Seattle Community Network

Is there life after death?

Seattle Community Network was one of the most dynamic and influential community networks. Unfortunately there is virtually no life in it today.

I believe that SCN could still play an important role in the job of promoting access to information and communication in our society. Unfortunately, according to the evidence I've seen, the current board has been neglecting their duties and, somewhat unbelievably, has been discouraging membership and activity on the network. There is currently a revolving board with virtually the same membership for years.

To this end I wrote last year to Joel Ware, the SCN president, with my concerns. If you're interested in this issue, feel free to read the letter.

Then, after renewing my membership last year with the express intent of voting, I now last week received the following letter apparently from the SCN board. The fact that this added a new — and totally unnecessary — impediment only helped to confirm the suspicion that the board is actively discouraging membership in the organization.

I admit that I'm puzzled by the apparent desire of this board to hold onto control when there is seemingly no evidence of desire to move forward with the stated mission of the organization.

As one of the original founders and — still — an activist for democratic information and communication, I am saddened and dismayed by the current state of SCN.

Douglas Schuler
d o u g l a s — at — s c n — dot — o r g
May 18, 2008