IRP staff members and MIRA participants

The Idaho Rural Partnership (IRP) joins diverse public and private resources in innovative collaborations to strengthen communities and improve life in rural Idaho. IRP acts as a non-partisan forum for identifying, discussing, and taking action on issues affecting rural Idaho, a public, private, and intergovernmental partnership, a catalyst for collaborative projects, a clearinghouse on rural development and a referral center to match rural problems with appropriate resources. IRP has a volunteer-driven membership of 600, which represents over 200 organizations and offers a chance for them to meet and work with people and organizations that share common interests.

Taking part in the MIRA project as a CSO allowed IRP to make significant steps forward in the capacity of a very "leanly-staffed" organization using technology. These steps can be broken into four categories: training, new technology, database improvement and website.

IRP staff was trained in PowerPoint, Microsoft Access and Front Page. Staff members also attended a variety of programs on computer technology, including Internet Masters Training modules in order to train others in Internet skills, Information Technology for Nonprofits national conference and the MIRA organization development workshop, the information was then shared with the entire IRP Board.

In the way of new technology, the IRP purchased a digital camera, a new computer, a new laptop, and an In-Focus projector as a result of increased awareness of telecommunications potential.

The IRP revamped its membership database completely and shared the shell of the database with other state rural development councils and other members of its community support cluster.

Finally, the IRP web site has seen several improvements due to the MIRA project and more are on in the making.