Full Circle Associates

Blogger Corps?:

"At various sessions of Bloggercon III, I opined that we need to think more about how blogging tools and the blogging process can be used by the non-profit and activist community - not only in the U.S. but around the world. This is not merely a matter of blog-evangelizing to the uninitiated. It's also about adapting blog tools and blogging techniques to the needs of people who want to go beyond online conversations to real-world action. For early blog-adopters, blogging was an end in itself. For the activist community, blogging has to be an effective means to a concrete end.

...I suggested that socially conscious members of the blogging community (of all political persuasions) might want to organize a 'Blogger Corps.' Through it, bloggers could donate their time to help poorly funded activists or non-profit groups to figure out what blogging tools are right for them, set up blogs, and develop effective blogging strategies.... what do you think would be the most effective and efficient way to organize a Blogger Corps? Please share your ideas in the 'comments' section."

So what do I think? I think this exists in some ways that I know of, and I presume many that I don't know about. I think about how I was taught by other bloggers via a page set up by the folks at SocialText. I think about the work that goes on in a spate of "ICT for Development" groups.

Do we need a Blogger Corps? Or do we need to continue to do a bit more overtly what already happens: help each other. Post short cuts and tips. Welcome each other. Point people to free resources. Read and comment on new bloggers' blogs as a form of coaching and encouragement.

Working in the NPO/NGO community, I get a bit jaded about yet another group. Maybe we need to simply plug into existing groups? On the flip side, creating a service identity in the blogosphere has value as well.

So yeah, I think the intent is fabulous. I think the practice of helping folks in the NGO/NPO sector is fantastic. (I'm thinking right now of Ethan Zuckerman and BlogAfrica! And the many similar sites which aggregate in the NPO world.) I am conflicted on the format.