We should have a separate closed contact email list

ideas@gildedsplinters.coop would be good for us thanks

Sorry to bring this up again, but should we not first work on "who is part of CoTech" before setting up a list to exclude those that a few have decide "are not necessarily part of the CoTech but are interested in the CoTech" ?

I also do wonder if we need to add yet another communication platform at this point, when there are already disagreements on how we should use the ones we already have.

I feel there are two different streams in this group, one more open and fluid, the other more about optimizing and framing. I think what makes this group valuable is exactly the combination of both, as long as there is respect for everyone's approaches. My sense is that we are just getting to know each other, and that we need to build a better understanding of what works best for each group/individual.

I have been facilitating loose network for the last 5 years, with a specific focus on internal communications of groups. In my experience, decisions like "how do we communicate where about what" might appear trivial, but are actually crucial in defining how a network wants to operate, specifically because it involves issues such as accountability, inclusiveness and transparency.

I'm not going to block this proposal, as consent means to me "good enough for now", but I do not feel comfortable with it. If it does go ahead, I would appreciate to be added as vicaolgs@gmail.com at least until there is clarity about who is part of CoTech.

Just to be clear, I really don't want to be a disruption in this group. I just want to be in space where the combination of Tech and Cooperative principles can become a real force for change. If I'm in the wrong space, that's fine. But let's create that space somewhere then.

Hey Vica,

Thanks for this! It's super important and I am glad Harry has started a thread. I can see you have been active in there and as soon as I can properly catch up I definitely will. I think for the time being, if you are featured on the CoTech MVP (minimum viable product) site (http://mapping-cotech.test.outlandish.com/) it makes sense for you to be added to this specific email address I am talking about.

At a later date, once there is more clarity on the 'Is Cooperative Technologists a network of co-ops or something else' thread, more people can be added. If this seems a little rudimentary it's because it is! The MVP is supposed to launch tomorrow so just want to get something started - the idea is that this is definitely not final, and we would hope more people will be able to build on it in the near future :)

Hope that makes sense!

Just to give everyone a little nudge - not saying you all have to be on this contact@ email address, but if you do want to be on it, please please please let me know as soon as possible as the site is supposed to be ready for everyone tomorrow! Below is a list of who has and hasn't responded so far:

Responded
Agile Collective: team@agile.coop
Blake House: hello@blake.house
Gilded splinters: ideas@gildedsplinters.coop
Glowbox: contact@glowboxdesign.co.uk
Outlandish: hello@outlandish.com

Not yet responded
Alt Gen:
Calverts:
CBN:
Cetis:
Chapel Street Studio:
Cooperative Web:
Fairmondo:
Founders and Coders:
Go Free Range:
MC3:
Media Coop:
Open Ecommerce:
Wave:
We Are Open:
Web Architects:

Amil, are we expected to ask on this list, or send you an e-mail separately (if so, where? Thanks ...

Hi Simon, you can just fire over your desired email address on here, that would be great. Cheers

OK, I've set up coops@cetis.org.uk to handle e-mail from here -- thanks!

The point of a closed contact email list isn't to exclude people, it is to allow people to send emails to the group that are not publicly archived -- the current list has open archives and while that, generally, this has lots of advantages it is also conceivable that some people will want to get in touch with us all and not have their email made public -- for example a potential client asking about something that has security or privacy issues associated with it.

I'd support encouraging people to use the public list unless there is a good reason not to -- for example if an organisation wanted to ask for someone to speak at a public event then this would be fine, and in fact better, on a public list as there is then a URL for the email that can be forwarded to others / tweeted etc.

I understand that the plan is to launch the site later today, the latest dev version is here https://dev.coops.tech/ so unless there is a good reason not to set up a tech-coops-contact list with a contact@coops.tech alias I'll do that in a while.

Perhaps this text on the site:

Hire Us

If you would like to work with us on a project, please get in touch. You can either find a co-op directly or use the form below and we'll find you the perfect match.

Could have something like this adding to it? or after it?

"If you would like to get in touch for any other reason we have a public email list with open archives which you are welcome to join or send an email to as a non-member: tech-coops@email-lists.org"

Sorry:

CBN: s.fensom@broadband.coop
Brighton Digital Exchange: shaun@bdx.coop

Thanks!

No apology necessary! Thanks for sending those over :)

@dougbelshaw what would open mean in this context? Presumably not an email address that would contact everyone in the world, or anyone who wants to be contacted regardless of their co-op status? If it's just that we should be transparent about who is in the list i would also support that. I think it's important for people to know that they're basically emailing a while load of co-ops at once.

@harryrobbins

If 'closed' means 'authenticated against email address, but everyone can see the discussion', them no problem. But if 'closed' means (as I'm assuming it does) 'you have to have access to an authenticated email address to see the discussion' that seems problematic.

What's so sensitive here that can't be discussed openly? So long as it's clear who represents which co-op (or is merely co-op curious), do we mind where the good ideas come from?

@dougbelshaw i believe what is being proposed is just a distribution list so that external people can email a single address (contact@coops.tech or similar) which will then be forwarded to any interested member co-ops. I think the idea is for inbound sales, recruitment and media enquiries. Apologies if I've misunderstood.

This is exactly what it is -thanks for clarifying Harry :)

Voted but forgot to give an address: contact@mc3.coop

Hey everyone! Just to let you know, those that have responded, I have created you all as users in the Wordpress. You should have all received an email which will allow you to reset your password.

Please only change things that are related to your coop, and if:

• If you want to add a Technology, please make sure you have a logo to go with it, and ensure that your technology is not already listed!

• If you want to add a service, note the icons have all been made bespoke by Glowbox so you may have to request they make you an icon ;)

The url is dev.coops.tech -- at some point this will be moved to coops.tech

Please all bear in mind this is very much a minimum viable product so we know it is not perfect and we expect there to be changes in the future, with an idea to get everyone that wants to contribute, contributing :)