Community and Environment Support

Communicat has skills and resources in internet technology and so it is our privilege to support community and environment groups to use the Internet for their development.

As a general guideline our free services are available to community organisations which have a mission to support the community, conserve the environment or in some way promote a gentler, more caring, healthier, safer and happier world. Please see details of our criteria for more information

In addition to our free services Communicat also provides discounted services to community and environment groups, e.g. for internet connection. Our prices are geared to cover our basic out-of-pocket costs.

There are no strings attached to our service. You can choose another service provider at any time.

Free and Sponsored Services

• Sponsored Email and Website Hosting

  We provide sponsored POP email hosting and HTML website hosting to individuals and groups which meet our criteria.

  We can provide you with a quick start to get your website underway. Later you may decide to enlist the services of one of our Internet designers to tailor your website message, add photographs, graphics, etc.

• Your Internet Domain Name

  It is an advantage for any community group to register your internet name so that people can easily find you on the internet. For example you might wish to register www.coralreef.org.au . Communicat can help you with registration arrangements. For non-profit sites the cost of registration is low. Your only cost will be the nominal fee which is billed by the registrar for non-profit sites.

• Protect your organisation from Spam

  Registering your organisation with its own "domain name" on the internet will help you to communicate more effectively with your supporters. Unfortunately it also makes you vulnerable to the many "robots" which crawl over the web finding domain names and email addresses who they can then deluge with spam. Therefore you should implement an effective anti-spam strategy to prevent this time wasting nuisance. Communicat provides a highly effective anti-spam service – see Spam Detour for details.

Criteria for free services to Community and Environment Groups

To qualify for our free services you and your group must:

1. Have a mission which promotes a gentler, kinder more beautiful world, for example:
   • Supporting community welfare, good health, safety, education;
   • The environment
   • Gentle and kind treatment of our fellow creatures
2. Have a spirit of openness, welcome, friendship and fellowship.
3. Nominate a person(s) who will be responsible for the creation of web content and the receipt of emails, etc.
4. The site must be kept up to date and in use.
5. Acknowledge Communicat's support on your website. For example see the acknowledgement on Coalition Against Duck Shooting - Acknowledgements

Your website must not contain information or promote any activity which:

1. Involves harm to any person, animals or the environment.
2. Is divisive, offensive, inflammatory material or in any way condones or advocates discriminatory, illegal, immoral or aggressive attitudes or behaviour.

Communicat provides this service under the condition that it may withdraw the service at its sole discretion either because the rules have been broken or for any other reason.

Your website needs to include a link back to Communicat's website where other groups can find out about us. Communicat will provide you with a logo and details for this purpose.

The extent to which we can provide free or discounted services will depend on your requirements.

If you would like to apply for free or discounted hosting please send an email to community@communicat.com.au

How can you use the internet to promote your cause?

The following examples show you how you can use your website to promote your cause.

www.duck.org.au

Organisation: Coalition Against Duck Shooting

Managed by: Laurie Levy

Laurie's passion is to protect our beautiful wetland birdlife from harm from shooters. His disgust at the senseless shooting of wild ducks during the annual "duck season" led him to resign from his job as a television cameraman in 1990 and dedicate his time to this important cause. Laurie is a regular media spokesperson on environmental issues and the protection of wildlife. The website www.duck.org.au is the site where Laurie and his team issue press releases, information and news. They are currently planning a member login area to include information for members such as maps of where rescue teams are required.

Over the years Laurie has made enormous progress to raise the community's awareness this issue. Duck hunting has reduced enormously and in some years has been banned. It is now carefully monitored by government authorities.

Laurie has turned the duck hunting issue into a conservation success story. He is an expert naturalist and he now takes groups into the wetlands to experience the tranquil beauty of our natural habitats.

www.mvrelay.com

Organisation: Moonee Valley Relay for Life (Cancer Council of Victoria)

Managed by: David Wenig

The Relay for Life is a 24 hour team event to raise funds for cancer research and education. It’s 24 hours of fun with the challenge of completing a relay style walk/run in which everyone can participate. It’s an event to fight cancer and celebrate life. While the Relay is going on, the community and other team members camping out, enjoying entertainment, food, games and camaraderie create a true party atmosphere.

Relay For Life is a celebration of life for cancer survivors, a memorial for loved ones lost, and a rally for the community in the fight against cancer. It is now the largest not-for-profit fundraising event in the world.

www.royalparkprotect.org.au

Organisation: Royal Park Protection Group

Managed by: Julianne Bell

The Royal Park Protection Group is an incorporated organization which has the following objectives:

1. To protect, regenerate and conserve the Royal Park as a unique, indigenous, central city park for present and future generations, consistent with principles of the 1987 Royal Park Master Plan
2. To oppose alienation of parkland by government, commercial, sporting and other bodies to ensure public access consistent with the terms of the establishment of the Royal Park.

Major current campaigns include opposition to the alienation of parkland for a private real estate development (the 2006 Games Village in disguise) on the Royal Park Hospital site and to the extension of the Eastern Freeway through Royal Park. Past campaigns included opposition to the construction of the State Netball and Hockey Centre and Sports Hotel/Urban Camp extension in Royal Park plus to expansion of carparking around the Zoo and other sporting pavilions. The overall objective is to ensure the rehabilitation and re-vegetation of the Park and the creation of bird and animal habitat.

www.vnv.org.au

Organisation: Vegetarian Network Victoria

Managed by: Richard Dimech

Vegetarian Network Victoria (VNV) was established in 1998. It is a community-based, non-profit organisation in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is run by people who care about human health, animal welfare and the environment. Our aim is to promote the many benefits of vegetarianism, and provide quality service, information and support to vegetarians and vegans.

VNV has the following goals:

• Promote vegetarian lifestyles as a more healthy, humane and "environmentally friendly" way of living.
• Provide and distribute up-to-date information relevant to vegetarians and those interested in vegetarianism.
• Provide support to vegetarians by answering questions (via email, telephone, post).
• Provide a support network for vegetarians.
• Organise regular social events.