With Context Institute's Affinity long distance phone service you can simultaneously:

• Get a first class long distance service with great rates AND
  
• Support this web site at no  cost to you.

To just do it, call 1-800-670-0008. Be sure to give them the Context Institute organization number #971026-000. Call now or write BOTH numbers down so you'll have them handy when you do call.

To find out more, read on :

• What is Affinity?
• What are the program benefits for residential phone service?
• What are the program benefits for business phone service?
• Why is Context Institute working with Affinity?
• What has been the experience with Affinity?
• Can my organization also work with Affinity?

... Or, just call 1-800-670-0008 with your questions about CI's Affinity program.

WHAT IS AFFINITY?

In 1990, the Affinity Corporation began providing long distance phone service in cooperation with professional associations and nonprofit organizations like Context Institute. Affinity uses one of the most advanced telecommunications networks in America, but as a fully independent company, provides its own customer service and billing. Affinity buys large blocks of long distance phone time and passes volume discounts on to its customers and to their partner organizations.

Plus, unlike other long distance carriers, Affinity gives back to its customers. Affinity contributes 5% of what Context Institute supporters spend on long distance each month back to Context Institute. The funding we receive from Affinity on your behalf is used to maintain this website and other CI activities.

By enrolling in the Affinity program, you are simply redirecting part of the money you already spend on long distance to support Context Institute. You save. CI thrives! It's a win-win situation.

Visit Affinity's website at www.affinityselect.com.

PROGRAM BENEFITS FOR RESIDENTIAL SERVICE

Affinity offers its customers competitive rates and many other services, all helping to support Context Institute.

Affinity offers three competitive residential rate plans*.

• $.15 flat rate
  
• $.10 evening and weekend/$.25 daytime
  
• $.10 flat rate/$4.95 monthly fee

Affinity Calling Cards. Affinity Calling Cards allow you to place calls from any phone across the globe. There is no fee for ordering Affinity Calling Cards. Plus, Affinity's charges are almost 50% less than other major carriers.

Easy 1-plus dialing for all calls. There are no special codes to memorize.

Switch fee voucher. Affinity will send you a voucher that helps offset any switching fees billed to you by your current carrier.

It's easy to make the move to Affinity. Just call 1-800-670-0008, 7 am through 11 pm (CST) to support CI through the Affinity service. Be sure to give them the Context Institute organization number 971026-000. Call right now or write the numbers down so you have them when you call later.

*Due to the nature of the telecommunications industry, rates do change. Please call Affinity at 1-800-670-0008 for their current rates and plans.

PROGRAM BENEFITS FOR BUSINESS SERVICE

Affinity offers its business customers the finest fiber optic, digital network technology for outstanding call clarity and a wide range of services designed especially for our commercial customers.

Affinity Business Services include:

• Calling Cards. Affinity Calling Cards allow you to place calls from any phone across the globe. There is no fee for ordering Affinity Calling Cards. Plus, Affinity's charges are almost 50% less than other major carriers.
  
• Incremental Billing. This simply means that you only pay for the time you use. Affinity doesn't round up and bill you for seconds you didn't use, unlike other long distance providers.
  
• Easy 1-plus dialing for all calls. There are no special codes to memorize.
  
• Detailed Billing. Affinity's business billing format offers detailed, easy to read summaries so calls can be managed more efficiently. Area code patterns, the types of call, and long distance data are just a few of the summaries provided. There is no extra charge for these services.
  
• Accounting Codes. By entering a few digits at the end of a phone number, Affinity is able to categorize each call your business makes. This allows businesses to track communication expenses. There is a nominal fee for this optional service.
  
• 800/888 Service. Affinity offers 800 and 888 service. This service allows you to pay for calls that enter your business. The service works with your regular business line and can be customized to fit your company's needs. By picking up the cost of these calls, your business improves its customer relations and may even help increase your company's profitability. There is a monthly charge for 800/888 service.

It's easy to switch your business long distance service to Affinity. Just call 1-800-670-0008, 7am through 11 pm (CST) to support CI through the Affinity service. Be sure to give the Context Institute organization number 971026-000. If you don't call immediately, be sure to write both numbers down for later.

WHY IS CONTEXT INSTITUTE WORKING WITH AFFINITY?

For years we've been looking for ways to fund the transition to a more sustainable culture by:

• introducing more efficient practices that could reduce waste and save money, and
• using some of that saved money to support the cultural transformation process.

We've been inspired by the example of "energy service companies." These companies find businesses that are using energy inefficiently, offer to upgrade the business's equipment for no initial cost, and get paid by sharing a portion of the savings (typically 50% of the savings over five years). We've written about generalizing the energy service company example in a number of recent issues, including "Building The Movement" (page 56, IC #33) and "Looking Back From 2003" (page 56, IC #36).

We were thus quite intrigued when we discovered the Affinity program and realized that it had put this principle into practice. Clearly, it is only a small step, but it is a step in the right direction -- and it works!

OUR EXPERIENCE WITH AFFINITY

It's been great! Over 200 people (and businesses!) have signed up with Affinity through Context Institute since we started offering this service in 1993 -- and of course we use it ourselves. After years of use we can't see any downside.

The financial support is, of course, very welcome. (Affinity donates 5% of each member's phone bill to Context Institute -- with no extra cost to the member.) However, we wouldn't do this if it weren't fundamentally a good, innovative program. It is.

AFFINITY CAN HELP YOUR ORGANIZATION, TOO

Just call Affinity at 1-800-669-1506. The Affinity representative will help you get started. Be sure to mention that Context Institute sent you. You can also check out the Affinity website at www.affinityselect.com.