This is in response to your message of 27/05, which you have edited several times since it was first posted.
Your message is full of outrageous accusations, threats and insults, mainly to the address of Siegfried (and Denis). When joining NABUUR you agreed with the NABUUR guidelines which include:
- Participants owe each other respect, trust and transparency (www.nabuur.com/guidelines)
In respect to these guidelines, your message is totally out of order. These kind of personal attacks don’t belong on NABUUR. They severely harm the trust that people have in NABUUR as a safe environment to collaborate. I will call you tomorrow morning to discuss how this matter can be cleared up.
Please consider this a first warning. I will not hesitate to block your account in case of continued threats, insults or false accusations.
I've had a long phonecall with Sulaiman yesterday morning. He assured me it wasn't his intention to personally attack or threaten anyone - he is searching for transparency.
Based on our phonecall he has edited his posting of 27 May, taking out the most personal attacks and accusations. He mentioned he's not looking for legal prosecution of any kind (an impression that was left by his earlier message)
I hope this clears up the way for further collaboration on the future of Nabuur.
I haven't been too much involved in the governance discussion yet.
Looking through the discussion though, I have the feeling there's a critical element missing.
The discussion seems to have focused on the governance structure, the composition of the board, how its members should be chosen etc.
Next to that (and I'm aware that I've had my share there) a huge part of the discussions on NABUUR have focused on the website development over the last year.
Altogether I get the feeling that we're missing what NABUUR is all about:
- to facilitate direct contact between people worldwide
- who work on demand driven projects/improvements in local communities
- offering their ideas, knowledge, contacts
- using (innovative) web technologies
If together we can answer how we want that to work, and how we want to deal with the issues that might come up, then we know what needs to be governed.
Or in other words: what do we want (and expect) to happen on/with NABUUR that wants to be governed?
Top of mind (this is not a complete inventory), I see a few areas:
1. The main 'process on NABUUR', which involves:
- Local Communities: how does NABUUR deal with the influx of new communities, how are they connected, guided, checked (to what extent?), what are their needs/ideas
- Volunteer management: how are volunteers recruited, welcomed, how do they find their way, what are their needs/ideas
- (developing) Best practices to Connect and Collaborate
2. Web development, enabling the working of NABUUR as defined above
3. Communication (blogs, social media etc)
4. Partnerships, i.e. with partners like 1%Club that can offer additional services, or with a partner that could help secure the future of NABUUR (HIVOS?)
I could imagine that workgroups for each of these areas have their representation in the future board, or at least a good mechanism should be in place to get their issues through to the board.
Looking at the board, I'm also in favour of moving towards a more internationally oriented board.
I think that working out such a model will help filling in the bits that are still missing in the new NABUUR constition, that Denis has put so much effort in to draft.
I hope I haven't overlooked important parts of the discussion that already took place, I'm not trying to duplicate steps.
Some of the points you have rised therein could form the NABUUR's profile/Foundation and could build the stratgic plan although issues rised in relation to inventory should be defined in the constitution.
This may not be the appropriate thread to post this, but considering the smoke and fire on this thread, this seems the most likely place where this post might get the attention it deserves.
Has nabuur ever considered functioning as a profit-making business entity? Or is nabuur forever destined to work only through donated funds, much like all the villages enrolled here? And when the inflow of funds is stopped, it is pandemonium all around...
Some common methods of generating revenue are:
- through advertisements on the nabuur website
- through sale of equity
Sounds like a good idea it will surely help the Nabuur Foundation.
May be it could donate some funds to the villages. It will also ensure sustainability of the Nabuur Website and the Nabuur Foundation itself.
It would also bring in more sponsors into the projects of the villages by offering some discount of some sorts. It will also create traffic from companies who would advertise on the Nabuur Website by creating traffic of advertising companies it will bring more sponsors to villages.
This is just my idea. I do not know what other thinks.
Please can you tell us whether Nabuur still have a board and what happens now?
I don't wish to start thw whole rights and wrongs debate again, and have neither the skills, wish or time to join a new board, but people have asked me what's happening and all I can tell them is that I don't know. And of course I want to know myself too.
