Satellite TV discussions
As part of our email network, we have been working through the issue of having a communications strategy for rural Australia.
Below are our discussion emails in order
------------------Discussion No 1----------------
Hi everyone,
Welcome to a special email discussion for developing a comprehensive satellite television / rural communications plan.
Richard Makim (Julia Creek, Qld), Craig Underwood (Jurien Bay, WA), John Burnett (Clermont Qld), Dennis Fahey (Torrens Creek, Qld), Ashley Adams, (Yaraka, Qld), Ian Mott (Aust Forest Growers, Qld), Alan Mackey (Musician, Melb) & myself (Leon Ashby, SA) got together for a telephone conference call on sunday (28th April) to discuss the satellite television / rural communications strategy (television, web site, music ideas, publicity campaign etc) that we believe can change things for the better for rural Australia (e.g. change the public`s wrong perceptions of land managers, change the way govts ignore grass roots views, & bring more science and land management experience into resource decision making etc, etc).
The meeting was very useful, and since many others are keen to be a part of these discussions, we are inviting others to join in if they want to.
All of us agreed, it would be good to develope a clear and comprehensive communications plan (which includes satellite tv, a web site, an advertising campaign and more), which would communicate to the rest of Australia anything we believe needs addressing.
While we believe we know what the issues are, there is going to be some research done to pinpoint exactly what our city cousins and politicians think on a number of issues - This is especially important for the publicity campaign, otherwise money could be wasted on publicising the wrong issue.
The communications strategy would be a frame work which has places for lobby groups, community groups and individuals to find a niche to communicate the facts and make their views know across Australia.
If the strategy comes together well enough in the next few months, then many groups could start to get some action happening on satellite tv.
=================================
This email has
(1) Some comments made during the recent teleconference
(2) Discussion - the best process to get things started?
(3) Some excerpts from the NCA (US cattlemens lobby group)
(4) Quote from Ayn Rand
===================================
(1) Some comments made during the teleconference
John Burnett (Clermont) filled us in on where the Resource Managers group have gotten to in developing a strategy. He emphasised the different aspects to developing a communications blueprint, that we should not get confused.
Firstly, there are a variety of tools we can use to communicate with (TV, web sites, songs, radio etc)- and then there is the precise message(s) we want to deliver
John & RMG are in the process of getting research done using funding from Meat & Livestock Australia, to clarify what different sections of our community believe, and therefore what messages are needed, and to whom they have to be delivered to. (i.e. to politicians or certain sections of the public).
Some other interesting points were
Richard Makim`s mentioned his experience with "mythbusters" and said If we have spokespeople for regular comments, then they really need to have first hand experience about what they are speaking on.
A "personality" spokesman without experience can backfire if they get caught out not really knowing what they are talking about. Richard has also sent information from a US cattlemens lobby mentions the importance of grass roots people in managing issues.
Ashley Adams believed a comprehensive web site with discussion forums and primary school interactive learning activities (games which teach information at the same time) has a lot of potential.
Ian Mott had experience with changing community attitudes. He was one of six people that began an anti smoking campaign years ago.
Alan Mackey has a lot of contacts in the music and video industry that will be helpful
(Alan spent a fair bit of time as a kid on properties near Aramac, Qld.)
Dennis Fahey emphasised the need for substantial dollars to fund these ideas and is looking into ways to achieve this.
Leon Ashby suggested setting up a nonprofit organisation which is flexible enough to have grass roots membership control, and can give farming people a part time job working in a position for the satellite television / communications team. They could get reimbursed something like $20 per hour plus costs.(telephone calls & travel)
This type of structure would allow the communications strategy to be run entirely (or very close to it) by grass roots people. Initially there will be secretarial, and organisational positions (e.g. fundraisers), but once some dollars roll in, then positions such as cameramen, video editors, presenters, researchers, web site managers etc will be needed, and todays technology now allows almost all of it to be done by people at home.
Richard Makim saw a lot of strength coming from an organisational structure which could give everyday involvement to the very people it was going to help.
As a group we were happy with the idea of beginning a non profit organisation and getting it incorporated so it would be eligible for govt funding.
Richard Makim suggested the group could highlight it`s environmental educational opportunities to attract govt (NHT) funds.
Naturally a lot more points than these were discussed, but rather than discuss them all now, I will let the ideas come out in future email discussions.
=============================
(2) Now for a bit of Discussion
In coming weeks we will probably discuss everything from funding options, technology options, a name for group to oversee the satellite tv / web site arrangements, what can go on the web site, and heaps more. You might also know of useful articles on public relations (PR) that could be helpful to us as well, so send them in.
For this week, we thought it would be good to discuss
What process is best to get a satellite television / rural comunications strategy going ?
I have thrown these ideas at Paul Fordyce and John Burnett (Resource Managers Group, Clermont) as a rough outline of how to progress the satelite television / communications strategy, but you may have some better ideas or other things to add.
(1) Form a comprehensive plan - (Using email discussions along with the occassional telephone conference call)
The plan will set out the goals, tools, group structure and potential people to fill positions, financial arrangements (budgets) and probable communications messages (depending on how the RMG / MLA research comes back)
The plan will be written out step by step (how much money is needed, & who does it) and will not look to borrow money. In other words, as money is promised or delivered, then the next step is taken, but not before.
(2) Take the communications plan to all the major rural lobby and industry groups in Australia (via email and / or telephone conference calls) and ask for their comments
(3) Modify the plan - if it is needed
(4) Present the plan again to the lobby & industry groups and negotiate financial and other arrangements required to get things started.
(5) Form a non profit organisation with office bearers - chairman , secretary, treasurer etc, a group name and bank account. (This could be done immediately if we wanted to)
(6) Form a management committee (office bearers plus two or three others) who will keep a check on progress, funding, etc and make any necessary day to day decisions.
(7) Then depending on the dollars in the kitty, begin the first steps of the plan (job positions filled, web site gets set up, television trials organised, etc, etc) and send progress updates to anyone who wants one (by email)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Depending on how quickly things fall into place, a web site, the country music idea and the satellite television trials could begin within months. The main holdup at this stage could be if Austar has difficult arrangements with transmitting for us.
The publicity campaign (e.g. ads on commercial tv, etc) would probably begin next year and is the responsibility of the RMG group to pull together.
=========================================
(4) Some excerpts from the NCA (US cattlemens lobby group)
Daryl Wilkes has written an article on managing issues for US cattlemen. In part it says
To truly manage issues, one cannot wait until the media calls for a statement and then hope to be quoted correctly in the newspaper.
To manage issues is to participate in the process by which the issues are defined, resolved & then communicated to the public.
Issues don`t just fall from the sky. They evolve. To manage them, one must be part of the process from day one.
