Updates to the Community Team Contributor Roles and Journey

Based on feedback, @devinmaeztri and I have updated and simplified the previous information into this one post. The goals of these changes are:

  • change the role names so they are more universally translatable
  • simplify the number of applications needed to contribute
  • simplify the overall contributor journey
  • clarify the tasks and expectations for the various contributor roles
  • create support for our 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. so they can be more successful
  • create a Help Path to help the work flow more smoothly
  • specify the 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./Community Admin tasks so their contribution is more evident and the necessary tasks are getting done

To accomplish these goals, we suggest the following changes.

Name Changes

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. 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./DoActiondo_action do_action hackathons are community-organised events that are focussed on using WordPress to give deserving charitable organisations their own online presence. Learn more on doaction.org. Mentor/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. Mentor become Event Mentor.
Community 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. becomes Community Admin.
Super DeputyProgram Manager Program Managers (formerly Super Deputies) are Program Supporters who can perform extra tasks on WordCamp.org like creating new sites and publishing WordCamps to the schedule. becomes Community Advisor.

Updated Role Descriptions

Community Team Member: participate in the Make/Community SlackSlack Slack is a Collaborative Group Chat Platform https://slack.com/. The WordPress community has its own Slack Channel at https://make.wordpress.org/chat/. channel or attend WordPress events
Event Organizer: organize local events that promote WordPress and Open SourceOpen Source Open Source denotes software for which the original source code is made freely available and may be redistributed and modified. Open Source **must be** delivered via a licensing model, see GPL.
Event Mentor: help guide and unstick event organizers
Community Admin: support mentors and help with the technical side of event organizing
Community Advisor: guide all other contributing roles with a particular focus on what’s best for our community now and in the future

Contributor Journey Visuals

This is the current contributor chart. The arrows show the various paths you can take to get from one role to another. As you can see, each area requires the contributor to submit an application to change roles.

The chart below is based on the recommended updates. It allows community team members who want to contribute beyond organizing events to submit one application and be filtered into the supporting role that fits them best or appeals to them most. 

It also allows flexibility, so individuals who are ready can move directly into a Community Admin role without being required to first be a mentor. 

How We Work

The Community Team is committed to working as publicly as possible for transparency and the education of all. Questions should be asked as publicly as the content allows so that we can learn and grow together. Delicate situations will be managed with caution and respect by more than two people so important information does not become lost while keeping the necessary people informed.

Help Path for the Entire Community Team

  1. Check the handbook
  2. Ask a community team member
  3. Next, ask an Event Mentor
  4. Ask a Community Admin 
  5. Ask a Community Advisor
  6. Email support@wordcamp.org

Expectations of Event Mentors, Community Admins, and Community Advisors

  • Help organizers plan events that align with open source philosophies and promote WordPress
  • Help make events easier to organize and improve attendee experience
  • Help organizers avoid problems before they become problems
  • Help keep organizers accountable to the planning details and financial reports of the event. 

Time Commitment

  • At least 4 hours a month, depending on your desired level of involvement.

Requirements

  • Willing to work and communicate publicly and transparently
  • Successful lead or co-organizer of the type of event you want to mentor — both financially and in team management
  • Demonstrate understanding of the WordPress community, its values, and both the Event Code of Conduct and Community Code of Conduct
  • Demonstrate exemplary behavior that aligns with the WordPress community standards, it’s values, and both code of conducts, including no previous incidents or conflicts with the Community Team
  • Successfully finish the required training courses
  • Exhibit collaborative, community-minded communication skills
  • Be organized and reliable
  • Be able to meet with event organizers and other community members when necessary on Slack, Google Meet, and/or Zoom, your choice

Additional requirements specific to becoming a Community Admin

  • Consistently supports WordPress communities and organizers with strong understanding of the global program
  • Participates regularly in Community Team discussions and decision making
  • Successfully complete ALL organizer-related courses
  • 3 references from event organizers or current Community Admins

Additional requirements specific to becoming a Community Advisor (in process)

  • Consistent participation beyond the basic requirements
  • Ability to be consistently available
  • 3 references from fellow Community Admins or current Community Advisors

Tasks by Role

ROLETASKS
Event MentorsMonthly
– Check in with your event organizers
– How’s the budget?
– How’s the timeline?
– Are they facing any blockers?
– Do they have any issues within the organizing team?
– Use the Help Path to answer questions for your event organizers
– Attend each monthly Community Team meetings, async is fine
– Report about your event’s progress in the monthly Community Team meeting
– Report about your event’s progress on the monthly Make/Community Post

Yearly
– Check in with your assigned meetup organizers
– determine the meetupsMeetup 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. status
– by video, if possible
– Assist in finding new meetup organizers as needed
– Update the Meetup spreadsheet with the status of your meetups
– Report Meetup updates to your Community Admin so Admins can maintain the event trackers

Note: WordCamps will only be mentored by lead organizers who have successfully led a WordCamp.
Community AdminsMonthly
– Vet at least 1 event application
– Give at least 1 event orientation
– Keep the Event Trackers up-to-date based on mentor feedback
– Triage HelpScoutAttend each monthly Community Team meetings, async is fine
– Help fellow Admins in decision making in #community-Admin
– Answer questions in #community-event and #community-team when possible
– Update documentation as needed

Quarterly
– Perform 1 Budget Review
– Send 3 swag shipments
– Triage HelpScout
– Check in with your assigned Event mentors

Mentor events, as they choose and qualify. If mentoring an event remember to:
– Report about the progress of events you are mentoring on the monthly Community Team meeting
– Report about the progress of events you are mentoring on the monthly Make/Community Post
Community AdvisorsAs possible
– Perform budget reviews
– Perform the tasks of Community Admin and Event Mentors

Continually
– Support Community Admin and Event Mentors
– Discuss and advise on difficult topics and incidents that impact the community
– Create precedent for the global community
– Choose solutions that build a long-term, stable community
– Final review of Incident Response issues, when needed

Invitation to Leave Feedback

Please leave your comments and questions in the comments. You can also join us tomorrow for the live discussion during the Community Team training.

#q1, #refining-mentor-program, #updates