LEADERSHIP and a ROADMAP

Mon Apr 12 11:28:33 BST 2010

1. As an observer to this saga, I would back the sentiments viz. AndrewG's
write up = quality.
2. I do wonder though if AndrewG is going to nom himself for Pres. of the
ACC?
3. I wonder also if au has enough *nix users and a big enough subset of them
running *buntu to staff an ACC, State and territory CC's and LoCo's?
4. On paper, this looks very nice, and in principle I agree that a new model
needs to be rolled out for ubuntu-au, but practically I have reservations
about its implementation.
5. Having said that, I think we should have a popularity con...- er,
referendum with other proposed ideas for the restructuring of ubuntu-au and
THEN have the winner go for the trial period.  Second place can collect $50.

$0.02,
Andrew Powter
aka "nDR01d"

On 12 April 2010 12:43, AndrewG <gandella at gmail.com> wrote:

> LEADERSHIP and a ROADMAP
>
> Prologue: 25th March, Melissa Draper (our team contact) was sent an
> email outlining some of the following in detail.  I am still awaiting
> a reply (maybe she is on holidays), thus my reason for a public post
> to the Ubuntu-au community. (I wish that she had replied so we could
> have made a joint post)
>
>
> LEADERSHIP: From the correspondence that I have had with Melissa, she
> informs me that
> "The contact is not the dog's body nor is it the mastermind."
> Further, "I'm responsible for allocating privileges as allowed to us
> by Canonical. I'm the team /contact/. I'm the person who interfaces
> between Canonical and the team members."
>
> So my conclusion is that the 'Team Contact' is NOT the team leader
> (contrary to popular belief), but a 'Conduit' between Canonical, the
> Community Council and the Ubuntu-au community. (and also that the Team
> leader should convey the sentiment of the ubuntu-au community)
>
> Thus, Ubuntu-au is a collection of people with no leadership, a group
> of individuals trying to further the goals set down in the wiki page
> 'The Australian team focuses on distributing, advertising and
> demonstrating Ubuntu within Australia'
>
>
> I also asked Melissa the following
> "What is your vision ?"
> Her reply
> "My vision is for a team that is constructive and contains people who
> think up initiatives or support others rather than waiting for
> orders."
> My reply
> "How do we encourage & support constructive people?
> Some people need to be given guidance, in my experience there are
> three types of people.
> 1.  Leaders:  Those that inspire others to do great things
> 2.  Followers: Those that need inspiration to do great things.
> 3.  Others:  They just don't give a damn about doing great things."
>
>
> On March 8,9 & 11, there was some very robust threads on this mailing
> list about Ubuntu-au Governance, Re-approval and the Website.
> Now I'm not sure that these discussions achieved much as it has been
> over one month and it seams that these issues remain unresolved.
>
> I think I can see why this is the case.
>
> 1.  There seams to be a reluctance to change the status-quo.
> 2.  There is a fear about 'loss of control'.
> 3.  There is no clear process to bring about change to the Ubuntu-au
> community.
> 4.  There is no 'leadership' to enable change to be achieved.
>
> In summary: 'Nobody is responsible for everything' or 'Everybody is
> responsible for Everything' or 'Nobody is responsible for Nothing'
>
> "Change is the law of life and those who look only to the past or
> present are certain to miss the future."
> —John F. Kennedy
>
>
> BIG PICTURE:
> Currently there is a discussion with the Community Council
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu-community/+bug/392986
> It talks about 'LoCo's are not "Lo" Enough' (Mark Shuttleworth has
> even made comment)
> and the concept of:
> ReCo = Regional Community (for States and Provinces)
> CoCo = Country Community (for Countries)
> LoCo = Local Community (for Towns and Cities)
>
> The Ubuntu-au community is clearly a 'CoCo' not a 'LoCo' as we are
> seperated by large distances, in cities and regions.
>
> If we accept the premise that the ubuntu-au community is made up of
> smaller 'LoCo' around the country.
> I.E.  Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart
>
>
> ***********************************************************************************************************
> PROPOSAL:  I would propose that an "Australian Community Council"(ACC)
> be created. (A Trial for 18 months)
> Its members would be 1. Team-Contact 2. Web-master 3. 'LoCo'
> representative(s) (7+-2 people total)
>
> ***********************************************************************************************************
> (See https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-au/council/structure for a summary
> of models)
> (See https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-au/council/structure-detailed for
> a detailed model of the ACC)
> (These models have been created in collaboration, and are open to
> further modification)
>
> The role of the ACC, is really one of "Advisory, Support &
> Consultation", as the "Team contact" will still retain the role &
> privileges.
>
> ADVANTAGES
> 1.  It gives the community some ownership in the process of running
> the Ubuntu-au.
> 2.  It will bring forward 'leaders', which could be potential
> successors for the 'Team contact'
> 3.  Spreading the load of leadership. (with 9 potential persons)
> 4.  An open transparent process.
> 5.  Authority to drive discussion and implementation.
> 6.  The decision making process, on a national level is simplified, it
> is easier to make decisions with 9 (potentially) than it is with 40 in
> an IRC meeting.
> 7.  An identifiable 'Contact' person for each City/Region.
> There are many Teams in the wider Ubuntu community, that utilise a
> council to share the leadership role eg. Georgia & Ohio
>
> DISADVANTAGES
> 1.  Elections.
> 2.  Structured.
> 3.  A Committee.
> (These are not really disadvantages, but necessary evils to achieve
> the outcomes of the ADVANTAGES)
>
>
>
> ROADMAP:  Where do we go from here?
>
> ****************************************************************************************************************
> I guess that I am asking YOU the community to see if YOU are in favour
> of an 'Australian Community Council'?
>
> ****************************************************************************************************************
> If this thread gets a favourable response, then the next thing to do
> would be to call a poll and have the 'PROPOSAL' passed.
> Then we could call for each City/Region to elect a representative to
> the ACC.
>
> One response to this post could be:  'This is all great in theory, but
> we don't have enough people to create an ACC.'
> My response would be: 'Let's ask for interested persons to come
> forward and nominate' (I know of three people that would be
> interested)
>
> Finally, unless we have a 'Structure & Process' in place to create a
> leadership team nobody will come forward.
> The status-quo cannot continue and to move forward a leadership team
> is required to motivate the community to do great things.
>
> RE-APPROVAL:
> As our re-approval approaches, obviously my 'PROPOSAL' for the
> creation of the ACC cannot be implemented. (if the community agrees)
> We can say to the Ubuntu Community Council, "We are in the process of
> creating an Australian Community Council, from our Regions/Cities" our
> chances of re-approval will be greatly improved.
>
>
> ***********************************************************
> Are YOU in favour of an 'Australian Community Council'?
> ***********************************************************
> Those of you who want change, now is the time to speak-up.
>
>
> Regards,
>
>         Andrew G.
>
>
> PS. Please read the detailed model at the wiki before replying to this
> post.
> Ref: wiki.ubuntu.com/LoCoTeamLeader and wiki.ubuntu.com/LoCoTeamHowto
>
> --
> ubuntu-au mailing list
> ubuntu-au at lists.ubuntu.com
> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-au
>

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