Brant Langer Gurganus wrote:
I think we need to find out what each person's specialty is. If you contact each one an match them with their specialty, that would be of help.As I've said, the list is generated from past postings in this group. So you might also want to check the candidates' past postings and replies.
To follow up on Brant Gurganus's post, the following is a list things we may need to know from each person:
Name: real name & nick name
Contact method: e-mail, icq, newsgroup, IRC, etc
Languages & proficiency level: specifically, written languages
Exp. in technical writing: any exp in technical writing? if so,
in what area?
Technologies: X/HT/ML, CSS, Internet protocols, etc.
C++, Javascript, Perl, etc.
Webtools + CVS: know any of them?
Areas of interest: Browser, Mailnews, Calander, etc.
Bugzilla, QA, source tree, etc.
Editorials (e.g. who-we-are,
what-is-open-source, why-i-standards)
D11n format of interest: technote, articles, reference/manual,
FAQ, newsletter, etc.
Zope: do you know zope?
Work-in-progress, etc.: what have you done already?
Intended role: Editor, reviewer, coordinator, writer,
translator, formatter (txt->html),
indexer, consultant (guide)
Interesting stuff: e.g. why do you (or why don't you)
want to contribute?
Example:
Name: Daniel Wang
Contact: n.p.m.d11n & e-mail
Language: native lang. is Mandarin, but I write better in English
Exper.: none
Techno.: x/ht/ml, CSS, js, XUL
I cannot code C++, but I can read it if I have to
Webtool: Bugzilla, LXR
I hate CVS and don't you dare ask me to learn it
Areas: browser, QA, d11n
Format: n/a
Zope: I know the what and how, but not why
WIP: various FAQs
Role: coordinator
Stuff: thinking...
A possible starting point for the letter:
Subject: mozilla.org documentation
Dear Amy
I am Bob, a coordinator (or manager) for mozilla.org documentation project. I am writing in reply to your post to the documenation forum that you wanted to help out. I apologize for any lack of response you might have got. The project has been disorganized and lacking in any determined initiative for a long while. However, some of the project contributors have decided to change all that. While details of how project coordination will work remain sketchy, we pledge that we will do whatever possible to improve project management.
Meanwhile, I would like to solicite your help. If you wish to contribute, please provide us with information on your area of interest and your experience. The information is not mandatory, but it will help us greatly in knowing how to best coordinate volunteers.
If, however, you cannot or do not wish to help, you can tell me or simply ignore this message. You do not need to explain, but again reasons why you will not help will be helpful.
The following are things we may need to know from you: blah blah
Please do not feel intimidated by the long list of things you have to fill out. You do not have to fill out anything; a simple reply on your own terms will be fine.
The following are links you may find helpful:
mozilla.org documentation project <http://www.mozilla.org/docs/mdp/index.html>
The MDP Newsgroup (also a mailing list) <news://news.mozilla.org/netscape.public.mozilla.documentation>
The MDP Mailing list FAQ (draft) <http://www.geocities.com/stolenclover/backstage/mozilla-org/docs/mdp/faq.html>
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Before we go on w/ this, I should ask Ian Oeschger and Steve Rudman what they think about this.