The most powerful tool is grass roots lobbying that involves cattlemen, not staff or consultants making policy decisions.
An effective PR program works to close the gates on the myths and open the gates to the facts.
NCA utelises a network of experts to help analyse the scientific aspects of an issue - before members set policy on it.
One dimensional PR has proven unsuccessful as a defence against erosion of public confidence - NCA has developed a comprehensive approach.
-------------------------------
(* By using satellite television we can have a lot of our grass roots lobbying done via television presentations such as catchment meetings, lobby group meetings, interviews with affected landholders & townspeople, present our own documentaries, and much more )
===========================================
(5) Richard Makim also sent this quote from Ayn Rand, which is also worth repeating
Neither a man nor a nation can exist without some form of philosophy. A man has the free will to think or not; if he does not, he takes what he gets. The free will of a nation is it`s intellectuals; the rest of a country takes what they offer; they set the terms,the values, the goal.
In the absence of intellectual opposition, the "rebels" notions will gradually come to be absorbed into the culture. The uncontested absurdities of today are the accepted slogans of tommorrow.
They come to be accepted by degrees, by precedent, by implication, by erosion, by default, by dint of constant pressure on one side and constant retreat on the other - until the day when they are suddenly declared to be the country`s official ideology.
From the book "return of the primitive" by Ayn Rand
--------------------------------------------------
One final comment
I find it interesting that Australians tend to think of the outback as our "heartland" but few people live in or visit it, and most of our society does not understand anything about managing it.
I believe we landholders therefore have a unique opportunity to link that heartland image (e.g. battling the harsh elements - finding how the landscape works best) - with some of our cultural values (barracking for the underdog, giving people a fair go, having a suspicion of authority, etc) And at the same time be able to inform and entertain the public.
Any other ideas or comments anyone?
----------------------------------
Cheers for now - Leon & Jane
==========DISCUSSION NO 2 =============
Hello,
Welcome to the second discussion which is about putting together an Australia wide plan for Rural satellite television and other communications ideas. There are about 500 email addresses on this list including many people involved with various rural organisations and shire and rural town councils.
Marsha Isbester (Australian Women in Agriculture - NSW) has offerred to help put together the plan into a document . Marsha has been pushing for such a communications plan for several years, and has contacts in the US where farmers groups have had television and radio channels conducting successful public relations work for many years.
In this email
(1) News on satellite possibilities
(2) Comments from Marsha Isbester
(3) Ruth Quigley (NSW) offers web site assistance
(4) Suggestion from Emily Carter (WA)
(5) Changing Paradigms - Dan McLuskey (McKay, Qld)
(6) A reply from Leon Ashby
(7) John Roydhouse suggests internet options
(8) How public opinion on smoking was changed - Ian Mott
(9) Ideas for a name
(10) Lobbying / getting support - Ruth Quigley
(11) Ideas for the structure of the satellite tv /communications strategy
(12) Reimbursing people for their time as part of a non profit organisation - Ian Mott
(13) some ideas for a web site
(14) Scott Meares - website offer
========================
(1) News on satellite possibilities
Phillip Luff (from Austar) phoned me last week to say they are very interested in the idea of transmitting rural television on their network, but they will need to work out how it can fit in with their crowded programs. Austar has 400,000 subscribers and the vast majority are in suburban Australia. They can see they could get a lot more rural subscribers by being involved with us. Austar covers all states except WA where it beams a signal into Perth only.
Westlink - WA govt educational channel on the free to air (RABS) service) has full Australia wide coverage with plenty of unused airtime. Free to air (RABS) has 27,500 subscribers Australia wide so far. Our plan is to use both options if possible, so that everyone with satellite TV can receive rural tv. We could even transmit on telsra broadband (two way satellite internet connection) as well if there is enough call for it.
========================
Comments from Marsha Isbester
Hi all!
Your e-mail was forwarded to me as I have been an advocating the formulation of a "public relations plan" (same idea) for agriculture for years. I have not understood why our farm organisations have not put money into their own media facilities and produced their own top quality shows that cast agriculture in its proper light. Not only television, radio but marketing an entire range of other other items like computer games, "Freddie the Farmer" dolls or whatever. Things that make agriculture a wonderous thing for children and the rest of our sadly misled population.
I met and married an Australian farmer ten years ago. Before then I worked in public policy and advocacy in agriculture and natural resources for over fifteen years in California. I held a position as Director of Communciations & Research for the California Cattlemen's Association (in my early career years) and am very familiar with the work of the California Farm Bureau in television and radio production as well as that of other members of the Ag industry there. I still retain my contacts there.
As recently as last Saturday I spoke to Ian Donges (NFF) about this topic saying that I had some ideas for a "Plan". I still had a "burr under my blanket" after seeing the blatant environmental content of a segment of "In the Box" a syndicated children's show, and again wondered why we were spending millions on Landcare when we should be spending millions on showing the public that we are already doing (or already have done) marvelous things in the Agriculture industry. That by far those of us who make up the agricultural sector are the most innovative, most enterprising, most intelligent (sometimes a bit slow but not unintelligent) of any industry. We are also the most misunderstood, and misrepresented group of individuals in the world.
I heard on the ABC news this morning that John Anderson is advocating a similar notion.
Marsha Isbester
NSW Women in Agriculture, State Vice President
Farmer and other things
===========================
(3) Ruth Quigley offers web site assistance (NSW)
I am a farmer living in central west nsw
we have wheat, cotton, cattle and olives - the oil from which i am just about to launch a marketing campaign
I have been studying web related things for about 4 years now and got involved with a "virtual" webteam so now get to assist in making websites for people around the world.
I was runner up in the NSW rural womens award for my work on "ozcotton" this year.
I found your ideas exciting and similar to some what i am tyring to achieve on the forums on ozcotton.
If i can assist with any web related medium please let me know.
I have access to hosting services, domain name registration, forum scripts etc,
0" SIZE=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">
best wishes
Ruth Quigley
================================
(4) suggestion from Emily Carter (WA)
Hello. My name is Emily Carter and I am the Communications Coordinator for
the Blackwood Basin Group. We are a community managed catchment group,
located in the South West of Western Australia.
One of our members forwarded your email onto me. I wondered if you had considered making contact with the Telecentre
network. It might be a useful partner to have as they have good
infrastructure, resources and local knowledge.
Regards,
Emily Carter
* Thanks Emily, I have just contacted the centre & heard Ken Widdoson (a farmer) is planning a similar nationwide rural television idea.
=================================
(5) Changing Paradigms - Dan McLuskey (McKay, Qld)
(* Dan`s comments are made about some past "News & views" emails, but they raise some good points, which are important to mention)
Dan says
I have some very clear ideas on how to change paradigms. From my perspective, your task is to change community and politicians paradigms about landholders.
There is a very clear process to follow to change paradigms.
