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

["Bruce Young" <Bruce@barelyadequate.info>]

Now that the dust has settled, I thought I'd provide an extended response to
this.

>It would also be helpful, where possible, if you were prepared to list
>profession/job/skills/experience but of course, this is only optional.

Although my non-profit group experience has been limited so far to my local
Disabled American Veterans chapter (for those who don't know, this is a
national service organization that raises funds and politics to assist
disabled military veterans), I did spend over 13 years managing computer and
budget programs for a military organization, which is definitely a "non
profit" organization with a compelling mission and very restrained funding,
at least at the level I worked at!  Besides my computer skills, which keep
me and mine fed and housed (and which others in this forum no doubt greatly
exceed!), I have the following skills to offer:

  -  I'm a good "detail" person and project manager, able to conceive of,
implement and carry through detailed implementation projects and see them
through to completion.

  -  I have significant skill and experience in technical writing.

  -  I have significant skill and experience in preparing multimedia
presentations and public speaking, and wouldn't mind developing and
presenting presentations to the public as part of an outreach program.

  -  Although I don't run large Internet activities like some of our
members, I *do* own my own domain, and have about 40MB free on my virtual
host that could be used to host a regional @Large outreach site, and have
some rudimentary HTML and graphics skills to support it.  I also have a home
network with lots of bandwidth and significant software tools to manage
whatever processes I take on!

Comments on Richard's points:

>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.

I'd be honored to take on this challenge, but I imagine this might require
someone with the financial bandwidth to travel around internationally, which
definately exceeds my budget!  However, I will definately step in and take
this on if a more-qualified volunteer is not forthcoming.

Regradless, I'd be willing to take on responsibility for the West Coast
America co-ordinator, and speak publicly within that area.  I can manage to
travel around that area (about the size of Europe!) without too much
difficulty, since Portland is centrally positioned for that!

>1. Boundary and scope - we cannot change the world overnight - avoiding
>mission creep, what are we really to be about?

Our initial effort should concentrate on membership building, then spurring
local and regional coordinating groups to funnel the desires and concerns of
our membership to the "head office."  However, to attract people
effectively, we need to be visible, which means engaging the local regional
and national press; holding public appearances and gaining access to public
access television, where we "sell" our cause; etc.!

>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.

Yes.  Jefsey's idea of regional/local organizations & Web sites filtering
into the International ones makes perfect sense.

>3. Access to old @large e-mail lists? Are any still in existence?

Good luck!  Even if they still have the list, I can't see them sharing it
with us short of taking them to court!  But please try and get it!

>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?

Yes!  This decision needs to be made quickly. Before we can sell ourselves,
we need to have a name!

>5. Lots of brands / regional / diversity ? peru@large france@large uk@large
etc.

Indeed.  And we need volunteers behind each of these efforts!

>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.

I'd be more than willing to help with this.

>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...

Here our membership can help the most with this effort.  To everyone with an
"inside track" to an organization of any consequence: speak up and volunteer
to prostylize to your group, or at least help others understand how to do so
most effectiely!

>8. Local internet communities

Again, I'm willing to host something like this for my region.  I may need
assistance with the more-technical aspect of it, though.

>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."

And again, I'll be willing to do this regionally (although I imagine others
may volunteer as well! Please!), and would be more than willing to develop a
Powerpoint presentation & script to use for this!

>9. ccTLDs : Jefsey Morfin has propose these should constitute an entirely
separate working group.

I agree.  ICANN has treated them almost as poorly as us!  And we can help
each other.  Unfortunately it's too late for .US, having already been sold
down the river into commercialism!

>10. De-centralisation : should we have one website or multiple websites?

I picture regional and national Web sites that serve, not as a separate
entity, but as the local/regional group's "hub" and online resource, as
ICANNATLARGE.COM does for us today.

>Jefsey Morfin has proposed this: "Maybe could we use sub-addresses with
>separated ftp access.

I agree.  Jefsey's idea is genius! Create a single domain, say ATLARGE.ORG.
Then issue national second-level domains, like USA.ATLARGE.ORG.  Regional
would be third-level: WEST.USA.ATLARGE.ORG, etc.  All would point to both
the level above it, and to WORLD.ATLARGE.ORG, the international site.

>The central website does need some management if it is to act as the
>worldwide interface and identity for the organisation.

Indeed.  And we need a full-time professional Web developer for this if we
can ever afford one (we do have others working on incorporation, do we
not?!)


>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.

I agree.  And official spokesperson.  Someone articulate, well-versed in our
issues, and rich enough to travel the world.  This person would interface
with national & international bodies, organizations and governments, and
hpefully the large media outlets.

