Hi everyone... I got a request to post this information from a new user whose having a problem actually joining the site (we'll straighten that out at the next meeting). I'm posting this for Ken Wachsberger. All questions should go to Ken at Ken.Wachsberger at cengage.com.
I’m a new member of the Drupal Users Group. I’m interested in learning more about Drupal so eventually I can design my own Web sites. But, more immediately, I am looking for help, in the form of training and set-up assistance, to design what I believe will be the most important electronic resource guide to the Vietnam era. I’m a long-time professional writer and editor (http://www.azenphonypress.com) and can offer my services in trade.
I’ll try to be brief here; I’ll be at the meeting on 7/28 and will be prepared to go into detail.
I am currently updating a book I released fifteen years ago called Voices from the Underground: Insider Histories of the Vietnam Era Underground Press. The underground press (ugp) was the independent, noncorporate, antiwar press that led the way in stopping the Vietnam War. I wrote for papers all over the country but my primary stomping grounds were the Lansing area. Voices from the Underground is a series of histories of different underground papers from the period representing the gay, lesbian, feminist, black, Puerto Rican, Southern consciousness, prisoners’ rights, socialist, and other antiwar voices of the period. My history of the Lansing-area ugp was the prototype article for the book. I sent it to others who wrote on papers that had impressed me for one reason or another and said, “Can you do the same for your paper?” The resulting outpouring of histories, which came out in the early nineties, became what one reviewer called “the most important book on American journalism published in my lifetime.” That first edition was over six hundred 8 ½ x 11 pages, the equivalent of four traditionally sized books. See http://www.azenphonypress.com/books/voices1.html for an in-depth description and http://www.azenphonypress.com/books/voices1_tcontent.html for the table of contents. The updated version—the authors are all updating and expanding their pieces—features two additional ugps, representing the Native American and working-class antiwar voices. I am going to release it as four books through my company, Azenphony Press, with, if all goes as planned, Michigan State University Press as a co-publisher because the economics are currently beyond my solitary grasp. They will form the initial four books in what I hope will be an ongoing Dissident Press Series.
That’s volume one of the first edition. Volume two, Voices from the Underground: A Directory of Resources and Sources on the Vietnam Era Underground Press, became the most in-depth resource guide to the period as soon as it came out on the strength of three articles: an annotated bibliography of books and articles on the ugp; a directory listing of special collections libraries with major holdings on the period; and a listing of ugps on microfilm. See http://www.azenphonypress.com/books/voices2.html for an in-depth description. Resource guides become dated as soon as they appear in print. This time around, however, I plan to release it as a Web site so it can be continually updated. The authors are already updating their pieces. In addition, I want to have a blog, community bulletin boards, other resource guides that I am just beginning to conceptualize, articles on how to use today’s technology for community organizing, PayPal so visitors can purchase the four books, a section that encourages visitors to donate funds to help the books and the Web site (MSU Press is a 501(c)(3)), and more. I want to use Drupal software.
The underground press was the grandfather to today’s electronic technology. One goal of this project is to educate young progressive activists and media freeks on their spiritual and political roots and awaken for them the vision of what they can accomplish with a free, independent press, the opposite of what most Americans read today. Realizing the complete vision of the four books and the Web site is way more than my budget can afford but I am committed to succeeding because of the social and political value of the final product. I’m looking for compatriots with electronic savvy.
I’ll bring volumes one and two to the meeting. In the meantime, if anyone is interested I can be reached at ken at azenphonypress.com or 734 635 0577.
Thanks in advance.
Ken Wachsberger
Please let Ken know if you can help out...
Thanks!