17:30:10 #startmeeting Mindshare 17:30:10 Meeting started Wed Jun 26 17:30:10 2019 UTC. 17:30:10 This meeting is logged and archived in a public location. 17:30:10 The chair is bexelbie. Information about MeetBot at http://wiki.debian.org/MeetBot. 17:30:10 Useful Commands: #action #agreed #halp #info #idea #link #topic. 17:30:10 The meeting name has been set to 'mindshare' 17:30:10 #chair jsmith sumantrom robyduck nb x3mboy bt0dotninja bexelbie bt0 relrod 17:30:10 Current chairs: bexelbie bt0 bt0dotninja jsmith nb relrod robyduck sumantrom x3mboy 17:30:10 #topic Roll Call 17:30:10 .hello bex 17:30:11 bexelbie: bex 'Brian (bex) Exelbierd' 17:30:43 Here with very limited coverage 17:30:52 .hello2 17:30:53 x3mboy: x3mboy 'Eduard Lucena' 17:30:56 I'm here 17:31:03 * bexelbie hopes @jaredsmith is on a CZ train between Brno and Prague :P 17:31:08 My current location 17:31:13 'Untitled Image' uploaded by j​aredsmith: https://i.imgur.com/uKlQHxx.jpg 17:31:34 * bexelbie sees potential contributors 17:32:41 Looks awesome 17:33:24 #topic Agenda 17:33:25 Proposed: Tickets: 142, 140, 136, 137, 141, next meeting note, and then Open Floor 17:33:25 Any suggested additions or modifications? 17:33:47 No from me 17:34:04 Me neither 17:34:24 these first three are easy 17:34:24 Nothing from me 17:34:27 #topic #142 Swag request for BalCCon 2k19 (September 2019) 17:34:27 #link https://pagure.io/mindshare/issue/142 17:34:27 Needs votes 17:34:40 looks non-controversial 17:35:16 I am going to keep moving, so we have time for the big ones 17:35:19 #topic #140 Budget for travelling required for a talk on "Booming Opensource Technologies" 17:35:19 #link https://pagure.io/mindshare/issue/140 17:35:19 Needs votes 17:35:39 This one has concerns for me - I am -1 (unvoted right now) but would appreciated the wisdom of others based on what they read 17:35:56 in fact, I'll vote that so it is there when others vote and I can change it 17:36:05 Looks very suspicious 17:36:27 -1 from me 17:36:51 Would prefer to see more Fedora activity first 17:37:03 I'll add your vote @jaredsmith 17:37:10 Thanks 17:37:21 I need more information to vote this, 0 from me 17:37:33 @bt0dotninja can you add that information? 17:37:43 Sure 17:37:46 barring any significant updates we can close it next week 17:37:56 I need more information, 0 from me 17:38:05 @x3mboy can you update the ticket as well? 17:38:13 * bexelbie did @jaredsmith because he is in the woods :D 17:38:36 I mean x3mboy ^^ - you're actualy with me in IRC 17:38:49 Done 17:38:51 #topic #136 Delete @flockfedora on Twitter 17:38:51 #link https://pagure.io/mindshare/issue/136 17:38:51 Final comments/objections? 17:38:53 ty 17:39:03 Not from me 17:39:05 This is to stop using this account an point it at @fedora 17:39:19 conversation died, but we don't really have votes - so I wanted to put it to a meeting before acting 17:39:35 Ok 17:40:22 I am skipping 137 in hopes nb will show up 17:40:24 #topic #141 Dealing with events that don't get event reports 17:40:24 #link https://pagure.io/mindshare/issue/141 17:40:24 example: #102 Swag request for FOSSASIA 2019 (March 2019) 17:40:24 There are lots of comments. What is our next step to move this forward? 17:42:33 I think a draft for a pathway to regain trust would make it easier to drive a productive conversation 17:42:44 is this something you can start jwf? 17:43:23 My bandwidth is really thin. I am happy to provide constructive feedback but I can't lead the charge 17:43:28 oh ... and a (potential) counter example is the recently filed, but late LFNW report. I was not concerned there because we had a known personal life issue come up and our contributors should take care of themselves first 17:43:56 Sure, but always can be communicated it, no? 17:43:58 jwf fair - do you have a model of what you think that looks like? In my mind it is a bullet of things you can do .. but all subjective 17:44:08 x3mboy, yep 17:44:30 Sure 17:44:38 I mean, it's ok if you can't do it for personal reasons, but a message, even via telegram: Hey, I didn't forget, I'm just not able to do it ATM 17:44:54 jwf then please link it and we can use that to model from ... I figure format will help here and be meaninful 17:45:13 We need to decide the best policies avoiding any catch 22 situation 17:45:41 Well, actually I would agree with you bexelbie, I think a few bullet points is enough, just to start a conversation about what that pathway is. I think the important detail is that for some contributors, regaining trust through event participation may not be an option 17:46:11 @bt0dotninja .. I think we can start with a policy based on what we expect and resolve catch-22 when it is raised ... what do you think? 