Plan of Action for Building Communities (US Teams Project)

[Christer Edwards]

The purpose of the US Teams Project is "Teams helping Teams".  In the spirit
of community we want to be able to share our knowledge, expertise and wisdom
with those following after in establishing Ubuntu communitues across the
United States. While I admit that we may not know everything we do have 
combined years of team leadership under our belts and collectively have some 
wisdom to share.

As such I want to share some fundamental structural methods for building a
LoCo Team while able to avoid the overhead of financial and legal concerns.
It should be noted that dealing with finances and legal concerns within a LoCo
Team should be avoided whenever possible!

You may wonder how we are able to grow and build a team responsibly without
these financial and legal coverings.  In the true sense of community of
course, by building upon those before us!

In the true sense of Open Source Community we have leveraged established and
existing frameworks to extend our reach and build communities.  Some of these
include holding install-fests in cooperation with existing Linux User Groups
at their local Universities.  Organizing in this manner absolves the LoCo Team
from responsibilities as we are simply participants to the existing group, at
the existing groups location.  Legal issues arising from an event such as this
should be on the shoulders of the University or the location itself.  Working
with established Community groups for these events absolves LoCo Teams of the
responibilities of legal and monetary framework and should be pursued wherever
possible.  In the true spirit of Ubuntu "we are because the community is",
remember that.

I want to remind established and growing teams that the LoCo project is not
here to replace existing Linux User Groups or Special Interest Groups.  We are
here to improve them.  We are here to cooperate with them.  We are here to
support them in any use, distribution or education concerning Ubuntu and Free
Software.  We don't need to create new framework and organizations as many of 
these already exist.  We don't and should not see ourselves as pioneers in 
advocating Linux, Free Software and Ubuntu.  There are many that came before 
us.  There are many that have put effort into organizing groups, arranging 
locations and building relationships with entities such as Universities and 
other public places.  There are many that will come after us as well.  Let us 
continue to build on the community around us and celebrate the local cultures 
and groups that exist.

As an Ubuntu LoCo Project I propose we need to get back to our roots.  We need
to cooperate and participate instead of try to build anew.  Work with existing
groups and make them stronger instead of build our own isolated communities.

One of the meanings of Ubuntu itself is "I am who I am because of who we all
are" (paraphrasing).  If we forget who we all are--if we can't cooperate with
existing groups and build on the shoulders of the giants before us we have
lost the spirit of Ubuntu already.

I propose that Ubuntu LoCo Teams need to improve from within.  What does this 
mean?  This means start focusing on projects that don't involve financing or 
legal protection.  There are many, many ways we can build and improve the 
project without any of these.

BUGS:
What was the last bug you squashed?  When was the last time you or your team
collectively contributed to an Ubuntu Hug Day?  When was the last bug you
submitted?  There are still hundreds of open bugs in the Ubuntu and related
projects.  This is a perfect and far-reaching opportunity for LoCo Teams to
contribute and improve Ubuntu as a whole.

DOCUMENTATION:
What was the last wiki or tutorial you wrote?  When was the last time you or
your team collectively improved the Ubuntu documentation?  When was the last
time you used the wiki at all?  The Ubuntu Community Documentation
(help.ubuntu.com/community) can still be much improved.  There are still
hundreds of documents to be written and other documents to be improved or
updated.  Contributing, as a Team, to this project benefits Ubuntu as a whole.

SUPPORT:
When was the last time you worked supporting the Ubuntu Forums?  Has your team
organized Ubuntu Forums support days?  Spending time helping new users or
tackling the unanswered posts on the forums continues to educate Ubuntu users
around the world.

LOCAL EDUCATION:
Has your team contacted or presented at existing LUG meetings?  Have you
presented on Ubuntu at schools?  Have you supported your local LUGS with
install-fests (again, at their location, on their terms) when Ubuntu is to be
available?  Do you make yourselves available on existing LUG mailing lists to
support Ubuntu wherever it comes up?

Concerning marketing flyers for events and CD distribution there are also
solutions being organized.

The US Teams Project will be structuring a national CD distribution system 
for teams and individuals that want to participate.  This should alleviate 
part of the financial burden on CD purchases, burning, labeling, etc.

I have also been working with a company to provide us with free flyer and
marketing material.  All bugs are not worked out of this system yet, but free
promotional flyers will be made available to every team in time for the 7.10
"Gutsy" release party.

Remember, improving Ubuntu from within is something that LoCo Teams can and
should be participating in.  We love Ubuntu, lets make it better.  Squash
bugs, improve documentation, work with developers, become part of MOTU,
improve and support existing user groups and special interest groups.  There
are dozens of ways we can contribute, none of which require money or legal
guidance.

For those times when your team wants a more public event, work with existing
organizations.  Work with LUGs in your state.  Work with University CS
departments.  Work with school district CS education groups.  Contribute to
your community in advocating Ubuntu, avoid building new structures and
framework.  Work with existing events, even if they are not directly computer
related.

Remember that Ubuntu is built on Community and is the number one reason why it
is successful.  People like me and you building upon the shoulders of giants.
Lets continue to improve the communities around us, celebrating what makes us
all unique.  Without Ubuntu and without community we're nothing.
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