Unconference Topic Discussion: Challenges engaging folks online

In the survey we did a few weeks ago, we asked about the primary challenges
you face as you try to engage people online? Of the eight choices we gave
you, there were two that scored much higher than all of the other
challenges. These two were:

- The people/communities I seek to engage are interested but not ready to
participate online

- Not enough time to build the community and/or follow through

I suspect that for most of us these two are closely intertwined. If we had
more time, we'd probably be better able to help those we try to engage to
jump in.

I'm curious what techniques you feel we could use to better engage those
people who seem interested but just aren't ready to participate. Do we
attempt to figure out why they aren't ready? Do we assume that they would be
'ready' if we just tried some new things to get them involved? Do we just
let it go?

Thanks! Ann

Ann Treacy

Treacy Information Services

1841 Fairmount Ave

St Paul MN 55105
651-239-4581

http://www.treacyinfo.com <http://www.treacyinfo.com/>

<email obscured>

Rest of post

On Mar 2, 2009, at 2:41 PM, Ann Treacy wrote:

> In the survey we did a few weeks ago, we asked about the primary
> challenges
> you face as you try to engage people online? Of the eight choices we
> gave
> you, there were two that scored much higher than all of the other
> challenges. These two were:
>
> - The people/communities I seek to engage are interested but not
> ready to
> participate online
>
> - Not enough time to build the community and/or follow through
>
> I suspect that for most of us these two are closely intertwined. If
> we had
> more time, we'd probably be better able to help those we try to
> engage to
> jump in.
>
> I'm curious what techniques you feel we could use to better engage
> those
> people who seem interested but just aren't ready to participate. Do we
> attempt to figure out why they aren't ready? Do we assume that they
> would be
> 'ready' if we just tried some new things to get them involved? Do we
> just
> let it go?

There are only so many hours in the day. I am guessing that at least
some of the "not ready to participate online" folks are not ready due
to time constraints. I would also guess that the more relevant the
online community is to their day-to-day life, the more likely they
will be to participate. Along those same lines, if the online
community can help them save time (or especially in this economy,
money) they also would be more likely to participate.

Then of course the question is how easy is it for a novice to start
participating? Some web sites and tools are just more intuitive and
easier to use than others.

Rest of post

An observation that I think is mostly relevant...

At the Blandin Conference, I had an interesting conversation with a
guy from somewhere up on the North Shore (I think) that had some
experience working with people to show the power of broadband.

One of his techniques was to talk to small business owners who didn't
use broadband - especially those who had some sort of niche market.
Then he would ask for 5 minutes and he would go online and quickly
become conversant in that area and find ways to cut costs - often by
finding cheaper inputs. This greatly interested the people he dealt
with.

I don't know that anything other than an 'each one teach one' approach
will help in showing the power of broadband networks to people.

Also, I have been quizzing my aunt, who just moved from dialup to
broadband, on how she uses the computer differently. In booking her
trip to come visit us, she said it was a breeze and so much easier to
plan than previous trips. For people who like travel, showing off
sites like Orbitz may be a good "gateway" site.

Christopher Mitchell
Director, Telecommunications as Commons Initiative
Institute for Local Self-Reliance
http://www.newrules.org/info/
612-379-3815 x209

On Mon, Mar 2, 2009 at 9:14 PM, Aileen Horwath <<email obscured>> wrote:
>
> On Mar 2, 2009, at 2:41 PM, Ann Treacy wrote:
>
>> In the survey we did a few weeks ago, we asked about the primary
>> challenges
>> you face as you try to engage people online? Of the eight choices we
>> gave
>> you, there were two that scored much higher than all of the other
>> challenges. These two were:
>>
>> - The people/communities I seek to engage are interested but not
>> ready to
>> participate online
>>
>> - Not enough time to build the community and/or follow through
>>
>> I suspect that for most of us these two are closely intertwined. If
>> we had
>> more time, we'd probably be better able to help those we try to
>> engage to
>> jump in.
>>
>> I'm curious what techniques you feel we could use to better engage
>> those
>> people who seem interested but just aren't ready to participate. Do we
>> attempt to figure out why they aren't ready? Do we assume that they
>> would be
>> 'ready' if we just tried some new things to get them involved? Do we
>> just
>> let it go?
>
> There are only so many hours in the day. I am guessing that at least
> some of the "not ready to participate online" folks are not ready due
> to time constraints. I would also guess that the more relevant the
> online community is to their day-to-day life, the more likely they
> will be to participate. Along those same lines, if the online
> community can help them save time (or especially in this economy,
> money) they also would be more likely to participate.
>
> Then of course the question is how easy is it for a novice to start
> participating? Some web sites and tools are just more intuitive and
> easier to use than others.
>
>
> --
> Aileen Horwath -- Certified VMware Sales Professional --
<email obscured>
> Direct 612-337-6201 -- Fax 612-337-6327 -- http://www.ipHouse.com/
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Aileen Horwath
>
> Info about Aileen Horwath:
http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/2rQgKbNtD3IYhDW7HFZCZp
>
> View all messages on this topic at:
http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/28TAzslct5KHeDUH1ZL3X1

