When drafting the vote for this coming hackfest, a couple things occurred to me regarding making our events more welcoming and inviting.
First, while I like the fairness of our reimbursement schedule for longer term contributors, I wonder if it might be a bit exclusionary for situations where we do want to encourage newer developers to get involved and join in. It makes me wonder if we should revisit the tiers and make sure the numbers aren't hindering attendance at these events?
Second, the tiers quantify based on patchcount, but many of our developers are making numerous important contributions that can't be measured in git commits. Where we do use a tiered system, it would be beneficial if we could find ways to structure it to recognize that work.
Lastly, I worry a bit that not all types of people may feel comfortable attending a hackfest - language, gender, age, work duties, family requirements, etc. can affect someone's choice to attend. We invest a fair amount of the project's money into these hackfests, but if they are only effectively open to a subset of our membership it makes me wonder if we need to broaden our thinking for other kinds of gathering activities that might suit some of these other participants.
Anyway, nothing here to do regarding the upcoming hackfest, time's too short. But what do you guys think of these ponderings in relation to making our future activities more inclusive of a wider variety of people?
Bryce
I'd like to offer any funds that were to be allocated for my attendance to be re-allocated to a developer or other member of the community who has shown interest in the project. I think it's a great idea to be more inclusive with reimbursement in terms of contributions rather than commits. Also, I'm ordering some metallic inkscape stickers on a roll this weekend for general purpose distribution and outreach activities. Looking at a few thousand, so there should be plenty. Maybe they could be handed out at LGM and the Hackfests. There was an idea for a community day - a special day where we invite people to come speak with Inkscape developers. This takes place during the hackfest, and since it's only one dedicated day it will not have a negative effect on development work during the hackfest. It would be cool to have a presentation for people to see. Maybe someone could show some tips and tricks for getting things done faster in Inkscape, and an "ask a developer" portion where people can just ask questions. It would help to attract people into positions we need filled if we have a list of them. Maybe we can offer special contributor stickers to people who pick up the shovel. Maybe based on our "hats" graphics from the website.
Just some ideas. Yea, it's a little late this year, but next year we could have a lot done. I'll still have stickers for you this year. :)
-C
On Fri, Jan 19, 2018 at 8:56 PM, Bryce Harrington <bryce@...2...> wrote:
When drafting the vote for this coming hackfest, a couple things occurred to me regarding making our events more welcoming and inviting.
First, while I like the fairness of our reimbursement schedule for longer term contributors, I wonder if it might be a bit exclusionary for situations where we do want to encourage newer developers to get involved and join in. It makes me wonder if we should revisit the tiers and make sure the numbers aren't hindering attendance at these events?
Second, the tiers quantify based on patchcount, but many of our developers are making numerous important contributions that can't be measured in git commits. Where we do use a tiered system, it would be beneficial if we could find ways to structure it to recognize that work.
Lastly, I worry a bit that not all types of people may feel comfortable attending a hackfest - language, gender, age, work duties, family requirements, etc. can affect someone's choice to attend. We invest a fair amount of the project's money into these hackfests, but if they are only effectively open to a subset of our membership it makes me wonder if we need to broaden our thinking for other kinds of gathering activities that might suit some of these other participants.
Anyway, nothing here to do regarding the upcoming hackfest, time's too short. But what do you guys think of these ponderings in relation to making our future activities more inclusive of a wider variety of people?
Bryce
Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot _______________________________________________ Inkscape-board mailing list Inkscape-board@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/inkscape-board
I like your idea of a community day. I think we should do it this year.
If others are ok with it, I'll put it in the wiki for the Tuesday, which gives people time to settle in and also enough time to work on user problems if they want.
If that works, then I'll send out a few invitations to a few groups I know interested in Inkscape here in Boston.
Best Regards, Martin Owens
On Sat, 2018-01-20 at 09:53 +0000, C R wrote:
I'd like to offer any funds that were to be allocated for my attendance to be re-allocated to a developer or other member of the community who has shown interest in the project. I think it's a great idea to be more inclusive with reimbursement in terms of contributions rather than commits. Also, I'm ordering some metallic inkscape stickers on a roll this weekend for general purpose distribution and outreach activities. Looking at a few thousand, so there should be plenty. Maybe they could be handed out at LGM and the Hackfests. There was an idea for a community day - a special day where we invite people to come speak with Inkscape developers. This takes place during the hackfest, and since it's only one dedicated day it will not have a negative effect on development work during the hackfest. It would be cool to have a presentation for people to see. Maybe someone could show some tips and tricks for getting things done faster in Inkscape, and an "ask a developer" portion where people can just ask questions. It would help to attract people into positions we need filled if we have a list of them. Maybe we can offer special contributor stickers to people who pick up the shovel. Maybe based on our "hats" graphics from the website.
