Re: [atlarge-discuss] WG-OUTREACH - 001 - Call for Volunteers

[Jeff Williams <jwkckid1@ix.netcom.com>]

Richard and all stakeholders or other interested parties,

  First, ok for the third time I am interested in Joining and helping with
outreach...  Please sign me up Richard.

  Second,  Where is the mailing list forum for this WG?  Will there
be one?  And if you need a mailing software package you can
download Majordomo for free and install it in about 30 mins...

Richard Henderson wrote:

> WG-OUTREACH
>
> We are establishing a Working Group on Outreach and Membership Recruitment.
> This is an Invitation to all interested members of IcannatLarge.com to join
> this group and please come and help!
>
> Participating Panelists are : Richard Henderson : Satyajit Gupta : Jefsey
> Morfin : YJ Park.
> Other members who have already expressed an interest in participating
> include: Bruce Young : Joey Borda : Ron Sherwood : Erick Iriarte Ahon
> (forgive me if I have omitted others, but please add your name!).
>
> In addition, we seek representatives from every single country in the world
> wherever possible or, failing that, regional representatives. It is fine to
> have more than one representative from a single country, of course.
>
> Please join or confirm involvement by replying to this email, at my address
> above. If you have any additional comments, please make sure to copy to the
> discuss list - atlarge-discuss@lists.fitug.de  - until we have a list of our
> own (to enable our process to be open to view). Please prefix this mail:
> WG-OUTREACH
>
> It would also be helpful, where possible, if you were prepared to list
> profession/job/skills/experience but of course, this is only optional.
>
> I am offering to serve as an initial co-ordinator - however I must stress
> the word *initial* : it doesn't worry me at all if someone else wants to
> volunteer, and because I'm worried about the time which may be involved, I'm
> grateful for all support (including co-ordination of particular regions :
> for example, Latin America is under-represented - well, it would be good to
> establish a regional co-ordinator from outside the panel). I hope that, very
> soon, someone else like Bruce or Erick or anyone else, may step forward and
> offer to take over the co-ordination role. Most important of all are the
> regional, national, and local co-ordinators. In all honesty, I would like to
> be "freed up" to co-ordinate UK outreach. And I hope we can shortly identify
> volunteers for LatinAmerica Regional Co-ordinator; Caribbean Co-ordinator;
> West Coast America co-ordinator; Mid-West America co-ordinator; Southern
> States America co-ordinator; East Coast America co-ordinator; Canada
> Co-ordinator; Scandinavia co-ordinator; Europe Regional co-ordinator; Middle
> East Regional Co-ordinator; North Africa co-ordinator; West Africa
> Co-ordinator; East Africa co-ordinator; Southern Africa Co-ordinator (or
> simply, Africa Regional Co-ordinator); Asia Regional co-ordinator; Asia
> Pacific Regional Co-ordinator; Indian Regional Co-ordinator; South East Asia
> Regional Co-ordinator; Australia Pacific Regional Co-ordinator; or much more
> focussed, volunteers to take on roles as co-ordinators of each country.
>
> We need the e-mail addresses of our membership to approach members to invite
> them personally to consider these dramatic and potentially very constructive
> responsibilities. We are embarking on a significant undertaking. We are at
> the start of something new : a worldwide network of internet users.
>
> Doesn't that excite you too? Won't you come on board and join in this
> idealistic venture? The whole world is our constituency and you are part of
> an organisation with the imaginative courage to leap into something vibrant
> and new!
>
> DRAFT MISSION STATEMENT for outreach@large:
>
> The mission of the Outreach Working group is to act as a Co-ordination group
> to offer help to regional volunteers, as they set out to attract ordinary
> internet users to participate in the way the Internet is run by joining
> icannatlarge.com. This outreach will operate at global, regional, national
> and local levels, and will also operate through the interface of relevant
> "issues" of concern to internet users all over the world. Areas of help to
> be provided by the Working Group will include: generating publicity
> materials in multiple languages, initiating global publicity initiatives,
> helping to disseminate the shared experiences of local groups, acting as a
> hub for large numbers of local @large organisations. In addition, it will
> sustain a structure of Global - Regional/Issues - National - Local outreach,
> in a non-directive fashion, with bottom-up initiatives being self-organised
> by users at grassroots level.
>
> In summary: publicity materials; interface for sharing experience and