Simplicity, clear objective and persistence are essential.
I am putting this process in place for the tree clearing issue.
In my opinion, you have taken on so many issues that you do not have focus. There is a military principle called concentration of effort, and maintenance of the aim.
I do not think that you will carry anything off until you choose one, or at most two, issues to tackle. Any ones will do, but they need to stir passion in the rural community, so that there is commitment. It takes time to change paradigms, so do not be in a hurry.
Once you get started, and begin to become effective, then you can take on one or two more.
Meantime, I suggest you search the net for Thomas Kuhn and paradigms. He coined the term, and his findings are very helpful.
Your competition are conservation groups with very clear agendas, and they are many years ahead of you.
Best wishes,
Dan McLuskey
-====================
(4) Reply from Leon Ashby
* You`ve made some very good points Dan, which I will comment on.
(a) Too many issues - The "Landholders for the environment" - News & views emails have purposely taken on a lot of issues, - treeclearing, salinity, property rights, water property rights, Kyoto, GAB water management, etc to highlight the fact that there are a lot of unscientific, illogical beliefs of the conservation & green movement, and that there is a lot of evidence and logic to back up primary producers experiences and views of what is good management, and we therefore have to get our messages to the rest of Australia & the world.
With the communications strategy, I agree our messages have to be straightforward and persistent.
As well as our messages, we have to set up an efficient structure between all rural groups to begin communicating our most important issue(s). Since there is much to consider, maybe I should try to list a starting point of the overall plan to explain things as I see it.
Tools Type of presentation : Audience : age group
Satellite TV. - lobby group meetings : farmers & Politicians : 20 plus
" Rural News & Current Affairs : Rural & city : 20 plus
" Rural Documentaries : Rural & city : all
" programs e.g."Farms & yarns" : Rural & city : all
" kids program " Farmer Fred" : Rural & city : 2- 7
Commercial TV Adverts : City : all
City Newspapers Adverts : City : 20 plus
City Radio Adverts : City : all
web site educational games : primary schools : 7 - 13
" farming facts & info : schools (project info) : 7 & up
" Chat / message boards (linked to sat tv shows) : everyone : all
" Transcripts of sat tv shows : schools, researchers : all
Country music Competion & album : City & rural : all
Toys "Farmer Fred & friends" : City & rural :2-7
Tourist features Add info to rural tourist features : city & international : 15 plus
(e.g. stockmans hall of fame)
With an agreed outline we can then consider the message(s) appropriate for each audience
For example
# Toys, educational games on a web site for primary school children, and a kids tv program could have some basic themes such as how farming can improve the land and society benefits.
While tools such as the publicity campaign, the kids material, the tourism info, and some of the satellite tv programs can be coordinated to have a similar message , other ideas cannot be overly controlled or they may not work.
For example
The Country music idea being suggested is to get a competion for an "Authentic Bush" album produced by ABC records. The albums message would be "discover what is really happening in rural Australia". We could arrange for artists to visit and participate on different properties for a week or more, so they can discover what`s really happening and then write a song for the album. Once the album is released we could ask people who live on the land to vote for the song that best expresses their view, and the winning songwriter gets an award our group.
For this idea to work, we have to allow people`s songwriting to just happen
But I agree with you Dan, we also need to consider how public opinions & paradigms have been changed by many different groups. This should assist us with planning the strategy.
=============================
(6) John Roydhouse comments
Thank you for your email, which I have read with interest. I can appreciate your concerns. Having been involved with the Australian Wool Growers Association and that long campaign to reform the wool industry I appreciate the effectiveness and ability of lobby groups coming from a grass roots level to achieve and also the frustrations of the so called established lobby organizations such as SFO’s in protecting their membership base rather than fighting the real issues.
I am concerned however of your push for satellite TV, and would suggest that you look long and hard at the services provided by Telstra and their costings of acceptable internet connections etc. I wish you well with your campaign and look forward to updates via email.
P.S. on your website you have a few problems with the top frame cutting off some of the text links
John Roydhouse
Rural IT & Web Pty Ltd
---------------------
* G`day John, Our web site (http://landholders.tripod.com) has just been changed a bit by tripod (the web site provider) and we are not too sure if everything still works 100% yet.
Telstra - I`ve done a bit of research about telstra and various internet services and it seems that the internet has limitations for conducting meetings etc (most peoples internet service providers or computers fall out too often when on line) and video is too slow to download on most peoples computers)
However telsta broadband with two way satellite connection will be very handy for us to send digital video signals to each other with. For example if anyone has a digital video camera, the correct software, and telstra broadband, you could send me some video footage of something that has just happened. I could receive it and then edit the footage on our large computer with our video editing software. I could then send it to Westlink to transmit on their satellite channel (23), and Austar could recieve Westlink`s signal and resend it on one of their channels a few seconds later. That is the sort of thing we are wanting to do.
Back to Telstra broadband : It will be useful if anyone wants to participate in a video hookup to satellite television and have their face on the satellite television screen, and it could be another way of sending the satellite television signal to people. But for now, it does not seem to be as good an option for the mass communication we seek.
Currently the areas of rural Australia that have timed local calls have been offered a substantial subsidy from the govt to go on telstra broadband and only 40 % of these people are taking up the offer. In other areas the uptake will be less as the cost is much higher. ($3,300+)
My thoughts for looking at satellite television as a tool is that it appears to be quite cheap (about $1,000 per hour for us to use) which is less than the cost of a 30 second ad on capital city television stations. (some are as high as $3,000 per 30 seconds)
Once the communications plan gets some funding, we can attempt to get a package with either free to air (RABS) or Austar so rural people can get a discount if they sign up for satellite tv within a certain time.
Thats what we are up to at this stage John, but if there are other options you can see we have not considered, please let us know. - Leon
=============================
(8) How public opinion on smoking was changed -
Ian Mott (Australian Forest Growers) explains his experiences with an anti smoking campaign
Opinions on the smoking debate obviously vary depending on whether one is a smoker, a non-smoker, a reformed smoker or a smoker trying to give up but no-one can dispute the fact that significant changes have taken place in public perceptions over the past 20 years.
When I got involved in the issue in 1983 I was an ex smoker who had to leave a job because I couldn't stay in a smoke filled office with windows that don't open. The issue had no public profile. Smoking was allowed on planes, trains, buses, lifts, offices, cabs, restaurants, pubs, hotels and, (ironically) hospitals.
The key players were; an Assistant Commissioner, NSW Dept Science, A Professor of Biology at UNSW, Joint MD of Fairlight Instruments, and a Surgeon, Arthur Chesterfield Evans, (now NSW Democrat MLC), a Korean War vet who had gone completely feral (no shoes, scraggy beard and a diet of only over-ripe bananas) a membership base of 400 odd medico's and a seedy one room office.