Rest of post

Chris These are wonderful anecdotes. A quick question what I hear you
saying is that you really need to prioritize knowing the person/people you
are working to engage, then meet them on their ground and address,
concretely, their needs and interests. If that is the case, what is it about
the Internet and online engagement that is different then the basics of
community organizing, because the things you mention remind me of the 1-2-3
basics of community organizing. There is definitely something(s) that are
markedly different and I often find myself at a lose pinpointing what those
things are. Is it the modality? The speed? The reach?

Marc

Sign up now for Summit 3T (Tips, Tools
& Techniques) Our free online bulletin
with practical advice on how to use the
The Internet and Web 2.0 powerfully! Go to
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<><><><><><><><><><>
Marc Osten
Summit Collaborative
www.summitcollaborative.com
413.241.7315
Skype - marcosten
<><><><><><><><><><>

Rest of post

On 3/3/09 4:25 PM, "Christopher Mitchell" <<email obscured>> wrote:

> An observation that I think is mostly relevant...
>
> At the Blandin Conference, I had an interesting conversation with a
> guy from somewhere up on the North Shore (I think) that had some
> experience working with people to show the power of broadband.
>
> One of his techniques was to talk to small business owners who didn't
> use broadband - especially those who had some sort of niche market.
> Then he would ask for 5 minutes and he would go online and quickly
> become conversant in that area and find ways to cut costs - often by
> finding cheaper inputs. This greatly interested the people he dealt
> with.
>
> I don't know that anything other than an 'each one teach one' approach
> will help in showing the power of broadband networks to people.
>
> Also, I have been quizzing my aunt, who just moved from dialup to
> broadband, on how she uses the computer differently. In booking her
> trip to come visit us, she said it was a breeze and so much easier to
> plan than previous trips. For people who like travel, showing off
> sites like Orbitz may be a good "gateway" site.
>
> Christopher Mitchell
> Director, Telecommunications as Commons Initiative
> Institute for Local Self-Reliance
> http://www.newrules.org/info/
> 612-379-3815 x209
>
>
>
> On Mon, Mar 2, 2009 at 9:14 PM, Aileen Horwath <<email obscured>> wrote:
>> >
>> > On Mar 2, 2009, at 2:41 PM, Ann Treacy wrote:
>> >
>>> >> In the survey we did a few weeks ago, we asked about the primary
>>> >> challenges
>>> >> you face as you try to engage people online? Of the eight choices we
>>> >> gave
>>> >> you, there were two that scored much higher than all of the other
>>> >> challenges. These two were:
>>> >>
>>> >> - The people/communities I seek to engage are interested but not
>>> >> ready to
>>> >> participate online
>>> >>
>>> >> - Not enough time to build the community and/or follow through
>>> >>
>>> >> I suspect that for most of us these two are closely intertwined. If
>>> >> we had
>>> >> more time, we'd probably be better able to help those we try to
>>> >> engage to
>>> >> jump in.
>>> >>
>>> >> I'm curious what techniques you feel we could use to better engage
>>> >> those
>>> >> people who seem interested but just aren't ready to participate. Do we
>>> >> attempt to figure out why they aren't ready? Do we assume that they
>>> >> would be
>>> >> 'ready' if we just tried some new things to get them involved? Do we
>>> >> just
>>> >> let it go?
>> >
>> > There are only so many hours in the day. I am guessing that at least
>> > some of the "not ready to participate online" folks are not ready due
>> > to time constraints. I would also guess that the more relevant the
>> > online community is to their day-to-day life, the more likely they
>> > will be to participate. Along those same lines, if the online
>> > community can help them save time (or especially in this economy,
>> > money) they also would be more likely to participate.
>> >
>> > Then of course the question is how easy is it for a novice to start
>> > participating? Some web sites and tools are just more intuitive and
>> > easier to use than others.
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > Aileen Horwath -- Certified VMware Sales Professional --
>> <email obscured>
>> > Direct 612-337-6201 -- Fax 612-337-6327 -- http://www.ipHouse.com/
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Aileen Horwath
>> >
>> > Info about Aileen Horwath:
>> http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/2rQgKbNtD3IYhDW7HFZCZp
>> >
>> > View all messages on this topic at:
>> http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/28TAzslct5KHeDUH1ZL3X1
>> > -----------------------------------------
>> > To post, e-mail: mnvoices@forums.e-democracy.org
>> > Use "Reply-to-All" via e-mail to post publicly.
>> > To leave or for daily digest, type "unsubscribe" or "digest on"
>> > in subject, then send to: mnvoices@forums.e-democracy.org
>> >
>> > More information about Minnesota Voices Online:
>> > http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/mnvoices
>> >
>> > E-Democracy.Org rules: http://e-democracy.org/rules
>> > -----------------------------------------
>> > Technical assistance thanks to our friends at http://OnlineGroups.Net
>> >