> expertise; structure and websites.
>
> BRAINSTORMING:
>
> As a first step, this e-mail sets out to appeal for volunteers, and throws a
> cross-section of thoughts and ideas at you, which have been raised in the
> short time since the elections. We invite you to consider which are
> priorities, and to imagine laterally, and to reply (in due course) with
> ideas of your own.
>
> We need to set some INITIAL OBJECTIVES. What should these be?
>
> So, some of the thoughts and issues relating to Outreach:
>
> 1. Boundary and scope - we cannot change the world overnight - avoiding
> mission creep, what are we really to be about?
>
> 2. As I see it, it's all about network. I've listened carefully to Jefsey
> Morfin. At first I did not properly understand. But I believe he is right.
> Our medium: the internet. Our potential: networks.
>
> 3. Access to old @large e-mail lists? Are any still in existence?
>
> 4. Branding, marketing, advertising - our name is an issue re. brand and
> identity. What name will be accessible and comprehensible to largest numbers
> of people? What logo?
>
> 5. Lots of brands / regional / diversity ? peru@large france@large uk@large
> etc. Yes, of course there is a central/global brand to consider, but we are
> trying to build a confederation: a whole world of different, local groups.
> One of our first tasks is to try to establish Regional/National Working
> Groups for Outreach.
>
> 6. Preparing outreach material, with different messages for different
> audiences. Let us be clear. We need to target a multiplicity of groups, and
> many of these need to be "accessed" at their own point of interest. We need
> a collection of materials which will work for a variety of targets. And we
> need translations of these materials.
>
> As Jeff Williams wrote: "If only a few
> are actually doing outreach, than capture is more likely." We need
> grassroots initiatives and multiple targets.
>
> And as David Schutt put it: "What the panel can do is try to put together a
> framework
> to support the efforts of many, many people." Exactly. This Working Group is
> the slave of all the ordinary people around the world.
>
> 7. It's about Individuals AND organisations. Let us not forget the
> organisations! They are the gateway to mass-registrations. There are many
> organisations to interface with and to "infiltrate": for example...
>
> Judyth Mermelstein: "October 2002, the World Congress of Citizens' Networks
> will permit the  articulation of a platform on the digital divide which will
> represent the interests of civil society and to fuel the debate leading up
> to the World Summit on the Information Society in 2003" This agenda and
> congress shares a convergence with ours, and that's just one example.
>
> 8. Local internet communities - strongly endorsed by JFC (but note YJP's
> difficult experiences in Korea) - we need to establish relations with
> existing local groups - identify them and target them and involve them. The
> issue of local internet communities, which Jefsey has drawn attention to, is
> very important. We need to be building (and building upon) a worldwide
> network of local internet communities. We need a common website interface,
> and use of sub-domains, and we need to help construct a whole web of local
> internet communities. But take heed of YJP's warnings - this is not simple
> or straightforward. Nevertheless, it is the future. It is the heart of our
> project.
>
> Jefsey Morfin puts it this way:  " peru@large argentina@large etc... we
> create a structure, take the name, create a
> site, meet people with the business card, try to setup an icann.meetup,
> talk to a fews journalist, start a local mailing list, contact the ccTLD
> etc.
> The real thing is to start local@large. So we start having a net and a
> credibility. Then we can buildon personal international relations and
> existing networks. When someone travel he can meet people. He can lecture a
> foreign group on the situation and ideas in his country."
>
> Bruce Young expresses the same vision: "It will be vital that we have
> members "on the
> ground" in every region of the world willing to talk to the press,
> professional organizations, labor unions, etc., if we're ever going to build
> our membership."
>
> It's about a network of local communities. This Working Group has been
> entrusted with the task of making contact with local volunteers who will
> build this vision.
>
> (Notice one thing here, as you pause : we are a world away from ICANN. There
> is no profit issue, no vested interests, just the idealism of individual
> human beings and the indomitable human spirit - and... community!)
>
> 9. ccTLDs : Jefsey Morfin has propose these should constitute an entirely
> separate working group. This indicates the significance he attributes to our
