[olpc-help] Fwd: OLPC Help - The One Laptop Per Child XO Forum Community

[Michael Burns]

Several weeks ago, Ivan the Great (or someone of similar status) suggested I
contact the two known OLPC forums and see if we could integrate, merge or
collaborate somehow. One is the quickly growing OLPC News forum (alas, I
received no reply from Wayan) and the olpchelp.org site.

I don't want to have scattered groupings of user communities, but am having
trouble seeing a clear path to reconcile. Ads, hosting and differing visions
are all open questions. Thoughts? Suggestions?

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Harrison - Schaaffe <peter.harrison at bigfoot.com>
Date: Jan 1, 2008 11:52 AM
Subject: Re: OLPC Help - The One Laptop Per Child XO Forum Community Contact
Us Form - Site Feedback
To: "Michael Burns @ OLPC Help - The One Laptop Per Child XO Forum
Community" <maburns at gmail.com>


Michael,

I'm very interested in combining.

I had ambitions of growing the forum so that it could pay for itself, and
possibly give me a token income, but that may take a little time.

I have merged forums in the past. The technical challenges are minimal. The
problem is getting the members of each to agree to it. The OLPC is in its
infancy, so I think there won't be too much problem with the members. They
are all interested in getting as much help as they can.

Another area that could present a problem is the forum category names. I've
tried to keep them simplified to attract the less technically savvy. You
seem to have sections targeting educators We could discuss this too.

Your forums seem to be linked to a university. Would they need to approve
this too?

The one area where I'd be least flexible would be in the name of the forum.
OLPC Help is what people are looking for and I'd really like the name to
remain.

I don't think OLPC news would want to merge. His forums are growing quite
rapidly and he doesn't need to integrate with smaller groups. Have you
approached Wayan Vota over there about it already?

Once again, I am very interested. You just need patience and people posting
in every forum category every day for it to eventually be successful. Active
administrators also make a big difference.

My cell number is (408) 315-4982 and home is (408) 850-2579. Call me any
time today and after 6:30 on weekdays.


Regards,

Peter & Diana


----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Burns @ OLPC Help - The One Laptop Per Child XO Forum
Community" <maburns at gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, December 23, 2007 7:39 PM
Subject: OLPC Help - The One Laptop Per Child XO Forum Community Contact Us
Form - Site Feedback


> The following message was sent to you via the OLPC Help - The One Laptop
> Per Child XO Forum Community Contact Us form by Michael Burns.
>
> --------------------------------
>
> Hi, I am the admin for the olpc community support forum at
> http://olpc.osuosl.org/
>
> Since we both are running similar forums, I was wondering if we could
> collaborate. It seems sub-optimal to have 3 forums (hosted at olpcnews,
> olpchelp and osuosl, respectively). Ideally, a combined community will be
> much more effective and vibrant than than multiple smaller pockets of
> users spread across separate forums.
>
> Cheers!
> Michael Burns
>
> --------------------------------
>
> Referring Page: http://www.olpchelp.org/forums/search.php?searchid=610
> IP Address: 71.237.146.57
> User Name: Unregistered
> User ID: 0
>





-- 
Michael Burns * Student
Open Source {Education} Lab
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