Hey Everyone,
As some of you already know, I have been working with Max for the past few weeks on the foundations of some initiatives which we hope will help us refine some of the processes and functions which Ambassadors currently carry out. I want to to use this email to introduce one of these initiatives in hopes of eliciting some good feedback to further refine these ideas. Let me start out by saying that currently, the main goal of these propositions is to facilitate more efficient, grass roots, and most importantly, independent participation by ambassadors. That is, we hope to use these changes as the building blocks of many more improvements, and we have decided to start here.
The initiative I would first like to introduce is the Fedora Ambassadors Event Kit. As we all have learned by now, the cornerstone of the Ambassadors project has to do with events, and events are the single most effective vehicles for publicity and community gathering. The main problem with running events, however, is that thus far, most of the events we have carried out have been top down, rather than bottom up. By that I mean that the efforts, in large part, have come together with much oversight and involvement with Red Hat and that has caused some problems. Foremost, many ambassadors have complained about not being able to run an event independently and have waited for funds and other merchandise for days on end. Therefore, we have decided to streamline the event and merchandise acquisition process, and that's good news in more than one way. It means more control for ambassadors.
The Fedora Ambassadors Event Kit consists of five sections, each of which is aimed at tackling one angle of event planning. The following is a description of each of the sections with a brief breakdown:
Part 1. Welcome - This section is used to welcome both new and current ambassadors alike and thank them for choosing to run an event. This section briefly outlines some common foundation work which must be done before any event can take place, and how to go about building quality relationships, both within and without the community, which will serve many purposes in both present and future endeavors.
Part 2. Optical Media Guide - The purpose of this section is one of the most significant changes in protocol for Ambassadors. This section outlines a new method for obtaining media, by which we empower and encourage Ambassadors to establish a relationship with local vendors. Local vendors are a better outlet for obtaining media since the overall cost is lower and the relationships established with these vendors will help us gain sponsorship for important initiatives, such as Free Media. Ambassadors will then be able to collect monetary donations in exchange for media at the event which will help recover costs and sponsor more free media.
Part 3. Merchandise Guide - This section builds on the previous section and lays out guidelines similar to those in the optical media guide. Once again Ambassadors will be able to produce hats, shirts, mugs, etc. locally without much oversight. Many may complain about this new process, but there are reasons for this. Mainly, we would like to see ambassadors come up with localized designs for merchandise. Fedora is a global project and as such, it should be represented in precisely that way. Ambassadors again will be allowed to ask a donation in exchange for a merchandise so as to recover their costs.
Part 4. Custom Design Approval - So you do want to come up with a localized design for a creative t-shirt, that's great!! All we ask is that you kindly submit your design for review, before we give you the go ahead. We have much trust in the Ambassadors, and doubt that anyone would come up with something in poor taste, however, from a legal perspective we must approve designs. (You obviously know someone is going to come up with a Fedora Kills OpenSuSe shirt, and that could be an issue.)
Part 5. Accounting - Yes, it sucks, but we want to make this part of the process as easy as possible. The Ambassadors project wants to make sure that we do not leave anyone hanging with regarding to costs related to running an event. Therefore, we will include a simple grid sheet which will allow Ambassadors to fill in what costs were involved in running the event, how much money was recovered and what balance remains, if any. This will also allow us to isolate what elements of running the event are the costliest and how we can further help bring the costs down in those areas.
Part 6. Extra Stuff - So what happens to the extra 20 shirts you have left? Rest assured that we are working non stop to finally put together a Fedora Stuff store which we will all be able to use. Until then, we will have some guidelines in this sections which can be followed, until a more formal decision is made.
That's basically it right there. The Event Kit will be available both as a pdf downloadable from the wiki and as wiki pages themselves which will allow for editing. We would much appreciate as much feedback as possible. Does something here sound unbearable? Did you happen to fall in love with one of these ideas? Would you like to see something changed or improved? Time is wasting and we would like to have the event kit up within a few days at the latest, so now is your time to suggest or complain.
You are an ambassador, let your voice be heard!!
I think this is a grand idea! Bravo!