Their promotional efforts up to then consisted of tipping a garbage bin full of cigarette buts over the bikini clad model draped over the new Jaguar at tobacco industry promotions. The feral was self appointed spokesman for the cause but the cameras always seemed to find his bare feet so the story always ended up 10% issue and 90% on why he was philosophically opposed to shoes. (don't ask)
Some of the group had just started altering billboards. This usually involved a bunch of rosy cheeked girls and likely lads heading off into the night after a well lubricated dinner party to alter cigarette billboards to tell the truth ie John Player Special became Lung Slayer Special and "Anyhow have a slow death".
There was a danger that this activity might adversely impact on the more serious policy work so it was decided to give it a "brand" of its own, the infamous, "BUGA-UP" (Billboard Utilising Graffitists Against Unhealthy Promotions). At it's zenith, every railway billboard between Hornsby and Central had the treatment while on another night it was all 500 odd buses in the Brookvale Bus Depot.
The strength of this campaign was that it used the "enemy's"resources to our own ends and in a short time our efforts became part of urban pop culture. Bored commuters would watch out for our latest contributions and many would end up thinking of our message even when they saw an unaltered billboard. It was also interesting to note that when we were caught in the act, most commuters looked the other way rather than cause a scene by dobbing us in.
The serious part of the campaign started when Ass Commissioner, Brian McBride sued a Bus Driver for assault for blowing smoke in his face when he had lodged a complaint about the smoke in the crowded bus. This hit national TV and Papers with the then pre-eminent Mike Willisee calling it the stupidest thing he had ever heard of. But the important point from our perspective was that thanks to MW, the whole nation now new about the issue. We spent $400 on legal fees and turned it into over a $million worth of publicity.
The formal Group, The Non-Smokers Rights Movement, also needed some improved presentation. Their logo was some sort of chook surrounded by flowers which conveyed absolutely nothing and this was changed to turn the existing common circular non-smoking sign into a 3 dimensional picture of the circle with bar actually squashing a bent cigarette.F" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">
Their newsletter was just a bunch of A4 photocopy pages which was transformed into a typeset magazine. We also needed some "perceptual positioning" so we ran free adverts for the Sydney Dance Company, which had very slick graphics, and we soon had other advertisers wanting to actually buy space in the mag.
I also initiated a full on "personality clash" with our feral friend who left in disgust at the way we were "selling out". And from then on all public statement came through 2 or 3 of us only.
The result of all this was that within about 9 months we had made the transformation in the public's mind from fringe dwellers to "super cool" and it was a mixture the politicians could not ignore.
Within 2 years the Tobacco Companies were spending more than $30 million a year just to hold their ground. The Minister for Aviation, Kim Beasley had made all planes smoke free. All Trains and Buses, Taxi's and workplaces were smoke free and Paul Hogan and Stuart Wagstaff had lost their jobs selling cigarettes on television.
The coupe de grace came with the 1984 Rugby League Grand Final that was packed with Windfield signs all around the ground. A formal complaint was lodged with the Broadcasting Tribunal charging that the entire telecast of the event was one big unlawful cigarette advertisement. The tribunal would not act on the complaint so, on the advice of our lawyer, one Stuart Littlemore of ABC fame, we took out a Mandamus Writ to compel the Broadcasting Tribunal to prosecute Channel 10. Mandamus Writs are a very useful old legal instrument to compel a public official to perform an official duty that he is required to do but is reluctant to carry out.
0" SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">
Channel 10 was duly convicted and no further cigarette names, brands or slogans may be filmed on TV. It was about then that the tobacco multinationals started referring to themselves as the downtrodden underdogs and ourselves as the powerful anti-smoking lobby. And we were still in our seedy one roomed office.
This has obviously had an adverse impact on the tobacco growers but there is a well documented down stream risk to the community from the trade. It must also be said that it is the greens who have picked up and used most of the lessons from this campaign and used it against targets where no such evidence of community risk is available.
The main features of the campaign were;
1 we used the opponent's resources to our own advantage,
2 used legal action to create publicity first and precedent second,
3 converted the threat of legal action into pressure on government to act,
4 positioned our message as upmarket, fun, a bit naughty and ultra cool,
5 recognised that our most potent weapons were the time, skills and commitment of the executive team.
6 avoided getting bogged down in bureaucratic initiatives that would consume 80% of our time for only 20% results, and
7 ultimately, beat them on their own turf with someone else's army..
Ancient Chinese tactician Sun St would notice some familiar themes. This was a full team effort by very dedicated people who started before I got there and were still going after. And we shifted public opinion through 180 degrees.
Ian Mott
National Councillor Australian Forest Growers
President Regrowth Foresters Association
* Any other Stories?
=================================
(9) Ideas for a name
Ruth Quigley comments
Name:
Objective: A Name - this will be for the tv channel, website etc etc. Needs to be short, snappy and easy to remember.
Subjective: names using eco, bio, sustainable are done to death. Acronyms can be useful if clever enough - otherwise something to steer clear of.
-------------------
Ian Mott has suggested the following.
A name should have two elements one part what we are 2nd part what we do, so try;
Bushcam, Bushtel, Bushvision, Bushstar, Bushsat, Bushline, Bushview, Bushvista, Bushsite and, (Bushwank?)
Landcam, Landtel, Landvision, Landstar, [Landsat, Landline], Landview, Landvista, Landsite and (nevermind)
Farmcam, Farmtel, Farmvision, Farmstar, Farmsat, Farmline, Farmview, Farmvista, Farmsite
Agcam, Agtel, Agvision, Agstar, Agsat, Agline, Agview, Agvista, Agsite
Agricam, Agritel, Agrivision, Agristar, Agrisat, Agriline, Agriview, Agrivista, Agrisite
Countrycam, Countrytel, countryvision, Countrystar, Countrysat, Countryline, Countryview, Countryvista, Countrysite
Ruralcam, Ruraltel, Ruralvision, Ruralstar, Ruralsat, Ruralline, Ruralview, Ruralvista, Ruralsite
Primarycam, Primarytel, Primaryvision, Primarystar, Primarysat, Primaryline, Primaryview, Primaryvista, Primarysite.
* Any more suggestions anyone?
==========================
(10) Lobbying / getting support
Ruth Quigley writes
Lobbying:
Having recently attended a presentation by Monica Richter (CEO Greenpeace) on lobbying I feel it useful to pass on the basics.
1: Identify those in favour of the idea etc, those against and those who might be sitting on the fence
2:Enlist the support of those with simlar thoughts, feelings in sponsorship or assistance
3:Document and explore values that might appeal to those sitting on the fence and attempt to get them onside.
