Title: Proposal: Updating Community Team meetings
Author: Timi Wahalahti
Published: August 3, 2021
Last modified: September 23, 2021

---

 [  ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/sippis/) [Timi Wahalahti](https://profiles.wordpress.org/sippis/)
8:49 am _on_ August 3, 2021     
Tags: [community-events ( 69 )](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/community-events/),
[community-team ( 229 )](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/community-team/),
[meetings ( 26 )](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/meetings/), [team chat ( 111 )](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/team-chat/),
[team meeting ( 56 )](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/team-meeting/)   

# Proposal: Updating Community Team meetings

Few weeks ago, [@kcristiano](https://profiles.wordpress.org/kcristiano/), [@angelasjin](https://profiles.wordpress.org/angelasjin/)
and I began discussing our Community Team meetings, and how they could improve to
foster more discussions and connections.

## The Current Challenge

In short, we believe that there are too many meetings taking place at the moment
and the format of those meetings are not catering to the Community Team as well 
as they could. To give you a hint where the problem lies, here’s a list of current
Community Team meetings (not including working groups):

 * **Community Team meeting **every first and third Thursdays of month. Repeated
   twice on the same day to cater different time zones. Takes place in [#community-team](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/community-team/)
   SlackSlack Slack is a Collaborative Group Chat Platform [https://slack.com/](https://slack.com/).
   The WordPress community has its own Slack Channel at [https://make.wordpress.org/chat/](https://make.wordpress.org/chat/)
   channel. Meeting agenda consists mostly of going through published blog posts
   about current matters and important discussion.
 * **Community Office HoursOffice Hours Defined times when the Global Community 
   Team are in the #community-events Slack channel. If there is anything you would
   like to discuss – you do not need to inform them in advance.You are very welcome
   to drop into any of the Community Team Slack channels at any time.** every Monday,
   Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Takes place in [#community-events](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/community-events/)
   Slack channel. Opportunity for community members and event organisers to ask 
   everything from community deputiesProgram Supporter Community Program Supporters(
   formerly Deputies) are a team of people worldwide who review WordCamp and Meetup
   applications, interview lead organizers, and keep things moving at WordCamp Central.
   Find more about program supporters in our [Program Supporter Handbook](https://make.wordpress.org/community/handbook/community-deputy/)..
 * **DeputyProgram Supporter Community Program Supporters (formerly Deputies) are
   a team of people worldwide who review WordCamp and Meetup applications, interview
   lead organizers, and keep things moving at WordCamp Central. Find more about 
   program supporters in our [Program Supporter Handbook](https://make.wordpress.org/community/handbook/community-deputy/).
   Office Hours** every other week on Thursdays and Fridays. Repeated twice on the
   same day to cater different time zones. Takes place in Zoom. No agenda, more 
   a space for deputiesProgram Supporter Community Program Supporters (formerly 
   Deputies) are a team of people worldwide who review WordCamp and Meetup applications,
   interview lead organizers, and keep things moving at WordCamp Central. Find more
   about program supporters in our [Program Supporter Handbook](https://make.wordpress.org/community/handbook/community-deputy/).
   to talk about their work and related challenges face to face. This is a new thing
   that started in 2021.

The basic problem appears to be hat there are many meetings, but attendance and 
engagement is low. These meetings are mostly targeted for community deputies that
are deeply involved with the team, and not for event organisers. That feels a bit
skewed, as the Community team’s ultimate objective is to work to benefit the greater
community.

## The Proposal

To make Community Team meetings more interesting, helpful, easier to approach and
attend, Angela, Kevin and I would like to propose updating our meetings! Instead
of the meetings listed above, the Community Team would move to the following ones:

### **Community Team meeting**

Once a month for anyone currently involved or who wants to get involved in the Community
Team. Still repeated twice on the same day to cater time zones and taking place 
in [#community-team](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/community-team/) Slack
channel.

Shorter agenda, more open floor discussion and personal updates from community members.
Highlighted blog posts at the end of the meeting instead of being in limelight and
taking most of the time. We will encourage discussion in these meetings and link
to the discussions on the agenda posts for those who cannot attend to review.

