SEUGLS 2009 Discussion

What is a Community? (pre-discussion goals)

•       Mentoring/educating members

•       Career opp.

•       Cross group collaboration

•       Resource sharing

•       Dealing with “problem members”

•       Getting members involved

•       The “Virtual Element”

Define Community

•       The standard definition is:

–   .NET community, Ruby community, PHP etc based on technology

–   BS because using tech alone is not enough.

•       New definition of community is:

–   Shared minds, ideals, all in together working towards common goals. Camaraderie.

–   Community is not based on technology, instead defined as participation amongst peers.

How to get people to participate?

•       Meeting – 10-20min time to have people talk

•       Need to break shyness.

•       Need to assign tasks, need drive the task like person x does this, person y does that (Influence book)

•       Leader finds“spark of interest” and works with it to get people interested and involved.

•       Benevolent dictator?

Is participation required?

•       Is this still community? Is it only the participants? For the most part, yes.

•       Different levels of participation in the community.

–   Only at face-to-face groups.

–   Only on twitter, or only on forums, one avenue.

–   May never see in person.

•       Need to recognize contribution.

Mentoring/educating members

•       Beginner talks give tacit permission to non-speakers to talk about whatever they know.

•       Lower barrriers, set expectations like 5min each.

•       Turn no-meeting meeting into concept, like ignite or barcamp.

•       Position as open-discussion, stump-the-panel and make it fun, jovial.

Building Community

•       People need something to be a part of.

•       Build a bigger set of core people will in turn build bigger overall community.

•       Value of activity amongst members is very important.

–   Number of connections among members is more valuable than number of members.

How do you get participation?

•       Indicators of interest (borrowed from pickup artists) aka “spark” or “hook”

•       Do you need to approach new people? YES!

–   May have delayed value from people.

–   Likely loose people if not brought in.

•       Don’t come on too strong.

•       Appoint someone as “greeter” so they have permission as role to break the ice.

Community forms from:

•       Formed around idea

•       Starts small, grows into city.

•       As grows, forms neighborhoods within city.

Increasing participation

•       Start speaking? 10-20 min topic non-tech

•       Safety net, no dragon’s den allowed

•       Separate caustic people with food/drink J

•       Different personality types, tone/attitude of participants (not toastmasters) but should at least try to help develop new people.

•       Get out of shell, get to start engaging (comfort)

•       Balancing new-to-technology in community versus really advanced people.

Next Level of Community

•       Good speakers, good value just because of their ability to speak.

•       How do you sell the meeting that is not eyes-front format?

•       Community shows up regardless.

•       Roundtable meetings? Too early could hurt growth.

•       Connections are good measure of value.

Recruitment Into Community

•       Word of mouth

–   Bring a friend is VERY powerful because now attendee knows someone to sit next to and converse, bring back next time, etc.

•       Find via online searching

•       Connectors/mavens (The Tipping Point)

•       Websites: devcow.com, AtlantaUserGroups.com, Community MegaPhone, etc

Resources

•       Tribes, Seth Godin

•       The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell

•       The Art of Community, Jono Bacon

•       The Culting of Brands, Douglas Aitken

•       (less relevant) Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, Robert Ciladini