Was away one more time (to the graduation of my daughter in the UK)
Yes, the logical question is indeed: what happens now?
Well:
- the site stays in the air; the present operational costs (basically the server costs, necessary to host the site) are covered to the end of the year.
- a core group of volunteers keeps the site running (technical maintenance, dealing with info account, etc)
- improvement work continues behind the scenes
- a way is found to hand over the governance from the present board and myself to a new group.
I expect to be back with more details in a week or so,
In view of the above status, perhaps some efforts need to be started for free web hosting of the nabuur portal starting end 2010, so that there is seamless continuity for nabuur into the year 2011 and beyond.
In case this does not happen, will it be "adios amigos" on nabuur in Dec 2010...?
Any website must be hosted on some servers. Nabuur is also hosted on some servers. Hosting a site on servers costs money. Siegfried has posted above that the site hosting charges are paid for till end 2010. Since nabuur is using paid services for hosting the site, this means that nabuur must pay expenses for hosting the site beyond Dec 2010. Since there seems to be an issue of funds, it obviously implies that the nabuur site may be removed by the host servers due to non-payment of hosting charges.
A google search for "free website hosting" throws up more than 65 million results. These are services that do not charge money directly for hosting a website. In return they might post advertisements on the website, and earn through these advertisements. Nabuur may not be required to pay for hosting the site.
Since Dec 2010 is not so far away, the group that manages the nabuur website could examine the possibility of free hosting of the nabuur portal, as I have suggested in my previous post.
Dear Sulaiman,
This is in response to your message of 27/05, which you have edited several times since it was first posted.
Your message is full of outrageous accusations, threats and insults, mainly to the address of Siegfried (and Denis). When joining NABUUR you agreed with the NABUUR guidelines which include:
- Participants owe each other respect, trust and transparency (www.nabuur.com/guidelines)
In respect to these guidelines, your message is totally out of order. These kind of personal attacks don’t belong on NABUUR. They severely harm the trust that people have in NABUUR as a safe environment to collaborate. I will call you tomorrow morning to discuss how this matter can be cleared up.
Please consider this a first warning. I will not hesitate to block your account in case of continued threats, insults or false accusations.
Pelle
I've had a long phonecall with Sulaiman yesterday morning. He assured me it wasn't his intention to personally attack or threaten anyone - he is searching for transparency.
Based on our phonecall he has edited his posting of 27 May, taking out the most personal attacks and accusations. He mentioned he's not looking for legal prosecution of any kind (an impression that was left by his earlier message)
I hope this clears up the way for further collaboration on the future of Nabuur.
Pelle
Hi All,
This is a very positive move. I think collectively we should work to construct Nabuur rather than destructing it.
I'll congratulate you Pelle on the efforts you made.
Hope to have good, brighten & successive future of Nabuur.
Best to all,
Adnan Khan.
Dear all,
I haven't been too much involved in the governance discussion yet.
Looking through the discussion though, I have the feeling there's a critical element missing.
The discussion seems to have focused on the governance structure, the composition of the board, how its members should be chosen etc.
Next to that (and I'm aware that I've had my share there) a huge part of the discussions on NABUUR have focused on the website development over the last year.
Altogether I get the feeling that we're missing what NABUUR is all about:
- to facilitate direct contact between people worldwide
- who work on demand driven projects/improvements in local communities
- offering their ideas, knowledge, contacts
- using (innovative) web technologies
If together we can answer how we want that to work, and how we want to deal with the issues that might come up, then we know what needs to be governed.
Or in other words: what do we want (and expect) to happen on/with NABUUR that wants to be governed?
Top of mind (this is not a complete inventory), I see a few areas:
1. The main 'process on NABUUR', which involves:
- Local Communities: how does NABUUR deal with the influx of new communities, how are they connected, guided, checked (to what extent?), what are their needs/ideas
- Volunteer management: how are volunteers recruited, welcomed, how do they find their way, what are their needs/ideas
- (developing) Best practices to Connect and Collaborate
2. Web development, enabling the working of NABUUR as defined above
3. Communication (blogs, social media etc)
4. Partnerships, i.e. with partners like 1%Club that can offer additional services, or with a partner that could help secure the future of NABUUR (HIVOS?)