We are also hoping to record minutes for these meetings and post that to the P2P2
P2 or O2 is the term people use to refer to the Make WordPress blog. It can be found
at [https://make.wordpress.org](https://make.wordpress.org/) as well. A volunteer
is needed to take the minutes.  This role can rotate, one need to make a long term
commitment (but we’d love it if you did).

### **Community Local Organiser meeting**

Once a month for WordCampWordCamp WordCamps are casual, locally-organized conferences
covering everything related to WordPress. They're one of the places where the WordPress
community comes together to teach one another what they’ve learned throughout the
year and share the joy. [Learn more](https://central.wordcamp.org/about/). and meetupMeetup
Meetup groups are locally-organized groups that get together for face-to-face events
on a regular basis (commonly once a month). Learn more about Meetups in our [Meetup Organizer Handbook](https://make.wordpress.org/community/handbook/meetup-organizer/).
organizers. Repeated twice on the same day to cater time zones. Taking place in 
[#community-events](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/community-events/) 
Slack channel.

No formal agenda. The purpose would be to become a place where local community organisers
can share how their community is doing, successes and challenges, and learn from
each other. Ambition is to bring local community organisers closer to each other
as well as the community team, strengthening the connections.

### **Deputy and MentorEvent Supporter Event Supporter (formerly Mentor) is someone who has already organised a WordCamp and has time to meet with their assigned mentee every 2 weeks, they talk over where they should be in their timeline, help them to identify their issues, and also identify solutions for their issues. Chats**

Once a month for all active Deputies and MentorsEvent Supporter Event Supporter (
formerly Mentor) is someone who has already organised a WordCamp and has time to
meet with their assigned mentee every 2 weeks, they talk over where they should 
be in their timeline, help them to identify their issues, and also identify solutions
for their issues.. Repeated twice on the same day to cater time zones. Taking place
in Zoom. No formal agenda. Place for deputies and mentors to share their knowledge
with each other and to talk about challenges encountered in our weekly work.

What do you think, would these new meetings make sense? Is there something that 
should be included in these meetings? Are some meeting types missing from the list?

Please share your thoughts and ideas by 2021-08-23 at latest.

[#meetings](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/meetings/), [#team-chat](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/team-chat/),
[#team-meeting](https://make.wordpress.org/community/tag/team-meeting/)

