PDPC and Contributions freenode exists to provide an interactive environment for coordination and support of peer-directed projects, including those of free software and open source. Our network is currently implemented using Internet Relay Chat (IRC). Our aim is to help improve the communicative and collaborative skills of our participants and to maintain a friendly, efficient environment for project coordination and technical support. Peer-Directed Projects Center, an IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation, was created to run the freenode network and to establish a variety of programs relating to peer-directed project communities. Contributions to PDPC provide resources to help us establish those programs. Currently, you can contribute in two ways: Donate to PDPC. You can contribute via PayPal. Or, if you'd prefer to send your contribution via the mails, send a check or money order. Do not send cash. Please make it payable (in US dollars) to Peer-Directed Projects Center and send to:
Peer-Directed Projects Center
c/o Robert Levin
10100 Main Street #81
Houston, TX 77025-5244
No matter how you contribute, make sure you provide your realname and your snailmail address for our records. If you'd prefer not to have your name listed publicly as a contributor, please let us know.
Join Affero. When you provide support online, Affero allows people to express their appreciation by contributing to the causes of your choice. Affero recipients include Peer-Directed Projects Center and everything from Amnesty International to YAS. If you're interested, please read the FAQ for suggestions on how to use the Affero service with freenode. Then join Affero!
The FAQ provides information on how much it costs to accept contributions from various sources. Initial donations will be used as follows: Coordination of freenode .
The network has a staff of about 20 volunteers who donate varying amounts of their time to handle network operations and provide assistance to users. The coordinator makes sure that the network continues to meet its goals, that user problems are resolved, that new servers are integrated into the network, that routing issues are resolved and that staff coverage for this 24/7 network is as good as we can make it. At present, this is a volunteer position, and coverage is not as good as we'd like. With funding, we can put a paid staffer to work, coordinating the volunteers on a part-time basis.
Other PDPC Programs.
From the PDPC charter:
The purpose for which the corporation is organized is to help peer-directed project communities flourish. Peer-directed projects combine open, informal participation with broad licensing and wide dissemination of output.
PDPC exists to provide real-world resources to peer-directed communities. The best-developed examples of such communities are those devoted to free software and open source software. PDPC will design and implement education and advocacy programs to encourage the use of free software in stable, non-tech industries, to help improve the stability of the community employment base. It will implement vocational support and placement services for community members. It will implement educational programs for community members in the areas of technical and collaborative skills and support community projects. PDPC will emphasize community communications and real-world support programs for community members.
All of these activities require funding to accomplish. Grants are frequently available to implement specific programs, but even writing grants takes time, effort and research. PDPC will use volunteers as much as possible and paid staff will coordinate programs. With funding, we can put a paid staffer to work researching and writing grant applications, starting up programs and coordinating effort. In addition, we can set up a small budget for telephone, office supplies and computer equipment.
The board members of PDPC are: Robert Levin, President and Executive Director. Founder and head of the freenode project.
Christopher Mills, Treasurer.
Seth Schoen, Secretary. Lead developer of the Linux Bootable Business Card project, and Staff Technologist at the EFF.
Phil Stracchino. Consulting systems administrator.
Copyright © 2002-2003 by Peer-Directed Projects Center.
Network date and time: Saturday, 27-Dec-2003 03:53:34 GMT.
Comments to email address: web at freenode dot net.
Rob Levin, Vorsitzender der PDPC, ist am gestrigen Samstag an den Folgen eines Verkehrsunfalls, den er am 12. September erlitten hatte, verstorben. Rob Levin war vielen unter dem Pseudonym „lilo“ im „freenode“ IRC Netzwerk bekannt, wo er als Administrator tätig war. Er war 50 Jahre alt, und hinterlässt eine Frau und einen Sohn.

Bei dem Unfall war er mit dem Fahrrad unterwegs, als er von einem Auto angefahren wurde. Informationen aus dem englischen Wikinews zufolge war er vermutlich ohne Fahrradhelm unterwegs, und der Fahrer des Autos beging Fahrerflucht.

Die PDPC ist eine gemeinnützige Organisation, die unter anderem das „freenode“ IRC-Netzwerk betreibt, das von vielen freien Projekten genutzt wird. Zum Beispiel befinden sich dort auch die Wikinews-eigenen Chatkanäle, darunter  #de.wikinews.