From: cyberorg@opensuse.org Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 12:19:26 +0530 Subject: Re: [opensuse-marketing] Announcing the openSUSE Ambassadors Program To: alpdrucken@hotmail.com CC: opensuse-marketing@opensuse.org

2009/5/28 Alpdr��cken Von Krieg :

...

As defined in the mail, I'm already an openSUSE ambassador, I already do all that to help people in the use of Linux, acting as the OWN Spanish translator/coordinator and also I'm actually developing an openSUSE interactive book, it intends to help other students to know and use openSUSE for educational and productive facts.

...

We(openSUSE-Edu team) would be very interested in including your work in our repositories and live images. Do drop in on IRC Freenode #opensuse-edu some of us are always lurking there.

...

So I agree at joining the ambassador program, and I'm ready to go.

Cheers

-J

Hey thanks, well, the book is a school project, the intention is to make the web book, and after it's ready, make an openSUSE Live CD or DVD (in case required), having the book and the software in it. Is going to be in Spanish, but once finished, may be translated to other languages. I'm not a good web or graphical designer, so until now the book is intended to be implemented in a Joomla site, implementing tools like MySQL, OpenOffice.org, Servers, and more things, the goal is that the book helps students, teachers and administrative workers to implement and use Linux for educational purposes, and at the same time being a windows to Linux migration guide. I'm a Computer Systems Engineer student and in my university only windows is used, and the few who uses Linux most of them use ubuntu and some use openSUSE, but in my point of view openSUSE is the best choice, because the openSUSE community and being a Novell project in some way, but ubuntu is more like Linux for dummies so that has helped it to be the dominant Linux distro. Actually I'm trying to get some ideas to make the book a reality, so if I may get the openSUSE-Edu team help, it would be great. I don't really use IRC, but WLM, with the same e-mail, so feel free to add me, I'll try to connect to IRC, but not sure when I'll have time to do it. AlpVonKri http://en.opensuse.org/User:Alpvonkri �������g���ⲿ� EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOOD Join me -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org

First of all, I'd like to appreciate all - including Martin Lasarsch ! - who made noble efforts to organize this program.

However, to be honest, this program doesn't attract me so much and I'm not tempted to become an Ambassador ATM. I want to explain why I think so. I'm just realized, that the "Ambassador-Program" is very different from

Hi Satoru, Am Donnerstag 28 Mai 2009 11:32:13 wrote Satoru Matsumoto: the originaly "Spokesperson-Program [1]". Why? [1] http://en.opensuse.org/OpenSUSE_spokesperson_concept -- Sincereley yours Sascha Manns openSUSE Marketing Team openSUSE Build Service openSUSE Features Screening Team Web: http://saschamanns.gulli.to Project-Blog: http://lizards.opensuse.org/author/saigkill Private-Blog: http://saschasbacktrace.blogspot.com

Hi Joe, Am Donnerstag 28 Mai 2009 17:42:54 wrote Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier:

On Thu, May 28, 2009 at 9:16 AM, Sascha 'saigkill' Manns

<samannsml@directbox.com> wrote:

...

I'm just realized, that the "Ambassador-Program" is very different from the originaly "Spokesperson-Program [1]". Why?

I don't think it's *very different - is there something missing we should add? Thanks for answering. The old rules was:

