No subject

program was being grilled by the world community. Out of sheer lack of
interest, we had stopped inquiring into CA affairs, we no longer watched
IEP pages though we came across some activity going on from time to time.
Because of this, the true state of affairs and scope of the setback came to
us only with the latest Signpost.

Now a lot of blame has been put on the educational system, students
attitudes etc. That is true that they are a contributory cause but the
blame must also lie with those responsible for planning. If the priorities
in training CAs were got wrong, it takes no leap of imagination to imagine
other decisions may not have been optimal either.  The Campus Ambassadors,
God bless them, are mostly blameless.

The Pune Community had a clearer idea of what was involved right in the
beginning than the India Programs office. Its decades of experience in
academicia (Harshad & Sudhanwa), FOSS (Sudhanwa), industry (Mandar),
teaching (Sudhanwa & Ashwin), marketing (Mahitgar), retired marathi expert
(J), business (Suhel), armed forces (Ashwin), Wikipedia experience (in
en:WP, mr:WP, Commons) and the general management experience and detailed
on-site knowledge etc were a very valuable human resource, and these were
made available to Hisham. He chose to sip sparingly. Perhaps, just perhaps,
if he had drunk deeply - recognised that the miniscule Pune community was a
true well-wisher, and had made us a true partner, the outcome may have been
different.

The purpose of this feedback is to educate people about the need to engage
local communities. Communities are not easily engaged. Each has its own
complexities. Their capacities to help you forward your plans may be
limited and nuanced. They cannot be taken for granted either. Often you
have to prove your worth to them. Some communities may even be of nuisance
value unless engaged. But if properly engaged, they can bring you unique
viewpoints, opportunities; they will stand by you in difficult times,
sometimes a critical breakthrough may come from them. They are an important
stakeholder, no matter what your opinion of them is and they will play a
role in your activities. It is up to you to help make them an asset or a
liability and that, in our opinion, is a vital lesson to learn in addition
to all the others.

We are really unhappy that the Pune pilot should falter and that all this
has to come out. But the lesson needs to be learned, so the story needs to
be told.

Warm regards,

Sudhanwa Jogalekar, Mandar Kulkarni, Ashwin Baindur and other members of
Pune Community