17:46:15 I think it's useful not to get caught up in writing a formal policy until there is an agreement, or else it's easy for it to get stuck 17:46:18 jwf - adding notes to that effect 17:46:40 Sure, I think the ticket is a great conversation starter 17:46:42 I have a few Mindshare tickets to add comments to, I can try to follow up to your replies in the next week bexelbie 17:46:48 jwf cool 17:46:55 I am going to add this to this ticket: Per Meeting on 26 June - we need a doc for the trust path to help solidify this. An option is a set of suggested actions, but recognizing this is subjective. 17:47:20 hopefully we will get someone with cycles to help draft this - remember editing is easier than creating .. so the draft doesn't need to be perfect 17:47:26 if Flock settles, I'll try but no promises 17:47:47 I think it's easier to think of it as a conversation in the short-term :) What might work, what might not? Then worry about the formal drafting of a policy at the end 17:47:59 +1 17:48:16 I could be able to help between tomorrow and past tomorrow, but can't commit 17:48:32 x3mboy, do not be afraid to put thoughts in the ticket :) 17:48:34 * x3mboy 's birthday is tomorrow 17:48:43 then focus on growing older :D 17:48:49 you only get one chance a year! 17:48:50 :D 17:48:55 :D 17:49:07 :D 17:49:19 I'll move us along - since we have a plan and writing isn't a group activity 17:49:21 #topic #137 Ambassadors Emeriti proposal 17:49:21 #link https://pagure.io/mindshare/issue/137 17:49:21 There are lots of comments. What is our next step to move this forward? 17:49:27 I was hoping nb would be here for this 17:49:47 I remain confused about what the title Ambassador means in the project given the amount of effort some seem to put in 17:50:10 I think we need to split that into the Emeriti Proposal and the Ambassador discussion 17:50:11 I also worry, from the other side, that the title creates a gatekeeping effect that hurts the participation of non-ambassadors (just like the closed ML does) 17:50:12 Again 17:51:14 @bexelbie Did you see my explanation of the mentorship process? 17:51:24 We already have the re-structure ambassadors ticket, and we agreed 17:51:39 @jaredsmith I did 17:51:59 I am not going to block this up 17:52:11 here is a reframe that may be the same to you but feels different to me 17:52:14 But, at least at latam, when we put the budget responsability on Mindshare, the groups fall apart 17:52:22 It's been month since the last meeting 17:52:33 An ambassador goes through a mentorship and is expected to be active. Annually inactive ambassadors become Emeriti. 17:52:49 I'd like a "new round of mentoring" if you were totally inactive in the project - but no need if you were just doing other things 17:52:54 and we need to defien mentoring 17:52:57 does that makes sense? 17:53:05 x3mboy, what has been the effect of that? 17:53:13 We had events in LATAM this year 17:53:17 Well, TBH, dunno 17:53:18 possibly the same number as last year 17:53:24 I've been apart of events 17:53:35 Sure, people is following the right process 17:53:38 @bexelbie The mentorship program should be well documented on the wiki, etc. 17:54:08 They always ask, and I tell them how to go 17:54:08 @jaredsmith ok, nb should know where that is 17:54:08 But Ambys will only do events? 17:54:17 x3mboy not sure I follow 17:54:18 I have loosely followed this, but from the Emeritus ticket, I am really confused on the difference of Ambassadors vs. Advocates. I think it is also confusing to have both existing side-by-side, especially if you are a new contributor who does not have the historical context of what these groups do. Because both of them are to represent Fedora. 17:54:18 Not anything else? 17:54:24 we have many non-ambassasors doing events 17:54:28 I think it is hard to drive the Emeritus discussion for that reason too 17:54:46 Because, well, what really is an Ambassador vs. an Advocate? 