Who can be a spokesperson * everybody who signed the guiding principles and is an openSUSE member That is not in the new rules. What are the tasks of a spokesperson? In general these community members should spread the word about openSUSE in their area, like: * promote openSUSE No Problem * dispatch openSUSE DVDs/CDs No Problem then I need an Package witth them... * contact to local LUGs No Problem * attend events (tradeshows, university, community etc.), give presentations No Problem, than I need business Cards. So i can be an "official" Contactperson. * help updating the event calendar on news.o.o Then i need an Access for news.o.o * contact for local community (in person, chat, mailinglists etc.) and get feedback to the project No Problem * mentor other interested people No Problem * write reports from events, meetings etc on news or lizards.o.o Access Novell: * welcome box (t-shirts, caps, Promo DVDs), to be resend with each new release * special business cards (template or real) Needed * special t-shirt It would be nice * a special guide/howto to make it easier and better organized strongly needed * event box (portable booth, signage, banner, flyer, poster etc.) Needed * certain budget for travel Strongly needed. * create a spokesperson day parallel or a day prior to the openSUSE conference Good * single point of contact to drive the program and manage travel, DVD shipment, events etc. I need an Contact from SuSE/Novell Germany. Anyone who i can ask. * exclusive mailinglist for spokespersons to allign our efforts (albeit it's public anyway to get feedback) Not truly needed <my_view> I think the Role shoud be the following. The Ambassadors are "official Representative" from Novell//OpenSUSE. The Ambassadors are making Public Releations in their own Country. That Means they are representative and making interviews, and Articles in Magazines, Blogs, news.o.o. The Ambassadors are official OpenSUSE Members (Since => 1 year). Why if the Ambassadors are representative they must know more about the Project as an single forums User. The Ambassadors are getting Money from Novell for: Traveling and Hostel and for Publicity. </my_view> If that all are granted by Novell, so i'm holding my Name in the List. Otherwise i'm removing me... -- Sincereley yours Sascha Manns openSUSE Marketing Team openSUSE Build Service openSUSE Features Screening Team Web: http://saschamanns.gulli.to Project-Blog: http://lizards.opensuse.org/author/saigkill Private-Blog: http://saschasbacktrace.blogspot.com

On Thu, May 28, 2009 at 5:32 AM, Satoru Matsumoto <helios_reds@gmx.net> wrote:

As long as I read the Wiki page, listed sample tasks for Ambassadors are very similar to those for marketing team members. As Zonker might know, I have done already and am doing almost everything in Japan as a member of marketing team. I was/am/will be able to do things that are expected to be done by Ambassadors, even if I were not an Ambassador, right ?

Yes, the functions for ambassadors are similar to marketing. This is why, for example, it seems to make more sense to have ambassador discussions on the marketing list rather than creating a new list, at least for now. Yes, you can do a lot of things that ambassadors do without being an ambassador. One intent behind the ambassador program is to give people an idea what ambassadors do, and to start organizing efforts. It's not to say that some people weren't doing this already -- but some people would like guidance as to what they should be doing, plus identification as an ambassador so the role is more clear / crisp.

So, my question is: Is there anything that *only* Ambassadors can do or expected to do ?  Do Ambassadors have any responsibility ?  If the answer is 'nothing', I can't find the reason why I'd better become an Ambassador.

At the moment, no. In the near term, I see the ambassador group being the people who have a louder voice in planning our show presence and having some voice in what we as a project decide to sponsor. As for responsibilities: "If you're working to promote openSUSE in your area or online, you're an Ambassador in good standing as long as you uphold the Guiding Principles of the project and conduct yourself in a professional and courteous manner." We will hold ambassadors to "professional and courteous." It's not meant to be an exclusionary program, though - we wouldn't want to see, say, one person saying "this is my area, I'm an ambassador for [insert area here] and you can't be" or something like that.

If someone wants to become an Ambassador but don't like to sign the GPs, is he or she able to be or eligible for an Ambassador ?

Officially, no. Best, Zonker -- Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier <jzb@zonker.net> openSUSE Community Manager: http://zonker.opensuse.org Blogs: http://blogs.zdnet.com/community | http://www.dissociatedpress.net Twitter: jzb | Identica: jzb http://identi.ca/group/opensuse/members -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org

Hi Zonker, Bryen Thank you for your replies. Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier wrote:

Yes, you can do a lot of things that ambassadors do without being an ambassador. One intent behind the ambassador program is to give people an idea what ambassadors do, and to start organizing efforts. It's not to say that some people weren't doing this already -- but some people would like guidance as to what they should be doing, plus identification as an ambassador so the role is more clear / crisp.