Richard Tuttle
Jack Aboutboul wrote:
Hey Everyone,
As some of you already know, I have been working with Max for the past few weeks on the foundations of some initiatives which we hope will help us refine some of the processes and functions which Ambassadors currently carry out. I want to to use this email to introduce one of these initiatives in hopes of eliciting some good feedback to further refine these ideas. Let me start out by saying that currently, the main goal of these propositions is to facilitate more efficient, grass roots, and most importantly, independent participation by ambassadors. That is, we hope to use these changes as the building blocks of many more improvements, and we have decided to start here. The initiative I would first like to introduce is the Fedora Ambassadors Event Kit. As we all have learned by now, the cornerstone of the Ambassadors project has to do with events, and events are the single most effective vehicles for publicity and community gathering. The main problem with running events, however, is that thus far, most of the events we have carried out have been top down, rather than bottom up. By that I mean that the efforts, in large part, have come together with much oversight and involvement with Red Hat and that has caused some problems. Foremost, many ambassadors have complained about not being able to run an event independently and have waited for funds and other merchandise for days on end. Therefore, we have decided to streamline the event and merchandise acquisition process, and that's good news in more than one way. It means more control for ambassadors. The Fedora Ambassadors Event Kit consists of five sections, each of which is aimed at tackling one angle of event planning. The following is a description of each of the sections with a brief breakdown: Part 1. Welcome - This section is used to welcome both new and current ambassadors alike and thank them for choosing to run an event. This section briefly outlines some common foundation work which must be done before any event can take place, and how to go about building quality relationships, both within and without the community, which will serve many purposes in both present and future endeavors. Part 2. Optical Media Guide - The purpose of this section is one of the most significant changes in protocol for Ambassadors. This section outlines a new method for obtaining media, by which we empower and encourage Ambassadors to establish a relationship with local vendors. Local vendors are a better outlet for obtaining media since the overall cost is lower and the relationships established with these vendors will help us gain sponsorship for important initiatives, such as Free Media. Ambassadors will then be able to collect monetary donations in exchange for media at the event which will help recover costs and sponsor more free media. Part 3. Merchandise Guide - This section builds on the previous section and lays out guidelines similar to those in the optical media guide. Once again Ambassadors will be able to produce hats, shirts, mugs, etc. locally without much oversight. Many may complain about this new process, but there are reasons for this. Mainly, we would like to see ambassadors come up with localized designs for merchandise. Fedora is a global project and as such, it should be represented in precisely that way. Ambassadors again will be allowed to ask a donation in exchange for a merchandise so as to recover their costs. Part 4. Custom Design Approval - So you do want to come up with a localized design for a creative t-shirt, that's great!! All we ask is that you kindly submit your design for review, before we give you the go ahead. We have much trust in the Ambassadors, and doubt that anyone would come up with something in poor taste, however, from a legal perspective we must approve designs. (You obviously know someone is going to come up with a Fedora Kills OpenSuSe shirt, and that could be an issue.) Part 5. Accounting - Yes, it sucks, but we want to make this part of the process as easy as possible. The Ambassadors project wants to make sure that we do not leave anyone hanging with regarding to costs related to running an event. Therefore, we will include a simple grid sheet which will allow Ambassadors to fill in what costs were involved in running the event, how much money was recovered and what balance remains, if any. This will also allow us to isolate what elements of running the event are the costliest and how we can further help bring the costs down in those areas. Part 6. Extra Stuff - So what happens to the extra 20 shirts you have left? Rest assured that we are working non stop to finally put together a Fedora Stuff store which we will all be able to use. Until then, we will have some guidelines in this sections which can be followed, until a more formal decision is made. That's basically it right there. The Event Kit will be available both as a pdf downloadable from the wiki and as wiki pages themselves which will allow for editing. We would much appreciate as much feedback as possible. Does something here sound unbearable? Did you happen to fall in love with one of these ideas? Would you like to see something changed or improved? Time is wasting and we would like to have the event kit up within a few days at the latest, so now is your time to suggest or complain. You are an ambassador, let your voice be heard!!-- Fedora-ambassadors-list mailing list Fedora-ambassadors-list@redhat.com https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/fedora-ambassadors-list
I encourage everyone to read the parent. This represents ongoing work that will impact the way events are handled in the future, and I imagine that there's more people out there who will have comments.
Jack's done a lot of work getting the idea to this point, and now is when we need your public review and comments, so that we can incorporate it in to what we're doing.