17:54:50 Maybe I have missed an explanation 17:54:53 I think we have been not using the advocates term and would be +1 to just dropping it 17:55:15 But I also don't really get hung up on titles and don't need one to do the things I think are important 17:55:31 @jwf One is getting started, rest process. The other is formally mentored process, more work involved 17:55:42 (edited)@jwf One is getting started, easy process. The other is formally mentored process, more work involved 17:55:51 I'm not sure. I think we need to clarify the Ambassador role 17:55:56 And then construct from there 17:56:10 I was thinking back to bexelbie's words in a previous comment: 17:56:12 "A non-ambassador making a large proposal is not inherently bad. An ambassador making a large proposal is not inherently good. We would judge these each on their individual merits, aiui." 17:56:13 I would love to see Advocate as a part of the mentorship process for Ambassador 17:56:41 Maybe Ambassadors is not really about representing Fedora as it is about having a mentorship process in the Fedora community to learn the ropes 17:56:46 I see a lot of this work in the Join SIG too 17:57:04 Sorry, I don't want to steer this conversation way off-topic so feel free to cut me off if it is not helpful 17:57:07 If our ambassadors were out their mentoring people into the project I woudl be super happy 17:57:10 I don't think that is happening 17:57:18 s/their/there/ 17:57:22 That's not happening at all 17:57:34 Join is doing that better than Ambassadors 17:57:40 It's both... It started as a way to learn the ropes *in order to be able to represent Fedora at events* 17:57:41 I've asked in the past about getting people to respond to folks in their country - and I was told that is an unreasonable expectation too 17:58:08 If you are going to a LUG - a generalist makes sense. But if we go to a focused event, I am not sure a generalist is the best fit 17:58:21 If you ask me, we could drop the whole ambassador role RN, and the project will continue as well: attending events, trying to get contributors, being awesome 17:58:29 I am also unconvinced that an ambassador who shows up for one event a year and is never seen shoudl be considered "forever qualified" 17:59:12 x3mboy, it sounds like you feel like that has effectively happend in LATAM - has LATAM been ok? 17:59:51 From my POV, Advocates is working well to get events approved and sponsored. I think Mindshare has done a really good job with this compared to a few years ago when regions did this work. But perhaps, the reason people hold onto the Ambassador "title" is because they value the role of mentorship and guidance to enter a community. A lot of the people who I have seen active as mentors do it because of the personal value of bringing 17:59:51 someone new into the community 18:00:12 bexelbie, nope 18:00:14 I feel like migrating the Ambassador role into something like the Join SIG would reduce confusion of Ambassador v. Advocate and also really empower the Join SIG to do more awesome work 18:00:14 It's not 18:00:18 No one has said to me in a conversation about "getting more events in X country" that they felt the problem was the ambassador program 18:01:01 jwf I agree with you that more people doing Join SIG work would be huge 18:01:17 however, I always gathered that ambassador mentorship was about being an ambassador, not about joining 18:01:21 the community 18:01:35 To me, that is the essence of Ambassador work 18:01:46 That is, the mentorship to becoming a Fedora contributor 18:01:51 bexelbie agreed. To be part of the community you just need to show up and volunteer yourself to do stuff 18:02:02 And then actually do the stuff 18:02:05 It's not always the case, but many of the people I see who started as Ambassadors went on to do other things in Fedora community in other sub-projects 18:02:08 jwf we certainly don't seem to do followup with anyone at our events (in general) 18:02:41 I need to go, but continue via telegram 18:02:55 I get very confused by the idea that someone can join a linux distribution community and make no contribution other than being an ambassador - how do they actually know what we do if they have never done any of it? 18:03:01 especially if this is their first linux? 18:03:32 how would you mentor someone to join and do anything other than be an ambassador 18:03:34 ? 