Gordo - It’s a reasonable question, if you want to take it as rhetorical that’s fine but in that case just don’t reply at all.
On a related note, as we’re talking about recruitment some of the messages on this list are pretty off putting (and sorry Gordo, but yours falls in to this category although it’s certainly not the only example, or indeed the worst). I sat on this list for quite a long time before becoming a member, and this is the first time I’ve ever replied having been on the list for probably over a year now. I’m all for free and open conversation, it’s one of the movement’s virtues, but as a relative ‘outsider’ there are times where I haven’t wanted to contribute because I’ve felt the ‘conversation’ has been stifled.
Apologies for using this as an example, but it seems like a pretty salient case both in the context of this being my 1st/2nd posting & the topic.
Charles – yes, trying to imagine a sort of Venn diagram of volunteers (of various sorts), members and other supporters is an interesting exercise I think. The microgrant attraction doesn’t have to be a benefit we’d anticipate all members using though, but it might be a draw for a particular sort of volunteer (whether that’s the sort of volunteer the movement is interested in, and that sort of motivation is ok I guess are separate issues). That’s why I don’t think trying to classify the sorts of activities people might be engaged in depending on their differing statuses within the organisation is going to help here. I’m struggling to think about how to make this distinction but at the moment the page is closer to describing how people see their relationship to the organisation (members – want to show support for…, might be interested in internals of Wikimedia. Volunteers – might be interested in particular projects, or whatever), what people actually do is less focus than the area or support they want to express…if that makes sense.
Best
Simon
From: wikimediauk-l-bounces@lists.wikimedia.org [mailto:wikimediauk-l-bounces@lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of Gordon Joly
Sent: 28 June 2013 09:28
To: wikimediauk-l@lists.wikimedia.org
Subject: Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Membership recruitment
On 28/06/13 16:23, Simon Knight wrote:
I basically agree with Katherine, Gordo I’m not sure what benefits you think members should get? Why are you a member?
Why indeed.....
Gordo