Ann asked:

I'm curious what techniques you feel we could use to better engage those
people who seem interested but just aren't ready to participate. Do we
attempt to figure out why they aren't ready? Do we assume that they would be
'ready' if we just tried some new things to get them involved? Do we just
let it go?

Response:

One of the key lessons with creating engagement on Issues Forums is
active in-person outreach. Lots of folks are willing to sign-up on
paper to "test you out" so to speak

If we instead just gave them a flier or were satisfied with a mention
in the local paper where we expected them to type in the web address,
we'd get a fraction of the people on the forum.

Whether people are ready or not, if they sign on the dotted line, we
can bring them into our online exchange.

Now we do use e-mail as our default so, folks do not have to decide to
visit our web site to view posts. Folks who don't like all the e-mail
can switch to daily topic digest or web-only which brings up another
important point. Let people interact via their preferred technology in
the same "space." Don't diffuse the online spaces by each tech -
meaning if you have an e-list, blog, web forum, etc. people don't know
where to participate if they are all disconnected. So I recommend
either integrating the tools or settling on one.
(LocallyGrownNorthfield.Org is a great example of using a blog with
active use of e-mail alerts (WordPress's Subscribe to Comments
plugin).

Besides making publishing (engagement) as easy as pressing reply,
another technique is to offer the opportunity for people to introduce
themselves without having to express an opinion. We now launch forums
with an "Introductions" topic which helps build the comfort level for
postings beyond the usual base of easy talkers.

Cheers,
Steven Clift
E-Democracy.Org

Ann, the issue of "not enough time" is exactly one limitation for most people
making better use of the tools broadband makes available.

I've been doing A LOT OF volunteer work in my urban neighborhood in
Minneapolis. Everyone who is involved in the community is over extended. No one
has an extra minute to spare. What this means is to find tools that are
designed to reduce the amount of time--to reduce the complexity.

For example, using basecamp as a project management tool for the neighborhood
group executive committee has worked. It has taken some one-on-one training to
walk people through using it (even though it is a relatively easy tool to use).
Acting as a nag--moving conversations to basecame that start in email for
example--also help.

Getting people to use our neighborhood email discussion form has not been as
successful. The volunteers we found to manage that forum--while good and
interested--just do not seem to have the time to devote to the "community
organizing" it takes to get an email discussion forum off the ground.

In the case of the community blogs we've created for over 250 small rural
communities for NorthWest Area Foundation, we've found that the communities
that find their own reasons to use the blog have the most success in keeping
the blog going. We haven't looked in detail but I wouldn't be surprised to see
that the communities that have kept their blogs going have had one or two
people who are the committed driving force behind the blog.