Just some ideas. Yea, it's a little late this year, but next year we could have a lot done. I'll still have stickers for you this year. :)
-C
On Fri, Jan 19, 2018 at 8:56 PM, Bryce Harrington <bryce@...2...> wrote:
When drafting the vote for this coming hackfest, a couple things occurred to me regarding making our events more welcoming and inviting.
First, while I like the fairness of our reimbursement schedule for longer term contributors, I wonder if it might be a bit exclusionary for situations where we do want to encourage newer developers to get involved and join in. It makes me wonder if we should revisit the tiers and make sure the numbers aren't hindering attendance at these events?
Second, the tiers quantify based on patchcount, but many of our developers are making numerous important contributions that can't be measured in git commits. Where we do use a tiered system, it would be beneficial if we could find ways to structure it to recognize that work.
Lastly, I worry a bit that not all types of people may feel comfortable attending a hackfest - language, gender, age, work duties, family requirements, etc. can affect someone's choice to attend. We invest a fair amount of the project's money into these hackfests, but if they are only effectively open to a subset of our membership it makes me wonder if we need to broaden our thinking for other kinds of gathering activities that might suit some of these other participants.
Anyway, nothing here to do regarding the upcoming hackfest, time's too short. But what do you guys think of these ponderings in relation to making our future activities more inclusive of a wider variety of people?
Bryce
Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot _______________________________________________ Inkscape-board mailing list Inkscape-board@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/inkscape-board
Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot _______________________________________________ Inkscape-board mailing list Inkscape-board@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/inkscape-board
Okay. Let me know if you need any materials for it (apart from stickers, which I'm making today). They will make nice take-aways for the event I think.
-C
On Sat, Jan 20, 2018 at 1:45 PM, Martin Owens <doctormo@...23...> wrote:
I like your idea of a community day. I think we should do it this year.
If others are ok with it, I'll put it in the wiki for the Tuesday, which gives people time to settle in and also enough time to work on user problems if they want.
If that works, then I'll send out a few invitations to a few groups I know interested in Inkscape here in Boston.
Best Regards, Martin Owens
On Sat, 2018-01-20 at 09:53 +0000, C R wrote:
I'd like to offer any funds that were to be allocated for my attendance to be re-allocated to a developer or other member of the community who has shown interest in the project. I think it's a great idea to be more inclusive with reimbursement in terms of contributions rather than commits. Also, I'm ordering some metallic inkscape stickers on a roll this weekend for general purpose distribution and outreach activities. Looking at a few thousand, so there should be plenty. Maybe they could be handed out at LGM and the Hackfests. There was an idea for a community day - a special day where we invite people to come speak with Inkscape developers. This takes place during the hackfest, and since it's only one dedicated day it will not have a negative effect on development work during the hackfest. It would be cool to have a presentation for people to see. Maybe someone could show some tips and tricks for getting things done faster in Inkscape, and an "ask a developer" portion where people can just ask questions. It would help to attract people into positions we need filled if we have a list of them. Maybe we can offer special contributor stickers to people who pick up the shovel. Maybe based on our "hats" graphics from the website.
Just some ideas. Yea, it's a little late this year, but next year we could have a lot done. I'll still have stickers for you this year. :)
-C
On Fri, Jan 19, 2018 at 8:56 PM, Bryce Harrington <bryce@...2...> wrote:
When drafting the vote for this coming hackfest, a couple things occurred to me regarding making our events more welcoming and inviting.
First, while I like the fairness of our reimbursement schedule for longer term contributors, I wonder if it might be a bit exclusionary for situations where we do want to encourage newer developers to get involved and join in. It makes me wonder if we should revisit the tiers and make sure the numbers aren't hindering attendance at these events?
Second, the tiers quantify based on patchcount, but many of our developers are making numerous important contributions that can't be measured in git commits. Where we do use a tiered system, it would be beneficial if we could find ways to structure it to recognize that work.
Lastly, I worry a bit that not all types of people may feel comfortable attending a hackfest - language, gender, age, work duties, family requirements, etc. can affect someone's choice to attend. We invest a fair amount of the project's money into these hackfests, but if they are only effectively open to a subset of our membership it makes me wonder if we need to broaden our thinking for other kinds of gathering activities that might suit some of these other participants.
