Changes in WordCamp and Meetup Application tracker

WordCamp.org has a tool for 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. to track WordCamps and 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.. Few changes to this tool have been made lately based on this request for feedback. I thought to share what has changed before those changes cause confusion. The technical side can be found from Github.

Field for swag notes has been removed from Meetups

This field wasn’t that great to follow on when and what swag has been sent to Meetups, so it got removed. All existing swag notes were migrated to log section and all new swag notes should be added as a private note. This way we know who and when did something related to swag.

“Already 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.” field has been removed

Same information is already visible on original application and this field wasn’t really updated after the application was received.

“Original application” section improved

Previously original application showed just a dump of data in raw format. The new improved section shows the data in a clean table like layout, so it’s easier to read.

Private note field got bigger

While doing application vetting or leaving a longer private note, it was frustrating to write it down to a little text field. That’s why the field for writing down the vetting or other notes got bigger. At the same time, the field was moved almost to the top of the editing screen so 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. can leave their notes faster when needed.

Thanks to @casiepa, @iandunn, @ryelle and @_dorsvenabili for providing the feedback on these changes!

#applications, #improving-wordcamp-org, #meetup-applications, #meta-wordcamp, #wordcamp-central, #wordcamp-org

Changes in Meetup Organizer Application form

For some time, we have had a problem with vetting 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. applications that we don’t have enough information about the applicant to do the proper vetting. First step for many applications have been sending email asking more information. This has caused extra work 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. and delay in application processing time.

To tackle this issue, changes have been made to the Meetup Organizer Application form. From now on, the application form asks the same question deputies have usually asked in the email.

New questions added to the form are:

  • Could you introduce yourself and tell us more about your connection with WordPress?
  • Where we can find you online? (Please add links to your websites, blogs and social media accounts.)
  • Why do you want to start a WordPress Meetup in your city? And what are your immediate plans?
  • Have you talked with people in your community to check the level of interest?
  • Anything else you want us to know while we’re looking over your application?

These questions were removed because those are covered in new ones:

  • How would you describe yourself?
  • Anything you’d like to tell us about yourself, or what you hope to do with a meetup group?

When deputies are doing application vetting, all answers to these questions can be found from “Original Application” metaboxMetabox A post metabox is a draggable box shown on the post editing screen. Its purpose is to allow the user to select or enter information in addition to the main post content. This information should be related to the post in some way. at the very end of the page just like in 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. applications.

Hopefully, this change will make Meetup Organizer application vetting more smoother for deputies and reduce the processing time for an individual application!

Props to @sippis, @ryelle and @iandunn.

#meetup-applications