We would like to invite you and your organization to help spread the idea of creating a secondary knowledge infrastructure around the world - complementing the primary one consisting of universities, corporate R&D-centers and political thinktanks - a 'bottom-up' knowledge infrastructure for the people, consisting of a network of TeleCommunities (see http://www.telecommunity.info ); the 'glocal' community centers of the 21st century.

Why do we need TeleCommunities? Because we need innovation to create jobs and high quality lifestyles, enriching products and services, adapted to our needs. Because by centralizing resources on the local level, nested in regional and global alliances, it is easier to support people with social networks, training and technical help. Because by creating a worldwide market of best ideas, we can find the critical mass needed to go from vision to action.

Here's an approach in which developing countries are not necessarily behind compared to the richer countries, because often community centers in poorer areas already pool technical and other resources. So it's basically a matter of connecting these TeleCommunity Centers in a meaningful way, using software with which one can build informal and formal knowledge markets, and exchange enriching experiences.

And it's not all high tech. Many down-to-earth-livelyhoods can be connected to TeleCommunities: from bike repair shops, delis and lunch gardens, child care providers, public transportation between the TeleCommunity Centers, to teachers and administrative services, a whole group of activities can be clustered around these Centers.

We think a worldwide network of cooperating TeleCommunities can form the living tissue of an enriching society. Join us in building the Global Federation of TeleCommunities.

Garsett Larosse
Secretary General





Two types of organizations can become member of The Global Federation of TeleCommunities:
  • TeleCommunities with a local center (to learn more about TeleCommunity Centers, check http://www.telecommunity.info)
  • TeleCommunities (online social networks, virtual communities,...) without a local center

    Advantages for being part of the Federation include:
  • joint development and improvement of TeleCommunity software
  • common resource libraries
  • joint organisation of special events and projects
  • exchange of 'guest speakers'
  • centralisation and exchange of shareware
  • trade of locally produced services and products

    To become a member of the Global Federation of TeleCommunities normally costs 250 $ or 220 Euro per year and includes free access to the WebAssistant TeleCommunity.
    Leaders of TeleCommunities (virtual communities, online social networks, distributed communities,...) are invited to become a member of the Steering Group.

    We also have a group a special advisors, who assist the Board with their expertise. If you have specific expertise that you think may benefit the Federation, you are very welcome to join us as well. Advisors contribute in kind.

    Then there is the Research Group, which consists of both professional and amateur researchers, looking into TeleCommunity and 'enriching issues'.
    The research is also a contribution in kind while it also remains the property of the researcher in a form of shared copyright.
    A first publication is being researched and written. See: http://www.enrichingsociety.com.

    Last but not least individuals and organizations can also become 'Friends' of the Global Federation. Various friendship formulas exist.

    Contact Garsett Larosse for more information or introduce yourself at the WebAssistant TeleCommunity.


    Related links:

  • TeleCommunity.info: information about TeleCommunities and directory
  • WebAssistant TeleCommunity: where enriching economy developers meet and collaborate
  • WebAssistant TeleCommunity Exchange: free WebProducts from the WebAssistant TeleCommunity
  • The Enriching Project: creators of the Enriching Book series
  • The Enriching TeleCommunity: multidisciplinary research into enriching issues
  • The Enriching TeleCommunity Exchange: public products from The Enriching TeleCommunity
  • Brainstorms Community: founded by Howard Rheingold, author of Smart Mobs
  • The Enriching Society: home page of the Enriching Society publication
  • The Enriching Economy: home page of The Enriching Economy publication
  • The WebAssistant Company: developers of enriching economy tools and processes such as the WebAssistant TeleCommunity platform
  • Connected Lifestyle Compass: balance your life with this user friendly guide
  • Ecotopia.biz: incubator of various initiatives regarding sustainable development, enriching economy and enriching society
  • The Ecotopia Foundation: international foundation that develops and supports innovative enriching activities
  • The history of the TeleCommunity movement: as told by Garsett Larosse