18:03:58 I am not convinced it is impossible. We empower people to do release parties and that could be a first task for someone even if it is their first distro or FOSS community 18:04:16 With other communities, I gather they want users first and foremost. So we need people who can talk about, say, Firefox. And Firefox is a mostly understandable piece of sofwtare, so I can teach the advanced bits 18:04:24 but Fedora feels different, mabye wrongly so 18:04:53 jwf agreed, but we dont' expect them to convert anyone to a contributor or to joining our community from those 18:05:10 And that is part of why we pulled those out and said anyone can do them, not just ambassadors 18:05:14 Right, I agree 18:05:23 I think I am confused to where you are driving to 18:05:54 jwf you seemed to indicate that people can join our project and the first thing they do is ambassador and you then said you've seen some people move on to other areas 18:05:58 Using it is enough to be part of the community? 18:06:03 I am convinced byt he "join and become ambassador first" part 18:06:15 Ah. I don't think I explained myself clearly 18:06:21 When I say Ambassador, I really think of two things 18:06:45 The mentorship model of one experienced contributor working personally with someone to help them learn the ropes (much like the Join SIG does) 18:07:04 And the participation to represent Fedora at events or to run local events in a community (much like Advocates do) 18:07:43 I cannot think of Ambassadors without those two roles, but I already see those roles happening in other places in the community: Join SIG and Advocates 18:07:48 Ahh, when I say Ambassador, I think of the "mentored by anotehr ambassador and tested to become an ambassador" then "supposed to be regularly holding events and marketing/attracting people to the project" 18:08:13 That's what it was supposed to be 18:08:16 I think it's helpful to untie mentorship from event organizing 18:08:21 That is what I was told when I became an Ambassador - and I don't think it matches with reality for the vast majority of the people calling themselves ambassadors 18:08:25 I'm more agreed with bexelbie's view 18:08:44 We put a lot of resources into mentoring specifically for events, when really there are many places we could stand to mentor people. Fedora Docs, Fedora Design, packaging, etc. 18:08:45 jwf there are two different unrelated acts of mentorship here 18:08:47 Sure! You finally hit the nail! 18:08:49 But then the red tape off actually getting events approved complicated things 18:09:25 @jaredsmith now that we have fixed that red tape (I think) - how do we reboot that definition of ambassador? 18:09:35 right now we can't even get peopel to agree that they should ahve to even one event a year 18:10:01 There are tons of contributors being more ambassador than the people that have the ambassador title 18:10:20 By having the title I mean, that are in the ambassador FAS group 18:10:45 @bexelbie if the red tape is fixed, is there a need to change the other parts? 18:11:24 people keep saying there is - we keep hearing about no meetings in latam or moaning about no active ambassadors 18:11:42 I haven't heard the "no mentoring available" or "mean mentors" stuff lately 18:11:54 Does it make sense to spend time and energy into rebooting Ambassadors (which in my eyes, has similar aspirations as today's Advocates and Join SIG), or working to untie the role of mentorship from event organizing to better enable the existing groups like Advocates and Join SIG? 18:12:02 We also have two seats in Mindshare consumed by Ambassadors 18:12:07 and we don't know how to re-elect them 18:12:12 Actually the problem of mentoring was kind of solved in latam 18:12:26 Last year we promote 2 new ambys to mentors 18:12:38 jwf please specify what mentoring you want to untie from events, "join the community" or "become an ambassador"? 18:12:54 The no-meeting is not actually a problem itself 18:13:28 bexelbie: I see Ambassadors as linked: "join the community" in order to "represent Fedora at events". 