I could imagine that workgroups for each of these areas have their representation in the future board, or at least a good mechanism should be in place to get their issues through to the board.
Looking at the board, I'm also in favour of moving towards a more internationally oriented board.
I think that working out such a model will help filling in the bits that are still missing in the new NABUUR constition, that Denis has put so much effort in to draft.
I hope I haven't overlooked important parts of the discussion that already took place, I'm not trying to duplicate steps.
Looking forward to your ideas,
Pelle
Hi Pelle,
Some of the points you have rised therein could form the NABUUR's profile/Foundation and could build the stratgic plan although issues rised in relation to inventory should be defined in the constitution.
Thank you once again,
Denis Marsha
This may not be the appropriate thread to post this, but considering the smoke and fire on this thread, this seems the most likely place where this post might get the attention it deserves.
Has nabuur ever considered functioning as a profit-making business entity? Or is nabuur forever destined to work only through donated funds, much like all the villages enrolled here? And when the inflow of funds is stopped, it is pandemonium all around...
Some common methods of generating revenue are:
- through advertisements on the nabuur website
- through sale of equity
Vijai
Hi Vijai,
Sounds like a good idea it will surely help the Nabuur Foundation.
May be it could donate some funds to the villages. It will also ensure sustainability of the Nabuur Website and the Nabuur Foundation itself.
It would also bring in more sponsors into the projects of the villages by offering some discount of some sorts. It will also create traffic from companies who would advertise on the Nabuur Website by creating traffic of advertising companies it will bring more sponsors to villages.
This is just my idea. I do not know what other thinks.
All the best,
Jeremy Ecle
--
Hi Siegfried
Please can you tell us whether Nabuur still have a board and what happens now?
I don't wish to start thw whole rights and wrongs debate again, and have neither the skills, wish or time to join a new board, but people have asked me what's happening and all I can tell them is that I don't know. And of course I want to know myself too.
Mary
This debate gets interesting with time.It seems no one knows where is what,or who is who,or even funny who was who!
Who has the final word in all this?
Raphael
Hi Siegfried,
I too would like to know what is happening. I was one of the people who asked Mary :).
Melissa
Dear all,
Was away one more time (to the graduation of my daughter in the UK)
Yes, the logical question is indeed: what happens now?
Well:
- the site stays in the air; the present operational costs (basically the server costs, necessary to host the site) are covered to the end of the year.
- a core group of volunteers keeps the site running (technical maintenance, dealing with info account, etc)
- improvement work continues behind the scenes
- a way is found to hand over the governance from the present board and myself to a new group.
I expect to be back with more details in a week or so,
Warm regards,
Siegfried
In view of the above status, perhaps some efforts need to be started for free web hosting of the nabuur portal starting end 2010, so that there is seamless continuity for nabuur into the year 2011 and beyond.
In case this does not happen, will it be "adios amigos" on nabuur in Dec 2010...?
Vijai
good idea!
--
what does it mean? what does free web hosting in nabuur mean?
Good question, Jeremy !
Any website must be hosted on some servers. Nabuur is also hosted on some servers. Hosting a site on servers costs money. Siegfried has posted above that the site hosting charges are paid for till end 2010. Since nabuur is using paid services for hosting the site, this means that nabuur must pay expenses for hosting the site beyond Dec 2010. Since there seems to be an issue of funds, it obviously implies that the nabuur site may be removed by the host servers due to non-payment of hosting charges.
A google search for "free website hosting" throws up more than 65 million results. These are services that do not charge money directly for hosting a website. In return they might post advertisements on the website, and earn through these advertisements. Nabuur may not be required to pay for hosting the site.
Since Dec 2010 is not so far away, the group that manages the nabuur website could examine the possibility of free hosting of the nabuur portal, as I have suggested in my previous post.
Vijai