> interface with them. And I agree. The network of local communities will
> attempt to work closely with the ccTLDs. These ccTLDs should (ideally) work
> for the cause of local internet users (against the intrusive powers of ICANN
> or global corporate organisations).
>
> As Jefsey has stated: "The @large
> organizations will have to join with ccTLDs and probably with Govs and
> consumer organizations to develop a global concerted gouvernance."
>
> 10. De-centralisation : should we have one website or multiple websites? Of
> course, we hope websites will spring up all over the place! Some will be
> individual and independent. Others may lock into our world@large website.
>
> Jefsey Morfin has proposed this: "Maybe could we use sub-addresses with
> separated ftp access. This way we
> would actually have several specialized webmaster. Less risks. More
> motivations. And an existing structure and practice for embedding national
> parts."
>
> This will however require protocols.
>
> As Giampaulo Bonora says: "The main issue with outreach, IMO, is not the
> target, but
> decentralization. Now we have only a website with forum, a list and a
> panel, and sometime there are problems of communication.
>  A regional-based or country-based volunteering approach needs not only
> volunteers, but 'a communication protocol' from the panel and local
> volunteers - as simple as is possible (and discusses JFC's sub-address
> comments)"
>
> The central website does need some management if it is to act as the
> worldwide interface and identity for the organisation.
>
> As Michael Geist wrote: "Student groups are a good start for specific
> projects, but I think we
> need a single responsible individual for the site.  Spreading
> responsibility among several groups may lead to trouble."
>
> 11. We need to identify and authorise a central spokesman/press/publicity/pr
> officer - for news releases - acting proactively ... and at the same time we
> need de-centralised officers doing the same at different locations all over
> the globe.
>
> 12. Membership fees - or no fees, to avoid losing members - alternatives to
> fees : this is a significant issue for outreach. I personally argue the case
> for no membership fees because I think we should just be open to all
> idealistic individuals without demanding a "tribute". If we want largescale
> membership growth, then I am very concerned about putting membership fees in
> the way. I favour voluntary contributions and support from sympathetic
> external contributors. But what are other people's views?
>
> 13. Satyajit Gupta has expressed concern about diversity and gaps in
> representation:  "I would like to express my concern at the lack of
> representation of Africa, and South America in the panel."  This is, indeed,
> a concern - and may need to be addressed by the Working Group on Bylaws and
> the planning for future elections. In the meantime, and in the context of
> the Outreach Working Group, representation for any of us comes through
> participation! There are so many positions available to be filled. And to be
> honest, we are a bottom-up grassroots organisation. What will really count
> is: who can attract the most exciting membership in their own locality. They
> then become (de facto) the leaders. The leaders by example.
>
> 14. We are seeking help with translations. This is very important. We need
> all the help we can get, from almost every nation.
>
> 15. One of our first tasks is to establish liaison/contact with
> representatives in EVERY country - for this we need mailing lists - and we
> need to do this in the coming weeks. My hope is that these representatives
> in each country will now develop plans and strategies for increasing
> membership wherever they are. Where this fails, we need to fall back on
> regional co-ordinators.
>
> 16. ISSUES. As well as geographical-based outreach, what ISSUES can we build
> recruitment around?
>
> Jefsey Morfin has touched on this: "Local  culture, women interests,
> sustainable development, actions to reduce
> the digital divide, practical actions against the digital control,
> information on the digital dependance, etc.. are certainly ways for us to
> touch a large number of people. Another subject is certainly the "digital
> exposure", and privacy problems."
>
> And the point is picked up by Bruce Young: "Jefsey and Judyth bring out a
> good point here: since the Internet is such a
> universal tool, it impacts virtually every other interest in the world to
> one extent or the other.  If we can idea the subject where our interests
> intersect with others' we can get instant allies in numerous groups
> world-wide!"
>
> 17. Personalities and Skills. Joe Bordo has offered to serve as a
> "registrar", which as I understand him, would include building up
> personality profiles of members who were happy to submit info. He's also