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<i>On Sun, Nov 13, 2011 at 4:28 PM, Srikanth Lakshmanan=A0<span dir=3D"ltr"=
>&lt;<a href=3D"mailto:srik.lak at gmail.com">srik.lak at gmail.com</a>&gt;</span=
>=A0wrote:</i><div><i>I would also request people not to fork any more new =
threads on this with same thoughts,=A0</i></div>
<div><br></div><div><div style=3D"background-color: transparent; "><p dir=
=3D"ltr" id=3D"internal-source-marker_0.5170748163945973" style=3D"text-ali=
gn: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; "><span style=3D"font-size=
: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bol=
d; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; ">CAMPUS AMBASSADOR SETBACK - The Local Community Viewpoint</span><spa=
n style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transpare=
nt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;=
 "></span></p>
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; "></span><br><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"text-align: justify; margin-top: =
0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; ">
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; ">The recent hiatus in the Campus Education program proved what the Pu=
ne Community  knew. That the statue had feet of clay. For a long time we ha=
ve kept quiet, not wanting to disturb the boat but the time has come to tel=
l the tale. So it helps all concerned to revisit the previous decisions, ac=
tions =A0and provides for better opportunities for improvements in future.<=
/span></p>
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; "></span><br><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"text-align: justify; margin-top: =
0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; ">
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; ">Hisham first came to Pune in February to our meetup on his trip arou=
nd the country to meet communities. He is smart, very likeable, intelligent=
, focussed and erudite. We were impressed and happy that a suitable person =
would support communities through the India program. </span></p>
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; "></span><br><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"text-align: justify; margin-top: =
0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; ">
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; ">In his subsequent visits over the next two months, whenever we met, =
there was no mention of the campus ambassador scheme or of a pilot project.=
 The ambassador project was launched without any intimation and/or consulta=
tion with the community. The launch of the pilot project in Pune came as a =
complete surprise to the Community who read it from news reports.</span></p=
>
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; "></span><br><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"text-align: justify; margin-top: =
0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; ">
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; ">Ignoring the slight, on the basis of an email received rather late i=
n the day, we looked forward to participating and hoped to make a meaningfu=
l contribution. We felt that with our contacts, experience, knowledge of lo=
cal language, customs, etc. It would be a mutually beneficial partnership w=
ith campus ambassadors, which would result in adding to the strength of the=
 very small community in Pune. We had no illusions that we could add great =
editting power to the venture because of the size of our community. Instead=
, we hoped to play the role of friend, philosopher and guide. We hoped to b=
ring the following to the venture:</span></p>
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; "></span><br><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"margin-left: 36pt; text-align: ju=
stify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; ">
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; ">* Wiki editting experience - we had a small handful of veteran edito=
rs including an admin (Srikeit). Whereas Hisham had none and little knowled=
ge of the environment or knowledge of the way Wikipedians think.</span></p>
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; "></span><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justif=
y; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; ">
<span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-family: Arial; font-size: 15=
px; white-space: pre-wrap; ">* Huge experience in event management, FOSS, c=
risis-management in wide fields of experience etc.</span></p><p dir=3D"ltr"=
 style=3D"margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-b=
ottom: 0pt; ">
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; ">* Intimate life-long knowledge of the educational system in Pune. On=
e of our communities member Harshad is a notable cog in the academy machine=
ry. Sudhanwa has been instructor in half a dozen colleges and has a valuabl=
e network of contacts in Pune as well as insight into attitudes, local poli=
tics, expectations etc. The Community also has well-wishers such as Mr Lali=
t Kathpalia, Director SICSR besides others. </span></p>
<p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; margin-top:=
 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; "><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Ar=
ial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: =
baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">* A permanent long-term continuing prese=
nce in Pune (which Hisham or his staff do not have even today).</span></p>
<p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; margin-top:=
 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; "><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Ar=
ial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: =
baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">* Capacity to act as mentors to campus a=
mbassadors and provide moral and other kinds of support to CAs.</span></p>
<p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; margin-top:=
 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; "><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Ar=
ial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: =
baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">* Capacity to act as =93train the traine=
rs=94.</span></p>
<p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; margin-top:=
 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; "><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Ar=
ial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: =
baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">* A limited capacity to edit the offerin=
gs of the students (which we considered, the least of the value that we cou=
ld bring to the table).</span></p>
<p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; margin-top:=
 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; "><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Ar=
ial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: =
baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">* Expertise for the Indic wikipedia aspe=
cts of the initiative, especially Marathi Wikipedia.</span></p>
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; "></span><br><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; backg=
round-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; =
white-space: pre-wrap; "></span><br>
<p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"text-align: justify; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom=
: 0pt; "><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-col=
or: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-spa=
ce: pre-wrap; ">Somehow, I do not know why, involvement of the community it=
self was bypassed, not wanted or not required by the program team. We were =
always asking for information, it was not directed purposefully towards us.=
 The time came for the first Campus Ambassador. When we suggested that it w=
as time to develop the syllabus, we were sent the American syllabus used to=
 train the CAs which had a different setting to ours. We were wondering how=
 such a thing was to be implemented. We prepared our draft points for how t=
he training should be organised and waited to discuss the issue but by the =
