Archive:Workgroup Weeks/Preparation

This is a detailed, editable/collaborative set of "instructions" for those of us executing Workgroup Weeks (individual weeks and the whole initiative series).

How should we choose what workgroups to launch in what order?

• First, Larry makes the announcement of Workgroup Weeks and asks for people to sign up for particular workgroups. He should make a second "reminder" announcement after a few days or a week.
• We arrange the workgroups on the table on CZ:Workgroup Weeks in order of interest. We should take into account how motivated the volunteers and whether they are editors; we'd like to do a Workgroup Week with at least one active editor, who can help "meet and greet."
• Once the volunteers have spoken up, we add a column to the above-mentioned table, designating the first Workgroup Week's dates (see below).
• Larry creates a generic Workgroup Week sign-up page.
• We create a page for that particular Workgroup Week, and link to it from the table.

The lead-up to a Workgroup Week

Most of the organizational work for a Workgroup Week will probably be done before the week itself.

Internet recruitment

There are zillions of mailing lists, blogs, Web forums, etc., in every field. We can get (and have gotten) large numbers of people to join CZ simply by telling people in those venues of our existence. For each workgroup, need volunteers to do the following.

Letter composition

• Adapt (as necessary) the letter to mailing lists you'll find at CZ:Workgroup Weeks/Recruitment Letter Template.
• Adapt (as necessary) the letter to bloggers you'll find at CZ:Workgroup Weeks/Blogger Letter Template.

NOTE for the following: if you're not experienced in searching for Web resources like these, here are some tips...

Mailing lists

• Locate and give the address of as many active mailing lists as possible--at least three, but please try to do more than that.
• Actually join the list(s).
• Write the listowner and ask for permission to post the message.
• Actually post the message (if the listowner doesn't post it him/herself).
• Follow-up on any replies made to the message (you might have to defend the project against objections!).

Web forums

• Locate and give the address of as many active Web forums (example) as possible.
• Actually join the list(s).
• If necessary, write the forum moderator(s), and ask for permission to post the message.
• Actually post the message (if the listowner doesn't post it him/herself).
• Follow-up on any replies made to the message (you might have to defend the project against objections!).

Blogs

• Collect, from your blog search engine(s) or other resource of course, the names of some very high-traffic websites devoted mostly to the workgroup's topic. (Technorati should work well here.)
• For maximum impact, send these messages out all at the same time.

We canvass as many and as varied a group of mailing lists, blogs, etc., as possible, including of course CZ lists. We also contact the secretaries and chairs of all major research departments. We follow up each of these once if not twice. Push Eduzendium hard in these communications.

• We do a press release focused at industry publications/blogs, in advance. We follow this up with reports to major mailing lists and blogs.
• We broker endorsements and partnerships with major departments: put together Advisory Boards for each workgroup?
• Recruit an Editorial Personnel Administrator for each workgroup.
• Ask old editors to follow up with new editors personally.
• Each workgroup needs something like a coordinator, secretary, or reporter--as informal and low-key as possible--as a key expert contact point. This person should be willing to put his or her name as a press contact.
• We develop the workgroup's page brilliantly.

Here are more details.

During the week itself

During the week itself, we will:

• Announce the week to Citizendium-L and Citizendium-Editors at the beginning of the week.
• Do daily updates on the mailing list for the CZ workgroup (e.g., cz-anthropology), reporting what new articles have been started, what significant work was done, welcoming new arrivals "publicly," cheerleading, etc.
• Announce the start of the week to the biggest mailing list(s) in the subject.
• Do an end-of-week wrap-up e-mail.