In 1999, Mountain Pride Media received grant funding for the purpose of education and organizing in Vermont through a redesign and expansion of the Mountain Pride Media web site (www.mountainpridemedia.org). This grant also provided for us to initiate partnerships with three other Vermont-based organizations, Vermont CARES, Outright Vermont, and the Vermont Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights (VCLGR) to help them improve their web sites. What follows is a brief description of the work accomplished through these partnerships.

VCLGR: The focus of our work with the VCLGR was to create a basic informational web site for this organization. In the initial consultations it was discovered that the VCLGR needed to develop a logo for their organization first. Working with ilovermont.com's Creative Director, a new logo was developed. Using the logo as the base, ilovermont.com then created a basic web site. Information on local web hosting options and registering a domain name was also provided. The VCLGR is currently working at securing funding to launch their new site and has been actively using their new logo in various print advertising.

Outright Vermont: The focus of our work with Outright Vermont was to provide information and consultation on redesigning their current web site. Outright Vermont had already identified a community volunteer who was willing to do the redesign. Several consultation meetings were held with Outright and their volunteer to discuss various elements of the redesign. In preparation for the launch of the newly redesigned site, we registered a new domain name for Outright Vermont (www.outrightvt.org), which would allow them to discontinue using AOL. We also worked with Outright to set up a hosting relationship with Sovernet, a local ISP. Outright is currently working on completing their redesign and they hope to launch the new site this year.

During this process another more immediate need was identified, which was that Outright needed help revamping their database in order to launch a major fundraising initiative. We helped Outright download and install the free E-Base program and provided training and consultation on setting up, using, and upgrading this new database program.

Vermont CARES: The focus of our work with Vermont CARES was to develop web page templates for posting their two newsletters, Positive Connections and Knowing Vermont Cares, to their web site. Once the templates were created, we provided training to key personnel at Vermont CARES. Since these newsletters had previously been updated by a volunteer, we also acquired a free FTP program that was installed to allow for the uploading of the updated pages to the Vermont CARES web site (www.vtcares.org).