Thanks, Max
On Wed, 21 Jun 2006, Jack Aboutboul wrote:
Hey Everyone,
As some of you already know, I have been working with Max for the past few weeks on the foundations of some initiatives which we hope will help us refine some of the processes and functions which Ambassadors currently carry out. I want to to use this email to introduce one of these initiatives in hopes of eliciting some good feedback to further refine these ideas. Let me start out by saying that currently, the main goal of these propositions is to facilitate more efficient, grass roots, and most importantly, independent participation by ambassadors. That is, we hope to use these changes as the building blocks of many more improvements, and we have decided to start here. The initiative I would first like to introduce is the Fedora Ambassadors Event Kit. As we all have learned by now, the cornerstone of the Ambassadors project has to do with events, and events are the single most effective vehicles for publicity and community gathering. The main problem with running events, however, is that thus far, most of the events we have carried out have been top down, rather than bottom up. By that I mean that the efforts, in large part, have come together with much oversight and involvement with Red Hat and that has caused some problems. Foremost, many ambassadors have complained about not being able to run an event independently and have waited for funds and other merchandise for days on end. Therefore, we have decided to streamline the event and merchandise acquisition process, and that's good news in more than one way. It means more control for ambassadors. The Fedora Ambassadors Event Kit consists of five sections, each of which is aimed at tackling one angle of event planning. The following is a description of each of the sections with a brief breakdown: Part 1. Welcome - This section is used to welcome both new and current ambassadors alike and thank them for choosing to run an event. This section briefly outlines some common foundation work which must be done before any event can take place, and how to go about building quality relationships, both within and without the community, which will serve many purposes in both present and future endeavors. Part 2. Optical Media Guide - The purpose of this section is one of the most significant changes in protocol for Ambassadors. This section outlines a new method for obtaining media, by which we empower and encourage Ambassadors to establish a relationship with local vendors. Local vendors are a better outlet for obtaining media since the overall cost is lower and the relationships established with these vendors will help us gain sponsorship for important initiatives, such as Free Media. Ambassadors will then be able to collect monetary donations in exchange for media at the event which will help recover costs and sponsor more free media. Part 3. Merchandise Guide - This section builds on the previous section and lays out guidelines similar to those in the optical media guide. Once again Ambassadors will be able to produce hats, shirts, mugs, etc. locally without much oversight. Many may complain about this new process, but there are reasons for this. Mainly, we would like to see ambassadors come up with localized designs for merchandise. Fedora is a global project and as such, it should be represented in precisely that way. Ambassadors again will be allowed to ask a donation in exchange for a merchandise so as to recover their costs. Part 4. Custom Design Approval - So you do want to come up with a localized design for a creative t-shirt, that's great!! All we ask is that you kindly submit your design for review, before we give you the go ahead. We have much trust in the Ambassadors, and doubt that anyone would come up with something in poor taste, however, from a legal perspective we must approve designs. (You obviously know someone is going to come up with a Fedora Kills OpenSuSe shirt, and that could be an issue.) Part 5. Accounting - Yes, it sucks, but we want to make this part of the process as easy as possible. The Ambassadors project wants to make sure that we do not leave anyone hanging with regarding to costs related to running an event. Therefore, we will include a simple grid sheet which will allow Ambassadors to fill in what costs were involved in running the event, how much money was recovered and what balance remains, if any. This will also allow us to isolate what elements of running the event are the costliest and how we can further help bring the costs down in those areas. Part 6. Extra Stuff - So what happens to the extra 20 shirts you have left? Rest assured that we are working non stop to finally put together a Fedora Stuff store which we will all be able to use. Until then, we will have some guidelines in this sections which can be followed, until a more formal decision is made. That's basically it right there. The Event Kit will be available both as a pdf downloadable from the wiki and as wiki pages themselves which will allow for editing. We would much appreciate as much feedback as possible. Does something here sound unbearable? Did you happen to fall in love with one of these ideas? Would you like to see something changed or improved? Time is wasting and we would like to have the event kit up within a few days at the latest, so now is your time to suggest or complain. You are an ambassador, let your voice be heard!!-- Fedora-ambassadors-list mailing list Fedora-ambassadors-list@redhat.com https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/fedora-ambassadors-list
Le vendredi 23 juin 2006 à 15:45 -0400, Max Spevack a écrit :
I encourage everyone to read the parent. This represents ongoing work that will impact the way events are handled in the future, and I imagine that there's more people out there who will have comments.