With perseverance and time - gradually the line will shift to a favourable outcome
Support:
In NSW I believe the banks are supportive of the farmers on the irrigation/water property rights issue - maybe this is an area we can look to for support
Regards
Ruth
* Thanks for these ideas Ruth. I would expect every rural group, shire council, bank, rural business, major company, and most politicians to support the communications idea (at least in principle). Once we get a plan clarified and written up, we can approach them and heaps of others, to get their support (sponsorship, donations etc).
======================
(11) Ideas for the structure of the satellite tv /communications strategy - Leon
The idea being prefered is a non profit group that helps existing groups (e.g. lobby, promotional, catchment & community groups etc) do their job better. This group would assit in doing things that other groups cannot do very well e.g. producing video tapes, conducting meetings / securing sponsors etc, so that things can come together and can be done smoothly. What we don`t want to do is replace existing groups purpose or be another beauracracy that wastes resources.
These ideas are to toss around - criticise them if you have any better ones -
# We use an email network as a sounding board for ideas
# After ideas have been tossed around on the email, we have a conference call linkup to decide the ideas. - The conference call team are volunteers and the decision making team, much like members of any nonprofit group and they define what jobs need to be done and elect people to do certain jobs. Some jobs will be minimal & unpaid. Some jobs will be substantial and remuneration will be essential.
# One person will be needed to record the minutes of these conference calls and put them on a web site for public scrutiny. We can also put all these discussions on the web site as well.
# We use the Qld system of nonprofit organisations to register as an incorporated body (which limits any liabilities to the group`s assets) A couple of people could go through the articles and make sure they are suitable for the group`s needs
# We also register the non profit group with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission so the group can carry out functions Australia wide
# We set up a bank account and begin asking for donations to cover incorporation etc
# The conference call team can then define each part of the plan and who will do each job and what the remuneration should be etc.
# Once the plan is decided and written up, it is then sent to other rural organisations to comment on for modification, if need be.
# Funds are then applied for or negotiated ( govt grants, sponsorship, membership, donations, debentures etc, ) Companies approached for sponsorship etc
# Once some funds arrive for each part of the plan, that part of the plan begins
=======================================
(12) Reimbursing people for their time as part of a non profit organisation (tax, GST,
superannuation etc) - Ian Mott
We managed to set up a system for paying non-funded people for their time on the SEQld Farm Forestry Committee when I was Chair but the bureaucrats were very reluctant to let it be used to any effect.
It is essential to ensure that the Articles allow for the payment of office holders on a fee for service basis. We need to maximise the contribution of the most committed people (ie those who are directing it). If we don't have the ability to cover their costs then the task becomes another (of many) burdens which must take its place in the queue behind the core financial duties.
Payment for time need not be at the full market rate but, more appropriately, at the rate at which some core family obligations can be covered. When it is time to pay the school fees it is amazing how wives (* husbands?) seem to know exactly how much time has been "wasted" on charity work.
It also reduces duplication. Often a large portion of elected officer's free time is spent in advising paid people what needs to be done. And while the paid people may well do the task faster, the total cost in group resources can be greater.
There are two options;
Direct employment. This will need each new person to be appointed as a part-time employee with all the employment Decs and admin etc done by the group. It will involve a complete set-up from scratch with time and cost implications and does generate some conflict of interest issues and pub liability issues when directors are also employees.
B] Contract Employment. Each person would be contracted to a third entity that does the admin and simply invoices the group each month. As I still have my Employment Agency Licence and all the statutory Super and Tax arrangements in place this would eliminate most of the set-up time and cost. I have the entire admin system set up on MS Excel so all one would need to do is copy the files with a new name and we would be ready to go. The internal accounting system for the group would then only be a simple off-the-shelf matter.
Obviously, at beginning at least, this could be done on a zero/minimal margin basis. And the entire copied file system would be available for audit/scrutiny by the executive
* Does anyone else have other ideas that may be worth thinking about?. How do other organisations organise their structure? Do they work well?
Another detail is to make all donations tax free - can anyone comment?
===============================
And Finally
(13) some ideas for getting a comprehensive web site going - Leon
(1) We identify people we have contact with, who have web site construction skills & ideas to discuss the possibilities - e.g. Ruth Quigley, Scott Meares, Jane Ashby, John Roydhouse?..... anyone else?
(2) We define the different web site aspects e.g.
section : goal : who builds it: who maintains it: Time: cost
links to other sites : school research :
educational games : give basic messages :
Rural facts & info : school research :
chat /message board: interaction (kids to farmers?):
minutes of meetings : inform rural community:
(3) We define the basic messages we want the games to have
e.g.
* land (and homes) are looked after better if they are owned by private individuals
* farmers need to make some profit to be able to afford to improve the land
* farmers are improving sustainability
The older kids games & info could then look at how sustainability is being improved in more detail e.g.
# adding nutrients, insects to soils where they are needed (phosphorus, dung beetles)
# planting more productive grasses and trees that suit the soil type and climate better (buffel grass, leucaena, ryegrass)
# adding species to keep things in balance (rabbit calicivirus)
# breeding more productive & more fertile plants and animals
# controlling tree regrowth
# keeping grass cover on the soil to reduce erosion
# keeping water tables stable in salinity risk areas
# controlling feral animals and weeds etc
(4) We decide which types of games and subjects are best suited to delivering these messages
( Any suggestions of games we can view on other web sites? )
(5) Once all details are worked out, the team leader puts together a funding submission to relevant funding bodies (NHT, educational bodies, MLA etc) and when funds come in the web site construction begins.
================================
(14) Scott Meares - website offer
Hi Leon,
I like what you are proposing and would like to be a part of it. Your website would be a good place to start with, as this would also give your comittee a place to run a discussion forum and post their research and ideas. It would also give other interested parties some where to go to receive more information so that they can make informed decisions regarding funding etc. To get the ball rolling I would like to offer free website hosting for your initial 12 months (reviewable at the end of the period), and a basic website with online forum until funding is available to complete a full scale website with all the interactivity you so desire.
Scott Meares
http://HostMultipleDomains.com
Specialists in Multiple Domain Hosting
and Customer Care
--------------------------
keep sending in anything relevant
Cheers
Leon & Jane Ashby
=================Discussion No 3===============
Hi everyone,
Jane & I have just returned from a trip to Qld to tidy up arrangements with selling our property "Barcoorah" this last two weeks. While away, we called in on Marsha & George Isbester (Cobar NSW), and received an offer of assistance from Daniel Barty (ABC radio Longreach). I did a couple of radio interviews as well, just to give a few people a broad outline about what sort of communications ideas we are discussing.
Since then several people have chased us down via email and also want to assit the Satellite TV / communications strategy idea.
--------------
This email we feature a couple of other groups with similar ideas that we may be able to work cooperatively with, to achieve communications outcomes together. The idea of doing this is to achieve efficiencies with the organisation and infrastructure needed to run things.