However, we should also have regional spokespersons (I've already
volunteered for that duty!) that can better speak to the regional issues and
concerns in their local language and idiom.


>I favour voluntary contributions and support from sympathetic external
>contributors.

So do I.  There are many potential members in the world for whom even a
modest fee will be an unbearable burden.  For some, just getting online
regularly is a significant financial decision.  But we need their input if
we are to be successful.  In fact, if you think about it, someone for whom
Internet access *is* a significant expense is likely to be very passionate
about their needs, and an excellent resource for our efforts!  Let's not put
any roadblocks in the way of their participation.  They can always donate
their precious time to our cause!  So no membersip fees, dues, whatever you
wish to call it.  However, members who can afford to donate their money
skills and computer resources should certianly do so!

>In the meantime, and in the context of the Outreach Working Group,
>representation for any of us comes through participation!

This is the key to the under-representation of certian international
regions!  Members in areas that feel are not adequately reprented should
first as themselves "What am *I* doing to help bring in more members?!" Then
they should volunteer to chair their national or regional outreach effort
and try to change things!

>14. We are seeking help with translations. This is very important. We need
>all the help we can get, from almost every nation.

Yes!  As Judyth points out, proper traslation, particularly of our bylaws
and other legal documents, is essential.  Even if all you do is translate
documents, you will have greatly contributed to our effort!

>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.

This is a more-technical issue.  Anyone out there have the skills to set up
a mailing list similar to this forum?

>16. ISSUES. As well as geographical-based outreach, what ISSUES can we
build
recruitment around?

The single most-important issue we can sell to all interest groups is that
of free, unencumbered Interbnet access.  The Internet and its services (The
Web, e-mail, newsgroups, FT, etc.) are essential outreach, communications
and management tools for every interest group, regardless of their cause.
But commercialization of the Internet, if continued to the eventual result I
see happening today, would stifle any message its corporate backers
disagreed with.  This needs to be our goal: to maintain a free, open,
politically and culturally neutral Internet that can serve *all* interests.

>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.

Just for our Outreach group, or for our membership generally?  I hope the
latter!

>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."

This should be formalized.  But even better would be a call by panel members
and
committee leaders for specific expertise when needed.  Not everyione willing
to serve may wat their bio and picture posted!

>18. Allies. Offering affiliate membership to the members of other
>atlarge-style organisations already in existence = joining forces.

Agreed.

>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.

Although I am back to taking college classes again, I'm a bit old for this
effort.  But I imagine there are other members who are not!

>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.

Indeed! Someone neds to draft a history of our effort, with appropriate
links to the White Paper, MoU, ALSC forum, etc. to prove the continuity of
this effort with the original At Large.

>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!"

I still do!  as just one example; there are still many small business people
out their unaware that ICANN's UDRP has basically rewritten trademark law in
the favor of corporate interests, and that a domain that they have built
their business around is subject to a costly legal challenge and forfiture
if a corporate giant thinks they deserve it more!

So why should users care? First, users need to be aware that this can often
be a free speech issue: corporate interests regularly attempt to squelch
protest sites that use the company name followed by "sucks" or other
unflattering words.  Or they might just object to the unflattering words
*inside* the site!  So they use the UDRP to attempt, in the name of
"trademark protection" to shut down the site and silence their voice!  Do we
really want corporate interests to use ICANN rules to do an end-run around
free speech laws?

Also, with all the ISP failures, at some point it's likely that many more
private parties like myself will wise up and register their own domains to
give their family a stable presence on the Internet.  When they do, they are
subject to the same costly lawsuits and possible forfiture!

These are just two examples where domain name policy can interfere with
liberty and fair commerce.  There are numerous others.

Which brings up an idea for a nother Working Group: to archive examples of
ICANN and Internet industry dirty tricks, back-room deals, and bad-faith
dealings that the rest of the group can use as a resource when making an
argument for why user involvement is necessary.

>20. Setting targets for recruitment is a reasonable internal (and maybe
>confidential) process to undertake

Definately internal and confidential.  In some venues grass-roots organizing
is grounds for government intervention and/or persecution!

>21. The use of e-mail and Mailing-lists and Newsgroups that people belong
to:

Yes, this might be one of our best potential resources.

>22. Involving organisations: Inviting representatives of 1000's of
>organisations to join us as "advisors" in their particular field of
>expertise.

Indeed.  This dovetails with my thoughts in #19 above.  We have many shared
interests.

Good start Richard!

Bruce Young
Portland, Oregon
Bruce@barelyadequate.info
http://www.barelyadequate.info
--------------------------------------------
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