Website Meeting Minutes 1-22-12

Location: irc.indymedia.org #OAwebsite
Official Meeting Time: 6:30pm

Attendance: Andrew V, Donald

Minute taker: Donald
IRC Transcript:

v1000> So I guess we'll wait and see if Billy shows up.
v1000> Have you spoken with Billy this week?
dmm> Nope
dmm> I did a Web Committee report back Friday.
v1000> How did the report back go?
dmm> Not many people there and not much reaction from the ones that were.
dmm> It seems a bit of effort is needed in getting folks back involved in GAs and making them both more relevant and a communication/coordination venue for OA.
v1000> I know a lot of people went to DC also, so that's not helping. But you are right. More people need to attend GA/
dmm> I wound up taking minutes for both GAs.  There submitted to process for posting on the website.  (Didn't want to step on toes and grand myself privileges to post in there section.)
v1000> That's a good method, I think. Has process responded to you?
dmm> Haven't heard back from them yet.  I emailed the minutes for each GA late the night of (really early the morning after.)  I'll email Tripp tonight to check on things.
v1000> Let me know if you have issues. I can call Tripp, but I'd like to see if he responds first. He may even go ahead and give you permission to post the minutes yourself.
v1000> I was hoping Billy would be here so we could discuss the Software Engineering Working Group.
dmm> I'll be out of town next weekend so 1) won't be physically around for web meeting and also not at GAs.
v1000> Ok. Noted. I'll see if I can touch base with Billy since I am pretty much working Friday and Sat evenings also.
dmm> On web site stuff, I've been promoting use of the site as a means of communications and coordination outside of GAs.
dmm> particularly until warmer weather gets folks into the park
dmm> With so many distributed physical sites for OA things are growing more fractured.
dmm> Back to the site, I'm actively trying to get folks to use the 'Needs' pages to put up what various committees Need folks to do.
v1000> I will most likely be creating a Software Engineering (SE) Google Group that will act on emailing programmers tasks.
dmm> To balance the posting of needs, I'm recruiting folks that will look at those pages when someone volunteers help  so a match can be made.
v1000> I like that idea.
dmm> What I haven't checked yet is who all can edit the Needs pages on the site.  Any clue?
v1000> I created a test Author account. I can try to look at it and see if an author can do that.
dmm> It would be great if BLs from all the committees could easily post/edit a Needed Tasks list.
dmm> Any ideas for rewarding folks that DO stuff in OA?
v1000> Hmm... Maybe a point system?
v1000> But then it comes to an issue of what earns somebody a point, and what doesn't. People will get upset and things...
dmm> I'm a bit wary of a point system due to the nature of competition.  Though it might work.  I like the game-like reward idea.
v1000> I retract my idea. I realized after I mentioned it that people will just get upset.
dmm> What I've started doing is talking up other folks for credit in what they've done.  So for instance in the Web report back giving you kudos for the SOPA blackout that you handled so well.
dmm> What would be really great is a game-like feeling of accomplishment for every little thing folks do.  (Pick up some garbage: get a complement.)
dmm> Sort of a return to social niceties.
v1000> Thanks. And that's a good idea, by the way. Maybe we do need some sort of recognition system. So instead of 'points', we can make sure people get credit in some form.
dmm> Yeah, its tough to avoid things that folks will likely get upset about.
dmm> How could we work acknowledgements for participation in Actions and the like (without setting off folks that want to be more anonymous?)
v1000> Either way, this is something that will eventually be sent to process. I think you should mention it to Tripp when he finally gets back to you.
v1000> But you are right. Somthing needs to be done. I'll let you know if any ideas come to mind on the subject.
dmm> I don't know how much it needs to be formally adopted as a process so much as changing the culture so folks want to do it.  (A formal process might seem more burdensome.  maybe???)
dmm> Maybe just little thanks-for-organizing-that replies to Events posts after the event?
v1000> I like that suggestion about the 'thank yous'.
v1000> I was wondering... How are you with taking minutes and such? I'm not very organized with stuff like that like I want to be.
dmm> Well, I can do it.
dmm> I tend to automate as much as I can get away with though.
v1000> Well as long as its consistant, you'll prob better at it than me. I still haven't posted last weeks. Maybe we can altarnate...
dmm> For IRC meetings would a session transcript work or at least an edit down of the transcript?
v1000> I don't see why not.
dmm> As a quick take:  edit out the timeStamps at beginning of lines, delete spurious/off topic messages, maybe re-arrange a few posts (like when you got dropped), ..., DONE
v1000> Ok...
v1000> I think that's about it. I'll have to go over some info with Billy and find out if he's serious about getting this SE Working Group together. But I think we're good for today.
v1000> Thank you!
dmm> Thank you!