This may be a stupid question but what is the difference between federated coworking and regular coworking?
Christopher M. Johnston http://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisjohnston On Wed, Jul 15, 2009 at 1:42 PM, Anca Mosoiu <[email protected]> wrote: > Hello there, > > I've just started up my co-working space in Oakland, Ca, so this discussion > is pertinent. I would like to participate in a phone call to get the ball > rolling, though I'm no moderator. I can find someone to help us out, > though. > > My main question when I read Chris's original email was "What is overall > mission of a co-working space"? Are we creating co-working spaces because > there is empty office space in our building? Or do we have a specific goal > in mind when we set all this up? Are we all trying to attract the same > audience? Do we have the same (or a similar set) of services that we > provide in terms of facility, IT, and amenities? > > Do we all have issues with health insurance (or just those of us living in > the US)? Do we have the same kind of membership system? What are the > advantages and disadvantages of joining up with others in our area and > across the world? > > I don't have any answers, only questions and speculation. > > There are several free phone services that we can use to actually have a > conference call. > > All we need is a date to make this happen. Any preferences? > > Cheers, > > Anca. > -=-==-=-=- > Anca Mosoiu > Tech Liminal > www.techliminal.com > > > On Wed, Jul 15, 2009 at 11:17 AM, Alex Hillman < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> I've been sharing a bunch of thoughts regarding the growth of this >> community, and the fact that online and off, there are a number of major >> issues. >> What I struggle with is the appropriate forum for this discussion, as this >> thread is already demonstrating. The wiki isn't it, because it's a cesspool >> of unorganized information. Emails/mailing lists are difficult, especially >> with the scale and diversity of THIS list. >> >> SXSW is a good start, because there's an existing critical mass, but it >> also comes with baggage. I'm not 100% certain where to start, but I do agree >> that if we don't discuss something to maintain the unity of this group, >> there's significant risk for all of us as space owners, catalysts, and >> coworkers as things continue to evolve. >> >> Does anyone have experience moderating large group phone calls? One idea >> that I've had (and I've heard from others as well) would >> be some sort of scheduled call between coworking space owners is in order as >> a starting point. The same thing could be replicated across the other >> factions/roles (catalysts, coworkers, etc), and then we can start to cross >> pollenate. >> >> I think that right now this group is too large with too many independent >> agendas to be a productive, focused working environment, and it makes sense >> to fragment a bit in order to gain some order. >> >> My response, like Christopher's original post, clearly isn't fully baked. >> I did want to express that I'd read and agree with some of the concepts, and >> strongly disagree with others. >> >> What I'd like to see is that before we do ANYTHING, a very finite mission >> is crafted that we're working towards, that we can refer back to when things >> (inevitably) get off track. That way, if what we're doing/discussing ever >> goes against the mission, we have the ability to keep each other in check >> and either re-orient, or agree to recreate the mission. >> >> Remember, that mission is NOT the same as the definition of coworking. >> >> That's my .02 and a starting point I'd like to offer. Given that myself, >> Tara, and Tony will be sharing close quarters for the next couple of weeks >> (and visiting a lot of coworking spaces across the country as we embark >> tonight on Whuffaoke), I imagine by the end of our journey something will >> begin to crystalize. >> >> Thanks for igniting this conversation, Chris. I'm fascinated to see where >> it takes us. >> >> -Alex, IndyHall >> >> -- >> ----- >> -- >> ----- >> Alex Hillman >> im always developing something >> digital: [email protected] >> helpful: www.unstick.me >> visual: www.dangerouslyawesome.com >> local: www.indyhall.org >> >> >> >> >> On Wed, Jul 15, 2009 at 8:35 AM, Todd O'Neill <[email protected]>wrote: >> >>> >>> I was talking with one of our drop in visitors yesterday and he asked >>> if there were any coworking locations in his city (Madison Wisconsin). >>> I explained that he could go to the wiki and do a search (which I did >>> for him; Madison-- when will you be up and running?). I also mentioned >>> there had been work on a Google map listing of coworking locations >>> around the world but the development on it was dormant. >>> >>> And that's how we started discussing similar concepts to Chris' >>> proposal for federated coworking. I explained that to date the >>> coworking movement has been grass roots, enabled by online and social >>> media. And that, in my opinion, there needed to be some organizing in >>> order to move efforts like the Google Map or the Coworking Visa >>> forward unless some "heroes" come forward to make those and others >>> efforts happen. I've worked in volunteer and professional associations >>> for a loonngg time. Heroic action can get things done. And the >>> disappearance of the heroic actor(s) can cause the great activity to >>> end (the Google Map.) Our visitor comes from the slow food, community >>> agriculture movement. He totally got the challenge we face to organize >>> disparate local communities into one cohesive whole. >>> >>> This forum is a great place to learn from early leaders and exchange >>> ideas. It is a great organizing entity. I am indebted to everyone here >>> for what I've learned. (And likewise guilty about not sharing as much >>> as I have learned.) >>> >>> Each of our individual coworking locations have more in common than >>> are different. What makes us unique is how we take the common elements >>> and utilize them in and for our communities. >>> >>> As an international coworking community we may have reached the >>> tipping point where there needs to be some organization, adhoc or >>> otherwise. Federation is a nice starting term. And rather than invent >>> how this is organized I'm sure we can look to other grassroots >>> movements (food policy, transportation, etc.) about how they >>> "formalized" their "association" between their local community groups. >>> >>> Chris, I will vote for your session to be sure. But SXSW does not have >>> to be the only organizing platform. I have some ideas I'm working on >>> in that respect. More later. >>> >>> Cheers! >>> >>> Todd O'neill >>> Partner, C4 Workspace >>> San Antonio, Texas >>> >>> >> >> >> > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