Anyway, nothing here to do regarding the upcoming hackfest, time's too short. But what do you guys think of these ponderings in relation to making our future activities more inclusive of a wider variety of people?
Bryce
Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot _______________________________________________ Inkscape-board mailing list Inkscape-board@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/inkscape-board
Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot _______________________________________________ Inkscape-board mailing list Inkscape-board@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/inkscape-board
Hey,
On 01/20/2018 04:53 AM, C R wrote:
It would be cool to have a presentation for people to see. Maybe someone could show some tips and tricks for getting things done faster in Inkscape, and an "ask a developer" portion where people can just ask questions. It would help to attract people into positions we need filled if we have a list of them. Maybe we can offer special contributor stickers to people who pick up the shovel. Maybe based on our "hats" graphics from the website.
It just so happens I'm going to be teaching an outreach class in the RHT Boston office on software design to a small team of local high school students and one of the sessions (they're 2 hrs each) involves teaching the kids how to use Inkscape and a lab session where they'll use Inkscape to prototype their ideas. It'll likely be their first Inkscape experience so you could get a fresh perspective on new users :)
I'm working out the schedule with the organizers now; the class will run on Wednesdays and we could potentially do the Inkscape session on Wednesday March 28, 12-2 pm to line it up with the hackfest.
If you don't mind doing it on Wednesday instead of Tuesday, this might be a good opportunity. For earlier in the morning or later that afternoon I can try to reach out to some local folks who use Inkscape and see if they'd be interested in a presentation / Q&A and able to come as well to really pack the day :)
Let me know what you think about the idea. It's totally optional so if you're not sure the class thing will work out it's totally fine of course.
Cheers, ~m
Dear Máirín,
I'm working out the schedule with the organizers now; the class will run on Wednesdays and we could potentially do the Inkscape session on Wednesday March 28, 12-2 pm to line it up with the hackfest.
I think that's very doable at this stage. It's early enough we can change the date and advertise it to our contacts. I'm going to be contacting the South End Tech Center and DangerAwesome, let me know if there's anyone else I should be reaching out to.
Best Regards, Martin Owens
On 01/23/2018 02:44 PM, Martin Owens wrote:
I think that's very doable at this stage. It's early enough we can change the date and advertise it to our contacts. I'm going to be contacting the South End Tech Center and DangerAwesome, let me know if there's anyone else I should be reaching out to.
I gave the opensourcedesign Boston group a heads up, and I can send a notice out to both the Boston and Westford offices since we have an Inkscape user population across the two. I am wondering if there are any local meetup groups that might be interested? I know there's a few Blender ones, I seem to recall either an Inkscape or open source creatives one in the Boston area (gave a talk at one a long time ago.)
We have an affiliation with Boston University in the Red Hat Boston office, I can ask around and see if there's any student groups or professors who might use Inkscape.
There is a large and very active AIGA group in Boston, I don't know if it'd be worth sending out a notice to them?
That's where I was thinking on outreach, what do you think?
~m
On Tue, 2018-01-23 at 14:50 -0500, Máirín Duffy wrote:
On 01/23/2018 02:44 PM, Martin Owens wrote:
I think that's very doable at this stage. It's early enough we can change the date and advertise it to our contacts. I'm going to be contacting the South End Tech Center and DangerAwesome, let me know if there's anyone else I should be reaching out to.
I gave the opensourcedesign Boston group a heads up, and I can send a notice out to both the Boston and Westford offices since we have an Inkscape user population across the two. I am wondering if there are any local meetup groups that might be interested? I know there's a few Blender ones, I seem to recall either an Inkscape or open source creatives one in the Boston area (gave a talk at one a long time ago.)
We have an affiliation with Boston University in the Red Hat Boston office, I can ask around and see if there's any student groups or professors who might use Inkscape.
There is a large and very active AIGA group in Boston, I don't know if it'd be worth sending out a notice to them?
That's where I was thinking on outreach, what do you think?
That's a good idea! I've just sent AIGA Boston a message to ask them if they have anyone interested in such a thing. BU would be good for programmers too, if there are any. Getting more devs into Inkscape is really important to the project too.
(My dream is to have Red Hat sponsor an Inkscape dev for a few years full time ;-) so we can make some really good movement)
Best Regards, Martin Owens
participants (4)
-
Bryce Harrington -
C R -
Martin Owens -
Máirín Duffy