That's because why I thought '... signing up for this program will be a good entrance for the people who want to contribute in marketing area.' If someone wants to become an Ambassador, he or she can, as long as he or she ... * does some suggested works to help promote and introduce openSUSE distribution and/or project * upholds the Guiding Principles * conduct himself or herself in a professional and courteous manner If I understand correctly, whether someone is an appropriate Ambassador or not mostly depends on if he or she has a will to contribute openSUSE or not. Any special skills or knowledges are not required for becoming an Ambassador, right ? That's very good for persons who are new to contributing FOSS community, so I mentioned 'I hope as many persons as possible will support this program and sign up'. However, IMHO, this is an advantage of this program and also a disadvantage in the same time. We - I mean, guys on this list - can share an awareness of 'what kind of persons are the Ambassadors'. But people outside our community or new to openSUSE might consider Ambassadors 'official representative persons from openSUSE project'. When I participated in a panel discussion at Linux World/Tokyo last year, I introduced myself as a CCO - Chief Chore ;-) Officer - of openSUSE Japanese community. Of course it was a joke. I was afraid of being misunderstood by audience that I were Novell person or one of the *officially acknowledged* representative of openSUSE project. You know, what I talked in the panel discussion are just my personal thoughts and opinions, not the official comments by openSUSE project at all. I didn't want to bring confusion for that. If I introduced myself as an 'openSUSE Ambassador' at that time, don't you think the audience might have easily considered me a kind of representative of openSUSE project ?

At the moment, no. In the near term, I see the ambassador group being the people who have a louder voice in planning our show presence and having some voice in what we as a project decide to sponsor.

As for responsibilities: "If you're working to promote openSUSE in your area or online, you're an Ambassador in good standing as long as you uphold the Guiding Principles of the project and conduct yourself in a professional and courteous manner."

We should clarify the position of Ambassadors like: a) Active persons who work for promoting and introducing openSUSE in their regions, countries or cities, but don't have any duties or responsibilities except being 'professional and courteous' b) Persons who work for promoting and introducing openSUSE in their regions, countries or cities, have some rights and benefits on the bases of assuming obligation for something and can represent the openSUSE project As long as I can see, our choice ATM is a). It may not be wrong. However, IMHO, we have to watch out for jumbling a) and b). Bryen wrote:

The list of Ambassadors would give us a much easier reference point to connect people and events. You and I, and everyone on this list, knows that you are the go-to guy for inquiries related to Japan. But if someone in Japan came by one of our IRC channels to ask if there was someone in Japan that could participate in a Japanese event, whomever responds in that channel may not necessarily know you would be the best reference point. However, with a list of Ambassadors, we can easily and quickly point that person to the correct representative for their region.

When I read about 'Ambassador(Spokesperson) program' for the first time, I understood this is aimed to make *little Zonkers* in each region, countries and cities, so that we can support users and potential contributers more meticulously even if they are not good at English and find difficulties to post questions directly to an appropriate mailing list or forum in English. We, Non-English-Speakers, need some contacts whom we can easily ask questions in our native languages. I know it's not the one and only perpose of the Ambassador program, but having such contacts is one of the most important things for us. And, as you know, I'd like to be one of such contacts for Japanese. - I'm sure, most of the Ambassadors who have already added their name to the list of Ambassadors have same mind. ;-) ...And, yes, it might be helpful, if there is a 'Language' column in the list, so that people can easily find the persons, who can understand their language. As you know, in India or China, for example, there are many languages in one country. However, I want to ask again here, Bryen. Is an Ambassador representative of openSUSE project or community, as you mentioned above ? You know, there's no need to be approved by someone, in order to become an Ambassador. And, it must be impossible for everyone to do everything that are suggested as Ambassadors ToDos alone as a volunteer. So, someone who just wants to help out in the openSUSE booth at events, for example, but doesn't have an interest in other things, enough experience or knowledge on openSUSE, can also become an Ambassador, right ? How come such an Ambassador can be 'the correct representative'? Fedora project also has Ambassador program and there is one Fedora Ambassador in Japan, but as far as I heard from one of the members of Fedora Japanese community, the Ambassador is not a Japanese and don't speak Japanese. So, if we contact him to ask about Fedora Japanese community by posting an e-mail in Japanese, he can't answer at all. If we expect Ambassadors to be representatives somehow, we need to do screening for that. For example: - 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 ? by board members ? by Ambassador lead ? or, voted by local community ? 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. Those are just my WAG (Wild Ass Guess), though. Sorry for my redundant comments. Best, -- _/_/ Satoru Matsumoto - openSUSE Member - Japan _/_/ _/_/ Marketing/Weekly News/openFATE Screening Team _/_/ _/_/ mail: helios_reds_at_gmx.net / irc: HeliosReds _/_/ _/_/ http://blog.geeko.jp/author/heliosreds _/_/ -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org

