I will be inviting all the email addresses on this forum to join an
experimental Facebook Group for our discussion. You can join whether not you
can make it.
For those without flexible schedules, based on interest at the cafe I'll
suggest a follow-up evening call or gathering.
The event details:
http://www.facebook.com/events/494568553938987/
On a related note, this is what we are up to with "neighbors online" and a
presentation we gave in San Francisco. We are in the second year of the $625K
three year grant to build the nation's most inclusive online engagement network
in St. Paul. Door to door is the key to breaking through with local connections
online that are fundamentally inclusive.
See the video and slides:
http://blog.e-democracy.org/posts/1816
GEEK ALERT:
Long story short - community life wins, politics-only loses. If people aren't
finding lost pets, giving away free stuff to neighbors, and connecting with
other new parents on baby sitter recommendations the same online channel as
civic exchange on issues, only the most political will show up and no one in
power will pay any attention because the online space is filled with usual
suspects. Whether fueled by volunteers or with solid funding, the key is to
build a community building movement that reaches people one person at a time
AND works to bring them off-line into community activities.
As each year goes by, "brands" in the community are becoming less inclined to
share information online outside of spaces they feel like they control as they
are duped into thinking a Facebook Page really works and Tweets are actually
read by lots of people. So getting an online neighborhood space (ideal size 5
to 10K population covered with a sense of identity ... meaning a place with a
name) up to the 10% of households for a tipping point for sustained online
engagement. (Where the people who will spend a few hours putting up flyers on
bulletin boards around town will then also take the initiative to take 5
minutes to share online via a shared online space beyond their Facebook Page
that due to EdgeRank changes by Facebook reaches only 10% of those who Like the
page.)
So, the big problem is how does a community marshal the resources to reach 10%
of households daily? And if they do this, do they invest in reaching people of
different income levels and backgrounds to make the network inclusive? With
funding, our own hosting works pretty well as we can use paper sign-up sheets
which really do work. If you don't have funding or a crew of volunteers, then
Facebook Groups are worth a try as they benefit from the "network effect" and
as people join, they often bring their friends along.
Anyway, great fodder for our coffee!
Cheers,
Steven Clift