As most of you would be aware, our idea is to have the rural satellite TV be akin to a community television channel. I spoke to Ken Widdowson this week & he mentioned there are several city based community television channels and they would probably be keen to transmit other community programs like ours, if we contacted them
For those of you just joining these discussions, feel free to question or comment on anything being mentioned on these emails - Remember this is a forum to formulate ideas into suggestions for our "conference call meetings" to consider.
In a week or two, I will convene our second telephone conference call "Meeting" to get some more decisions made.
======================================
In this email
(1) Another Satellite TV Application - Ken Widdowson
(2) Brief rundown of Knowledge Share International`s Satellite TV proposal
(3) Susan Cull (director, ICT international) makes contact
(4) TARBS - Australia's leading broadcaster of ethnic television and radio
services plans Satellite TV expansion
(5) Gail Short - (CTSA) encourages working together between groups
(6) Karolee Wolcott (secretary of CTSA) comments
(7) Judith McGeorge Comments on the names for communications programs
(8) Name of the Satellite TV / Communications Network
(9) How rural satellite TV news & current affairs could be organised
(10) How any rural group could slot into the rural communications network
(11) Funding Programs
(12) Another free web site option
(13) Non profit groups & GST
=======================================
(1) Another Satellite TV Application - Ken Widdowson
Hi Leon,
It was good to have the opportunity of talking to you.
Regarding my NCF applications, the recommendations have gone to the Minister
and an announcement will be made soon.
As I mentioned, I felt that your proposals would fit in well with our scheme
and we would have all the necessary infrastructure and some basic funding to
get it started. If my application fails I would be happy to work with you to
try and find alternative sources.
Will keep you posted.
Regards, Ken
Ken Widdowson
Executive Director
Knowledge Share International
===================================================
(2) Brief rundown of Knowledge Share International`s Satellite TV proposal
PROPOSAL FOR A NEW NATIONAL SERVER FOR THE SATELLITE DELIVERY OF ON-LINE CONTENT TO EDUCATION AND HEALTH BODIES THROUGHOUTAUSTRALIA WITH INADEQUATE ACCESS TO TERRESTRIAL BROADBAND SERVICES. A satellite solution forAustralia’s Broadband ‘black hole’.
Most current broadband initiatives including some present NCF funding proposals consist of enlarging existing State broadband “pipes” and extending them further out into regional areas in the hope that, over a period of time, the benefits of improved access will trickle out into Australia’s remote areas.
This proposal adopts an entirely opposite approach. It employs modern digital satellite technology to immediately deliver media rich on-line content to the most disadvantaged areas of Australia.
At the same time the proposed satellite service is completely national and can be accessed by any organisation within the national satellite footprint experiencing difficulty gaining access to full broadband services.
The Schools Online Curriculum Content Initiative (SOCCI) of the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA) has highlighted a concern that there are areas in rural and regional Australia where media rich, online content cannot be delivered satisfactorily. It is also acknowledged that :
A satellite solution could provide immediate relief.
A national initiative would be more economical than each State going alone.
The creation of a new national collaborative body by the States represents difficulties.
It is therefore proposed that an experienced independent, non profit organisation, Knowledge Share International, be funded to establish a national satellite online content delivery system as a three year demonstration project . Once in place it can be offered to all State and Commonwealth agencies, particularly in the education and health area, having difficulty delivering online content through their existing terrestrial broadband systems to remote and regional client organisations.
At the same time, to demonstrate the service and build its user base, it will deliver at least 500 hours per year of much needed curriculum content, health education and professional development video programs for down loading and reuse.
Cutting-edge equipment multiplexes video and data to optimise use of satellite bandwidth. Sophisticated software manages knowledge assets stored on a network of interstate servers, and controls IP addressed delivery on demand, bulk file transfers and pre-scheduled broadcasts of data drawn from servers and Internet.
NCF funding of $8.5m is sought over a three-year demonstration period. This will leverage a contribution from the WA Government of $4.4m in satellite access and technical support, $800,000 in trial satellite access from OPTUS and substantial content contributions from Commonwealth and State Education, TAFE and Health departments. After the demonstration period it is expected to be self-funding.
(* If Ken`s proposal gets up, it would provide a lot of the basic infrastructure we require to get started. )
======================
(3) Susan Cull (director, ICT international) makes contact
Dear Leon
I heard the tail end of your interview on Tamworth ABC radio. I understand that you want access or a link to satalite TV coverage. I have contacts which could possibly help you to achieve your vision and objectives and totally support what you are trying to achieve.
Susan Cull
Director
ICT International Pty Ltd
===================================================
(4) TARBS - Australia's leading broadcaster of ethnic television and radio
services plans Satellite TV expansion - Alan Mackey
PeopleSoft has won a multi-million dollar contract
to provide Television and Radio Broadcasting Services Australia Pty Limited
(TARBS), with technology solutions that will assist it in rapidly
accelerating its subscriber growth targets and efficiently expanding its
operations globally.
TARBS, Australia's leading broadcaster of ethnic television and radio
services, uses digital satellite technology to broadcast 52 (soon expanding
to 65) channels, nationwide, covering 20 different languages, from 30
non-English speaking countries, 24 hours a day.
TARBS' existing Subscriber Management System, which was developed in-house,
required additional features and workflow automation capabilities to handle
the planned growth in its Australian and global customer base. TARBS
concluded that the best way to meet this challenge was to look for new
customer relationship management (CRM) and eBusiness applications rather
than develop the solutions in-house.
=========================
(5) Gail Short - Executive Officer of Community Teleservices Australia (CTSA) encourages working together between groups
Hi All
I had a long discussion with Leon last Friday after our (CTSA?) meeting and I am more and more convinced that we need to think of a coalition of bodies for lobbying purposes.
CTSA has the potential to have 500 centres within 18 months (327 at the moment) + a large network of Teleworkers if Chris (Capel)`s bid is successful. If Ken Widdowson is funded for his talk back TV network - he would wish to virtually collocate with us to provide the rural and remote receival points for this network and there are also other possibilities. While we would continue to run each of our organisations separately, we could join together to lobby for specific initiatives for rural and remote people, for example the use of a Television Talk Back Network and EXtraNet, provision of good discounts for telecommunications and other new services which would be common to us all.
This could perhaps be done through having quarterly teleconference meetings or 'adhoc' meetings where required or a 'chat group on the extranet' where we share information and join together where this is expedient to achieve an objective.
It is becoming obvious that we can join a big part of the bush together in one large network if we wish.
Lets continue to talk about this. It all sounds very exciting and very cost effective for all involved. Sustainability is something we must be continually aware of and if we pool our resources we will have a strong lobby body and one that is affordable.
