[Ambassadors] Fedora Ambassadors Steering Committee Election

[Jeffrey Tadlock]

On Nov 19, 2007 5:34 PM, Pablo Barrera <pablo.barrera at proyectofedora.org> wrote:
> > Point taken though.  The Steering Committee needs to consider hurdles
> > that might be specific to each region and should be a hurdle in and of
> > itself.

I typo'ed this sentence.  That should have been "...and should *not*
be a hurdle in and of itself".

> Chairs could
> be useful to identify
> where to "ask to ship cds" or get budget to spread fedora. But nothing else.
> What about estrategy to
> spread Fedora in regions?...forecast of growing? all via a marketing
> list?.... just announce? , why not to dump
> all the ideas in a monthly forum per region and think before two times an
> year how the things goes.

I think the Steering Committee can provide a larger role than just a
point of contact for asking for CDs or submitting budget requests to
the Board.  The items you list - assisting with strategy, forecasting,
etc are all things they could help provide assistance with.  Perhaps
that is just accumulating information from various areas and piecing
it together.

> > What
> > can we do to lower those hurdles?  Not all hurdles can necessarily be
> > done away with -
>
> Why not?

First, I am all for removing hurdles that can be removed.  In some
cases though, steps may need to be completed that can't be removed for
either existing reasons for future reasons..  In these cases, making
the hurdle an easier one to cross should be our goal.  Some examples:

The CLA is required for Ambassador group membership.  I think most
will agree that process can be cumbersome, you even mentioned it in
one of your earlier emails - for non-technical people that might be
able to bring a wonderful skill set to the table that process can pose
as a barrier.  If the CLA cannot be removed, then we should make sure
those steps are laid out as simple as possible.  And if someone has
trouble with that portion, make help easy to find.

Another example, reimbursement requests.  These often require some
paperwork in order to be reimbursed for promotional materials.  That
paperwork probably isn't going away.  But we can make finding that
paperwork and the instructions to complete that paperwork as painless
as possible.

> To make it possible the FAMSCO must be "real" for all ambassadors. I knew
> famsco by Rodrigo. For me Famsco is Rodrigo
> cause i know all the work that he does. But I wrote a lot of times to max
> and other, and in exception of thomas chung, who
> was very kind with me all the time, nobody answers..if u cant take your
> responsability, leave out the role...dont read it aggressive.
> i am acertive nothing more...:)

I agree with you here as well.  FAMSCO needs to be active in the
project in order for it help meet the needs of Ambassadors.
Non-responses from FAMSCO members makes it difficult for new members
and existing ambassadors to get things done.  That's why I think this
election period is more of an opportunity to change that.

> > Evolving is good.  Maybe maintain a Steering Committe with a specified
> > number of Regional Seats for each region?
>
> Chek the map.....do u think that 7 seats can cover the world?......i dont
> think so....

Okay, so that doesn't scale well.   :)

> Do you think that the problem is about the hurdles of get solve some points?
> Only 7 chairs for this places?.....
> Dont u think that each place has diffents NEEDS (not hurdles...) Needs....

I certainly agree that each place has different needs.  Even with same
countries I am sure there are different needs.  So, perhaps we need a
Steering Committee that listens to these needs and acknowledges what
works well for one place, may not work well for another.  Certainly a
person in one country can listen to the needs of another country and
adapt as necessary.

> You need more than seven chairs.... a less complex system to manage the
> communities

I don't see the Steering Committee as managers.  I see their role as
one of facilitators.  Much for the reasons you have cited.
Ambassadors in each country know their needs better than the Steering
Committee.

> >  That would help make sure
> > each region's issues are accounted for and also helps with time zone
> > differences when newer Ambassadors have questions about a process or
> > hosting an event.
>
> this is just a hour concern, not the hole problem. u can have a help desk
> 24/7 on line who each region takes as support and bring support in region
> all the time....its a technical issue....

Agreed.  Mine were just some examples thrown out into the discussion.
The scope is much larger than simply 24/7 availability.

> The new FAMSCO must work on
>
> A global marketing management
> A local marketing management based on needs not in hurdles...
> A regional ambassadors representation....at least 3 per region of big
> country
> A new site more simple to get information and become ambassador. Fill a form
> and thats all,,, but report each month activities...
> Less mailiong list....crash out marketing and announce,,,and unifiy with
> ambassadors....and use the local mailing list for support
> on each region....
> One comunication per month about activities around the world....
> Centralized DVDs and CDs shipping directly from USA to the world....no more
> local shipping...
> One annual fedora ambassador meeting in some place of the world....red hat
> must work on this probably summit could be useful for this...
> Gobal strategy focused for two years on become more known distro...for non
> geeks.....ok? non geeks...

Excellent list!  These are all things I think the Steering Committee
should be considering and helping with moving toward.  Let's use this
election to move things that direction.

> I discuss with passion not angry.....just passionate about how i think could
> be a better Fedora community and spreading strategy....
>
> we need strategy we have resources....dont dissolve famsco ...just "revisor
> it".......

I think it is a great discussion.  The bouncing of ideas back and
forth and putting them out on the table is very useful.  Now we need
to do something about it.  I think you and I are both on same page as
to what we would like to see.  Email just makes it difficult to see
that occasionally.

--Jeffrey