TIME, In-World Meetings, Poll Taking, Using Forum

[Ilan Tochner]

Hi Blady,

There are subjects I wish to cover but there is no set agenda for the meetings that people have to comply with.

I begin and end each meeting asking people if there are things they wish to discuss with the group, and you can see that issues that other people have raised are discussed in the meetings (read the summaries).

I don't believe I've ever shouted down anyone during a Kitely Mentors Group meeting nor have I ignored anyone who has asked a question or raised a concern. I don't always agree with what people say but I always hear them out. In fact, in the meetings that you did attend I recall spending quite a lot of time discussing things that you brought up.

We spend as much time as is required to cover important issues for Kitely's development, issues where community feedback can affect the Kitely feature set. That is the main purpose of the meetings.

Following people's requests, I've been stopping meetings that last more than 2 hours so the people from Europe, where the meetings start at a late hour, won't have to leave before the meetings are brought to an official close.

When there are issues that don't get addressed in the meeting I often follow up with the people who raised them. I recall spending many hours discussing the issues you've raised with you via Skype so I'm not quite sure what you wish to discuss that hasn't been discussed.

[Bladyblue Bommerang]

Hi Blady,

There are subjects I wish to cover but there is no set agenda for the meetings that people have to comply with.

That is why your meeting only covers the infrastructure issues you wish to discuss and nothing more.

I begin and end each meeting asking people if there are things they wish to discuss with the group, and you can see that issues that other people have raised are discussed in the meetings (read the summaries).

I see that there is no 4 week follow-up on issues that you do not bring to the group. The issues you bring up are not 'community' issues, they are Kitely Infrastructure issues.

I don't believe I've ever shouted down anyone during a Kitely Mentors Group meeting nor have I ignored anyone who has asked a question or raised a concern. I don't always agree with what people say but I always hear them out. In fact, in the meetings that you did attend I recall spending quite a lot of time discussing things that you brought up.

I had said that I would like to 'build an outfit' while shopping on the marketplace. You said we aren't going to do that. And then you went back to developing the features you wanted in the Marketplace.

We spend as much time as is required to cover important issues for Kitely's development, issues where community feedback can affect the Kitely feature set. That is the main purpose of the meetings.

You actually spend all of the time on infrastructure issues at those meetings and no time on community development.

so I'm not quite sure what you wish to discuss that hasn't been discussed.

Community Issues that need to be discussed and developed are:

Kitely Plaza Stores - Procedure to occupy stores
Kitely Plaza Events - Procedures to use facilitates (Runways, venues, galleries and office towers)
Kitely Plaza Mentor Program
Kitely Plaza Greeter Program
Kitely Plaza Instructor Program
Developing scripted tools that volunteers will need
Volunteer Coordinating Staff for Kitely Plaza
New Resident Starter Kits
Destination Guide
Procedure for use of Kitely College Meeting Areas
Volunteer Incentive Program Development
Community Calendars
Marketing Campaign
......and much more.

Resolution of these topics will build community - not 10 hours of discussion about the design of a transfer station. You have over 40 people in your Mentor Group - and they have yet to mentor anyone.

The Infrastructure issues that interest me are 'on hold' until the end of the year:
-Starting my world from my own webpage
-Sending messages from in-world to Facebook friends
-Real money tip jars in-world

I know that Marketplace is important to merchants - but I am not a merchant. And I know that Hypergrid is next in the Infrastructure to-do list. But without a strong community component in place we will miss out on many of the benefits of both the marketplace and hypergrid.

Right now we know that many new people start off in Kitely Plaza and no one is there to greet them.
Your Infrastructure meeting is not the only meting that can be going on. A parallel community development meeting on the weekends could be happening as well. We cannot wait until all infrastructure issues are dealt with before we deal wit the community development issues.

[Constance Peregrine]

sneaks in, looks around, makes a hole in the ground, buries my head-))

but, while here...blady...couldn't you simply do those community meetings with like-minded people, now?

Maybe present some consensus items to the forums someplace?

I am sure I do not see the problem here, but maybe I am missing something.

I do recall you being very involved in some earlier meetings I attended where much of what you said has been started on....the plaza, the merchants stuffs....some I did not agree with but since I don't have a bone in all that, it did not matter to me whatever you all did.

