For the past six years, NAAEE has been operating a technology program for Affiliates. For the majority of this time, NAAEE has been building a tool that allows Affiliates to build a database of EE providers in their states.

The system is really two primary parts -- it's a front end system to allow Affiliates to have multiple staff members maintain the content of the Web site. NAAEE uses this as well. This is what you see when you load the http://naaee.org Web site. The second part of the system is a custom integrated database-driven site that contains a wide variety of information about EE organizations and their products and services.

The data side of the system can be used to produce the following:

• calendars of events
• listings of services in a specific geographic area (like Boulder CO)
• listings of organizations
• listings of programs (and programs that have a review).
  

That system has been a success in helping Affiliates build membership benefits and community structure for the EE provider communities in over 10 states. EE provider organizations can enter profiles of their organizations, their programs, and the events they host.

For example, type in a search term here such as 'water' to see events, organizations, and programs that address water issues. Here is a list of programs that have "water" in the program text.

Users can search that information and easily find the resources and service providers in their state or region. The states currently using the program include those listed in the box on the right.

Arizona Colorado Idaho Illinois Kansas

Missouri Montana Ohio Pennsylvania Utah

A regional system called BorderEEweb serves the Arizona/New Mexico/Mexico border area with a site in English and Spanish. A national system call Bioednet.org serves the needs of biodiversity educators nationally and internationally.

Three new states and one Candian province are currently (Spring 2006) evaluating the program.

The Changing Core of the System

In the past year, the system has been evolving in two key new ways. First, we've added a membership management module. Secondly, the system is also evolving to improve organizational efficiency and improve member benefits.