Jack's done a lot of work getting the idea to this point, and now is when we need your public review and comments, so that we can incorporate it in to what we're doing.
Thanks, Max
Hello, I think that everything Jack wrote has been well thought and it is wisely written and convincing. I have nothing to complain about.
Even if it seems to be controversal, the locally made shirts are maybe something users of the French community are craving for. And as the shipping costs of the store are not accpetable at all, as Brandful's answer about this, I think making the shirts locally is a good idea. Moreover, as there are many French ambassadors, it will be easier for us to think about this and have things going ahead.
Thank you :)
Thomas Canniot
O/H Thomas Canniot έγραψε:
Hello, I think that everything Jack wrote has been well thought and it is wisely written and convincing. I have nothing to complain about.
+1
Thanks Jack.
-Dim
Dear *,
The idea is relatively good however I have got some questions or remarks about the different parts:
Part 1: Great idea to create a document which can help new ambassadors and older one to :
- set up or participate to an event
- to improve their quality relationships.
- and so forth…
it will be quite usefulll.
However, do not forget the people relationships can be different following the country where you are even if they speaks the same language.
Part2, Part 3 and Part 5: So I will have to pay for creating local CD in order to redistribute it with donation, will I?
Ok, this will work for an Open source event cause every visitor is aware about the Open Source way of thinking. And they quite agree to help volunteer in giving donations.
However, basically they already know what is fedora. And if they want to try it they already know where to download it ?
I do not say that is useless but the principal think is to make discover what linux is to standard user, students, IT professionals and so on, agree?
People who do not use or do not know what is linux. - I do not mean to convince them or evangelize them, I just mean to tell them that it exist something else than proprietary systems.
Just say they have got choice. –
And unfortunately, it is already difficult to convince them to just try it so what do think they will do if I will request them a donation?
All this to say, who is going to pay for CD or DVD? Volunteers?
Well, the think we all agree is the transport cost from the US.
But why Red hat will not create them proportionally in each continent?
And on each continent one mentor will be responsible for them deliveries.
Like this, the delivery cost will be cheaper.
Concerning the Fedora Merchandises, I have got the same point of view excepted that they are more relevant in Open Source event than for standard users, student and so on.
So I think that we could better ask donations for Fedora stuffs than for CD to people who already know what is linux.
Part 4:
No particular remarks.
Part 6:
Depend of what you will decide.
But if you do it as you said, how will you manage all extra stuff from different events with different design, color, size and so on coming from different countries? What do you do of our delivery cost problems? And finally, will the Fedora stuff customer be satisfy about what he ordered?
Anyway, I am not trying to kill all you propositions and I do not want to. Every ideas are welcome.
I understand that you are looking for kill-costing solution and I think you are doing great job event if I have got a different point of view. ;)
Fred
On 6/30/06, Dimitris Glezos dimitris@glezos.com wrote:
O/H Thomas Canniot έγραψε:
Hello, I think that everything Jack wrote has been well thought and it is wisely written and convincing. I have nothing to complain about.
+1
Thanks Jack.
-Dim
-- Dimitris Glezos Jabber ID: glezos@jabber.org, GPG: 0xA5A04C3B http://dimitris.glezos.com/
"He who gives up functionality for ease of use loses both and deserves neither." (Anonymous) --
-- Fedora-ambassadors-list mailing list Fedora-ambassadors-list@redhat.com https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/fedora-ambassadors-list
On 30-06-2006, fri at 16:21 +0200, Frederic Hornain wrote:
But why Red hat will not create them proportionally in each continent?
And on each continent one mentor will be responsible for them deliveries.
Hi Fred,
I think it is a good idea, however producing it locally in country of destination will reduce the costs to the minimum. We can even reduce the costs to zero, as we could eliminate shipping then.
Regards, Pawel
Hey,
Sorry for the delayed response, too much to do, too little time. Anyway, below are my responses to your comments/concerns.
On Fri, 2006-06-30 at 16:21 +0200, Frederic Hornain wrote:
However, do not forget the people relationships can bedifferent following the country where you are even if they speaks the same language.