But it seems to this, mostly, outsider, that you have done quite a lot, and that Ilan has done much of what you wanted.

I suppose it is a matter of time, really, and each person has the right to decide where to put their time and efforts in, as best they can.

I would add that HG access, along with the already-in-place OARs abilities WILL ADD much to community in Kitely, imho, and is quite important to spend time with, regardless of other items.

These items, alone, will and do give folx the ability to have much content in Kitely that they like, where many closed grids have to work hard to get already-time-stretched content creators to come into, yet another, grid, and spend their precious time uploading.

This is what sets Kitely apart from other closed commercial grids, and why I wait patiently, and why others do also, for it to happen-))

This will make Kitely the go-to grid for that content that some just-gotta-have from sl while at the same time helping those, like myself, be free to do our own little thangs.

[Bladyblue Bommerang]

sneaks in, looks around, makes a hole in the ground, buries my head-))

but, while here...blady...couldn't you simply do those community meetings with like-minded people, now?

Maybe present some consensus items to the forums someplace?

I am sure I do not see the problem here, but maybe I am missing something.

We can meet and talk all we want, but we cannot create policy around Kitely Plaza or Kitely Volunteer Groups without an authorized representative from Kitely approving of what we plan as policy.

I do recall you being very involved in some earlier meetings I attended where much of what you said has been started on....the plaza, the merchants stuffs....some I did not agree with but since I don't have a bone in all that, it did not matter to me whatever you all did.

I mentioned the Plaza at one meeting and was shouted down. I had to take it to Skype with Ilan personally to get it started. I was lucky enough to recruit 8 Kitely residents that were professional builders and scripters to get it done. Most that helped out with the Plaza weren't members of the Wednesday 'Mentor' meeting group.

But it seems to this, mostly, outsider, that you have done quite a lot, and that Ilan has done much of what you wanted.

Thanks. And I agree he rezzed the 4 islands for the plaza as I asked. But the Wednesday Mentor group did not approve of it.

Weeks ago, the volunteer programs for Kitely Plaza should have been the topic of discussion at some meeting. The empty 4 islands aren't going to benefit us without a strong volunteer component to make it viable.

I would add that HG access, along with the already-in-place OARs abilities WILL ADD much to community in Kitely, imho, and is quite important to spend time with, regardless of other items.

I believe that if we have a strong volunteer component in place (with a good incentive program) when Hypergrid starts, that we will be in a better position to retain new residents.

I never thought that Kitely Plaza was a "build it and they will come" answer to increasing the resident population of Kitely. I knew we had to have a strong volunteer program in place to make Kitely Plaza work. But I seem to be the only one concerned about 'Phase Two' of the Kitely Plaza Build. Letting it sit there without further development would be a terrible waste.

[Constance Peregrine]

all this quoting is confusing me!! lol

We can meet and talk all we want, but we cannot create policy around Kitely Plaza or Kitely Volunteer Groups without an authorized representative from Kitely approving of what we plan as policy.

Yes, but wouldn't a simple approach be to do something similar to my suggestion? Some kind of meetings done by ppl who are interested, separate from ilan's, and present proposals here for all to comment on? It would reach a larger audience, at the very least...seems to me.

Thanks. And I agree he rezzed the 4 islands for the plaza as I asked. But the Wednesday Mentor group did not approve of it.

There really are not all that many who attend the weekly meetings anyway, are there? I just don't understand why the forums are not better for this....and my pleasure, credit should go to you, and I am sure it does, for so much you have done for this grid.

I never thought that Kitely Plaza was a "build it and they will come" answer to increasing the resident population of Kitely. I knew we had to have a strong volunteer program in place to make Kitely Plaza work. But I seem to be the only one concerned about 'Phase Two' of the Kitely Plaza Build. Letting it sit there without further development would be a terrible waste.

I doubt seriously you are the "only one concerned"...personally, I am not, as I prefer to do my own thing...but regardless, it is a difficult thing to get people involved in such things, and will take time, as we all have other priorities in our lives.