On Fri, May 29, 2009 at 2:40 AM, Satoru Matsumoto <helios_reds@gmx.net> wrote:

Hi Zonker, Bryen

Thank you for your replies.

Of course. :-)

Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier wrote:

...

Yes, you can do a lot of things that ambassadors do without being an ambassador. One intent behind the ambassador program is to give people an idea what ambassadors do, and to start organizing efforts. It's not to say that some people weren't doing this already -- but some people would like guidance as to what they should be doing, plus identification as an ambassador so the role is more clear / crisp.

That's because why I thought '... signing up for this program will be a good entrance for the people who want to contribute in marketing area.'

If someone wants to become an Ambassador, he or she can, as long as he or she ... * does some suggested works to help promote and introduce openSUSE  distribution and/or project

Or comes up with new ways to promote and introduce openSUSE -- we don't limit people to just the ideas we have so far on the wiki.

* upholds the Guiding Principles * conduct himself or herself in a professional and courteous manner

If I understand correctly, whether someone is an appropriate Ambassador or not mostly depends on if he or she has a will to contribute openSUSE or not. Any special skills or knowledges are not required for becoming an Ambassador, right ?

Well, an ambassador should have a fair amount of knowledge about openSUSE, but they don't need to be a developer, etc.

We - I mean, guys on this list - can share an awareness of 'what kind of persons are the Ambassadors'. But people outside our community or new to openSUSE might consider Ambassadors 'official representative persons from openSUSE project'.

There seems to be a lot of interest in whether an ambassador is "official" or not. (Saigkill also brought this up.) What constitutes "official," really? And people outside the community who don't understand the structure of projects may see anyone talking about openSUSE as "official," really.

When I participated in a panel discussion at Linux World/Tokyo last year, I introduced myself as a CCO - Chief Chore ;-) Officer - of openSUSE Japanese community. Of course it was a joke. I was afraid of being misunderstood by audience that I were Novell person or one of the *officially acknowledged* representative of openSUSE project. You know, what I talked in the panel discussion are just my personal thoughts and opinions, not the official comments by openSUSE project at all. I didn't want to bring confusion for that.

If you're out promoting openSUSE, I'm not sure it really is necessary to be "officially acknowledged" as a "representative" of the project. Common sense applies, of course -- if someone wants to do a press interview of some kind and the questions get into a discussion of Novell's products and things of that nature, then obviously that should be done by someone actually working for Novell. If the questions concern the openSUSE board or governance, then it might not be appropriate to have someone not in one of those "official" positions. But generally -- to speak about the project and promote the project, I don't think it's required that someone be "official." The more deeply involved with the project a person is, of course, the more they'll be able to answer a wider range of questions.

If I introduced myself as an 'openSUSE Ambassador' at that time, don't you think the audience might have easily considered me a kind of representative of openSUSE project ?