So, to summarize all of this, Marc is right: Getting people to use online tools
takes a community organizer.

sheldon
................................
Sheldon Mains Consulting
Technology and management solutions for nonprofit organizations.
612-618-7149, <email obscured>
http://www.SheldonMains.com/
Blog: http://RandomStuffFromSheldon.blogspot.com/
Twitter.com: sheldonM
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55406

I think that’s a good point Sheldon – a community organizer is essential. If
you don’t have the passion, all of the technology in the world isn’t going to
help. Chris and Steve also mention the importance of a personal connection and
I agree that one-on-one connection and training is, was, and always will be key
to getting people engaged.

Marc asked about what was different online. I think that the tools are better
but the competition for attention is stiffer and I wonder if we aren’t
expecting more.

It seems as if technology gives voice to more people. Does that make use think
of more people as community organizers? Are we asking people to get more
involved now that we have technology?

In a good way, especially in smaller communities, I think that decentralizes
the effort – if more people send email then fewer people need to make phone
calls. I know with some people the barrier is learning to use technology – but
for others maybe the barrier is agreeing to and learning to become advocates
(if not organizers).

Does that make sense? I could try to clarify with examples. Have other people
run into this too?

Thanks! Ann

Treacy Information Services
1841 Fairmount Ave
St Paul MN 55105
651-239-4581
http://www.treacyinfo.com

Anne - The competition for attention is stiffer point you highlight makes
a lot of sense to me in regards to what is different about face-to-face
community building and online community building.

I guess we also just cant avoid the simple reality that seeing somebody
face-to-face, being able to read their face and/or body language, eye
contact, etc. is so powerful. Ive been using video more to get around this
but there just aint no replacement for face-to-face. For example, Im in
Europe right now an last night was using Skype video to connect with my 8
year old daughter. She had just come out of the shower and the smell of her
clean shampooed hair was missing. Id have to say in fact that I almost
wished I hadnt done the video as it made me sad to be away. The technology
in that case didnt enable but disable.

Marc

Rest of post

I'd say technology gives voice to different people--maybe more people but that
isn't clear. It clearly doesn't resolve some traditional community organizing
issues. (e.g. The Public Meeting is clearly a middle class, largely white
thing). It does not work for people who are working two jobs--who are single
parents--who don't feel they speak English well--who are new to the
culture--who are shy.

Technology can not address those issues (it may be better than powdermilk
briskets for shy people). If used well, if the training is done well, if you
get the right people involved, it can bring new people into the discussion and
maybe even into leadership. But lets be honest, it will not solve most cultural
divides.

I agree with much of what has been said, but I also think that what we
are talking about is largely easier than traditional community
organizing.

While I may be too optimistic on some of these points (Sheldon's
experiences contradict some of my thoughts here) I do think that some
will be inspired by broadband and spreading awareness should happen
more quickly.

While personal relationships are helpful, I also think you do not need
to know a person as well to show them how broadband can change them.
But it does take personal contact. I think a tech geek with a
community organizer mentality- someone who is good with people - could
meet someone, get a sense of what they are interested in and introduce
them to some intriguing sites on the Internet.

The trick is to find out what the person's passion is. Love knitting?
Check out these patterns and podcasts at the touch of your fingers
(my fiance can't get enough of them - maintains huge binders of
patterns found online).

Do you love collecting something odd and rare? Odds are a google
search will quickly connect you with a forum that has thousands of
posts on that subject.

Sports fan? Can you imagine fantasy leagues without the Internet now?

I lean toward introducing people to broadband on the basis of
entertainment value and hobbies. I think that once they are
comfortable (people learned to use the mouse by playing solitaire, or
so the story goes) they will find ways of applying broadband to
businesses.

One other story - down in Wilson, NC - they were trying to show people
the difference between the crap Time Warner cable system (which was
really run down in their area) so they took a trailer to gatherings
(the fair, cookouts, etc). There they set up a fiber connection
(being an electric utility helped them - but one could simulate this
as well) and they showed the difference of slow broadband ( < 1Mbps)
and better (10Mbps) with activities like surfing the web, video chats,
that sort of thing.

There may be thousands of reasons I love my broadband connection, but
I think we just need to find one for each person and over time they'll
find many more. But we have to deal with the feeling of intimidation
so many people have when it comes to computers - and again, I think
the secret is finding something that people are so interested in that
they will want to overcome that intimidation.

