[Noisebridge-discuss] Hello. I think we a need a new Mission Statement.

Sun Apr 6 22:26:41 UTC 2014

On April 6, 2014 3:09:50 PM PDT, William Sargent <will.sargent at gmail.com> wrote:
> So if you want to do that, you don’t just need to change the mission
> statement.  You also need to change the bylaws.
> 
> "The purpose of this corporation is to promote and encourage
> technical, scientific, and artistic skills through individual
> projects, social collaboration, and education.”
> 
> https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Bylaws#Article_3._Purpose
> 
> 
> Also, if you take a look at the bylaws, it doesn’t talk about the
> community.  It talks about the members.  They were assumed, at one
> point, to be one and the same, but now there are maybe 20.  And given
> that over 50% members voted for a more active board, your chances of
> changing any part of the bylaws are pretty damn slim.  
> 
> If you don’t like what Noisebridge does, why not start up a new
> community space, like Double Union did?  Why do you think it’s okay to
> try to hijack an existing one?
> 
> And even if you did succeed, do you think you would get contributing
> membership donations and general support for a community space that
> explicitly supported squatting and non-hacking?  How long do you think
> it would last?
> 
> Will.
> 
> On Apr 6, 2014, at 2:33 PM, Johny Radio <johnyradio at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> > Beatifully articulated, Naomi!
> > 
> > Even if the community decides "Noisebridge shall be a general
> purpose Community Center, where people can pretty much do whatever
> they want", then fine. At least let's get on the same page about it.
> > 
> > Then, to people who complain about squatters and other non-hackers,
> we can say "you're wrong, check the Mission Statement, squatting and
> non-hacking is included in the Mssion Statement."
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > ------ Original Message ------
> > From: "Naomi Most" <pnaomi at gmail.com>
> > To: "Kevin" <bfb at riseup.net>
> > Cc: "Noisebridge Discuss"
> <noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net>; "Josh Juran"
> <jjuran at gmail.com>
> > Sent: 4/6/2014 2:28:57 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Noisebridge-discuss] Hello. I think we a need a new
> Mission Statement.
> > 
> >> Well, again, you don't need to see it as "either or" (like, we
> can't
> >> do anything until we do THIS), nor do you need to see it as a
> singular
> >> Mission Statement (that's an implementation detail).
> >> 
> >> There's nothing "wrong" with the current Mission Statement, except
> >> that it doesn't help in any way, shape, or form in our discussions.
> >> That means we're not using this valuable tool effectively.
> >> 
> >> I'm willing to bet that no discussions at Noisebridge involve
> >> reference to the Mission Statement ("wait, let's think, does this
> >> improve Noisebridge in a way consistent with the Mission Statement,
> or
> >> should we find another way?").
> >> 
> >> You may say, so what? We'll just get arguments over the Mission
> >> Statement, right?
> >> 
> >> Well, maybe. But what Johny's arguing for is a community-based
> effort
> >> to hash out what Noisebridge means to itself and to the world,
> which
> >> implies a journey of building understanding and trust in each
> other.
> >> 
> >> The journey is just as important as the destination. This is a
> chance
> >> for the people who want to continue investing time and effort in
> >> Noisebridge to find renewed purpose in its existence, and build
> >> bridges between previously disconnected individuals and groups.
> >> 
> >> I mean, are we a Hackerspace Vending Machine, or are we something
> >> greater than that? I'd argue "greater", but sometimes it's hard for
> >> me to see that anyone is interested in more than becoming another
> Tech
> >> Shop.
> >> 
> >> Hoping for a thoughtful discussion here...
> >> 
> >> --Naomi
> >> 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> On Sun, Apr 6, 2014 at 10:57 AM, Kevin <bfb at riseup.net> wrote:
> >>> On April 6, 2014 9:51:38 AM PDT, Naomi Most <pnaomi at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >>>> Correction: It's not a "manifesto". Johny's made a wise
