From larry.sanger at dufoundation.org  Sat Aug  5 14:40:35 2006
From: larry.sanger at dufoundation.org (Larry Sanger)
Date: Sat, 5 Aug 2006 14:40:35 -0700
Subject: [Textop-oss] Variant proposal: working groups (please read)
Message-ID: <001b01c6b8d7$c930b610$a0f5fea9@D7WRQ591>

All,

I have heard back from some people about my proposal for an executive
committee.  One of them expressed gentle skepticism that I would be able to
find suitable directors, and another made the very useful point that the
people who might be interested in becoming directors need to know that
they're not the only ones at work in their area.  By contrast, if we can
guarantee directors that a quorum of people are interested in participating,
that will be much more attractive to them.

This means (I think) that before recruiting any directors, we ought to form
some workgroups that they can direct.  I would like to present prospective
directors a list of names and bios of people who are interested in working
on some part of the project.  So I have two proposals:

(1) Please e-mail me your name, e-mail address, short one-paragraph bio, and
the name of at least one workgroup you're interested in participating in.
(List below.)  I will **not** post this information publicly.

(2) For Textop's first press release/general announcement, we will call for
general participation, mentioning the search for directors as part of a more
general recruitment drive.  Now what do you think of *that*?

Please do (1) in any case!

--Larry

Workgroups you could join (feel free to suggest others):

Collation Project
http://www.textop.org/collation_summary.html
	planning, prototyping, recruiting

Analytical Dictionary Project
http://www.textop.org/TextAndCollaboration.html#dictionary
	planning, prototyping, recruiting

Debate Guide Project
http://www.textop.org/TextAndCollaboration.html#debate
	planning, prototyping, recruiting

Event Summary Project
http://www.textop.org/TextAndCollaboration.html#eventsum
	planning, prototyping, recruiting

Software Development Workgroup
	collecting and articulating technical requirements, writing code,
testing

Website and Design Workgroup
	keeping the website up-to-date, graphic design, logo, configuring
wiki, etc.

Innovation Workgroup
	discusses new Textop projects, or radical innovations to existing
projects, proposes innovative solutions to standing problems
 
Recruitment Workgroup
	crafts and implements a creative plan to get volunteers on board;
osts on mailing lists, does research into possible volunteers, drafts press
releases, does networking, etc.; eventually might help organize a conference

Finance Workgroup
	crafts and implements innovative fundraising plans; grantwriting as
and when appropriate; when money arrives, prioritize reimbursement and grant
requests from project staff

Charter Workgroup
	discuss and draft the project Charter