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Guy's Rants about volunteerism
- To: linux ILUG <linux-il(at-nospam)linux.org.il>
- Subject: Guy's Rants about volunteerism
- From: Omer Zak <omerz(at-nospam)actcom.co.il>
- Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2001 10:21:02 +0200 (EET)
- Delivered-To: linux.org.il-linux-il@linux.org.il
- Sender: linux-il-bounce(at-nospam)cs.huji.ac.il
I have been involved with some voluntary efforts (not in IGLU), and I know
how difficult it is to attract volunteers.
I would like to offer some suggestions to make it easier to solve the
problem.
When someone considers whether to volunteer to some worthy cause, he
doesn't usually have time just for the "just to feel good and noble".
Another reason is needed. In the case of www.iglu.org.il, this is not a
problem: it is an excellent way to gain experience, build contacts in the
community, get exposure - in short, an excellent way to prepare for a
future job and/or business contacts.
Recently someone posted and asked for suggestions how to get Linux
experience. He was open to offers to volunteer his time. I am sure there
are several other youngsters in similar situation (before the army, and
wanting Linux and/or Webmastering experience).
Another important issue which is considered by someone who is
contemplating volunteer work: needed commitment. People with family and
jobs are already fully committed to those. They won't accept lightly
further commitments, if they are serious. However, then something itches
them, they would be willing to scratch the itch.
I suggest that the existing www.iglu.org.il volunteer maintainers make
information available, to make it easier for other people to volunteer as
follows:
1. Manage it like a Free Software project - make the various scripts, and
documentation of the working of the Web site, available for read-only
access via the WWW and/or FTP.
2. Build a TODO list of tasks which need to be performed, both regularly
and one-time. Anyone who has a free moment may go over the TODO list
and do something from it, without further commitment.
Thus, anyone who has a free moment and an itch to scratch, can retrieve
the relevant scripts, modify them and E-mail them to the webmaster (who
will act as Linus - decide what patches to accept and what to reject).
The webmaster will then install the improved scripts and content.
If the Web site uses scripts/software in a language which I want to learn,
I may volunteer to maintain them for a while, for the experience. But for
this to happen, I need to know the language. And I prefer not to get the
information in a way which commits me to help i.e. the information should
be made publicly available rather than privately E-mailed to me.
--- Omer
There is no IGLU Cabal. Volunteers are needed, but the existing
organizers are shooting their feet and scaring off potential volunteers by
telling them how complicated, intricate, thankless and big-commitment is
the work.
WARNING TO SPAMMERS: at http://www.zak.co.il/spamwarning.html
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