PDPC, an IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation, was created in 2002 to run the freenode network and to establish a variety of programs relating to peer-directed project communities. 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 activities include:

• Operation of freenode.
  
  The freenode interactive network provides resources to a variety of communities, including those involved with Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). The network has a staff of about 20 volunteers who contribute varying amounts of their time; staff activities include 24/7 operations, assistance to users, code development and maintenance and problem resolution. They're supervised by PDPC's paid staffer.
  
  
• Future Programs.
  
  PDPC exists to support peer-directed communities. The best-developed examples of such communities are those devoted to free software and open source software. While primary emphasis is currently on the continuing operation of freenode, PDPC is intended to eventually take on a broader role, including:
  
  
  • The design and implementation of educational 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,
    
    
  • The implementation of vocational support and placement services for community members, and
    
    
  • The implementation of educational programs for community members in the areas of technical and collaborative skills

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.

PDPC is run on your donations. If you find freenode useful, please help support the not-for-profit org that runs it. For further information, email staff at pdpc dot us, or contact PDPC at:

Peer-Directed Projects Center
10100 Main Street #31
Houston, TX 77025-5237
Phone: +1 832 476 8694

Copyright © 2002-2005 by Peer-Directed Projects Center.
Network date and time: Thursday, 29-Dec-2005 18:01:58 GMT.
Comments to email address: web at freenode dot net.