18:13:31 It's the disconnection between the so called ambassadors and the other parts of the project, like mktg and docs 18:13:49 What Ambassadors do differently from Join SIG and Advocates is what puzzles me in 2019 18:13:55 jwf I do not think that at all, aiui the ambassador mentorship is solely "become an ambassador" 18:14:20 I think that might be our messaging to people who don't have the long history of Ambassadors, Mindshare, and Advocates 18:14:28 x3mboy, so now we have 2+ mentors in latam and how many ambassadors? Are they holding events? why not? 18:15:00 bexelbie: Could you help me understand what Ambassadors and Advocates do differently? 18:15:18 Yes, I think they are. We are just disconnected between each other 18:15:21 jwf my understanding is that Join SIG is partially a reaction to ambassadors. Ambassadors closely defined themselves as "run events" and didn't, in general, do any followup, answer email or engage online (exceptions definitely exist). 18:15:29 then so much red tape came up no one could get anything approved 18:15:30 But, like I said, that's not necessarily a problem 18:15:49 so we rebooted that with Mindshare and because people like names ... said advocates can hold events 18:15:54 Like I stated in the ticket, the problem is that you can't be an ambassador of something you don't know 18:16:07 mostly as a gift to the ambassadors so their title was "sullied" with people who hadn't gone through mentoring holding events 18:16:36 And it's super easy: enter the latam IRC channel and ask what is modularity? 18:16:41 Now we seem to be at a point where events are being held, the red tape is minimal and Join SIG is helping people join 18:16:56 With some luck, someone will send you a link to the modularity page 18:17:18 And it's, AFAIK and completed objective of the Fedora project 18:17:36 completed no, but shipping yes 18:18:19 I think my big desire from this whole process is to either have active ambassadors holding events or to not have ambassadors gate keeping and absorbing the energy of the project 18:18:40 Agreed 18:18:44 Agreed too 18:18:45 I'd like two active members of mindshare, ambassadors or not. NB has been active, but Robert is admitted as inactive, but we have no way to replace those seats 18:19:13 Please don't say that out loud 18:19:19 I would like to not see another ticket from an ambassador asking for funding to an event "because we did it for the last 10 years" but with actual reasons and ability to show they are the right person 18:19:27 So if I understand correctly, specific for event organizing, Ambassadors have a process with a lot of red tape to organize an event. Advocates have a process without a lot of red tape to organize events. Is this accurate? 18:19:35 Also agreed 18:19:43 x3mboy, I don't want to see nb go - but I would like to see the community have impact on those seats 18:19:55 jwf now, no 18:20:07 jwf now everyone has a friction free process because the process is the same .. Mindshare 18:20:14 Ambassadors don't make those decisions anymore red tape gone 18:20:34 What makes event organizing different for Ambassadors vs. Advocates? 18:20:36 We have one region (NA) that still manages a small pool of swag that they don't want to let be used by anyone else 18:20:45 jwf AIUI, in reality nothing 18:20:52 I see 18:21:00 Nothing 18:21:02 on paper, ambassadors are the only people allowed to request larger sums (a concession) 18:21:05 but it isn't enforced 18:21:17 and I'd +1 the Pr to remove that statement 18:21:23 And not necessarily the best thing either 18:21:31 I'm +1 to that too 18:21:44 bexelbie: Not currently, it also includes experienced contributors: "While anyone can hold or attend a large Fedora-related event, these events are typically done by experienced Fedora contributors and or existing Fedora Ambassadors." https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/mindshare-committee/large-events/ 18:21:46 I think event approval is somethign Mindshare has done a damn fine job at 18:21:50 and we should all be proud of that 18:21:58 +1 18:22:09 To me, I see Advocates as a successful step in the right direction 18:22:17 I think anyone with some trust and a really good explanation of what the event is/will be, should be able to ask for an amount of money 18:22:20 I am really confused in 2019 about what Ambassadors is/are 18:22:33 you and me both jwf 18:22:44 but I am open to listening as I know you are 18:22:58 I think Ambassadors as a "title" generally should be retired and resources/time/energy should be funneled to support Advocates