Christopher Mitchell
Director, Telecommunications as Commons Initiative
Institute for Local Self-Reliance
http://www.newrules.org/info/
612-379-3815 x209

On Wed, Mar 4, 2009 at 2:54 PM, Sheldon Mains <<email obscured>> wrote:
> I'd say technology gives voice to different people--maybe more people but
that isn't clear. It clearly doesn't resolve some traditional community
organizing issues. (e.g. The Public Meeting is clearly a middle class, largely
white thing). It does not work for people who are working two jobs--who are
single parents--who don't feel they speak English well--who are new to the
culture--who are shy.
>
> Technology can not address those issues (it may be better than powdermilk
briskets for shy people). If used well, if the training is done well, if you
get the right people involved, it can bring new people into the discussion and
maybe even into leadership. But lets be honest, it will not solve most cultural
divides.
>
>
> Sheldon Mains
> Seward Neighborhood, Minneapolis
> Info about Sheldon Mains: http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/sheldonmains
>
> View all messages on this topic at:
http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/2kaNeJzY2ypoE60AviK9NM

Rest of post

Chris,

I'm just checking 5 Days on the Digital Road in NC
(http://www.internetforeveryone.org/americaoffline/nc) - from a project called
Internet for Everyone. It could sell plenty of people on the need for universal
broadband.

Also I wanted to make sure to broaden the topic a little bit because I don't
think we're just talking about using technology to promote broadband.

Some folks on the list are using technology to promote the environment or
racial justice or economic development or education ... - but Chris's examples
are a great way that technology helps us help those causes.

While the personal touch can get people to use technology; I also think
technology can help us with the personal touch. It helps us to do research and
shape our message. Then it
helps us tell our stories to wider audience - such as with the videos of rural
folks in the Digital Road in NC project mentioned above.

Chris also has a good point that's true for many fields - you don't have to
know someone personally (or in person) to reach them. But if you don't have
personal access to someone maybe you have to start with the technology that
best suits them (the lowest common denominator) - build the relationship, build
the passion for your mission, and then venture to new tech grounds.

But how do you know when it's right to move to new grounds? Do you keep the old
technology cooking too?

Thanks! Ann

Ann Treacy
Treacy Information Services
1841 Fairmount Ave
St Paul MN 55105
651-239-4581
http://www.treacyinfo.com
<email obscured>

Rest of post

-----Original Message-----
From: Christopher Mitchell [mailto:<email obscured>]
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 3:14 PM
To: mnvoices@forums.e-democracy.org
Subject: Re: [MNVoices] Unconference Topic Discussion: Challenges engaging
folks online

I agree with much of what has been said, but I also think that what we
are talking about is largely easier than traditional community
organizing.

While I may be too optimistic on some of these points (Sheldon's
experiences contradict some of my thoughts here) I do think that some
will be inspired by broadband and spreading awareness should happen
more quickly.

While personal relationships are helpful, I also think you do not need
to know a person as well to show them how broadband can change them.
But it does take personal contact. I think a tech geek with a
community organizer mentality- someone who is good with people - could
meet someone, get a sense of what they are interested in and introduce
them to some intriguing sites on the Internet.

The trick is to find out what the person's passion is. Love knitting?
Check out these patterns and podcasts at the touch of your fingers
(my fiance can't get enough of them - maintains huge binders of
patterns found online).

Do you love collecting something odd and rare? Odds are a google
search will quickly connect you with a forum that has thousands of
posts on that subject.

Sports fan? Can you imagine fantasy leagues without the Internet now?

I lean toward introducing people to broadband on the basis of
entertainment value and hobbies. I think that once they are
comfortable (people learned to use the mouse by playing solitaire, or
so the story goes) they will find ways of applying broadband to
businesses.

One other story - down in Wilson, NC - they were trying to show people
the difference between the crap Time Warner cable system (which was
really run down in their area) so they took a trailer to gatherings
(the fair, cookouts, etc). There they set up a fiber connection
(being an electric utility helped them - but one could simulate this
as well) and they showed the difference of slow broadband ( < 1Mbps)
and better (10Mbps) with activities like surfing the web, video chats,
that sort of thing.

There may be thousands of reasons I love my broadband connection, but
I think we just need to find one for each person and over time they'll
find many more. But we have to deal with the feeling of intimidation
so many people have when it comes to computers - and again, I think
the secret is finding something that people are so interested in that
they will want to overcome that intimidation.

