Ambassador Basics

Taken from the Free Geek Startups page:

For Free Geek Portland people assisting an outside group:

• Check in with the Free Geek Portland's Outreach committee before and after initial contact.
• Encourage other geeks to join the dicussion on the startup mailing list and irc.
• Show the Startup where the relevent wiki pages are.
• Maintain an understanding of how things are going for said startups

Here are a list of things for an ambassador to be aware of

• who is your primary contact at the Startup
• know how Startup Free Geek operates on a day to day basis
• know what jobs are filled by who and how they "do their thang"
  • whois the recycling coordinator
  • whois the network person/ do they have an ASS
  • who does their books
  • what education do they offer, how?
  • do they have a grants program
  • do they have a store? what do they carry? what principles guide their store?

At the December, 2006 Outreach meeting, the committee said this:

- Guiding the ambassadors
The ambassadors need to know what to say and what not to say about Free Geek 
to represent us correctly and not make promises that we can't keep.  The 
press kit will be helpful for that.  They'll also need some more guidance, 
though, depending on what the ambassador is going elsewhere to do.

DECISION: We think that each ambassador should read the press kit, then meet
with at least 2 outreach people to get some good perspectives for their 
specific mission before they leave in a sit-down meeting.  After they come 
back, they'll need to give a report on what they learned to the outreach 
committee.

Also, on 2/16/06:

When will the outreach committee want to speak to you/check in before you
speak at an event?

* If you are giving a presentation at a conference or talking at a public event and representing Free Geek
* If you're talking for Free Geek to a reporter from a major media outlet
* If you're going to staff a table at an event on Free Geek's behalf or speak in a classroom.

This meeting with the outreach committee will often be quite casual and short,
depending on the event where you'll be speaking.  It shouldn't be seen as a big
hindrance to outreach, but it needs to happen so our spokespersons are
well-informed.

After you've spoken at an event, please send the outreach committee an email to
let us know how it went!

You don't need to check in with outreach if:
* You're attending an event and want to network 
* Your words about Free Geek are written in a personal blog or in a minor publication

An ambassador is (one who goes out into the world to speak and act while representing Free Geek. This page is intended to help ambassadors become better informed as to how to represent Free Geek.