Wow!
There has certainly been a lot of traffic here since last I visited. I'm really glad to see some new names and interest in this idea. The broader the group of ideas and participants, the better chance of getting something real done.
I think as some have pointed out that delivering a product suited to the clients' need is paramount. I think, though, that as others have mentioned, that the affected area is vast. I have seen the design and have talked with people who have been in the affected area, and it is my belief that the frame as designed will find a receptive client. Think of the success of the "100 Best Home Plans" magazines.
With a little more work, we can put together a proposal, much as Will has outlined. With this proposal in hand, we would then shop it to aid groups that might help deliver it to the appropriate area. We have a product. They have knowledge of the area. They can identify the right location - with all that entails. Again, given that the area of need is so large, is there any doubt that someone, somewhere will appreciate both our efforts and our product. I understand the argument that in custom residential building, client contact is of incredible importance. This venture is a little different. There is no specific client, there is a product. By partnering with the appropriate aid agency, we will find a client for our product. I should mention too, that I strongly agree that our product includes the sharing of our knowledge and skills. The educational components of our offorts should be lcal to both us and the receiving clients' communities.
I have looked at the USAID link provided by Emmett earlier. In going through the mission statements of the linked groups, I found nine organizations that I both thought might be interested in our product and whose stated goals did not conflict with my own. If others were to do the same, we could cross reference our lists and perhaps use that as basis of initial contact.
The concept of building a frame and auctioning it off has been discussed before. While I would not want it to be the whole model of our effort, Jim's last post makes some good points and I could see the sense in displaying and auctioning a frame.
As for participation, I am about to leave the country for several months. Depending on schedules as they develop, I would gladly host a mini-rendezvous. Should that not prove feasible, I am ready to help coordinate efforts in any way possible. I do think that, for now, working under the guild umbrella is a good idea. With work and luck, this effort might eventually live on it's own. The long term need, both internationally and domestically is there. We'll see.