Regards
Gail Short
==============================
(6) Karolee Wolcott (secretary of CTSA) comments
Hi Leon and Jane,
I am interested in reading what you have put together. Just no time at the moment - I'm sure you know how that is!! I am on the Host Committee for the III World Congress of Rural Women that is being held in Madrid, Spain on 2-4 October 2002. (www.mtas.es/mujer/rural/english) As soon as that is over, I should be able to get my life back!!
I am also the Treasurer for Community Teleservices Australia (CTSA). That website is: www.teleservices.net.au I think there may be some connections between what you are doing and what we are doing." FACE="Arial" LANG="0">
Kind regards,
Karolee Wolcott
================================================
(7) Judith McGeorge Comments on the names for communications programs
Dear Leon and Jane
read e-mail with interest - on the name of the program you are developing- I feel the word "view" would be a poor choice- we are trying to address the arguements with annecdotal evidence- experience and debunk much of the unproved and unprovable edicts that are being foisted on agriculture in the way of regulation.
Whilst our experience really is valid in that we have made it work to produce agricultuaral produce and care for our land,
I like Agrifacts or Farmfacts as a better option.
Regards Judith McGeorge
-------------------
*Point taken Judith, I know what you are saying and I agree.
John Burnett, Paul Fordyce & co (Resource Managers Group) have been looking at how we can use facts woven in with personal stories and imagery etc to get our message(s) across with a lot of impact. While we landholders have much anecdotal and scientific data to support our message(s), there will be some of what we present which is still our enterpretation or view, even if it is an extremely compelling view - which is why I used that term - not because it is just a view with no supported science or anecdotal evidence.
My hope is we can plan a wide range of communication tools / styles to be used to deliver both hard hitting factual info and softer, more subtle (emotional / feel good) messages that all support the direction we (landholders) are wanting to go.
To me, It`s about tuning the hearts & minds of Australia into the many win - win solutions there are for our landscape and the rural community, while at the same time educating the wider public how overregulation, the removal of property rights and incentives to achieve, can only harm sustainable production and sustainable conservation outcomes.
---------------------
Just for everyone`s interest, I have suggested the following list of communications ideas and I have put # next to those tools that woul probably use direct / factual messages and ** next to tools using more subtle messages.
Tools Type of presentation : Audience :
# Satellite TV. - lobby group meetings : farmers & Politicians
# " Rural News & Current Affairs : Rural & city
# " Rural Documentaries : Rural & city
#, ** " programs e.g."Farms & yarns" : Rural & city
** " kids program e.g." Farmer Fred" : Rural & city
# ** Commercial TV Adverts : City
# City Newspapers Adverts : City
# City Radio Adverts : City
** web site : educational games : primary schools
# " : farming facts & info : schools (project info)
# " Chat / message boards (linked to sat tv shows) : everyone
# " Transcripts of sat tv shows : schools, researchers
** Country music Competion & album : City & rural
** Toys "Farmer Fred & friends" : City & rural
# Tourist features Add info to rural tourist features : city & international
(e.g. stockmans hall of fame)
As with any communication, we need to imagine ourselves as someone who knows little about our situation and see if we would watch / read or listen to our material before transmitting it.
There are many ways to promote / market / advertise and each can reach different people. Some people do not seem to remember facts, but can remember images or jingles etc, so that is why our communication needs to be fairly comprehensive.
=====================================
(8) Name of the Satellite TV / Communications Network
Last email Ian Mott suggested many possibe names for a non profit group which would oversee the organising of satellite TV material, raising funds, and anything else associated with helping rural Australia have it`s own communications network
Jane & I hope it could be a name all of rural Australia could be comfortable with.
Since we could link in with Knowledge Share international (educational programs) and CTSA (Teleservices) in sharing a structure for satellite TV transmission, it seems an umbrella name that could encompass all groups working together might be best. This still allows each and every rural group to still have their own separate structure and communications goals.
Would anyone like to comment on names such as BUSHVISION , BUSHCAM , LANDTEL or LANDVISION or anything else that might be relevant.
I tend to like Bushvision because bush is a term of Australia`s heartland. To me it`s more appealing than terms like rural, land, farm or anything else that refers to the non metropolitan parts of Australia, (except maybe for the term outback).
Bushvision can mean either bush (tele)vision or a bush perspective (vision) and both are appropriate to what we are about.
Any other ideas or preferences?
===============================================
(9) How Rural Satellite TV news & current affairs could be organised
With the advent of affordable digital video cameras, affordable computers and editing software, and just recently, two way satellite internet connection (Telstra Broadband), the possibility is now available to put together a network of part time video camera operators and video editors who can produce a news and current affairs shows for rural Australia.
Here is how it could work once funding is forthcoming.
The idea would be to begin small and increase what we do steadily without incurring debt and give as many people as possible a part in the network so they feel a part of it.
Firstly we would need to train a number of camera operators and video editors. These should be from rural Australia and familiar with rural issues.
Once the news service could get a sponsor, it could then be started. As more sponsorship comes in, then there could be a steady increase in other programs
VIDEO CAMERAMAN IDEA
One win - win suggestion is for rural councils, communities and lobby groups who have communications officers or similar in their employ, to allow these jobs to include being a part time video cameraman.
This would help regions get exposure nationally and give publicity to each regions issues and can help these groups do their job better.
I believe progressive councils and rural groups would recognise a part time video camera operator / communications officer would be an enormous benefit to the rural community and if this idea was successful, then once some people are trained then news & stories would come at us constantly.
In time I believe the commercial TV stations would start to air some of our stories as well. This is because the footage would be easy to obtain. To highlight this, I heard on ABC radio recently a program where a channel 10 news team were discussing which news story they would use and they had a choice of a tragic accident in Africa and a local Australian story (a bashing, I think). Anyway they decided on running the African story - purely on the grounds that they could easily obtain graphic footage of it, whereas the local story was a bit difficult because they had to drive a few kms to chase up someone and then get some footage.
VIDEO EDITING TEAM
Getting an editing team together might require a bit more effort as the computer costs are around $5,000 for 90 gigabyte computers with software, but 40 gigabyte computers are coming down to about $2,500 and can do a serviceable job (the more gigabytes, the more video shots that can be stored on the computer for editing at one time)
I would expect we could find a number of rural people with two way satellite connection who could be trained and then paid for editing stories for news or current affairs presentations. These could be part time or full time jobs.
Jane & I have a 90 gigabyte computer and editing software (premiere) which does an excellent job of editing and has heaps of special effects. Jane has also been playing around with another bit of software which allows you to make your own 3D cartoons as well. In short the possibilities are endless.
There are two choices about how to structure the ownership of video cameras and computers. A non profit group could either own all the cameras, editing software and computers etc, or we ask people to buy their own and we pay them a higher remuneration to assist with their outlay.