time we could meet again, it was just a few days away from the training. </=
span></p>
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; "></span><br><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"text-align: justify; margin-top: =
0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; ">
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; ">To our surprise, we came to know of an airlift of PPI bigwigs from A=
merica - Frank Schulenberg, Annie Lin and PJ Tabit (an American CA on sabba=
tical to Pune). When we met just two days before the training became, we we=
re told that Annie was driving the show. When Annie was asked what role she=
 expected us to play, she asked Ashwin to give an opening address and we pl=
ayed some part in some discussions and case studies. Sudhanwa and Ashwin we=
re there on Day One and Madar Kulkarni on Day two. Srikeit was there on bot=
h days (we came to know he is being co-opted into the CA program on a fello=
wship). </span></p>
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; "></span><br><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"text-align: justify; margin-top: =
0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; ">
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; ">Mr Lalit Kathpalia, a well-wisher of the Wikipedia Pune Community an=
d Director, Symbiosis Institue of Computer Science and Research and Mr Hars=
had Gune, Deputy Director and member of Pune Wikipedian community provided =
the facilities for conduct of the CA program.</span></p>
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; "></span><br><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"text-align: justify; margin-top: =
0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; ">
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; ">During the training, the CAs were eager, excited and charged up. Fra=
nk, Annie, PJ did a great job in the training, even though it was clear to =
us that what was the need of the moment was not being taught. Without even =
the know how of how to do a single meaningful edit, CAs were being motivate=
d to be effective campus ambassadors - the horse was put before the cart. <=
/span></p>
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; "></span><br><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"text-align: justify; margin-top: =
0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; ">
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; ">During the training, we felt there was a disjunct between what the P=
une community was propagating as the points for immediate action and the me=
ssage being given in the training. For example, the need for being a compet=
ent editor was being glossed over, in fact we felt that the message was tha=
t editting and Wiki experience is over-rated, that newcomers do a better jo=
b than Wikipedians.</span></p>
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; "></span><br><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"text-align: justify; margin-top: =
0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; ">
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; ">After the training, Ashwin wrote a note of dissent on the talk page =
of the CAs at the time:</span></p>
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; "></span><br><a href=3D"http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_=
Foundation_-_India_Programs/India_Campus_Program_Reports"><span style=3D"fo=
nt-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 153); background-color:=
 transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">http://met=
a.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_-_India_Programs/India_Campu=
s_Program_Reports</span></a><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Ar=
ial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: =
baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span><br>
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; "> </span><br><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"text-align: justify; margin-top:=
 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; ">
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; ">In the light of how the community perceived itself, we gave address =
on a number of issues, which were voiced to Hisham over a period of time. A=
t that point of time, the involvement of the Pune community in the WikiConf=
erence work had not yet started. A large number of issues were raised. Thes=
e included:</span></p>
<p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: =
0pt; "><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color=
: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space=
: pre-wrap; ">* Need for a project management approach, with deliverables, =
stages, identification of scaling resources, check-backs, etc was emphasise=
d.</span></p>
<p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: =
0pt; "><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color=
: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space=
: pre-wrap; ">* Attitudes of local college managements and how to function =
in Pune academic environment were given.</span></p>
<p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: =
0pt; "><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color=
: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space=
: pre-wrap; ">* Intricacies of academic systems in the colleges, universiti=
es in Pune were explained. </span></p>
<p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: =
0pt; "><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color=
: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space=
: pre-wrap; ">* Cultural differences between colleges, their goals and prio=
rities, as well as their mutual relations were told.</span></p>
<p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; margin-top:=
 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; "><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Ar=
ial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: =
baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">* It was indicated that this was the wro=
ng timing to start the program from point of view of forthcoming exams and =
vacations.</span></p>
<p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; margin-top:=
 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; "><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Ar=
ial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: =
baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">* We asked an important question - what =
is the take home for the stake holders? There were adequate take-homes for =
the CA (a certificate, a T shirt, =A0learning experiences. opportunities in=
 Wikiworld, recognition and some marks for the exam). The participating stu=
dents were only getting wiki-knowledge and assignment marks. Was that enoug=
h to motivate them? =A0There was no formal training for the actual editors.=
</span></p>
<p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; margin-top:=
 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; "><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Ar=
ial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: =
baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">* Most important of all, what is there i=
n return to the stake holders like colleges? This question is still unanswe=
red. There has to be something for all the stakeholders (CAs, students, col=
lege teachers, college management, community, IEP program team) in the prog=
ram. Right now, only Wikipedia is the ultimate beneficiary. and partly CAs =
and some students. For a win-win situation, everybody must have something r=
easonable for take-home.</span></p>
<p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: =
0pt; "><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color=
: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space=
: pre-wrap; ">* We repeatedly emphasised the need for the staff person to b=
e recruited from Pune and function from Pune 24x7, who should preferably be=
 Maharashtrian, and having local contacts, rather than be from Delhi, stati=
oned there and fly in here for a few days a week (as we were told it would =
be).</span></p>
<p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: =
