Are we ready for Action Steps?
Even though our report has not gone out to the full community I have heard from many people on these issues. For now I am using this blog to collect and record all our responses. The energy in the group to see something happen in this arena is exciting and the process of gathering all this thinking is great fun for me.
In discussions with Joan Webb and Annie Geissinger from A Moving Journal, Annie suggested a first step is to decide on a form "container" that has enough structure but is flexible and open to be inclusive but also allows for good quality. For example, one part of the structure might be a public part of the web site with rotating editors who would gate keep the quality of public presentations. Also it might be possible to divide certain tasks out. Currently Carol Zahner has offered to do the classified ads for A Moving Journal web site as one very defined task. Again A Moving Journal is offereing to be an interim presence on the web for public things like classified ads until the whole group is clear on how to proceed.
While we are waiting for the larger community response to our report there is already energy to make things happen. I have identified four questions to help focus the discussion. In my imagination a consensus will develop.
In discussions with Joan Webb and Annie Geissinger from A Moving Journal, Annie suggested a first step is to decide on a form "container" that has enough structure but is flexible and open to be inclusive but also allows for good quality. For example, one part of the structure might be a public part of the web site with rotating editors who would gate keep the quality of public presentations. Also it might be possible to divide certain tasks out. Currently Carol Zahner has offered to do the classified ads for A Moving Journal web site as one very defined task. Again A Moving Journal is offereing to be an interim presence on the web for public things like classified ads until the whole group is clear on how to proceed.
While we are waiting for the larger community response to our report there is already energy to make things happen. I have identified four questions to help focus the discussion. In my imagination a consensus will develop.
posted by Elizabeth Reid at 1:14 PM
2 Comments:
My discussion with Joan Webb and Annie Geissinger from " A Moving Journal began some thinking on my part about a
> container for the web presence. Their arrangement with Carol Zahner for doing the
> classifies ads and their ongoing sales of back issues and books made me wonder
> about the possibility of a number of people or groups utilizing the moving
> journal web site for small defined tasks that support the whole community. For
> example could Michael Gardos Reid sell the directory(or a link to an online
> directory) from the web site, collect whatever money he wants to charge for
> the directory, and give a portion to the moving journal for site maintenance.
> Could any small group of editors put together either on paper or on line a
> publication that could be sold thru the web site. Could a volunteer host a
> forum to discuss a particular Authentic Movement concern that might just be a
> link to a free blog and get a free link on the web site?
>
>
>
> In my imagination this would mean that there would need to be a web
> administrator who updates the site, lets members know when updates have
> occurred, collects money to maintain the site, and maybe potentially develops
> a way to reach out to new potential members to the site. In this scheme maybe
> membership is free and individual services cost money. Anyone who offered an
> individual service would get the major financial benefit and tax liability. I would guess that both financial benenfit and tax liability would actually be quite small for any indivdual.
> The site would work just to break even. People willing to offer individual
> services such as classified ads, directories, writings, could rotate over
> time. Also the overall site adminstrator job could rotate. I would hope each job would be well defined and easy enough to be done
> on a very part time basis including the web administrator.
Date: August 25, 2006
from elizabeth
From the staff of "A Moving Journal"
As we¹ve been talking with each
other and going back and forth, things about the website have finally gotten
clearer. The upshot is we now think that AMJ¹s web site should continue as
it is, without broadening into a more central Authentic Movement community
site. This decision comes from our essential need to limit ³executive²
function. That is, if the web site were used for classifieds, a directory,
blogs, etc., we as owners would be ultimately responsible (Annie in
particular, as AMJ is in her name). And we are trying to move away from such
responsibility.
However, we do believe a new web site could function readily and
relatively easily in all of the ways you and the group are envisioning, with
different people holding different small, discrete jobs. The hitch is that,
as far as we can imagine, some one person or persons needs to ³own² it,
literally, and someone(s) needs to oversee its function. The administrative
job does not necessarily have to be big, but it does come with
responsibility and accountability.
As far as selling books and back issues, we could discuss ideas about
transferring our inventory to a new website group. We do not want to be
competing but in full support of any new effort. Joan (who set up our
website) is ready to help set up a new website.
Thank you for all the hard work you and the group are doing. Please call
or email us with any further questions or updates. We want to support you as
much as we can.
Warmly,
Annie, Joan, and Paula
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