Maybe, but 1) where's the harm in that? And 2) what makes you think they didn't consider you a representative of the project anyway? If you see harm in that, I'd wonder why - the only good reason I can think of to distinguish official vs. unofficial people is in the event someone says something that would be embarrassing to the project -- and I doubt that's the case with you! :-) The structure of open source projects is very different than companies. People read a lot into it when anyone speaks for or about a project, and it's a natural assumption for many people to assume that someone is "official," and I'm not sure it's worth too much effort to spend our time trying to convince them otherwise when you could be spending that time promoting open source and Linux. If you're concerned about whether you're official or not, I'd suggest thinking as if you *are an official spokesperson and being precise and accurate in what you say, and *never try to answer a question that you're not qualified to speak about. (And when I say "you" I mean everybody reading the list, not just Satoru.)

...

At the moment, no. In the near term, I see the ambassador group being the people who have a louder voice in planning our show presence and having some voice in what we as a project decide to sponsor.

As for responsibilities: "If you're working to promote openSUSE in your area or online, you're an Ambassador in good standing as long as you uphold the Guiding Principles of the project and conduct yourself in a professional and courteous manner."

We should clarify the position of Ambassadors like:

b) Persons who work for promoting and introducing openSUSE in their   regions, countries or cities, have some rights and benefits on the   bases of assuming obligation for something and can represent the   openSUSE project

As long as I can see, our choice ATM is a). It may not be wrong. However, IMHO, we have to watch out for jumbling a) and b).

I think that it's closer to b, but we're not (at the moment) specifying the obligations (it's up to the individual ambassador to choose how they're going to proceed).

You know, there's no need to be approved by someone, in order to become an Ambassador. And, it must be impossible for everyone to do everything that are suggested as Ambassadors ToDos alone as a volunteer. So, someone who just wants to help out in the openSUSE booth at events, for example, but doesn't have an interest in other things, enough experience or knowledge on openSUSE, can also become an Ambassador, right ?  How come such an Ambassador can be 'the correct representative'?

This is something I'm trying to avoid -- i.e., choosing one person over another as the "correct" representative. This has a potential to be very discouraging to other people.

If we expect Ambassadors to be representatives somehow, we need to do screening for that. For example:

It's not a bad idea to "screen" new ambassadors and help mentor them. We need more people do to this, though. Are you volunteering? :-) You have some good ideas, so I hope you'll sign up and continue to be involved, and help manage the project. As with any open source project - those that do the work help define the processes and set the standards. I'd love to see the ambassadors become as self-organized as the Weekly News team. Best, Zonker -- Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier <jzb@zonker.net> openSUSE Community Manager: http://zonker.opensuse.org Blogs: http://blogs.zdnet.com/community | http://www.dissociatedpress.net Twitter: jzb | Identica: jzb http://identi.ca/group/opensuse/members -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org

Am Donnerstag 04 Juni 2009 10:34:20 wrote Satoru Matsumoto:

As I mentioned in my previous post, we, Non-English-Speakers, need some *responsible* contacts whom we can easily ask questions in our native languages. That's a good Point +1

So, why don't we start by discussing and brainstorming what are needed to make this program more effective ? In my view the Ambassadors are assets in the Bilance. The should make local Marketing and PR. They should help organizing local events.

I think the following are important: 1.) The A. are representative for the OpenSUSE Project 2.) They read the important Lists (To expand the Knowledge) 3.) They know important things (like Roadmap and others) 4.) Novell are standing behind them and the A. has an local (native Language) Partner from Novell. 5.) Money: Novell gives the A. money for traveling and hosting. Thats important. So the A. are free to help in the Country. Novell has a Sales Volume from 25% and the Profit are tripled. So i think the handfull A. can getting Money from Novell. 6.) In my meaning it should be better, if the A. are OSMembers. So its guaranteed, that he have enough Knowledge. But this is just my view ;-) That's are my favorites. -- Sincerely yours Sascha Manns openSUSE Marketing Team openSUSE Build Service openSUSE Features Screening Team Web: http://saschamanns.gulli.to Project-Blog: http://lizards.opensuse.org/author/saigkill Private-Blog: http://saschasbacktrace.blogspot.com

I don't know whether I were a right person to comment on Sascha's opinion, since I am neither a Novell person nor 'an official representative' :-P of openSUSE community or project, I want to commit my point of view. Sascha 'saigkill' Manns wrote:

In my view the Ambassadors are assets in the Bilance. The should make local Marketing and PR. They should help organizing local events.

