Proposal of plan to start BeLocal
From BeVolunteer Wiki
Lots of discussions and proposal have been done to start with Local Volunteers (LV) in BeWelcome. It failed to start really; the hypothesis considered in that "plan" is that a LV dynamic (since the idea is not to have LV but something happening between them, between them and the members) can't be created from outside - the LV have to create it themselves, the community has to create it itself.
So let's try a BeLocal project.
Our aim, as volunteers, will be to organize the process, give some imputs and offer our help; up to the community to make it real.
Contents |
Concept of the process
- Using tools (as much as possible on BW platform and with open and easy access) so we can gather participation from BW members in the conformation of "BeLocal", such as the forum and maybe groups, wiki or blog.
- Using all the discussions and work done in the past so we won't start from nothing but put the community front of some reflexions, possibilities, i.e some elements allowing to give interesting imputs and take decisions.
- The process imply a give/receive pact:
- (I participate in the design) <===> (I participate in BeLocal)
- (decision) <===> (responsibility)
- It means that we should explain/incitate that relation. Small suggestions, feedbacks, are welcome in any way but making clear that <===> relation must anticipate eventual deceptions
- The most important: give the conditions for efficient participation of the members, and motivation so they feel like participating and desire to build the project BeLocal
Conditions
Material
- Bringing people:
- Start: special newsletter inviting all the BW members to participate in that project. The idea is that all the potential LV would then join the debate
- Special box on the main page to link to BeLocal (or just news entry)
- Centralizing: Maybe a hard page to centralize the presentation, links etc. and some explanations. Would be nicer than a wiki page, for that.
- Being informed before debating
- Some documentation about the discussed points. The wiki is perfect. We can use the BW wiki if we create some pages linked from the hard page. Then the contributors can improve the wiki content as long as the conversation goes. Some BW volunteers have a look at the edits. We can organize these pages between the initial elements, and the products of the discussions.
- Debate space: Category (or threads organized with tags, if categories are still not available) in the forum, to allow conversations, organized by topics (a general one, and some with determined topic/objective)
- Note: groups could have been used if they would already have forum etc. but in the actual situation they don't look useful. However BeLocal may decide that creating a LV group is a thing to do.
People
- Some volunteers (by default the LV team) will definitely play an important role as
- bringing energy to the debate, activating discussion etc.
- bringing important imputs (eventually external to the topic) and general view about BW in the discussions, when needed
- helping people with answering questions (forum, personal contacts)
- "checking" that no abuse is done of the process (opinions imposed, wiki delete or who knows?)
Decision making
Let's propose that the process should be adopted by consensus, so no vote has to be implemented (with the problems it implies). Let's consider the vote as an option which could be used in case we really don't find other solution.
Topics proposed for debate and decision
1. General concept of BeLocal in BeWelcome
The more important and the more difficult since very abstract and general.
- I think that the best is to raise a point of view, which will get modified further, as other conversations go. Unless there is a real disagreement about the philosophy of BeLocal (which is lowly probable).
- We may start with presenting http://test.bewelcome.org/playground/cities.html to bring a concrete feeling.
2. Role of the LV
- ToDo LV list
- role regarding to the community
- "Powers"/ priviledges
3. Visibility of LVs
- on the site
4. Tools for LV work
- new member log in view, amount shown, stats written if dealt with or not
- mass-mail service (what, who)
- editing specific section of the TG
- member log-in nearby
- LV status written in backlog for sign-up, spam-check, forum etc...
- need, template email development
5. Conditions for being LV
- criterious
- definition of inactivity, consequences
6. Activity of LVs
- consequences of inactivity
7. Organization
The should be a LV Team which coordinates the numerouse Local Volunteers and helps them communicating with other BeWelcome Teams. Ideally we would have a Local Volunteer Coordinator (team) for each region (Central America, Eastern Europe, Caribbean, south america, oceania, middle east, etc.)
Communication between LV and other BW Teams:
Geo team:
- Ensure local correction and adjustment
- Inform in case of problems
- Work the travel guide information
- Help promote and featuring 'out of the beaten' track destinations
- Help insuring the quality of the divisionnal structure in a purely administrative view
Sign-up team:
- Verification volunteer status
- Provide a local guide information regarding the genuine local information (zip system, local address habit system (street number, street names...)
- Welcome new members and guide them
- Ensure the integration and coaching of the local rural areas to the big centre
Abuse team:
- Set up skimming inspection
- Report problems
- Act as an example and local support
- Bound to follow advice of the team
- Serve as a reference giver
Media team:
- Receive and pass news, information and documentation
- Take part in the reference and feedback system
Volunteer management team:
Spam-check team:
Forum/Groups team:
programming:
- Report bug and request tool development
- Point out layout development
Real Life Local Volunteer Meetings:
- Workshops on big camps
- (Un)- conferences for Local Volunteer Issues