> suggestion,
> >>>> and it's shared by several others who I hope will step into the
> >>>> discussion despite being nay-sayed by the "why don't you just"
> types.
> >>>> 
> >>>> Silly me, trying to start a discussion topic on
> noisebridge-dicusss...
> >>>> 
> >>>> --Naomi
> >>>> 
> >>>> 
> >>>> On Sat, Apr 5, 2014 at 9:13 PM, Naomi Most <pnaomi at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >>>> > That's fine, but you guys are seeing this as an "either or".
> It's
> >>>> > really a "yes and".
> >>>> >
> >>>> > The point of the Mission Statement is to clarify the goals of
> NB as
> >>>> an
> >>>> > organization. It will be easier, after a process of consenting
> to
> >>>> > agree on a new Mission Statement, to agree on how to deal with
> >>>> > subsidiary issues like that.
> >>>> >
> >>>> > But, you know what? I'm going to let Johny Radio defend his
> >>>> manifesto
> >>>> > from here on out.
> >>>> >
> >>>> > --Naomi
> >>>> >
> >>>> >
> >>>> > On Sat, Apr 5, 2014 at 9:00 PM, Josh Juran <jjuran at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >>>> >> On Apr 5, 2014, at 6:48 PM, William Sargent wrote:
> >>>> >>
> >>>> >>> It's just more talk.
> >>>> >>>
> >>>> >>> How about stopping people from sleeping at Noisebridge?
> >>>> >>
> >>>> >>
> >>>> >> Noisebridge's mission statement has never been a factor in
> whether
> >>>> I
> >>>> >> attended. On the other hand, people using Noisebridge as a
> shelter
> >>>> has
> >>>> >> definitely discouraged me from going.
> >>>> >>
> >>>> >> Josh
> >>>> >>
> >>>> >>
> >>>> >
> >>>> >
> >>>> >
> >>>> > --
> >>>> > Naomi Theora Most
> >>>> > naomi at nthmost.com
> >>>> > +1-415-728-7490
> >>>> >
> >>>> > skype: nthmost
> >>>> >
> >>>> > http://twitter.com/nthmost
> >>>> 
> >>>> 
> >>>> 
> >>>> --
> >>>> Naomi Theora Most
> >>>> naomi at nthmost.com
> >>>> +1-415-728-7490
> >>>> 
> >>>> skype: nthmost
> >>>> 
> >>>> http://twitter.com/nthmost
> >>>> _______________________________________________
> >>>> Noisebridge-discuss mailing list
> >>>> Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net
> >>>> https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss
> >>> 
> >>> This is an excellent effort. I'm not convinced that the "mission
> statement" is the right place to start hacking. It's common for
> nonprofits to have several statements, each with increasing level of
> detail. Does the mission statement truly need revision? Or do we need
> greater clarity from an additional statement?
> >>> 
> >>> There's an effort being made to meet and discuss this week. We've
> narrowed down times to Tuesday/Thursday early evening. Feel welcome to
> chime in with your availability. It's good to know who wants to
> participate, even if you cannot make the times noted above. We can
> also accommodate remote participants with advance notice.
> >>> 
> >>> -Kevin
> >>> 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> --
> >> Naomi Theora Most
> >> naomi at nthmost.com
> >> +1-415-728-7490
> >> 
> >> skype: nthmost
> >> 
> >> http://twitter.com/nthmost
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Noisebridge-discuss mailing list
> >> Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net
> >> https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
> > Noisebridge-discuss mailing list
> > Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net
> > https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss

Will, I don't think that's the change that Johnny is pulling for. And thanks for pulling the statement of purpose. Another example of a statement that nonprofits make with an intended audience (state/federal govt) and an a specific level of detail.

Johnny and Naomi, I'm asking: Why is the mission statement never cited in discussions at Noisebridge? Does the current mission statement serve the purpose of presenting Noisebridge to the world? Will an additional statement help to present Noisebridge to itself?

I do not see these questions as implementation details, but as context for whatever wants to be written. I am imagining this doc as more high level than 'community guidelines' with more detail than the current mission statement. Does you agree?