> raised the concept of "chat" and informal ways of developing the integrity
> and "real" aspects of our virtual organisation.
>
> David Schutt developed this:  "Perhaps we can create a Forum
> topic titled 'Volunteering', where we can collect expressions of
> interest from folks willing to donate a bit of time or expertise."
>
> 18. Allies. Offering affiliate membership to the members of other
> atlarge-style organisations already in existence = joining forces. There is
> cross-over with other organisations. We have much in common with various
> similar organisations.
>
> 19. Schools, Colleges, and Students: Education : getting the message into
> schools and colleges : making our existence known worldwide : creating a
> student confederation. I believe this could be a major initiative. The
> Internet is a familiar component in the lives of so many young people, and
> they have idealism and independence.
>
> I advocate the use and involvement of students and students organisations,
> city by city, across the world. They may also have skills which would be of
> great value to us. But most important really is the already-established
> "network" that exists between students from different colleges within a
> country, and even worldwide.
>
> In addition, part of Outreach involves education. Many of us knew little
> about ICANN or the DNS before we fell victim to corrupt processes or
> policies.
>
> Bruce Young agrees that educating the public is integral: "I view this as an
> essential part of the outreach process.  We need to
> explain what (ICANN) / DNS is, and *why* the shady dealings VeriSign,
> NuLevel, etc.,
> are conducting are not in *users'* best interests!"
>
> 20. Setting targets for recruitment is a reasonable internal (and maybe
> confidential) process to undertake : and then monitoring the success in
> certain countries and learning from their experiences.
>
> 21. The use of e-mail and Mailing-lists and Newsgroups that people belong to
> : mentioning our organisation in context of our normal participation in some
> of these groups. This needs cautious discretion. Spamming nearly always
> backfires. But I have often found if you send a preliminary personal mail
> saying "I'm writing to ask if I could have permission to discuss 'x' with
> you, please disregard if you don't want to..." that quite often people reply
> "Sure, go ahead".
>
> On the use of e-mail, Judyth Mermelstein wrote: "The networks for widely
> distributing information are there and ready-to-use.  They have proven their
> value in dealing with every kind of issue that matters to the public but is
> not adequately covered by the mass-media, and enabled the formation of
> world-wide coalitions and collaborative efforts like this list." Judyth also
> has extensive media contacts mailing-list (for when we have a name and
> clearer press release?)
>
> Contacts can be obtained - women for example - Judyth Mermelsteinhas also
> offered: "If anyone wants me to, I could certainly come up with the names of
> some women in those regions (Africa/Latin America) who could sensitize us to
> their Internet needs..."
>
> 22. Involving organisations: Inviting representatives of 1000's of
> organisations to join us as "advisors" in their particular field of
> expertise. Then hopefully making inroads into their own memberships too. As
> Eric Dierker says-
>
> "Well absolutely we should invite underrepresented folks to sit as advisors.
> We should beg them.
> Geographics is only one criteria.  I see several others.
> Children, Students, Race, language, Religion, Atheism, Handicapped, Various
> Alternative lifestyles, Ancient ones."
>
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
> These 22 categories are just topics for brainstorming puposes. As a Working
> group we need (A) volunteers from all over the world to step forward - in
> many cases we may need to use the mailing list to make personal approaches;
> (B) to decide our initial priorities.
>
> Please feel free to add your own additional topics and ideas.
>
> Best of all, put WG-OUTREACH - 001 - in the Subject field, and e-mail:
> atlarge-discuss@lists.fitug.de
>
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>
> Finally, as a reminder, there is a list of the country-by-country membership
> details at www.theInternetChallenge.com
> This is an interim provision while we await a new website and identity.
>
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Regards,
--
Jeffrey A. Williams
Spokesman for INEGroup - (Over 127k members/stakeholders strong!)
CEO/DIR. Internet Network Eng/SR. Java/CORBA Development Eng.
Information Network Eng. Group. INEG. INC.
E-Mail jwkckid1@ix.netcom.com
Contact Number: 214-244-4827 or 972-244-3801
Address: 5 East Kirkwood Blvd. Grapevine Texas 75208



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