0pt; "><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color=
: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space=
: pre-wrap; ">* The need for rigorous training of campus ambassadors and fo=
rmal training for student editors.</span></p>
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; "></span><br><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"text-align: justify; margin-top: =
0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; ">
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; ">The community felt that it was not quite being listened to. Slowly c=
ontact with Hisham dwindled. We never came to know except through grape-vin=
e when Hisham was in town. It appeared to us that the community mattered no=
 more and the IEP (India Education Project) was the whole-soul focus. Our c=
ontact with local CAs was not encouraged. When a request was made for at le=
ast one Pune community member to be on the CA mailing list so that we could=
 be in the loop and available for ready support and advice, it was not agre=
ed. </span></p>
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; "></span><br><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"text-align: justify; margin-top: =
0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; ">
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; ">This led to the community being effectively excluded from CA. Hisham=
 had never seriously advocated interaction of CAs with us and only a few Wi=
kipedian CAs and some other interested CAs interacted with us sporadically.=
 Some of CAs turned up at our last monthly meetup only after they got a bas=
hing about the copy-vios asking for some help. And then vanished again when=
 some suggestions and action plan was given.</span></p>
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; "></span><br><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"text-align: justify; margin-top: =
0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; ">
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; ">There was one exception. One of the Pune community members, Prof Rad=
ha Misra is running a quiet, efficient IEP in her department and college. T=
he community was invited by her to conduct two wiki-academies in different =
workshops in her College which were successfully conducted. We thank her fo=
r the support to the community.</span></p>
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; "></span><br><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"text-align: justify; margin-top: =
0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; ">
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; ">Reluctantly we came to the conclusion that the local Pune community =
had no role to play in IEP. We decided to support the initiative passively.=
 Soon the WikiConference planning started and our attention and energies we=
re drawn away.</span></p>
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; "></span><br><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"text-align: justify; margin-top: =
0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; ">
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; ">From time to time some news leaked through and we got the idea the C=
A program was being grilled by the world community. Out of sheer lack of in=
terest, we had stopped inquiring into CA affairs, we no longer watched IEP =
pages though we came across some activity going on from time to time. Becau=
se of this, the true state of affairs and scope of the setback came to us o=
nly with the latest Signpost.</span></p>
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; "></span><br><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"text-align: justify; margin-top: =
0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; ">
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; ">Now a lot of blame has been put on the educational system, students =
attitudes etc. That is true that they are a contributory cause but the blam=
e must also lie with those responsible for planning. If the priorities in t=
raining CAs were got wrong, it takes no leap of imagination to imagine othe=
r decisions may not have been optimal either. =A0The Campus Ambassadors, Go=
d bless them, are mostly blameless.</span></p>
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; "></span><br><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"text-align: justify; margin-top: =
0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; ">
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; ">The Pune Community had a clearer idea of what was involved right in =
the beginning than the India Programs office. Its decades of experience in =
academicia (Harshad &amp; Sudhanwa), FOSS (Sudhanwa), industry (Mandar), te=
aching (Sudhanwa &amp; Ashwin), marketing (Mahitgar), retired marathi exper=
t (J), business (Suhel), armed forces (Ashwin), Wikipedia experience (in en=
:WP, mr:WP, Commons) and the general management experience and detailed on-=
site knowledge etc were a very valuable human resource, and these were made=
 available to Hisham. He chose to sip sparingly. Perhaps, just perhaps, if =
he had drunk deeply - recognised that the miniscule Pune community was a tr=
ue well-wisher, and had made us a true partner, the outcome may have been d=
ifferent.</span></p>
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; "></span><br><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"text-align: justify; margin-top: =
0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; ">
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; ">The purpose of this feedback is to educate people about the need to =
engage local communities. Communities are not easily engaged. Each has its =
own complexities. Their capacities to help you forward your plans may be li=
mited and nuanced. They cannot be taken for granted either. Often you have =
to prove your worth to them. Some communities may even be of nuisance value=
 unless engaged. But if properly engaged, they can bring you unique viewpoi=
nts, opportunities; they will stand by you in difficult times, sometimes a =
critical breakthrough may come from them. They are an important stakeholder=
, no matter what your opinion of them is and they will play a role in your =
activities. It is up to you to help make them an asset or a liability and t=
hat, in our opinion, is a vital lesson to learn in addition to all the othe=
rs.</span></p>
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; "></span><br><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"text-align: justify; margin-top: =
0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; ">
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; ">We are really unhappy that the Pune pilot should falter and that all=
 this has to come out. But the lesson needs to be learned, so the story nee=
ds to be told.</span></p>
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; "></span><br><p dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"text-align: justify; margin-top: =
0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; ">
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; ">Warm regards,</span></p><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family:=
 Arial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-alig=
n: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span><br>
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; ">Sudhanwa Jogalekar, Mandar Kulkarni, Ashwin Baindur and other member=
s of Pune Community</span><br>
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: trans=
parent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-w=
rap; "></span><br><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; backg=
round-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; =
white-space: pre-wrap; "></span><br>
<span style=3D"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(136, 136, 13=
6); background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: b=
aseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span><br><span style=3D"font-size: 11pt=
; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none;=
 vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span><br>
</div><br></div><div><br></div>

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