Feedback Needed: What do you want out of the Community Forum Meetings?

[Aerak]

Hello everyone!

For everyone who does not know, the community forum meeting happens once a month and has been a place to learn more about what goes on in the group, and you get volunteer hours for attending too!

It’s been over a year of running community forums, and I have noticed something, as have lots of other folks as well. The energy at the community forums seems to be stagnating. We are getting the same attendees every single time, and there just isn’t as much banter/chatter going on. It used to be a silly, fun place where there was a good mix of antics and fun. The community meeting is an important place to go to get information, but should we try something new?

My question to everyone; for those who have been to these meetings, and to those who have not: What would bring you to a meeting? What are you looking for? What would interest you? Should it be all business? Should it be less formal? Should it be some business perhaps mixed with a convention style panel where a guest speaker could talk about things like fursuit making or art or budgeting (things that perhaps you would be interested in learning)? Would it be something completely different? We want to know. We want people to get involved and we want everyone to look forward to these meetings and most importantly for everyone to enjoy themselves!

Please let us know! No serious or silly or seriously silly idea will be dismissed.

[Drake M.]

I do agree that we do have a similar if not the same attendees each meeting…Depending on each monthly meeting location, it may garner some attendees that usually would NOT attend.

 

MY THOUGHTS

First off, what brings me to a meeting is usually topics I end up speaking on as well as any department updates (if any).  I also attend as it’s also a time to see the good people I like to be around, chat, etc…

Secondly, what interests me, to use an example, is to hear the many differing opinions and feedback on any issues at hand and the specified agenda put together by the meeting moderator.

When it comes to it being formal or less formal, I want to suggest that it be a mixture of both…What I have noticed is that everyone only speaks when they need to (ex. agenda topic) or do not speak at all.  Most may see it as a fixed environment with a fixed agenda and routine if this makes sense.  I must admit that, as I will always attend the meetings, they feel more fixed in using the above analogies.

I like the idea of it being more mixed…Get some business out of the way and maybe have something to lighten up the setting.  Perhaps some sort of activity if you will…Maybe the meeting moderator can be responsible for thinking of something fun to get all attendees to participate in.  This actually reminds me of a past forum meeting…In the agenda you wanted attendees to share one true fact and something false about themselves.  Then everyone had to guess which one was true and which was not.  =)

In conclusion, what do I want out of the forum meetings?  Aside from the usual that happens currently, more fun topics everyone can participate in and perhaps more attention to community questions and answering relating to issues and/or concerns.

OTHER THOUGHTS

You mentioned having many of the same attendees each time…I understand how it can also be challenging for others to attend because of location.  With this being said, would one or two central locations help garner more potential interest?  I believe this was mentioned at one of the past meetings, but not much discussion was had.

This may have to be a separate discussion in its own thread, but just wanted to share this…

These are all of my thoughts on this particular topic.  Thank you!

~ Drake M.

• This reply was modified 12 years, 4 months ago by Drake M.. Reason: Other thoughts

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[Zepaw]

They definitely need a change if we hope to make them meet their written goal of attracting and fostering talent/leadership among members. As the meetings have been for some time I don’t blame people not directly involved for not coming. Most of what is done are reports that could have just been emailed/posted somewhere. I’ve sometimes not felt the need/desire to attend. What purpose do others have to be there when the entire focus is on dept reports and events past/future? There is technically an open floor section but it usually passes by with no interjections.

 

I like that idea of a panel-style bit for fun/education. There are lots of positive changes that could bring these meetings back to relevance. I imagine it would need to be a big shake up to breathe life in them, small changes won’t make enough impact. Most importantly in my mind is less discussion and more action. What I mean by this is most of the time at community forum is spent talking about what theoretically makes sense to do down the line. Of course those discussions have their place but there should also be a focus on tangible plans that can be executed in a certain time frame and followed up on. Set responsibilities, even light ones, on members to get them actively involved. An example is we often say we need people for X and Y but other than a call out at the meeting for people interested nothing is done. In the December forum we mentioned we needed a tinychat moderator then set the topic aside with no plans for how to get one.

[Mouring]

Problem is see is there are so many calls to action between community and convention that most people have stop listening long ago.  Large part of those stepping up to do things are those that are new to our community or new to the fandom in general.  And a lot of times they are getting frustrated because they want to help, they are trying to help, but instead of being given the ball they are strung along.

Maybe it is because I’ve watched a lot of other clubs/fandoms grow, fight, split, join, fight, split, etc and as a result I’m jaded (which is why I’m not heavily involved with community).  I rarely see “lets to big things” to be a good thing for growth of long-term volunteer participation.  A lot of times it is the smaller things that we encourage and foster that net us larger gains in the long term.

— TL;DR —

– Give people power to do stuff and let them succeed/fail
– Ask yourself what small things can be done to encourage the more established members to come forward to help

[Yarrick]

I agree with Mouring on a lot of his points. A lot of the newer people in the community may feel either a little intimidated or just want to enjoy events as they happen and be a participant but really are not comfortable in a role of leadership.

Thus you have a few very strong personalities out there who are running most of the events. People tend to just look and stare at these few people waiting for them to run something else they can have fun at.

Its an interesting Dilemma; and it may be one that requires a more personal approach. A lot of said people who are in the “I’d like to do something or help out but other people are doing it and I’m too nervous to help out…” crowd might benefit from a one on one interaction from a BoD member or event staff. Just having lunch, going out somewhere to a mall or something and talking with them one on one. Making them a friend. This method is one that is VERY time consuming… but it could be a way to find talent among those who are shy or feel intimidated.

Lets face it, the Furry community is VERY heavy with introverts who crowd around the much rarer extroverts for direction. I was once ver very much this way. What helped me break out of that was personal involvement with direct members of the community; and having gone through this myself I think it is something I can work towards for giving back 🙂

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[Drake M.]

Yarrick wrote:
People tend to just look and stare at these few people waiting for them to run something else they can have fun at.

You know, I have noticed this a lot…

Hmm…

~ Drake M.

 

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