Mailinglist Archive: opensuse-marketing (324 mails)

[Andreas Jaeger <aj@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Friday 26 June 2009 17:13:08 Satoru Matsumoto wrote:
> Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier wrote:
> > On Thu, Jun 25, 2009 at 6:44 PM, Satoru Matsumoto<helios_reds@xxxxxxx> 
wrote:
> > > As you may know, ATM, everyone can be an Ambassador, even if he or she
> > > has rather biased view, or is offensive to others. :-P
> >
> > Sometimes it's possible to say objectively "this person is being
> > offensive or harmful," other times it's very subjective. How do you
> > propose screening for ambassadors without putting barriers in place to
> > potential contributors?
> >
> > We are still bootstrapping and I feel very strongly that putting too
> > many barriers and obstacles in the way of the ambassadors is a sure
> > way to kill enthusiasm.
> >
> > > If the purpose of Ambassador program is just gathering contributers in
> > > each region/country/city, it might be enough as it is now. However, if
> > > we hope this program will help having representative and responsible
> > > persons in each region/country/city, I also think we need some criteria
> > > and screening for Ambassadors.
> >
> > What would the criteria be and who would be doing the screening?
>
> I think it all depends on how we expect Ambassadors to be. As I wrote,
> "If the purpose of Ambassador program is just gathering contributers in
> each region/country/city, it might be enough as it is now."

I agree, we should discuss this and define how we like to have the role 
defined.  And I think you as (potential) ambassadors should make up these 
roles so that you feel confident being an ambassador.

> If we think so, 'Ambassador' would be nothing more than a title for the
> region-associated contributers who do what they can do for promoting
> openSUSE. If someone says, "I'm an Ambassador in $REGION_OR_COUNTRY.",
> that means "I live in $REGION_OR_COUNTRY. I will promote openSUSE and be
> a good contact for users and newbie contributers in $REGION_OR_COUNTRY."
>
> If we can share the concept of Ambassadors' role in the community like
> this, it's all right. As I wrote in my previous post[1], "I hope as many
> persons as possible will support this program and sign up, because
> signing up for this program will be a good entrance for the people who
> want to contribute in marketing area. Everyone can become an Ambassador,
> if he/she wants to. That's definitely good."

IMHO it's also that not everybody that does contribute in the marketing area 
needs to be an ambassador.  The reverse is true - if you are an ambassador, I 
expect to see you engaged in marketing.

> [1]
> http://lists.opensuse.org/archive/opensuse-marketing/2009-05/msg00119.html
>
> However, are we all sharing the concept now ?  As far as I can see, some
> are expecting Ambassadors to be much more representative and
> responsible, or at least respectable persons. That's because I thought
> we need some criteria and screening for Ambassadors.
>
> > What would the criteria be and who would be doing the screening?
>
> I'd like to bring up my rough draft that I've already posted[2] once
> again here. Note, this is just a springboard for discussion:
>
> - Everyone who wants to help promoting or introducing openSUSE, or be a
>   contact for newbies in his/her region, country or city can register
>   him/herself as an 'embassy staff' first. There's no need to be
>   approved for this.
>
> - After 1 year activity, each 'embassy staff' gets right to become an
>   Ambassador. In order to become an Ambassador, the 'embassy staff' need
>   to be approved somehow.
>     - approved by senior Ambassador ?  # There's no senior Ambassador
>                                        # ATM, though...

e.g. by two other ambassadors?

>     - by board members ?
>     - with some endorsements by his/her local community or other embassy
>       staffs ?

We could also start with the existing ambassadors and change the policy later.  
That way you have the first group of ambassadors - and then you add further 
ambassadors later.

> - Therefore, 'embassy staffs' who want to become Ambassadors are
>   strongly recommended to report their activities by joining marketing
>   team IRC meetings, posting reports to -marketing list, writing blog
>   entries, etc., so that others can easily see their daily activities.

Ambassadors should also report ;)

> Things to do for the person who wants to become an Ambassador are quite
> simple. 1) He/She will do what they can do for promoting openSUSE and
> helping users and newbie contributers. 2) He/She will report his/her
> activities somehow. 3) He/She will join the discussions and the meetings
> as often as possible.
>
> Do you think these would be insurmountable barriers and obstacles for
> those who want to become an Ambassadors and kill their enthusiasm ?
>
> Please don't forget, I don't mean to strongly recommend to make the
> criteria and do screening. That might be our alternatives.

I'm not volunteering right now to become an ambassador - but I'm interested in 
marketing ;).  To me this does not sound like a too high barrier.  On the 
other hand, keep in mind that these are subjective definitions.  How to 
measure them? 

Andreas
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