I prefer the second option because it gives people options as to what software etc they want to use, and it keeps the non profit organisation out of repair hassels / extra insurance etc.
In the case of cameras, many people already have digital video cameras, and in the case of computers, it will not be long and 40 to 90 gigabytes will be the standard size computer (10 gigabytes is the current standard)
So to summarise how to begin a rural newsservice
(1) We train camera operators who are employed by local communities / rural groups
(2) We train video editors (who have two way satellite internet connection)
(3) We get a news service sponsor and with a coordinator or two, we could begin a news service slowly but steadily
==================================================
(10) How any rural group could slot into the rural communications network
Here are examples of four different types of groups that could find a niche in the rural satellite television / communications network to fulfil their groups goals more effectively.
(1) Farming lobby groups
(a) Employ a video cameraman or give one of their employees a part time job of recording interviews with farming lobby group members and politicians etc on the latest issues
(b) Sponsor or produce documentaries on major issues.
(c) Televise public debates on contentious issues over the satellite TV, inviting politicians, green groups, scientists and rural identities to participate. (An email poll could be conducted afterwards to indicate grass roots response to any debates).
(d) Televise AGM`s with live talk back and have email voting for members
-----------------------------
(2) Community Groups (e.g. catchment, regional, social, disability etc)
(a) Televise a live meeting or information video with questions and answers televised
(b) Public appeals to raise funds (e.g. Flying doctor appeal) / achieve public recognition of an issue
(a) Present information / position papers for to the public to vote on via email (catchment, regional groups)
-----------------------------
(3) Industry groups
(a) Produce informative videos on the latest technology / research
(b) Sponsor entertaining programs that improve understanding of rural industries (farms & yarns, freddie the farmer & friends, etc)
(c) Televise AGM`s with talkback and email voting for members
--------------------------
(4) Arts & crafts groups
(a) televise public concerts, rural school performances, craft displays
(b) publicise up coming events / competitions (e.g. Bush poetry)
(c) produce video clips to go with a bush poem for occassional transmission.
As you can see there are many ways any group could find to use the satellite TV tool to assist with it`s job. It would only be a matter of discussion, finding the best option, and beginning .
My hope is that we could even have some trial transmissions before the year finishes so the goodwill and publicity from "the year of the outback" could be a springboard for widespread support for communicating our issues and ideas.
==============================================================
(11) Funding Programs
Here is a list of funding programs from a web site. It gives you some idea how many options there are to source funds. Most of these funding programs are for projects with environmental objectives.
And much of what we want to communicate will be on environmental issues.
A
Active Brisbane City Grants Scheme
The George Alexander Foundation
Australian Biological Resources Study Participatory Program
Australian Bird Environment Foundation
Australian Bush Heritage Fund
B
BHP Billiton Community Support Programs
BHP Billiton Community Trust
Breakwater Island Casino Community Benefit Fund
Broadcasting Services
Bushcare: The National Vegetation Initiative
C
Cape York Natural Heritage Trust Plan
Clean Seas Program
Coastal Monitoring Program
Coastcare
Community Development Assistance Grants
<B>Community Garden Grants
Community Heritage Grants
Community Sport and Recreation Development Program
Community Sport and Recreation Facilities Program
Community Support Funding Program
Conservation Grants to non-Government Organisations
Cultural Heritage Projects Program
E
Environment Awards
Environmental Grants Program
F
Farm Forestry Program
FarmBis (NHT)
FarmBis (QLD)
Fisheries Action Program
G
Gambling Community Benefit Fund
Grants to Voluntary Environment and Heritage Organisations
Green Corps
H
Horticulture Australia R&D Proposals
I
Innovation Access Program's Industrial Research Alliances Program
Innovation Access Program's Targeted Research Alliances Program
Innovation Access Program's Technology Transfer Program
International Conference Support Scheme
International Science and Technology Networks
J
Joint Venture Agroforestry Research and Development Program
Jupiters Casino Community Benefit Fund
L
Landcare Australia Funding
Lindbergh Grants
Local Arts, Cultural and Festival Grants
Local Government Recreation Planning Program
Local History Grants
Logan Environment Action Grants - yoU in the Environment (LEAG-UE)
Lord Mayor's Performing Arts Fellowships for Young Brisbane Artists
M
Major Festivals and Cultural Projects Fund
Major Research Facility Support
Marine Species Protection Program
Minor Sport and Recreation Facilities Program
Murray-Darling 2001
N
National CommunityLink Volunteer Awards
National Competitive Grants Program
National Feral Animal Control Program
National Landcare Program
National Rivercare Program
National Standard Sport Facilities Program
National Weeds Program
National Wetlands Program
Northern Beef Program of Research and Development
O
Ozone Protection Projects
P
The Ian Potter Foundation
Preservation and protection of Indigenous culture
Preservation and protection of Indigenous heritage
Preservation of Indigenous language and recordings
Primary Industry Productivity Enhancement Scheme
Private Boarding House Support Program
Producer Initiated Research and Development Proposals
Q
Queensland Arbor Day Awards
Queensland Community Cultural Heritage Incentive Program
Queensland Landcare Awards
R
R & D Start Program
Regional Tourism Program
Renewable Energy Commercialisation Program
Revive Our Wetlands
River Basin Management Society Ernest Jackson Memorial Research Grants
Riverprize
Rolex Awards for Enterprise 2004
S
Senior Citizens Funding Program
State Sport and Recreation Development Program
T
The 2002 Macquarie University Eureka Schools Prize for Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences
The 2002 Robert Riley Scholarship Program
The 2002 University of Sydney Eureka Schools Prize for Biology
The Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program
Threatened Species Network Community Grants
Y
Young Australian of the Year Award
==================================
(12) Another free web site option
Barry Fitzhenry has sent us the web address of another web site www.communityzero.com which offers free web sites.
The other options are Geocities and Tripod.
Jane & I should have the landholders web site (click here) updated this next week to include these satellite TV discussions
=========================
(13) Non profit groups & GST
A simple rule of thumb is that if a benefit flows to the giver, the organisation will be liable for GST as supplier of a service to the giver. So that if a donation or gift has no 'strings' attached, the organisation will not be liable for GST. Similarly with grants, subsidies and sponsorships. However, where, as is the case more often than not, the donation is to be used for a particular purpose, the sponsorship is in return for some form or acknowledgement or there are reporting requirements attached to the grant, the organisation will be required to remit GST as 1/11th of the value of the donation, sponsorship or grant. The giver will be entitled to a corresponding input tax credit. It is possible that a mere requirement to issue a receipt for a donation will affect its GST free status for this purpose. The ATO's booklet dealing with GST and non-profit organisations points out that the effect of this should be revenue neutral for the giver and the organisation.
That`s all for now
Cheers
Leon & Jane
|