Big Meeting
Big Meeting on August 22 at Free Geek
What will Free Geek look like in 2010 and beyond? This question has come up a lot lately. We are currently in the middle of a Long Term Strategy Process that will culminate in a general plan for Free Geek's future. Of course, any plan for a place as chaotic as Free Geek will be a more of a starting point and it will subject to change as we wind our way through the fun and confusion over the next few years. But as a starting point, a plan gives us a framework to help us tackle the big decisions.
Things like:
- Do we want to stay here, or move to a different building?
- Do we want to expand the amount of space we rent?
- How will we deal with increasingly integrated systems like laptops? What happens when they overtake desktop computers at Free Geek?
- How does Free Geek, the mothership, relate to the many other Free Geek startups that are sprouting up all over the place?
- How will the new eWaste legislation affect us? How can we make sure it encourages the best reusue and recycling practices possbible?
- ...and many many more questions.
We had a few meetings like this in the early days of Free Geek, and it's time for another:
(This is an essential component in the development of a longer term Vision Statement and 3 - 5 year plan. We decided to have this meeting at the June 20, 2007 Council meeting.)
NOTE: There are about a dozen plans in development, each centered around a specific area or aspect of Free Geek. To learn more, browse the documents in the "Long Term Planning" category.
Meeting Agenda
Introduction
- Describe general purpose for the meeting.
- Lay out the Agenda.
- Introduce ourselves.
What do we want to do?
Consider these continua and dichotomies:
- Reuse vs. Recycling
- Production vs. Education
- Sales vs. Adoption / Grants / Discounts
- Serving Free Geek Community (Insiders) vs. Outsiders
What are we like?
- Review internal attributes brainstorm list
- Add to it with a little more brainstorming. Don't be too detailed.
What do we have to deal with?
- Review external trends brainstorm list
- Add to it with a little more brainstorming. Don't be too detailed.
- Department Reports (where we are, transitioning to looking forward):
- Build, Production, Space Usage (Matteo and Jeff)
- Retail Sales, Online Sales, Bulk Sales (Luiz and Matteo)
- Outreach (Ali and eBeth or Shawn)
- Education and Tech Support (Michael)
- Receiving and Recycling (Ali and Liane)
- Core Structure (Richard)
Where do we go from here?
- Take a look at our Vision Statement and 3 - 5 year plan
- Questions, answers, concerns, and suggestions.
- Write down points of consensus and longer term discussion items we need to have
- Close official meeting and have food and make conversation about the ideas presented.