Indeed, this can be very true and it is one of the problems we aim to remedy. This is one of the main goals of the new initiative, to get ambassadors to reach out to resources beyond the general FOSS community and create bonds which they can use and leads which they can further pursue. We will still of course provide support, and it is obvious that some ambassadors will have a hard time doing this. This is where we can help and teach each other effective strategies for creating such relationships.
Part2, Part 3 and Part 5: So I will have to pay for creating local CD in order to redistribute it with donation, will I?
Ok, this will work for an Open source event cause every visitor is aware about the Open Source way of thinking. And they quite agree to help volunteer in giving donations.
However, basically they already know what is fedora. And if they want to try it they already know where to download it ?
I do not say that is useless but the principal think is to make discover what linux is to standard user, students, IT professionals and so on, agree?
People who do not use or do not know what is linux. - I do not mean to convince them or evangelize them, I just mean to tell them that it exist something else than proprietary systems.
Just say they have got choice. –
Point well taken. Yes, ambassadors will initially pay for media creation. The reason for this is two-fold. One, this forces ambassadors to forge useful relationships with local providers. Two, it helps cut down on shipping costs and hassles, which have wasted a significant amount of resources and effort which could have been better used elsewhere.
We are not saying that you must sell every CD/DVD that you produce, its just not feasible. There will be instances in which an ambassador will need to give discs. In fact, the model we are proposing is one in which free media becomes subsidized as a result. Think of it as a circle in which you produce discs and a portion of those are for free media, you then sell the discs for a donation to sponsor free media which in turn recovers your costs and gives you the ability to press more discs. So yes, by all means continue to give some away and see if you can get donations for the rest. We won't leave anyone hanging.
But why Red hat will not create them proportionally in each continent?
Red Hat has contracts with media producers which it has to abide by. Fedora, and its ambassadors, on the other hand, have no such limits placed on them. Also, shipping and customs will still pose problems on each continent, as almost all continents have more than one country on them. Likewise, the point about forging relationships then becomes moot.
Concerning the Fedora Merchandises, I have got the same point of view excepted that they are more relevant in Open Source event than for standard users, student and so on.
So I think that we could better ask donations for Fedora stuffs than for CD to people who already know what is linux.
We are working on this as well. In due time we hope to solve more of these issues, there is only so much we can do at the same time. I should note, that the model should be roughly the same as for the media.
Depend of what you will decide.
But if you do it as you said, how will you manage all extra stuff from different events with different design, color, size and so on coming from different countries? What do you do of our delivery cost problems? And finally, will the Fedora stuff customer be satisfy about what he ordered?
We are still working out how to manage everything. I will put out another proposal with regards to this aspect of the puzzle when we feel we had thoroughly though it through.
Anyway, I am not trying to kill all you propositions and I do not want to. Every ideas are welcome.
I understand that you are looking for kill-costing solution and I think you are doing great job event if I have got a different point of view. ;)
Certainly. I appreciate the great quality feedback you provided. These policies and processes will only work if they are open and acceptable to all and I am sure that many have the same concerns which you brought up and I am glad to address them.
Jack
I think Jack did a great job answering these questions. I'll just add one thing:
We are not saying that you must sell every CD/DVD that you produce, its just not feasible. There will be instances in which an ambassador will need to give discs. In fact, the model we are proposing is one in which free media becomes subsidized as a result. Think of it as a circle in which you produce discs and a portion of those are for free media, you then sell the discs for a donation to sponsor free media which in turn recovers your costs and gives you the ability to press more discs. So yes, by all means continue to give some away and see if you can get donations for the rest. We won't leave anyone hanging.
We are *not* saying that Red Hat/Fedora is going to stop providing financial support for shows and events. We are most definitely going to continue to provide that support.
But it's cheaper for us to pay someone back who produced DVDs (or shirts, or hats, etc.) at a cheap price, and in a large quantity, near the location where the items will be distributed, than it is for us to produce them ourselves, and mail them all over the world.
Our money will go much further with a distributed model.
In addition, we choose to offer Ambassadors the option to ask for donations to help them recover costs. No one is forced to do this -- by all means give everything away for free if you want to -- but the *option* is there if you want it.
--Max
ambassadors@lists.fedoraproject.org
-
Dimitris Glezos -
Frederic Hornain -
Jack Aboutboul -
Max Spevack -
Pawel Sadowski -
Richard Tuttle -
Thomas Canniot