LEADERSHIP and a ROADMAP

Mon Apr 12 12:02:48 BST 2010

On Mon, 2010-04-12 at 20:58 +1000, Scott Evans wrote:

> My Random Ramblings... 
> 
> On Sun, 2010-04-11 at 19:43 -0700, AndrewG 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)
> > 
> 
> Ok firstly this is a discussion not a session to prove popularity or
> to attack "anyone" at a personal level, Remember we are all friends
> here not enemies! (leave any egos at the door please) 
> 
> > 
> > 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)
> > 
> 
> Ok so my interpretation of the ubuntu LoCo leader was some what
> different... 
> 
> > 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'
> > 
> 
> Sadly I feel that the current "structure" doesn't actually do much for
> promoting ubuntu as a whole... 
> 
> > 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."
> 
> Err... Ok but lately I feel that some have put forward suggestions and
> have been met with great resistance to "change" 
> 
> > 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."
> > 
> 
> Agree totally with the above ... now just decide what roll you are
> comfortable with and don't be threatened by those that choose option
> 1 
> 
> > 
> > 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.
> > 
> 
> Sadly this seems to be the norm with discussion. It all starts out
> well intended but then due to the "resistance" mentioned earlier it is
> near impossible to achieve. 
> 
> > 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
> 
> Umm... didn't he get a bullet in the head for having some rather
> radical idea's ?  (I'm trying to make light of a bad situation
> there!) 
> 
> > 
> > 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)
> > 
> 
> I'm not sure that we have the numbers to break the LoCo down into
> smaller  sub units, but as an Idea it sure does carry merit. As we are
> aware that the current arrangement (from when the LoCo was approved)
> is really centralised as a Sydney community with smaller interest from
> other states, Now that there is an interest beyond the original
> concept devised by the original founders of the AU LoCo, was there
> ever any further thought back then (2006) that it would grow beyond
> what the LoCo was at that time (I can't answer this because I wasn't
> an active member of the ubuntu-au community then) and to allow future
> broadening to "all" areas within the greater AU population? The way it
> feel to me is "no" but I could be wrong in saying this, but that is
> how I have felt when engaging in discussion. 
> 
> > 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)
> > 
> 
> I don't see there being anything lost by not trying this suggestion,
> if it doesn't work then simply revert back to the current system.
> Presently the ubuntu-au LoCo has really not done much in the way of
> promotion or for that matter purely existing on a name sake, a name
> doesn't mean activity! 
> 
> > 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)
> > 
> 
> I think that those that will be in opposition to this structure just
> simply don't want any politics to come between them and their passion
> for ubuntu! but then as it stands presently there is no "structure"
> and if you do speak out you get squashed for wanting to think outside
> of the circle. 
> 
> > 
> > 
> > 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.
> > 
> 
> Again I think it's worth trying, IMHO nothing is lost by not. 
> 
> > 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.
> > 
> 
> I think the AU LoCo re-aproval has to take its course (?) and then as
> an agreed collective focus on the above proposal.
> 
> 
> Scott Evans VK7HSE
> Phone: +61362291658
> Mobile: +61417586157
> Skype: vk7hse
> scott at vk7hse.hobby-site.org
> http://www.vk7hse.hobby-site.org
> PGP/GPG Key ID 437E00F9
> 


Scott Evans VK7HSE
Phone: +61362291658
Mobile: +61417586157
Skype: vk7hse
scott at vk7hse.hobby-site.org
http://www.vk7hse.hobby-site.org
PGP/GPG Key ID 437E00F9

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