[atlarge-discuss] Re: [atlarge-outreach] WG-OUTREACH 001 - Appeal for Volunteers (Archive from 08-16-02)

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

Richard and all stakeholders or other interested parties and members,

  Can you post the actual Archive URL for this re-post?  It seems
to me there is some editing from the text version below, and the
actual original post...

  For instance the volunteers you list below is inaccurate.  That
just for starters...

Richard Henderson wrote:

>    Archive Version of message sent out on August 16th 2002
>
> WG-OUTREACH 001 - Appeal for Volunteers
>
> 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, this is a list of the country-by-country
> membership figures at the moment. You can get the precise details at
> www.theInternetChallenge.com  :
>
> Europe :                                       303 members
> North America :                           277 members
> Africa :                                         92 members
> SE Asia incl. Japan & Taiwan :     82 members
> Indian Sub-Cintinent :                   68 members
> Middle East & Asia :                    64 members
> Australia/New Zealand :               60 members
> Latin America & Caribbean :        32 members
>
> TOTAL:                                     976 members
>
> USA : 248
> Germany : 119
> India : 66
> South Africa : 47
> Japan : 44
> South Korea : 42
> Austria : 41
> UK : 38
> New Zealand : 31
> Australia : 29
> Canada : 29
> Switzerland : 21
> France : 20
> Italy : 14
> Denmark : 13
> Taiwan : 13
> Netherlands : 10
> Spain : 9
> Benin : 8
> Malaysia : 8
> Mexico : 8
> Argentina : 7
> Morocco : 7
> Cambodia : 6
> Singapore : 6
> Brazil : 5
> Niger : 5
> Iran : 4
> Peru : 4
> Belgium : 3
> China & Hong Kong : 3
> Jordan : 3
> Kenya : 3
> Angola : 2
> Bulgaria : 2
> Burkino Faso : 2
> Cameroon : 2
> Chile : 2
> Egypt : 2
> Ghana : 2
> Greece : 2
> Indonesia : 2
> Ireland : 2
> Kuwait : 2
> Luxembourg : 2
> Nigeria : 2
> Norway : 2
> Philippines : 2
> Tunisia : 2
> Virgin Islands : 2
> Andorra : 1
> Azerbaijan : 1
> Comoros : 1
> Costa Rica : 1
> Cyprus : 1
> Ecuador : 1
> Israel : 1
> Madagascar : 1
> Mali : 1
> Mauritius : 1
> Mauritania : 1
> Moldova : 1
> Monaco : 1
> Nepal : 1
> Rwanda : 1
> Senegal : 1
> Sweden : 1
> Syria : 1
> Togo : 1
> Turkey : 1
> UAE : 1
> Uganda : 1
> Ukraine : 1
> Uruguay : 1
> Vietnam : 1
> Russia : 0
> Finland : 0
> Portugal : 0
> Poland : 0
> Hungary : 0
> Czech R : 0
> Iceland : 0
> Pakistan : 0
>
> and various others
>
> I shall be adding details of total adult internet users in each
> country to each country's webpage shortly, and details of volunteers
> or co-ordinators as they emerge. This is an interim measure until we
> establish our new website and local communities take control of their
> own webspace.
>
> Richard Henderson
>
>

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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