This increased activity won't go on indefinitely. If people can't handle it they can switch to digest mode, filter it, or temporarily unsubscribe, as some have. I don't think a big change like Slack is necessary. Personally, I don't use it anywhere else so I'm not likely to start running it just for AMSAT stuff.
73, John Brier KG4AKV
On Tue, Jul 14, 2020 at 1:05 PM Eli Caul via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org wrote:
In my corporate experience, you need to be very careful with these solutions - -It sounds great at first, but what ends up happening is you create so many sub groups in an effort to cover every interest that you end up with a big splintered environment in which you can’t find anything.
Also, IM solutions like Teams, Slack etc are really trying to solve a different problem. They are great for short sprints, projects, service outages and the like, but the messages tend to be very ephemeral.
We tried this in a few of the car clubs I participate in, and the people who suffer the most are casual visitors. They read digests, or just browse the list a few times a month and they get caught up.
In an IM environment, it seems that you have to be on it every day or else things get lost in the sands of time.
We run a hybrid solution at work that might work well for AMSAT. Leave the mailing list(s) basically as is, and then set up a Slack type solution for special projects, or intense conversations like the recent thread re: Amsat management and direction.
Sharing my experience, HTH, etc etc
'73 de KK6ZHZ
- Eli Caul
-----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org On Behalf Of Robert MacHale via AMSAT-BB Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2020 07:23 To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Slack vs. eMail -- The medium is the message
Can I suggest moving AMSAT member communications from eMail to Slack?
When I taught at UC Riverside last year - we used Slack to communicate with students. The tech companies I have worked with in Southern California have used Slack for many years. Recently, I noticed the Parrot Disco (RC Glider) club uses Slack to communicate with volunteers and members:
https://github.com/uavpal/disco4g
The benefit to Slack is having channels for each topic. In this case, discussion about Board Membership can be in it's own channel. People who are not interested are not required to read.
Each technology can have it's own channel. Each project can have it's own channel. And, members can find each other easily. This current eMail subscription for all things creates a pain point - encouraging everyone to read everything. I highly recommend the Board of Directors evaluate Slack as a replacement for eMail; the corporate cost per user in low compared to value: excellent ROI. Remember, eMail subscriptions became popular in the 1980s. This protocol is entirely outdated and outmoded for conversations today. Keep in mind, the Medium is the message - another reminder AmSat has become outdated and outmoded and not keeping up with the times. Slack has been a positive and transforming tool employed on many projects I have worked with recently. Sincerely,
Robert MacHale. KE6BLR Ham Radio License. http://www.aprsat.com/predict . http://www.spaceCommunicator.club . Supporting Boy Scout Merit Badges in Radio, Robotics, and Space Exploration
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb