Jacob Redding (jredding)
Sat, 12/22/2007 - 14:58 — jredding
What is your motivation for being a member of the Drupal Association?:
Simply put: "I want to live in a world where technology is available to all and is used to enhance society as whole"
That's really it. Drupal has broken down some barriers of entry in the web world as Linux did for the server world. I want to see that continue. I also heavily subscribe to the fairly standard EFF/OSS motto "Free as in freedom" this is where software should be. Software licensing should be a thing of fairy tales and people/companies hired for their ability to perform instead of their ability to "trap" you.
The future of the web, software, and technology should be in the hands of those that use it.
What are the primary goals you would like to work on?:
Organizing. Although I can help out in a lot of areas organizing is where I'd like to sit. I want to encourage initiatives like the Drupal dojo to continue, strengthen the world-wide meetups and encourage DrupalCamps to continue.
What strategy will you employ in order to accomplish said goals?:
1) Find local representatives in respective areas that would act as ambassadors for Drupal. I'd ensure that they had the resources and tools they need to promote meetups and camps. Resources would be documentation, case studies, best practices, etc. as well as creating a network of organizers so new organizers can ease into that position. Tools would include g.d.o and other software tools (style guides, templates, etc.).
2) "Keep it loose and local". Organized chaos, essentially. The local representatives "run the show" and I help connect them and provides the resources when they need it.
3) Networking is key. Meetups and camps take resources, human and financial. In NYC I setup relationships with a number of Drupal shops as well as Drupal-Using shops. Through these relationships the camps were financially sponsored as well as human resource sponsored (people's time was donated). I've been doing the same thing in Beijing and I've already found Drupal-using shops that are ready and willing to help financially and donate human-resources to the meetups and camps.
What yearly budget would you need in order to accomplish said goals?:
Yearly budgets are difficult especially with no prior experience. I'd love to have a decent sized budget in order to print up tens of thousands of promotional items such as stickers and buttons and mail them to the local organizers. Over the last 4 months I carried Drupal buttons (donated by CivicActions) with me as I traveled across the U.S, Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China. I handed them out to everyone that was working with Drupal and they have been the greatest organizing tool I've had. Those little buttons help me find sponsors, secure conference rooms and, most importantly, financing for the meetups and upcoming camps.
Down the meat of the matter: I'd love 3-5k Euros to purchase these items. In reality I can get away with a zero budget because I know that I can find sponsors that will purchase these items.
I hold a personal belief that the local meetups and camps need to be sponsored by the local economy to create a sustainable community. I would work for that to happen. It would, however, be nice if the association could help seed some of the smaller camps.
In my fantasy world I'd love to travel to and bring people to various regions to help promote the use of Drupal in said region. For example if I could get a few people from Western Europe or the U.S to come to China, specifically Beijing in about six months from now the use of Drupal would explode!
Distribution: Stickers/Buttons would be centrally purchased and then shipped to those that need them. The templates would be made available so that those that can print locally will. Other distributions of cash (for example to help seed a camp) would be done in a reimbursement fashion based on prior submission of a budget and kept in line with some guidelines (i.e. I've ran camps before and I know what they cost. Gold-lined Drupal shirts are not an appropriate expense, free orange juice is).
What strengths/experience you have to help you accomplish the goals?:
Organizing. Organizing is my greatest strength in this organization as I just like getting people together to exchange knowledge and skill as well as to network.
Additionally I have managerial and project management experience as well as a finance background; which helps to get the "business" side of things done (budgets, costs, time estimates, etc. etc.)
How long have you been using Drupal, and how'd you get your start?:
2 years. Got my start while I worked for Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN) in New York City. MNN is a non-profit community television station with 17,000 members that create over 25,000 hours of original television content every year. Drupal (in conjunction with CiviCRM) is now the system that manages the full workflow from potential producer (customer) to full-time producers. My start with Drupal was creating a system that not only managed the website but also the "business" side of things (tracking these producers and their contributions in/around the non-profit station). UPDATE (Jan 10-2008): I didn't create the system on my own. I was the IT director at MNN and I hired the great folks at Openflows (in NYC) to help design, code and implement the system. I apologize for not making this more clear earlier on.
Have you made existing community contributions, and if so, what?:
Other than the code commits shown on my Drupal user account.
I managed the NYC user group growing it from 50ish people to 200+
I've help to organize and promote the use of Drupal and CiviCRM amongst PEG access stations in the U.S
I've traveled to numerous PEG and OSS conference around the U.S giving talks on Drupal.
I've led and been part of teams that organized Drupal and Barcamps in NYC
I've assisted with DrupalCamps in LA and S.F
I've helped with meetups in NYC, Massachusetts, Colorado and California
I am "leading" the Beijing, China user group as well as participating on drupalchina.org. I'm trying to get the Chinese users together to promote the use of Drupal within China. We have already begun planning DrupalCamp China (in Beijing, I'll help out with the Shanghai camp too)
----I love this stuff so I talk about it whenever/wherever I can.
BTW: As there is not an area for "additional notes" I'll put it here.
I'm completely fine with a Permanent membership instead of a B.O.D position.
How much time can you invest in your Drupal Association work?:
10 hours/month
Apply for Board of Directors membership:
Apply for Board of Directors membership
Board of Directors position:
Event coordinator
Statutes:
I have read and understood the Statutes of the Drupal Association. I am prepared to participate by following those statutes.
Comments
Just want to add to the general acclamation
And vouch for Jacob's organizing ability at a DrupalBarCampNYC I attended (despite being from Boston). In addition to all the organizing, leadership/setting-the-tone, etc., among the behind the scenes work he managed to get cases of some crazy iced tea donated to the event: "I just told them I liked it."
Invaluable. And you all noted he's in China now?
+1
Jacob -- I've been impressed by your contributions both on the infamous thread on Drupal.org recently, and now by your interactions in the comments here. Robert has given me a +1 on you as well, and I really do hope to work with you in multiple capacities.
I'd be glad to work with you
I'd be glad to work with you as event coordinator. I realize yours is, by far, a much better application than mine for the event director position. So I will downgrade my aspirations in my application. I hope you'll get the position you are seeking.
Flattered
wow I really can't comment on this action it is extremely flattering.
You, however, can put in more time that I can so I would urge you to reconsider. I will give the association the time I committed to (10 hours) and rarely less but I can't commit to 16-20 hours like you did. That is amazing and would be extremely beneficial to the association.
It is awesome to have someone like you in the community! I wasn't able to attend DrupalCon Barcelona but I hear you rocked it! DrupalCons are much, much harder than camps.
Thanks for your support but
Thanks for your support but I really mean your application is much better than mine. I don't have to be a member of the Director's Board to be beneficial to the association. My time will be used anyway for either the association or the Drupal community, so it will not get lost :-)
Great application
Great application Jacob!
It's been great working with you over the last few months and I am glade we are both collaborating together towards the creation of a stronger drupal community here in China.
I think the event Director role would be great for you to take on. Perhaps Dries will now wish for 3 drupal conference a year.. America, Europe and Asia. It's been my dream to see a drupalcon Asia here in China within the next 18 months. Either Beijing or Shanghai, both city would be a great choice!
Holy cow!
I really don't have much to add, other than "Awesome application." :) I tried hard to find something to nit-pick or clarify, but my colleagues have already done a great job. :)
I was able to witness your event organizing skills first hand at DrupalCamp NYC, and I think your idealism and support for things like the Dojo would be an excellent asset to the Drupal Association.
Not sure if you have seen
Not sure if you have seen http://buytaert.net/drupal-association-organization-chart-2008-wishlist but the position of 'Event director' comes to mind when I re-read your profile. From my blog post: The event director is responsible for making at least two global Drupal events happen; one Drupal conference in Europe and one Drupal conference in North America. Also responsible for supporting local Drupal events such as Drupal user group meetings and DrupalCamps. Manages an event budget and works with local teams of volunteers and professional event organizers to make things happen.
In my mind, the role of a director goes beyond "event promotion". Promotion is an important part of it, but at the end of the day, I really want to see the Drupal Association pull of two big Drupal conferences a year. Would you be willing to take a lead in that as well?
Yes
The short answer is yes, "Event Director" is what I was thinking of anyhow just with a different title. Oh and yes I fully, fully understand there is a lot of work behind the scenes other than just the promotion part of it.
You have to fundraise, strategize, plan, coordinate and, most of all, find reliable, dependable volunteers and give them an incentive to volunteer. Oh ya.. a ton goes into this.
Great application
Hi Jacob, I've watched your work with the NYC camps from a far, and you've done great work.
I am really excited that you are bringing your skills to China now.
I think your goals and strategy, backed up with experience and commitment make you an excellent Board Candidate.
http://groups.drupal.org/node/6839 has a wiki page with a list of up to 40 local events. I'd like to see how you would plan to change your a person doing local event organizing, to a person listening to others doing the work and meeting their needs. You may find others experiences are different than your experiences. What's your strategy for representing the needs of local group organizers as a whole?
There is also a proposed, marketing budget. If you get a chance to reflect on the marketing budget that would help: http://groups.drupal.org/node/6943 A lot of your ideas overlap with marketing.
Kieran
making the transition
Making the transition from being the person running the show to the person help others run the show is definitely a different method but its one I've already played. While in NYC I was the replacement for noneck Noel (http://www.luckofseven.com) so I was involved in that process and what it took for me to learn what needed to be done. Then I had to find a replacement for myself.
Moreover I helped start up the meetups in Denver, Colorado just by passing some simple ideas and trying to prod the right people. I've also been involved in the emails groups for the planning of DrupalCampLA and DrupalCampSF although they both knew what they were doing so my "advice" wasn't really necessary. In short I've had experience with sitting in that "mentor here if you need me" position. Its definitely a different position as you, at least I, just want to jump in and help them. I think I've learned how to step back, let other guide but (a) make myself available and (b) ask the right questions/minimal monitoring to ensure that things are still on track.
Now I'm onto my next challenge. Here I am in Beijing, China in a foreign with a language that's not my own. I'm learning Chinese but I'm nowhere near fluent enough to participate in a technical discussion. However the Beijing meetup was and will be in Chinese, the posts are in Chinese and all future events will be in Chinese unless there is a heavy non-chinese influence at which time we'll keep interpreters for both sides.
The reason for the language not being in English is that (a) more user's speak Chinese than English, so a native tongue will encourage turnout (b) from day 1 I've been searching for a local leader for the group. My role is really nothing more than a standin until I can find the local person to take over. No group can be successful is they rely on a non-native.
So in order to represent local group organizers I would do the same thing. Focus on encouraging the local community to manage themselves, disperse the management of the group and provide resources that work on a local scope as well as a global scope. In short I like to keep it local.
hhmm.. Does that answer your first part?
I'll chime in on the budget on the budget node..
In regards to overlapping with marketing. Ya organizing is also marketing to an extent. Getting stickers/buttons to the organizer is a marketing ploy/incentive to get people interested and involved. My focus though is different than marketing in that I don't want to encourage people to use Drupal I want to encourage Drupal user's to participate and get/stay involved. There's overlap sure but its also pretty distinct.
Great response
Hi Jacob, you've addressed my need for clarification very well.
Keep up the excellent work.
Kieran
some feedback
a good write up.
some feedback:
re:
Stickers/Buttons would be centrally purchased and then shipped to those that need them.
Though I know geeks and nerds are "childish" when it comes down to gadgets (like stickers and buttons) but I do think you overestimate this as a medium, especially when it comes down to bringing drupal beyond geeks/nerds. I would like to know what are means you would like to use to accomplish your goals and would like to see more S.M.A.R.T goals (specific, measurable, agreed, realistic and time).
re: "I'd love 3-5 Euros to purchase these items."
per piece? if so could you please quantify this?
--
kind regards,
bert boerland
the importance of preview...
I hit submit too fast and I didn't realize that the line break wouldn't be on. I think its a bit easier to read (and more grammatically correct) when the lines breaks are in.
getting to the point.
1) "I'd love 3-5 Euros to purchase these items." Should've read ""I'd love 3-5K Euros to purchase these items.". Or a few thousand bucks.
Its important to note that I've had no trouble finding funding for items such as this. I'd only like to purchase them for the areas around the world that either (a) can't afford them because their local community has grown yet or (b) doesn't have the ability to create them on their own. Again the push is for the local groups to do the heavy lifting with a.d.o acting in a supporting role.
I also want to make it very clear that I wouldn't be expecting a budget and, in the past, I've had zero trouble finding funding for the organizing efforts I've been involved in. I don't think this will be a problem in the future.
onto to your point about my overestimating stickers/buttons as a medium. I agree.
My writeup made it sounds as if I sent stickers/buttons around the world Drupal would become the biggest thing since sliced bread. Definitely not true. These little things, however, have done two tiny things; IMHO. (1) raised awareness at conferences as the little buttons say a lot (2) gave people a bit of pride in Drupal as they could wear it (Drupal) around. I know that it sounds a bit corny but I honestly think its true. When I was handing these things out in NYC and LA (where they were abundant) people gobbled them up and wore them everywhere even outside of the events.
When I handed them out in Colorado, Hong Kong and mainland China (where they are scarce) it was much different. The reaction was more of a "wow, Drupal even has buttons" and when I tell them that the buttons were purchased by a private company and donated to the community they are even more impressed (Thank you CivicActions!). It somewhat solidifies in their head that Drupal is not just a piece of software but there is something behind it. I hope that it also helps them to encourage their own companies to donate back to the community.
Now when everyone has the buttons and they are no longer scarce and "cool" their meaning will devalue and we'll have to think of something else.
My means and my S.M.A.R.T goals (specific, measurable, agreed, realistic and time).
Oh man I didn't think I'd have to start creating some GAANT charts for a volunteer position, but if it helps. ;)
1) My means.
under "What strategy will you employ in order to accomplish said goals?" I somewhat addressed what I would use. In short its the spoke and hub method. Using the already existing Drupal tools (g.d.o, IRC) I would help to provide the resources, tools and, most importantly, guidance so that local organizers can pick up the ball and run with it in their local community.
Of course for larger conferences (DrupalCon, etc.) I would gather a team of people to help me plan the conference (location, food, transportation, sponsors, etc.). The larger conferences, unlike the camps/meetups, would be more heavily weighted towards a.d.o being the leading role (Camps, meetups, etc. should be led by local community leaders).
2) the S.M.A.R.T goals
again I don't want to overthink all of these things... as my philosophy is more of "Organized Chaos" the more rigid of a structure we put on the Drupal community the less they'll use a.d.o. Of course we do want to measure if things are going well..
I'd just tack on to what Amazon is already doing.
1) How many groups are listed on g.d.o and what is their geographic dispersion? (also activity rate, event posting rate, etc.)
2) In a given year how many Drupal specific events, training sessions, etc. are held around the world and their geographic dispersion?
3) A sheer number of people attending a camp can't be the only measure of success so we can also look at growth rate of downloads/issue queue/forum posts in correlation with number of events (i.e. are the events prompting people to become more involved).
That's an idea of what I'd look for. As an example of how I'm currently measuring progress in China
1) A DrupalCamp hasn't happened in China yet. I'd like a minimum of 2 by the end of 2008
2) The meetups in Beijing and Shanghai have just begun. Shanghai had 8 people show up, Beijing had 21 show up. I'd like to see Beijing at 30-40 consistent people and Shanghai at 15-30 consistent participants during 2008. Registered users should be around 60-75 in Beijing and 30-50 in Shanghai based upon what I've seen on the drupalchina.org website.
3) I'd love to see Shanghai and Beijing offer at least 1 or 2 separate presentation and/or training specific events outside of the meetups/camps. These would hopefully be done by an outside company/organizing and can be done either for free or at cost.
Again. I'm into the "Organized Chaos" methodology and also allowing things to happen organically. If meetups aren't occurring in a particular region I'm not going to push droves of resources towards it just to improve a metric. I would (a) try to find out why things haven't occurred in the region and (b) determine if its a lack of interest or a leadership problem (i.e. noone has stepped up). If there is no interest I'm not going to create interest; we are not a massive company creating artificial markets. If its a leadership issue I'll do whatever I can to mentor people, to provide the network, to provides the resources to educate and train new local leaders.
This leads me to my last point which has been part of my entire thought process but not really bluntly stated.
I'm not in this role to create markets or to "open up new markets" in the formal business marketing sense of the term. I'm applying for this role to provide mentorship, guidance and a support network to help grow existing communities as well as support budding communities. If people don't want Drupal that's their choice and no amount of buttons, stickers, etc. is going to change that nor is it my job to try to change their minds.
Drupal must sell itself.
well, that made a diference
thanks.
--
Kind regards,
bert boerland
Edit own applications permission
I enabled the 'edit own applications' permission so you should be able to fine-tune your application if you want.
Thanks for clarifying! Much appreciated.