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 1.  ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/17e3cbd63c4ddcf873d1848277de062a48239d962359ecaf1978e966429f5b6f?
     s=32&d=mm&r=g)
 2.   [Rocio Valdivia](https://profiles.wordpress.org/_dorsvenabili/)  9:59 am _on_
     August 3, 2021
 3.  Thank you [@sippis](https://profiles.wordpress.org/sippis/) [@kcristiano](https://profiles.wordpress.org/kcristiano/)
     and [@angelasjin](https://profiles.wordpress.org/angelasjin/) for this thoughtful
     post and ideas, I 100% agree with your sentiment about changing the current meetings
     and formats and this is the right time to do it as many people are on summer/winter
     holidays and we could start with the new meetings from September 🙂
 4.  I like the 3 new kinds of meetings and the fact that they are all once a month.
 5.  For everyone to get familiar with the dates/timings and remembering them better,
     I’d suggest to do something like this:
 6.   * Community Team meetings: first week of the month (the date most voted)
      * Community Local Organiser meetings: second week of the month (the date most
        voted)
      * DeputyProgram Supporter Community Program Supporters (formerly Deputies) are
        a team of people worldwide who review WordCamp and Meetup applications, interview
        lead organizers, and keep things moving at WordCamp Central. Find more about
        program supporters in our [Program Supporter Handbook](https://make.wordpress.org/community/handbook/community-deputy/).
        and MentorEvent Supporter Event Supporter (formerly Mentor) is someone who 
        has already organised a WordCamp and has time to meet with their assigned mentee
        every 2 weeks, they talk over where they should be in their timeline, help 
        them to identify their issues, and also identify solutions for their issues.
        Chats: third week of the month (the date most voted)
 7.  We, as deputiesProgram Supporter Community Program Supporters (formerly Deputies)
     are a team of people worldwide who review WordCamp and Meetup applications, interview
     lead organizers, and keep things moving at WordCamp Central. Find more about program
     supporters in our [Program Supporter Handbook](https://make.wordpress.org/community/handbook/community-deputy/).
     and mentorsEvent Supporter Event Supporter (formerly Mentor) is someone who has
     already organised a WordCamp and has time to meet with their assigned mentee every
     2 weeks, they talk over where they should be in their timeline, help them to identify
     their issues, and also identify solutions for their issues., could invite and 
     encourage local MeetupMeetup Meetup groups are locally-organized groups that get
     together for face-to-face events on a regular basis (commonly once a month). Learn
     more about Meetups in our [Meetup Organizer Handbook](https://make.wordpress.org/community/handbook/meetup-organizer/).
     and WordCampWordCamp WordCamps are casual, locally-organized conferences covering
     everything related to WordPress. They're one of the places where the WordPress
     community comes together to teach one another what they’ve learned throughout 
     the year and share the joy. [Learn more](https://central.wordcamp.org/about/).
     organizers to participate in the Community Local Organiser meetings.
 8.  Let’s see how they go and let’s give them a chance, I love the ideas. And if I
     can dream about it, the Community Local Organiser meetings could evolve to zoom
     rooms in different languages (as many as the number of deputies/mentors available
     who speak different languages). But that’s something that we can try in the future
     with higher engagement 😉
 9.  ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bcd0fec27c3de01c3144dd779aeb0336e3096be11ada9dab3fec7ae82de37c75?
     s=32&d=mm&r=g)
 10.  [evarlese](https://profiles.wordpress.org/evarlese/)  12:10 pm _on_ August 3,
     2021
 11. Thank you for sharing this proposal, [@sippis](https://profiles.wordpress.org/sippis/)!
     I definitely support trying all of these changes – the adjustment seems like a
     helpful way to make the time we do spend together in meetings more meaningful.
 12. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/dc299e7661427be01b68a46d2ebb55bdd5635e548b6f9ea12dec2930c5d4a858?
     s=32&d=mm&r=g)
 13.  [Hari Shanker R](https://profiles.wordpress.org/harishanker/)  2:17 pm _on_ August
     3, 2021
 14. Thank you for writing up this proposal, [@sippis](https://profiles.wordpress.org/sippis/)!
     🙏 These are some excellent ideas. I like these ideas (especially the local community
     organizer meetings – which could perhaps pave way for a meetupMeetup Meetup groups
     are locally-organized groups that get together for face-to-face events on a regular
     basis (commonly once a month). Learn more about Meetups in our [Meetup Organizer Handbook](https://make.wordpress.org/community/handbook/meetup-organizer/).
     organizer roundtable at some point?). I vote for experimenting with these modified
     timings and see how they work for our team!
 15. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c9dd46c79b7701fe634e73ce1665d27a04d710b53c1dd901f4ba49b5bc97a064?
     s=32&d=mm&r=g)
 16.  [jillbinder](https://profiles.wordpress.org/jillbinder/)  9:50 pm _on_ August
     5, 2021
