Green Media Toolshed (GMT) was founded in May 2000 with a goal to fill a communications gap within the environmental movement. We conducted a survey of 36 environmental organizations across the country asking them what tools and resources they needed the most -- but most often could not access due to budget or other organizational constraint.

The responses told us that groups needed an update directory of media contacts that was kept current and available online. They needed an easy and inexpensive way to distribute their news. They wanted to reduce the amount of staff time they invested in updating their lists and instead spend that time on outreach and media efforts. Groups also wanted access to photos they could use in their work but that did not have per-use fee. And finally, groups wanted to be aware of what other news was being sent out by fellow environmental groups either to gauge their competition in the news cycle or to find potential partners.

GMT built a set of tools to answer these requests. We launched our website in November 2000 and our first members started using our tools in December 2000. By the end of our first year, we were working with more than 20 groups -- double our initial membership goal. We continued to add to our tool set based on feedback we heard from our members as well as our own growing expertise in the use of technology in communications work. Our membership community has continued to grow and we're proud to be working with close to 200 organizations across the country.

GMT members range from larger national organizations with an entire communications team to lean local groups run by volunteers and weekend warriors. Our users are skilled media mavens and jacks of all trade. Through a continuous feedback loop we learn on a regular basis what challenges are members face and what questions they have about combining technology with communications strategy. We will continue to provide the tools and coaching that the environmental movement needs. And we look forward to increasing and improving the work that we do so that the work that they do gets easier.