Amigus

Amigus is a computer association and community web portal based in As Pontes de García Rodríguez, a town in the province of A Coruña, Galicia, Spain. It was founded in 2002 by a group of local residents interested in computing and its applications. The association's stated goals are to bring computing closer to the town's residents, promote the use of free software, and set up a local wireless network for free public use. To pursue these aims, Amigus organizes courses, gatherings (parties), talks, colloquia, workshops, and forums. The origins of Amigus lie in the late 1990s, when residents of As Pontes who frequented the IRC channel #aspontes began to consider the rapid rise of new technologies and how younger generations were using these new media. A group of these internet users saw the need to foster not only online meetings but also to create a reference point on the Internet for the town's residents. At the end of 1998, the first version of www.as-pontes.com was created, a page intended to promote the town and offer resources for visitors. At Christmas 2002, the first Amigus Party, a user gathering, was held at the Colexio da Fraga. On 24 July 2003, the new Amigus website, www.amigus.org, was launched, featuring current information on new products, local news, promotion of local artists, festivals, fairs, and other activities held in As Pontes. Over time, more content was added, such as the Rueiro (street directory). The website has received more than 800,000 visits and contains more than 9,000 news items across 38 categories, as well as a photo album of As Pontes with more than 5,000 images, notably of the Festa da Fraga. As a means of local promotion, sections such as Sons da Vila and Deporte Pontés serve as reference points for promoting local groups. In addition to its web activities, Amigus has organized numerous workshops and courses for its members, held during the Parties or on specific dates throughout its history. Amigus also developed a center aimed at local businesses on the Internet, www.MercaNasPontes.com. The association remains active in the As Pontes area, continuing its mission to connect residents with technology and free software.

Amigus traces its origins to the late 1990s in As Pontes de García Rodríguez, a town in Galicia, Spain. In 1996, the IRC channel #aspontes was created, and some residents began to contemplate the strong rise of new technologies and how new generations were using these new means of communication. As a result, a group of these internet users began to see the need to foster not only online meetings but also to create a meeting point on the Internet where residents would have a reference point. At the end of 1998, the first version of www.as-pontes.com was created, a page to promote the town and offer resources for visitors. The association itself was founded in 2002 by a group of residents of As Pontes. At Christmas 2002, the first Amigus Party, a user gathering, was held at the Colexio da Fraga. On 24 July 2003, the new Amigus website, www.amigus.org, was created, with current information on new products, as well as local news, promotion of local artists, festivals, fairs, and other activities held in As Pontes. Little by little, more content was added to the web, such as the Rueiro (street directory). The website has received more than 800,000 visits and has more than 9,000 news items spread across 38 categories. It also includes a photo album of As Pontes with more than 5,000 images, highlighting those of the Festa da Fraga. Additionally, as a form of local promotion, the sections Sons da Vila and Deporte Pontés are a reference point for promoting local groups. In addition to all this, Amigus has organized a large number of workshops and courses for its members, developed within the Parties or on specific dates throughout its history. Amigus also developed a center aimed at local businesses on the Internet, www.MercaNasPontes.com. The association continues to operate, maintaining its website and community activities.

• 2003

  New Amigus website www.amigus.org launched on 24 July.

• 2002

  Amigus association founded by a group of residents of As Pontes.

• 2002

  First Amigus Party held at Colexio da Fraga during Christmas.

• 1998

  First version of www.as-pontes.com launched, a local promotion website.

• 1996

  Creation of the IRC channel #aspontes, a precursor to the Amigus community.

A community-driven technology association and local web portal promoting computing, free software, and local culture in As Pontes de García Rodríguez.

• www.amigus.org

  Community web portal with local news, photo albums, and resources.

• www.MercaNasPontes.com

  Online center for local businesses.

• Amigus Parties

  User gatherings featuring workshops and courses.

1. 1Amigus - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Amigus - Wikipedia (Galician)gl.wikipedia.org