[New-imc] INDIANA (initial response)

[Jay]

Hi Hugh and the rest of the aspiring Indiana IMC,

Jay from the Philadelphia IMC and the new-imc working group here.  I 
usually respond to new-imc requests from the U.S.

Glad to see you're interested in forming an IMC in Indiana!  There are 
other people from midwestern U.S. IMCs on this list, so I trust they'll be 
in touch to offer support.  Also, if I'm not mistaken, there's a Midwestern 
IMC gathering happening soon, so you should definitely try to get 
there.  Sascha, anyone, is that true?

I don't know how you came to find Indymedia, but certainly a first step is 
to familiarize yourselves as much as possible with the Indymedia network to 
see if this project is something you definitely want to join.  Each local 
IMC is an autonomous group, so you'd generally be on your own, but there 
are tremendous benefits to being part of an international network.  People 
throughout the Indymedia network generally work together and support one 
another, as well as providing resources and knowledge to each other when 
possible.  If you haven't already, take time to familiarize yourselves with 
diversity of the local IMCs (you'll find them listed on the left column of 
www.indymedia.org).

The next step is to take a thorough look at the information on the 
http://newimc.indymedia.org web site.  This will give you a step-by-step 
guide to how to proceed, as well as pointers to a lot of information about 
the network.  Those documents will direct you to spend a lot of time doing 
solid organizing work.  The most successful IMCs are the ones that are 
broad, diverse and cross many ethnic, geographic, economic and gender 
lines.  So, take as much time as you need to look through that information, 
and to build a strong IMC organizng group that has is inviting, committed, 
and not controlled by any one specific faction or narrow point of view.

The new-imc working group (new-imc at indymedia.org) will be here to help you 
by answering your questions as you proceed through the organizational part 
of the process.  As for setting up your web site, there are people on the 
new-imc working group that have techincal knowledge who can help you, but 
you may also try e-mailing "imc-tech at indymedia.org" once you have specific 
questions.

One thing you may want to do, if you haven't already, is to set up an 
e-mail list for the Indiana IMC so people around the state with e-mail 
access can participate.  You'll have to decide on what level of openness is 
safest on the list, though Indymedia lists are recommended to be as open 
and public as possible so as to be as inviting as possible.  You can get a 
list set up by filling out the form at "http://newlist.indymedia.org" 
and/or by e-mailing listwork at indymedia.org.

Good luck with your organizing, and feel free to ask any questions at any 
time.  I hope you make it to the midwestern gathering, if it hasn't already 
passed.

Jay