[New-imc] new imc process

[Jay]

Sheri, all,

Sorry I took so long to do this.  Lots going on here, as always.  I tried to
spell things out well.  Did I miss anything?  Probably.  It's late.  Feel free
to chop up my words to make them better.

Jay

At 04:06 PM 03/12/2002 -0800, Sheri wrote:
>hi,
>here's the section that still needs to be updated.  can someone who 
>has worked more on this, like jay or bart, please send something to 
>be included here that will explain in brief form the steps and a 
>tentative timeline.  thanks :)
>
>
>NEW IMC PROCESS - HOW IT WORKS
>
>So that you can know what to expect, here's a brief description of
>the current process that the New IMC Working Group follows.  Because
>we're all humans and we rely on our diverse communication styles,
>this is not designed to be a perfect science, but rather to be
>democratic, transparent and flexible.  This process has been evolving
>as we continue to improve the process and to incorporate helpful
>feedback from participants.
>

1) Pre-organizing
You may be at this point -- you're sitting by yourself in your bedroom, looking
at your computer, reading an Indymedia site, thinking, "there should be an IMC
in my town -- maybe I'll start one!"  Or, you could be an independent media
maker who has been talking with a number of other independent media makers in
your city about forming an IMC, and finally you feel as if everyone is ready to
move forward.  Or, you could be part of a diverse, already-active independent
media collective that has started talking about melding its efforts into those
of the Indymedia network.  Wherever you are, you're apparently interested in
forming an IMC.  The first step is to talk with people in your community and
try to get the sense if there is interest in forming an IMC, held by enough
people who will actually do the work to make it happen that the idea is worth
pursuing.  

2) look at the documents linked through the newimc.indymedia.org site:
-- the introductory letter will give you a basic overview of the new-imc
process
-- the Frequently Asked Questions file will give you some background about
Indymedia and answer some questions you may have 
-- the global indymedia overview will give you an idea of some of the e-mail
lists we use in having network-wide discussions.  It's out of date because new
and exciting working groups keep popping up
-- the principles of unity.  Make sure you have a good sense of what Indymedia
is about.  These principles are still developing, but they give a basic idea of
what indymedia is and what indymedia does
-- the membership criteria.  You can use these as sort of a blueprint for your
organizing.  Once you can answer affirmitively to all of these criteria, you
should be ready to join the network.

3) When you think you're really ready to do some good organizing, fill out the
form at newimc.indymedia.org.  Be sure to include an introductory essay where
the form asks you to tell us why you want to be an IMC.  This will help the
new-imc working group get to know you.  

4) If you don't already have one, you can open a public, transparent, open
e-mail list for your organizing, by filling out the form at
"newlist.indymedia.org".  

5) O - R - G - A - N - I - Z - E !!!!
The next step is to organize.  Spend as long as you need to organize a solid,
sustainable, diverse and dedicated group -- there's no rush on our end.  We'd
rather see your group be a good one than have a site up and running that
doesn't sustain itself.  Try to connect with as many independent media makers
in your area as possible.  Ask people what they'd like to see in an IMC, what
gaps there are in the independent media community where you live, how people
want to be involved in the short and long term in an IMC.  Have lots of
meetings in lots of places so lots of people can come.  Having a diverse core
of organizers is ESSENTIAL -- outreach in creative ways, don't just fall back
on old methods.  The goal is to develop an IMC group that is committed to doing
good work, both locally and in tune with other IMCs throughout the Indymedia
network.  This part of the process could take weeks, months or more.  You won't
be ready until you're ready.  Feel free to communicate with the
new-imc at indymedia.org working group throughout this process to ask questions
and/or to give updates.  Continue to introduce new volunteers to the indymedia
principles of unity so they know what they're getting into.  Also, you may want
to start paying attention to the network discussions happening on the global
e-mail lists (view the archives through http://lists.indymedia.org).  If you're
brave, you may even want to subscribe to some and introduce yourself.  Others
from the collective may want to do the same.

6)  With your forming collective, write a mission statement and editorial
policy.  [Links to examples here] You may also want to have your techincally
proficient members contact the imc tech team at imc-tech at indymedia.org to ask
any techincal questions you may have about starting an indymedia web site.

7) When you're ready, and only when you're ready, reply to each of the
membership criteria points one by one, saying whether you've fulfilled them. 
Send those responses to the new-imc at indymedia.org e-mail list.  Along with the
membership criteria, send along a "personal introduction" from your IMC, as
well as for some of the organizers, if you'd like.  This will be somewhat like
the information you sent when you filled out the form at newimc.indymedia.org,
but by this point it will no doubt be broader and more complete.  Here are some
examples. [Links to examples here].

8) You will very likely have been working with an individual from the new-imc
working group from when you sent in your newimc.indymedia.org form, someone who
has volunteered to help you with your "application."  That person will place
your completed membership criteria and personal introduction on the
new-imc at indymedia.org e-mail list for three days.  If no one on the list
dissents to your information, the new-imc working group will pass it to the
imc-process at indymedia.org list.  If no one on that list dissents to your
information within a week, you will be part of the network.  When your web site
is ready it will be linked through the left-hand column of www.indymedia.org.  

9) The fun begins.  Have members of your IMC who have committed to partcipating
in the network e-mail lists join those lists and introduce themselves if they
haven't already.  Get involved in Indymedia discussions and decisions.  Offer
to work with other IMCs from your area or elsewhere around the world.  Do good
work.

10) Change the world, for the better of course.
We wouldn't expect anything less.  

>
>Please feel free to ask any questions you have that will help you
>through this process.  You can either email the list or contact any
>of the people who have sent you either the general information or
>tech information.
>
>-- 
>
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>New-imc mailing list
>New-imc at lists.indymedia.org
>http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/listinfo/new-imc
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