Christopher Mitchell
Director, Telecommunications as Commons Initiative
Institute for Local Self-Reliance
http://www.newrules.org/info/
612-379-3815 x209

On Wed, Mar 4, 2009 at 2:54 PM, Sheldon Mains <<email obscured>> wrote:
> I'd say technology gives voice to different people--maybe more people but
that isn't clear. It clearly doesn't resolve some traditional community
organizing issues. (e.g. The Public Meeting is clearly a middle class, largely
white thing). It does not work for people who are working two jobs--who are
single parents--who don't feel they speak English well--who are new to the
culture--who are shy.
>
> Technology can not address those issues (it may be better than powdermilk
briskets for shy people). If used well, if the training is done well, if you
get the right people involved, it can bring new people into the discussion and
maybe even into leadership. But lets be honest, it will not solve most cultural
divides.
>
>
> Sheldon Mains
> Seward Neighborhood, Minneapolis
> Info about Sheldon Mains: http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/sheldonmains
>
> View all messages on this topic at:
http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/2kaNeJzY2ypoE60AviK9NM
> -----------------------------------------
> To post, e-mail: mnvoices@forums.e-democracy.org
> Use "Reply-to-All" via e-mail to post publicly.
> To leave or for daily digest, type "unsubscribe" or "digest on"
> in subject, then send to: mnvoices@forums.e-democracy.org
>
> More information about Minnesota Voices Online:
> http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/mnvoices
>
> E-Democracy.Org rules: http://e-democracy.org/rules
> -----------------------------------------
> Technical assistance thanks to our friends at http://OnlineGroups.Net
>

Christopher Mitchell
Merriam Park, Saint Paul
Info about Christopher Mitchell:
http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/christophermitchell

View all messages on this topic at:
http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/2ysrrwo7Yy8AunNMwBbii
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-----------------------------------------
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I work with a variety of businesses, organizations and associations in rural
Minnesota in developing their online marketing plans. Choosing the right
technology has been an issue from the onset for many of my clients because
their customers have gone "online" at really different rates.

Some customers still want a print catalog or brochure; some want it online -
but they print it out. Some want to get a newsletter in the mail; some want it
via email. Some want to order online; some just don't trust ordering online and
want to speak to real human being.

The move to online communication, in general, has provided cost savings for
these organizations. However, the savings don't come immediately. They usually
have to spend more time and resources in the beginning because they have to
maintain both online and offline tools. We try to offset those initial costs by
trying to build pieces that can feed both online and offline channels (i.e.
catalog in PDF format that we can print and snail mail, email, or offer to
customers for download). Slowly, but surely, we have seen the request for
offline resources become the exception rather than the rule.

We have talked a few customers through the process of using the online tools
when the benefit was significant for them and us. But for the most part,
customers have been ready to take advantage of the convenience, speed, and
access to the most up-to-date information - primary drivers for getting these
folks to use the online tools. Now they can't imagine business without them!

I suspect a similar process will happen as customers move from email, to text,
to web app, to Facebook or other tools. Many of us are experiencing the
pressure of maintaining multiple tools, but history has shown us that providing
connections or options in multiple settings in the short term will pay off with
the current and new generation of customers in the long term.

Just my two cents.

Jan Hepola
Business Growth Specialist
Enterprise Minnesota

Thanks everyone for their great discussion on the topic. I think that getting
folks to engage and follow up online is an issue for many of us. Part of it is
time constraint as Aileen pointed out. Part of the problem seems to be helping
people learn to use the technology involved.

I think Chris, Sheldon and Steve all touched up on the need for personal
outreach and/or training. Now there was some discussion on how personal a
connection you might need before outreach. Handily the Internet will let you
quickly learn about what’s important to someone to help shape the message.

Sheldon helped us recognize the importance of a community organizer. And there
was some discussion on whose voice gets heard with technology. I think that’s a
key point because I think we’re all part of this list because we want our
voices and/or the voices of our constituents to be heard online!

Jan made the parallel between the shift to going online at all with the shift
to using more online tools. It can be tricky to maintain (as I think we are all
seeing) but worth the effort.

As with last week’s topic, there's no need to quit discussion but I wanted to
recap before the weekend so we can start with a new question on Monday. Also I
wanted to remind folks that these are the sorts of discussion that we hope will
happen at the unconference (http://www.mnvoicesonline.org) in April.

Have a great weekend!! Ann

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Unconference Topic Discussion: Challenges engaging folks online

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