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Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2012 17:30:28 -0400
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Subject: Re: AOO volunteers: essential skills and tasks
From: Rob Weir <robweir@apache.org>
To: ooo-dev@incubator.apache.org
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On Fri, Oct 19, 2012 at 12:17 PM, Rob Weir <robweir@apache.org> wrote:
> I am thinking about what new project volunteers need to get started.
> Obviously there are area-specific things.  For example, developers
> need to know how to download and build.  Translation volunteers need
> to understand Pootle, etc.  But there are also some basic things that
> all volunteers should probably do.
>
> Although we have all of this information (or at least most of it) on
> the website or wikis or mailing list archives, it is scattered all
> over the place.  I think it would be good if we could collect this
> information (or at least links to this information) into one place and
> put a linear order behind it, a step of specific steps we want new
> volunteers to take.
>
> Now, I can hear the objections already -- you can't tell volunteers
> what to do.  That is why they are volunteers.  You can't regiment
> them, etc.  This is true.  But at the scale we need to operate at --
> I'm aiming to attract dozens of new volunteers on the project by the
> end of the year -- we need some structure.  So what can we do to make
> their first 2 weeks in the project easier for them, and easier for us?
>
> One idea:  Think of the new volunteer startup tasks in terms of
> "stages" or "levels", a defined set of reading and other activities
> that leads them to acquire basic skills in our community.
>
> For example:
>
> Level 1 tasks:
>
> 1) Read the following web pages on the ASF, roles at Apache and the Apache Way
>
> 2) Sign up for the following accounts that every volunteer should
> have:  ooo-announce, ooo-dev, ooo-users,  MWiki, CWiki, BZ, Forums
>
> 3) Read this helpful document on hints for managing your inbox with
> rules and folders
>
> 4) Read this code of conduct page on list etiquette
>
> 5) Send a note to ooo-dev list and introduce yourself
>
> 6) Edit this wiki page  containing project volunteers. Add your name
> and indicate that you have completed Level 1.
>
>
> Level 2 tasks:
>
> 1) Using the Apache CMS in anonymous mode
>
> 2) Readings on decision making at Apache
>
> 3) Readings on project life cycle and roles within the AOO project
>
> 4) Introduction to the various functional groups within the project:
> development, qa, marketing, UX, documentation, support, localization,
> etc.
>
> 5) Pick one or more functional groups that you want to help with.
> Edit the volunteer wiki and list them.  Also indicate that you have
> now completed Level 2.
>
> Get the idea?  After Level 2 this then could branch off into
> area-specific lists of start up tasks:  how to download and build.
> How to submit patches.  How to update a translation.  How to define a
> new test case.
>
> Is any one interested in helping with this?
>


Quick update.  I have drafts of a few of the pages ready.

1) New Volunteer Orientation root page:
http://incubator.apache.org/openofficeorg/orientation/

2) Introduction to Contributing to Apache OpenOffice (Level 1):
http://incubator.apache.org/openofficeorg/orientation/level-1.html

3) Intermediate Social and Technical Tools (Level 2):
http://incubator.apache.org/openofficeorg/orientation/level-2.html
(around half done).

I could really use some help drafting the area-specific Level 3 and
Level 4 pages, from subject matter experts.


> -Rob