great. So just giving kids the Wizards accomplishes huge educational value. It's not hard to find situations where kids need to learn Adding and Subtracting. It's everywhere. So I simply go around like Johnny AppleSeed and spread learning Adding and Subtracting. USA to any third world. Obviously I'm not Bill Gates and I cannot personally afford to give Wizards to the entire world. So I encourage others who see the value, to buy and give away Wizards to any kids who do not know how to Add and Subtract. The background gets huge but that's the over view. Looking forward to your comments. You said it "Allowing ignorance is an expensive disaster that never ends." Teach Them to Fish and They Eat for a Lifetime." It's the true solution. Yes rescue, water, food, medicine, but it'll never end without basic skills and I've discovered that Adding and Subtracting is a key skill affecting everything. Cheers... Art My email is art@kidsmemorywizard.com

In Australia, the last 10 years of activity in many fields of social entrepreneurship has yielded one very clear conclusion:

The biggest obstacle to social enterprise in our country, and perhaps throughout the western world generally, is an expectation by citizens, policy makers, and the corporate world alike, that solving social problems is the responsibility of government, and everyone else should just get on with their normal role in society.

In developing countries, social entrepreneurship often means creating a solution, or at least social net, where no existing net or support system is in place.

In countries like Australia which have an advanced welfare state and three tiers of extensive state interventions and programs, there is very little space available for social entrepreneurship because governments quickly move to colonise any space that emerges around an unmet need, or an inadequately met need.

Whether we regard this as good or bad, is the key question, and this will boil down to ideology. Though the interesting thing, in Australia, is that both the political left and right support big government. As a result, philanthropy and social enterprise are weak in comparison with other western countries which have a different government tradition.

However, it is my contention that social entrepreneurship in our kind of society will develop over the next 10 years as a critique of, and an alternative to, existing bureaucratised, impersonalised, silo-driven forms of education, health, and welfare.

This is where the huge opportunities are, because public sector provision of these things is associated with one-size-fits-all, impersonalised, de-moralised forms of provision, without personal choice. Private sector provision is often associated with much the same thing - but in corporatised settings which means less drabness but no more choice.

Social entrepreneurs are in the business of creating options which are outside the public sector and the private sector paradigms, characterised by person-centred, community-centred models not provider-centred models (public or private).

The policy issue for governments is then whether to allow space for this ventures, or whether to choke them and kill them.

Vern Hughes Director Centre for Civil Society http://www.civilsociety.org.au

Vern, I have to admit not hearing much about SE from your country, other than my communication with Stewart of Barefoot Power. In the UK which has a similar welfare infrastructure, the situation is quite different. For instance, our NHS is now introducing Social Enterprise Trusts.

That's not to say it's necessarily a good thing. My experience of a largely government promoted Third Sector is one of closed doors and quite often a not invented here mentality. I'm often writing to my MP with examples of how government itself fails to support what it advocates. For example, most of my problems of late payment as a social enterprise are with government departments. I have some who are 2 years in arrears in spite of their 30 day pledges.

There seems to be a lot of showcasing here, but no-one who'll respond when advice/support is needed.

Maybe you're better off in Australia, with government staying out of it?

Hello - this is my first post as well, I am founder of The Houdini Project. Specifically I would like feedback on our prospects as a for profit non-profit hybrid within the criminal complex industry.

The Company website - www.thehoudiniproject.org Turning New Orleans’ annual $6 million in bail bond profit into funding for low-income pre-school and youth programs by developing a Bail Bond Model to compete within the bail industry and investing 100% of profits back into the local community - towards our mission. Our goal is to transform the Bail Bond industry from a predatory institution into one that serves families in crisis and seeks to prevent further criminal activity in the communities we serve by funding local Head Start Programs for at-risk children and by engaging in case analysis and social services referral at the point of client interaction.

With its Bail Bond Model, The Houdini Project is addressing the two major issues facing the industry in how it meets the needs of its core consumers and communities: The industry constitutes a form of predatory lending where needs of the families and communities it serves are secondary to making enormous amounts of money from families who largely cannot afford it.

The industry is a reactive and punitive reaction to societal problems that require more proactive solutions and social investments to divert people/children out of the criminal justice system and into productive roles within society.

Our aim is to replicate into urban communities around the nation.

Thank you

I like the sound of this Mario and maybe our own efforts at www.p-ced.com could be of interest. So far, we've operated as a profit for social purpose business to deliver to a community in Eastern Europe. You may also be interested in joining us on the yunus_discussion group on Google where Yunus' and other social business models are under discussion.

On a lighter note, apparently I too work in a predatory industry as I discover when talking to employment agencies about this business. "Ah a software developer with a social conscience, that's unusual" they say.

We gotta improve our image....

Nice ju-jitsu style reversal!

Most fascinating aspect of Life is Death. I see and live with conviction that the day we start discussing about death in detail we will be able to refine our thoughts and purpose of life becomes more meaningful.

The beauty of death is such that we cannot share the experience of what it is and how it comes and when and what exactly happens when the life goes.

Innumerable personal accounts of individuals who were diagnosed with terminal illnesess could come out with narratives > where they shared how they prepared to face it. Recent book I read on this is -CHASING DAYLIGHTS (Please read if you didnt by now).

I see lots and lots meaning in choosing this topic -DEATH and I wish Social Edge takes up this topic.

Hi Prakash, I appreciated the story you posted last year about the deaths of your family members, and how that inspired your work. You are right death isn't something we should fear, I guess fear is why it's not really talked about, especially as noone can come back and tell us about it but its comforting to know that we still exist once this life is over

A quick Hi to Jo and Prakash!

Our city in the northwest region of the US has a number of incubators, but none really seem to meet the need of our social entrepreneurs, be they non-profit or social business. We need place to launch concepts, form teams and bring ideas to market. Non-disclosure agreements and environments of confidentiality that characterize commercial start up would enhance the feasibility and quality of our offerings.

What practices in social enterprise incubators in cities world wide could provide models for Portland, Oregon?

In religious Islamic view, things intermigle-cause and effect. Example: world troubles now are results of people and group sins( you may substitute a sin by any uptodate vocabulary_mistake, breakdown...). Getting out of the path of GOd leads to 'sins'; shortage in human mutuality and the false idea of it make it hard life. IF I earn 5 dollars, i think..i must keep one and give the others to each who has any. WE NEED TO ADVISE EACH OTHER, and find innovative ideas or go back to the old Ones-the SUCCESFUL OF THEM.

Just a quick welcome, Hicham.

QUOTE > shortage in human mutuality and the false idea of it make it hard life < UNQUOTE

Yes, exactly!

I'm committed to climate change mitigation. I'm also drawn to Muhammad Yunus' concept of "social business"--business focused not solely on profit, but on building human benefits (like a cleaner environment). What ideas do you have for starting such "green" social business enterprises? What specific types of clean energy businesses do you think are most viable? What groups do you know of that are already doing such work?