I believe Kitely will do just fine but this will take some time [maybe a matter of a few months, maybe more]....personally, I think patience is needed here...but that is just me-))

I think Kitely has been rather nascent for some time and has a lot to do right now...tho this is only my perception from one who hasn't been involved in Kitely all that long.

[Marstol Nitely]

...credit should go to you, and I am sure it does, for so much you have done for this grid.

Ditto!

I guess I'm guilty of shouting Bladyblue down at a Kitely meeting. I certainly disagreed vehemently with her. I've apologized since then and told her I think she's an asset to the Kitely community. I meant it. She's done a remarkable job of turning a big idea into reality (or virtual reality anyway).

Bladyblue brings up a good point about community meetings and the need to continue the momentum on Kitely Plaza. If we want people to come to Kitely and to stay, we need to have people and events (some sort of community) available. In order to do that there needs to be some sort of planning and organization. I'm glad we have someone like Bladyblue who has the desire and ability to take on the task.

As for the agenda. I agreeded with Ohn on that in past, but Ilan is pretty adamant about not wanting one and has his reasons. I don't see any reason Bladyblue can't have one for her community meetings. I hope that Bladyblue and Ilan can come to some sort of agreement on these issues so that we can move ahead.

[Marstol Nitely]

You have over 40 people in your Mentor Group - and they have yet to mentor anyone.

I do have to disagree with you on this one Bladyblue. I received help and information from members of the mentors group in the past. Anyone in the group had been quick to respond and helpful anytime I've asked for it. I've also helped new members as much as I can in the past. While we may not be as organized as the old SL mentors, I don't think it's fair to say we've never mentored anyone.

[Bladyblue Bommerang]

Yes, but wouldn't a simple approach be to do something similar to my suggestion? Some kind of meetings done by ppl who are interested, separate from ilan's, and present proposals here for all to comment on? It would reach a larger audience, at the very least...seems to me.

Reaching an audience doesn't create Kitely policy. We can agree all we want, but if Kitely Management is not in the discussion, it is a waste of time.

There really are not all that many who attend the weekly meetings anyway, are there? I just don't understand why the forums are not better for this....

There aren't that many who comment here either - but we do have a bunch of silent lurkers. I believe that the community physically meeting in a place also helps develop relationships.

I doubt seriously you are the "only one concerned"...personally, I am not, as I prefer to do my own thing...but regardless, it is a difficult thing to get people involved in such things, and will take time, as we all have other priorities in our lives.

When I say 'concerned' I mean 'roll my sleeves up and start fixing the problem'. I am sure that two or three leaders can emerge from community meetings, but we have to get them started and find these people.

I believe Kitely will do just fine but this will take some time [maybe a matter of a few months, maybe more]....personally, I think patience is needed here...but that is just me-))

I think letting Kitely Plaza just sit there empty without a greeter and event volunteer initiative in place is a waste.

I think Kitely has been rather nascent for some time and has a lot to do right now...tho this is only my perception from one who hasn't been involved in Kitely all that long.

I think if we seriously crowd source, Kitely can be twice its size by the end of the year.

[Constance Peregrine]

miney said "There really are not all that many who attend the weekly meetings anyway, are there? I just don't understand why the forums are not better for this...."

blady said "There aren't that many who comment here either - but we do have a bunch of silent lurkers. I believe that the community physically meeting in a place also helps develop relationships."

Nods, those lurkers [glares at the lurking crowd!!!!]

Reminds me of a song, and heck, i will sing it for yaz now...

There was lurkers in the crowd
Those lurkers, o yes, the crowd
They lurked here, they lurked there, they lurked everywhere
o yes, those wonderful lurking lurkers
there was lurkers in the crowd, o yes

curtsys low, and smiles @ the obvious adoration from her admiring but lurking audience for her awesome singing skills...

[Ilan Tochner]

Hi Blady,

If you organize times that work for people after 1pm PST then I'd be happy to attend community-managed meetings which can have whatever format you, or the other people who are willing to take initiative, decide to adopt and facilitate. I won't create the agendas or run the meetings. This will be your weekly (?) scheduled activity in which the Kitely user community can gather inworld to discuss whatever it brings to the table with me in attendance to represent the Kitely management's view in the discussions.