I think the following are important: 1.) The A. are representative for the OpenSUSE Project 2.) They read the important Lists (To expand the Knowledge) 3.) They know important things (like Roadmap and others) 4.) Novell are standing behind them and the A. has an local (native Language) Partner from Novell.

Although I can understand what you mean to say, I wonder if every local corporation of Novell can set up such a contact person for community. As far as I can see, Novell doesn't want to be contacted by individuals for openSUSE related issues. In their view, "openSUSE project is a *community-driven* project and Novell just supports and sponsors the project". That's because Novell hired Zonker as a community manager that should be a contact for community. I agree with you that sometimes we need such a contact in local corporation of Novell whom we can talk in our native language. However, when I asked a Novell person (in Japan) to make clear where or who is the contact for community, her answer was, "Officially, we don't have such a contact in our (Japanese local) corporation. So I have to answer, if you have something to talk over openSUSE related issue, you should consult Zonker or board". But if we have to understand so, it means that it is virtually impossible for persons who are not good at English to ask questions or consult Zonker or board about openSUSE, because they can't understand our language (you know, German are doubly blessed than Japanese, since Michael and Henne can understand German at least. Neither Zonker nor board members can understand Japanese at all). As far as I understand, the Ambassador program was aimed to improve this situation. Everyone who are not good at English can ask questions or consult an Ambassador in their region about openSUSE. If the Ambassador can answer, he or she would answer. If the Ambassador can't answer or isn't sure how and what he or she should answer, he or she should consult Zonker or board about the issue.

5.) Money: Novell gives the A. money for traveling and hosting. Thats important. So the A. are free to help in the Country. Novell has a Sales Volume from 25% and the Profit are tripled. So i think the handfull A. can getting Money from Novell.

When we discuss money-related issues, we have to talk with utmost care. And, IMHO, if we have to discuss money-related issues, the discussion have to be as open and transparent as possible, because if the money-related issues are not transparent, it might cause unnecessary distrust, complaint and frustration among people. It might be a very sensitive issue, whether Novell have to provide much more money to openSUSE project or not. So I don't want to discuss about that. As Zonker mentioned in the previous post, "At this time we don't have a separate budget for this." So followings are under the assumption that we can have enough budget for this. There are many things to be clear, if Ambassadors can get money from Novell, even if it were not payment but compensation for the actual cost. a) How can Ambassadors certify that the cost was *minimal* and *necessary* for promoting openSUSE without a doubt ? b) How much should be the maximum limit ? c) For which events this compensation should be valid ? If we don't have unlimited budget for that, it might be impossible to pay for every events. Who can decide, which events are ok but others are not? There may be much more things to be clear in addition to above things. And we have to clear all those points before we start the *compensation* program. Besides, IMHO, we have to put ourselves this question: Is it really fair enough, if *only* Ambassadors can be paid ? And, one thing we have to remember is, if we demand money, we must be demanded the evidence and some KPI (key performance indicator). Is it really happy both for Novell and us - community ? To make all things clear, we must discuss a lot and it takes a long time.

6.) In my meaning it should be better, if the A. are OSMembers. So its guaranteed, that he have enough Knowledge. But this is just my view ;-)

That's are my favorites.

We have to wait for *official* :-P comments for above things. And, don't forget, if we can't get enough budget for that, all these just nothing more than words on paper. Best, -- _/_/ Satoru Matsumoto - openSUSE Member - Japan _/_/ _/_/ Marketing/Weekly News/openFATE Screening Team _/_/ _/_/ mail: helios_reds_at_gmx.net / irc: HeliosReds _/_/ _/_/ http://blog.geeko.jp/author/heliosreds _/_/ -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org