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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma'>Folks…<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma'>I was looking for a good place to donate my used computer
“stuff” so that it could be put to good use, and the folks who were
at the December meeting came up with two viable alternatives:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma'>PC Community (PC users group) at <a href="http://pcc.org/">http://pcc.org</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><font size=3
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>Alameda</span></font></st1:PlaceName><font
size=3 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Computer</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Resource</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceType></span></font></st1:place><font
size=3 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> at <a
href="http://accrc.org/">http://accrc.org</a> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma'>Here’s my experience so far:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma'>First, I tried pcc.org. They are all volunteer, put
together working systems from parts, and donate them to local groups that need
help. They have a nice online form (fill-in-the blanks PDF) to submit a request
and have them get back to you. They offer to pick up the goods.
Unfortunately, I never got a response back from them :-(<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma'>Second, I tried accrc.org. You have to drop things off at
their site, so it was a little more work (and they’re in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Berkeley</st1:place></st1:City> which is close to me), but eminently
doable. However, when I arrived at the site, they were more recycling (ala the
drop-off points for Goodwill Industries – large wooden bins into which
stuff just gets dumped) than computer repurposing. I had an old HP inkjet
portable printer which came in two parts plus a small box of related parts and
even tho I tried to get the guy to put them all together, it was clear that he
either didn’t understand or didn’t care. I’m convinced that
this particular printer will most likely be rendered less usable as a result.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma'>So… it’s a mixed bag. Next time (or if they
manage to contact me from the present attempt), I’m going to try
pcc.org… they may actually “care” for this stuff a little
more which will make me feel as if it really will be put to good use.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma'>HTH…have a great holiday season!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma'>…jon<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font><font
size=2><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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