OGuild
From RCC 2007
Contents |
What do we need for the conversation to evolve at RecentChangesCamp gathering?
1-2 paragraphs on what the OGuild is and does and what benefits are signup space or database
OGuild is Open Guild, and emerged from a conversation at last year's RecentChangesCamp. It may have many categories, technology would be one. Overlaps with EFN, Jean's Nurture.biz guild concept (and something Arthur is creating), etc...
Need a champion for it. Pravin may champion if the right project presents itself. Something involving US knowledge and/or culture and at the $50,000 or larger, say $100,000 scale.
One option for funding it might be to look at training companies, since technology is a field with a six-year half life.
Benefits of OGuild for members
Many things are possible, suggested list:
- group discount for healthcare, health insurance, life insurance, medical care accounts, etc.
- training programs, mentorship, internships, apprenticeship
- marketing
- group purchasing
- policy advocacy
- shared identity around values and practice
- administration
- space
- Offices for larger open technology companies
- cubicles/desks for solo practioners (guild members) on a daily or weekly basis
- flexible collaboration space (conference rooms) big meeting areas
- Geek disneyland ... bring your open team together to have a hackathon weekend face to face
Values and Principles as uniting concept--collaboration, collaborative structures, aligns with Open Source values. Grow ours. Do together what we cannot do alone (or is inefficient to do alone)
Perhaps create OGuild Wiki (oh, yeah, we like wikis, don't we)
- asking people what they would like OGuild to provide for them
- offering opportunity to sign up (might suggest levels of interest--willing to initiate or take on projects, willing to be member, want to be kept in the loop)
Create elevator pitch (Jean to create rough draft, Pravin to review and edit by 6pm 1/10/07)
- Include values--commitment to growing ours
- share immediate benefits
- envision long-term benefits
Brainstorm on immediate benefits:
Branding, corporate identity packages, golden pages subdirectory (EFN), customer care service, conference organizing, coaching or monthly call facilitation from Jean, 1-2 hours a week consulting with Pravin, yes--preferred provider like list of people willing to contribute time and services to growing guild by sharing their services with OGuild founders and members--perhaps 25 folks?--make sure tasks are chunked at 1-2 hour size.
Action
Accountables: Jean--notes and rough draft of elevator pitch to Pravin, Pravin edit and return by 6pm 1/10/07, Julie responsible for cross-pollination with other conversations and ensuring session at RecentChangesCamp.
Requests: Anyone willing to create a wiki for this or create a space on an existing wiki for what is described above in the OGuild wiki comment?
- I think we could set it up and host it for you guys and/or point the name into a space within AboutUs which would have some benefits too Ray 06:05, 10 January 2007 (UTC)
- That would be great Ray. How can I support that? NurtureGirl
NOTE: Jean will not be at RecentChangesCamp until Saturday afternoon--be sure to post the session for it as last session.
Elevator Pitch
OGuild, or Open Guild, unites open source tech professionals (& those who want to work with them) to work together to strengthen connection, reputation and identity, and branding as well as catlyze the flow of resources. As a cooperative, guild members are owners, who retain their individuality and freedom while sharing access to services and gain benefits that are usually only accessible to employees/executives of large corporations:
- services like marketing or event organizing as well as
- benefits such as discount/group purchasing and affordable health care coverage.
OGuild can be a place to share any of the things we are all doing individually that we could do more efficiently and profitably by working together.
More benefits of OGuild
1. Common administrative tools for folks--
- standard contracts, proposal forms, letters, all that sort of thing,
- an administrative help desk, accessed via Liveperson.com that is available for a small monthly fee and an hourly rate based on usage. (this is something that we could all sign up to operate and fund through EFN to start with and add seats as we grow.
- a collaborative community forum: This way people can say, "hey I am putting together a grant, what works, what is best?"
2. Access to membership only tech publications and databases.
3. On hour a week of free coaching from one of a panel of consultants. Additional hours available at a reduced fee.
4. Access to all EFN nodes.
5. Being able to purchase air tickets on Southwest through a special corporate rate panel.
6. Invitations to member only events in various cities as well as career enhancement workshops online.
7. Potential for:
- Credit Union
- Lawyer panel
- Member to member giveaways (stuff we dont need thats still useful) etc.
See also
Comments
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