Hi Duane, On Sun, Jan 4, 2009 at 1:32 AM, Duane Hinnen <[email protected]> wrote: > I am adding some ideas to the idea pool on the US Team wiki. I wanted to > keep them a decent length so I am sending a more detailed version of my > ideas out to you on the Mailing List.
Can you go ahead and commit your changes to the IdeaPool page? It hasn't been updated and actually having some ideas on that page would be encouraging. > Nationwide Project Organization. I am working on the Ubuntu in Libraries > project for my LoCo. The materials and letters I am putting together could > be, with minimal effort, replicated and used by any LoCo in the U.S. Are you involved with the UbuntuInLibraries project? https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuInLibraries With projects like this, that aren't strictly bound by US laws or conditions we want to encourage folks to get involved on the international level rather than a project just in the US. So whatever we do, we shouldn't confine it to our project. That said, we might want to encourage LoCos to work toward contributing further to such international projects as UbuntuInLibraries and then posting about their experiences to this list. I had hoped this would be one of the purposes of this list, but it never really came to fruition. >I have > noticed that some LoCo's have been created and then virtually abandoned by > their creators. People who are excited to do something to help the Ubuntu > community join these LoCo's. They then place a post on the forum and mailing > list stating their enthusiasm. Without any kind of leadership or > infrastructure, this post or Email goes unawnsered and the person quickly > loses interest and moves on. We need a framework or system in place that > fills gaps left by unattentive LoCo leadership. This certainly is an unfortunate problem with some states. > The US Team could propose > and help organize projects, say 3 or 4 a year, for the State LoCo's. Members > could pick up these projects on their respective mailing lists and have > something they can participate in. Secondly, I think having nationwide > projects would also serve to inspire State LoCo's. There are LoCos who are > more organized and active then what I just described, however they are in a > lull. Just as a reinvigerated leadership woke up my individual LoCo, I think > the US Team can serve to do the same for the individual State LoCo's. Each year we want to encourage, at least, two release events and global bug jam participation. The International loco-contacts mailing list tends to have these announcements and I hope loco team leaders are subscribed and forwarding along announcements. But it seems you want to take this further. Perhaps each quarter finding or fostering a project (like UbuntuInLibraries) and spotlighting it on our site, forums and mailing list? Then keeping a resources page with all of these listed, so teams can check out past ideas and have some clue as to what kinds of projects they could get into. I think this is a good idea, but we'll need more volunteers to make it a reality, especially if we want to really offer support for these projects. Plus, input from states would be great - what projects have you worked on? What was particularly successful? And encourage states to write up reports on these things so we can draw upon that for ideas. > I think a "membership drive" by the US Team could help increase membership. We have had successful IRC "meet and greets" in the past, one a couple years ago had almost 100 people in channel and really stirred things up participation wise for a few months. Perhaps it's time to host one again. > Most people in my LoCo were not really aware of the US Team, what it does, > or why they would want to participate. I think an Email sent out to all the > State LoCo's explaining what the US Team does, why a central resource is > nescessary, and why a strong US Team is important would be very beneficial. > I think this could increase the membership of the US Team and allow it to > take on some responsibilities that would ensure we have a strong, active > LoCo in every state. I'm reluctant about mass advertising across all mailing lists. The US Teams is meant to be a resource that the state LoCos can use if they choose, and I'd rather not *impose* ourselves upon them. As it is now we're depending upon LoCo leaders to be subscribed to this list and forward announcements we send here (part of the reason this list exists is to spread the word nationally). But I think such an email (well, page on the wiki that could start out as an email) could be helpful. Our wiki page currently is a bit sparse when it comes to specifics about what our purpose is. Volunteers to start working on drafts? Cheers, -- Elizabeth Krumbach // Lyz // pleia2 http://www.princessleia.com -- Ubuntu-us mailing list [email protected] Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-us
