Priorities for growth

• improve first contact experience
• integrate with Kits Initiative

Priorities for depth:

• develop better structure to become an organizer
  • Organizer Summit
• make a strong translation model for our "communities of practice"
  • includes distributing resources
• include social process throughout online and offline
  • community asset mapping workshops, dialogue education facilitation, modes of communication beyond email groups, OpenHour, guides and distance learning, offline logbooks, etc

Scaling engagement: a model

1. First Contact | 2. Welcome moment | 3. First contribution | 4. Building peer-to-peer bonds | 5. Becoming an organizer | 6. Chapters

First contact

• map of first contacts --> pathways: http://publiclab.org/wiki/first-encounters
  • folks find out about Public Lab through: our kits, our web presence and social media, press coverage, heard about from a person, Kickstarter campaign, evangelism(?)
• ISSUE: website front page
  • too much information, lacks community presence/identity, not synthesized

Welcome moment

• Looking for how I "fit in"
  • lead with values
  • culturally, is the first "welcome" over dinner or by typing into a technical discussion?
  • identifying the "need" to engage -- begin with what is already known locally -- asset mapping exercise -- needs to be systematized. This can combat the perception problem of tools seen as speculative not results-oriented.
  • attracting diversity in the context that many active members have leisure time, are high capacity and degreed
• "When do I see myself as a part of Public Lab?" --> Hello Moment
  • see First contribution below
• who's responsibility is welcoming / orienting new members?
  • Welcome Working Group has scaling issues
  • everyone / no one?
• option to speak to types of stakeholders:
  • reference from Sugar Labs,
  • and Scott's metaphor below:

First contribution / activity

• publiclab.org/signup --> profile page
• posting a research note
• going to an event / meeting someone in person
• Ask a question / answer a question forums
  • serves as a venue for matchmaking
  • develops a Most Wanted List to prioritize R&D

Building peer-to-peer bonds

• mailing list discussions
  • prompts upon joining to say "I am interested in [...], I can help with [...], bio, location
• comments on research notes
• website:
  • further integration of lists and website (future)
  • regionalization of website / feeling of place
  • listening to interests and areas
  • tours of places through mapknitter
• collaborative editing on wikis / pads
• regularly scheduled meetups
  • not just tech, but also goal setting, asset mapping, strategizing, learning
  • on research sites
• cross-group and cross-region exchanges
• voice channels: openhour
• ISSUE: social bonds should not result in clubhouse effect

Becoming an organizer

• update / demystify nomination process:
  • change nomination process to focus on profile pages
  • self-nomination for folks instantly seeking a higher level of engagement
  • options for community organizers who may be offline / won't join email list
• attracting new organizers:
  • targeting outreach, diversity
• resources for organizers
  • buddy system with experienced organizer
  • event "guides"
  • receive all foldable kits
  • speaking opportunities on OpenHour
  • Organizers Summit (day before annual Barnraising)
• benefits / expectations
  • regional focus to nurture new members, partner orgs, and research sites
  • staying engaged monthly
  • annual survey for re-up
  • fundraising support
  • Fellows Program

Developing organizer-supported chapters