and Join SIG-like work 18:23:16 I support that 18:23:23 Totally agree with jwf 18:23:28 I don't see value in discarding Advocates. Because a lot of work has gone into that identity and effort 18:23:35 And dropping that name, I think, introduces more confusion 18:23:37 As I say in #fedora-latam, the advocate figure looks better because it's an already active contributor than wants to give a talk 18:23:40 we seem to be doing an ok job vetting events too - we have one event that doesn't have an event report and is super late 18:23:46 That doesn't mean that people can't stay together as regions 18:23:48 I am not saying they were all great events, but we are asking questions 18:23:55 Yes! :) 18:24:05 Good 18:24:16 jwf I don't knwo that a lot of work has gone in to that name (Advocates) but I am not going to block keeping it 18:24:41 I think retiring the Ambassadors title is better because that name means a lot of things to a lot of people 18:24:50 And some of those things may not be accurate in 2019 18:24:55 @x3mboy - I think regions are important when peopel come together to influence their region and coordinate or work together to solve challenges for each other 18:25:02 Right 18:25:12 but I think they could be more organic than the four RH sales region we use today 18:25:27 Agreed 18:25:34 and I would never, for example (and I use this because my geography is bad) forbid an MX rep from working South or North of their country 18:25:42 and I would happy to see MX folks working in both directions 18:25:56 I personally do not see the structure of Advocates saying that can't be done 18:26:03 jwf I agree 18:26:16 Conclusions? 18:26:39 I think there is value in letting regional communities have the power to self-organize in a way that makes sense for them. For example, all of the regional IRC/Telegram groups and chats that are really a place to hang out and chat with other Fedora-interested people who speak your language or live in your country 18:26:50 Drop ambys, inject more energy into advocates and Join, and then wait for the hate? 18:26:58 x3mboy :D 18:27:08 jwf yes +100 - especially because those aren't inherently tied to old amby work 18:27:23 * bexelbie debates learning spanish and chinese just to follow those active chats 18:27:26 +1 too 18:27:29 * bexelbie then remembers he has no time 18:27:35 @x3mboy: My vote-less suggestion is as you said. But not waiting for hate, I think messaging is important about why this is 18:27:41 -1 from me 18:27:43 bexelbie: Come practice at Flock ;) 18:28:00 Also, TBH now in person events are coming less frequent 18:28:06 I still think Ambassadors play a viral role 18:28:09 People is online now 18:28:15 @jaredsmith I'd like to hear more - and I think that it is unfair to make you do it on a phone 18:28:23 are you ok with us tabling this for now as we are also out of time 18:28:26 and taking it up by email? 18:28:33 or in the ticket? 18:28:35 Or ticket 18:28:35 It would be helpful to take this to the ticket I think 18:29:00 I could take one action item to summarize this discussion from the meeting into the ticket… 18:29:02 My suggestion is, block emeriti ticket, and open a new one with this discussion 18:29:18 That also works 18:29:21 jwf can you do that - open a new ticket with the summary? 18:29:34 @jaredsmith do you mind being the first reply there when you are back from the hinterlands? 18:29:38 Mexico has regular meetings every month 18:29:51 Yes. I'll go ahead and head AFK now since I want to do it while this is fresh and I have a hard offline stop in 30m 18:29:51 @bt0dotninja of ambys? cool 18:30:00 jwf thank you jwf 18:30:02 I think this was a productive discussion :) 18:30:29 Efren Robledo and I As a bus organize the meetups 18:30:34 That's something I'm interested. Can you honestly say that everyone in Mexico region that contribute to Fedora, knows and attend those meetings? 18:31:05 I can't x3mboy 18:31:22 I am going to close the meeting unless you all want to continue logging some 18:31:25 * bexelbie has a hard stop 18:31:35 Close it 18:31:37 The statistics for my country are bad 18:31:41 Thank you all for coming! 18:31:43 We can continue chatting 18:31:47 I look forward to this ticket :) 18:31:54 Thanks for this good convo 18:32:08 enjoy your hike @jaredsmith and happy birthday @x3mboy 18:32:11 #endmeeting