 17. This looks great! I love how this will help with some of my group’s challenges:
     how to communicate more directly with meetupMeetup Meetup groups are locally-organized
     groups that get together for face-to-face events on a regular basis (commonly 
     once a month). Learn more about Meetups in our [Meetup Organizer Handbook](https://make.wordpress.org/community/handbook/meetup-organizer/).&
     WordCampWordCamp WordCamps are casual, locally-organized conferences covering 
     everything related to WordPress. They're one of the places where the WordPress
     community comes together to teach one another what they’ve learned throughout 
     the year and share the joy. [Learn more](https://central.wordcamp.org/about/).
     orgs and with DeputiesProgram Supporter Community Program Supporters (formerly
     Deputies) are a team of people worldwide who review WordCamp and Meetup applications,
     interview lead organizers, and keep things moving at WordCamp Central. Find more
     about program supporters in our [Program Supporter Handbook](https://make.wordpress.org/community/handbook/community-deputy/)..
 18. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/d5c3f2d93d1a7622578bf02f19b91bce32e642cf2962e04ab559fbc0ae333359?
     s=32&d=mm&r=g)
 19.  [Andrea Middleton](https://profiles.wordpress.org/andreamiddleton/)  9:51 pm 
     _on_ August 5, 2021
 20. I like the idea of experimenting with meeting formats; the current formats have
     been in place so long, they’re probably a bit stale. I do like how easy they are
     to run, though. Less structured meetings are a little less easy to run; do you
     think we’ll have trouble finding people to lead meetings if they get less structured?
 21. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8e997e7b6570ba04b872e29f736ce77a396a6b024e434de7c82530456a253e65?
     s=32&d=mm&r=g)
 22.  [Courtney P.K.](https://profiles.wordpress.org/courtneypk/)  10:12 pm _on_ August
     7, 2021
 23. I definitely like and support these new ideas to refresh the team meetings! I 
     share similar concerns as Andrea — will these meetings be more challenging to 
     lead/moderate when the meetings have less structure?
 24. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bea150b73b508fa095592d71e3e007b1782541ed672ea67a8903409358ab718a?
     s=32&d=mm&r=g)
 25.  [Kathy Drewien](https://profiles.wordpress.org/kdrewien/)  11:10 pm _on_ August
     15, 2021
 26. Kudos for the suggestions to mix formats up a bit. I, for one, am more likely 
     to volunteer facilitating a less structured meeting than one that’s tightly structured.(
     No surprise, huh?)
 27. I support the timing ideas Rocio outlined:
 28. > For everyone to get familiar with the dates/timings and remembering them better,
     > I’d suggest to do something like this:
     > **Community Team meetings:** first week of the month (the date most voted)
     >  **
     > Community Local Organiser meetings:** second week of the month (the date most
     > voted) **DeputyProgram Supporter Community Program Supporters (formerly Deputies)
     > are a team of people worldwide who review WordCamp and Meetup applications, 
     > interview lead organizers, and keep things moving at WordCamp Central. Find 
     > more about program supporters in our [Program Supporter Handbook](https://make.wordpress.org/community/handbook/community-deputy/).
     > and MentorEvent Supporter Event Supporter (formerly Mentor) is someone who has
     > already organised a WordCamp and has time to meet with their assigned mentee
     > every 2 weeks, they talk over where they should be in their timeline, help them
     > to identify their issues, and also identify solutions for their issues. Chats:**
     > third week of the month (the date most voted)
 29. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/2a9a436a279049025e6d68d400ef12f39d4ef00898b745428aaabecbc42a171d?
     s=32&d=mm&r=g)
 30.  [Sallie Goetsch](https://profiles.wordpress.org/wpfangirl/)  6:38 pm _on_ August
     25, 2021
 31. As a meetupMeetup Meetup groups are locally-organized groups that get together
     for face-to-face events on a regular basis (commonly once a month). Learn more
     about Meetups in our [Meetup Organizer Handbook](https://make.wordpress.org/community/handbook/meetup-organizer/).
     organizer, I’d propose a bit of structure for the organizer meetings, and that
     we should also ask the other organizers for suggestions. One thing that can work
     is a session where organizers can share pain points and difficulties, and one 
     for “Here’s something we did that worked great” and one for speaker or subject
     recommendations.
 32. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/15c1992340b393e287c6050901b6c4a5a10204d854c84ee8be6be84aca77de95?
     s=32&d=mm&r=g)
 33.  [Timi Wahalahti](https://profiles.wordpress.org/sippis/)  4:12 pm _on_ September
     23, 2021
 34. Thank you to everyone who participated in the discussion! Some very good points
     were made, and the first iteration of how these meetings will look like was adjusted
     based on those.
 35. The announcement about new meetings and Doodle voting for their timings is open.
     [https://make.wordpress.org/community/2021/09/23/announcement-changes-in-community-team-meetings/](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2021/09/23/announcement-changes-in-community-team-meetings/)

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