One of the main wishes is to have an easy forum where new Neighbours can ask questions that any neighbour can answer.

THere are a few options:
1. use the current discussion type - pro: no new technology needed, con: too difficult to keep track of the questions, doesn't generate enough of a 'community feeling'

2. install a simple question & answer 'forum', for example: http://speakingx.blogspot.com/2008/01/drupal-answers-module-first-look.h...

3. choose and install a more complete forum - needs: definition of what is desired, pro: lots of possibilities, con: technically most difficult solution, another 'big' module to maintain

Melissa, perhaps you know a few good examples of forums that work well. Could you post a link to the ones you like?

Pelle

Below are the pages that new Neighbours go to

After registration (but before they confirmed their email address):
www.nabuur.com/dear-neighbour

After confirming their email address:
www.nabuur.com/get-started-nabuur
I think this page should also have a link to the new neighbour forum/How NABUUR works section, when it's there.

Next to that, every new neighbour gets a private message upon registration:

Dear Neighbour,

On behalf of the local communities around the world, thank you for joining the NABUUR Global Neighbour Network. From now on you can assist people in Villages around the world from behind your PC.

You can do several things to get started:
Quick start
1. Read the latest stories and results from the Villages
2. Find a task you like and share your ideas in a forum
3. Select a Village in Africa, Asia or Latin America or a Group around a topic
5. Promote NABUUR
If you prefer a slower start; find other new Neighbours and NABUUR staff in the "How NABUUR works" group and be introduced to "online volunteering".
Should you have any questions, don’t hesitate to send an e-mail to info@nabuur.com.

See you online!

The NABUUR team

For general task-related discussion, I find the current Nabuur format OK, but agree its not ideal for asking/answering questions.

From the link you posted, I find it quite difficult to picture what the forum would look like. Do you know of any sites that use it so we can have a look?

Everyone will have their own preferred structure for a Q&A type forum. I find something like this works fairly well (I use it occasionally, but have no contact with those that run it). http://www.webuser.co.uk/forums/ubbthreads.php
As you can see, its split into basic categories, within each of those are a series of threads. That seems to be how most forums work.

One thing I wonder is how much time it will take to answer all the questions, welcome new neighbours etc and whether there will be a group able to do this - we are all neighbours and/or facilitators of various villages...

Is there a way to make the online welcome screens show some specific examples of villages that have active tasks? If these lists could be created randomly so that all active villages got an equal chance, you may find that this immediately attracted some people to join a village. At the moment the messages (much like the home page) are very general, there is nothing there to grab my attention and make me think "hey, I could do that!".

Mary

Hi all,

I know of a few free forum software sites, but I don't know enough to know how well they would integrate with Nabuur site. I will provide links to them at a later time, and also some links to forum expamples.

Got to run now.

Melissa

Hi Melissa,

Don't worry about the tech stuff, integration etc. Most important now is to see what kind of forum you mean, then I'm sure there will be a Drupal solution to it.

Looking forward to the links.

Pelle

Hi Pelle,

Sorry it took me so long. Work caught up with me.... well, my slacking off over Christmas/ New Year actually caused it to catch up with me :)

Here is a link to a forum that works well... it is an alfa romeo forum (my husband is into them)
http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/

It is one of many, but a good example of the sort of thing I was talking about.

I just find with most online communities, unless they have a central place that all members can go to and communicate freely with each other, they just don't build an actual community.

If you want a couple more examples, let me know.

Melissa

Hi Pelle,

Advanced forum module would give the same look.

Raul

Remember on the old site the tab that listed tasks that needed help? Is there a way to do something like that again on either the main Nabuur page or maybe "My Nabuur" ? I think the main page might be better since it's the first thing people see and "My Nabuur" is getting bit crowded-or maybe take them off the search page and give them a space of their own in the tabs at the top??

If it's automatically defaulting to the most current information on the top of the search (which I'm guessing it does??) then that might be helpful to new users and get them immediately where they need to go if they are interested in a specific task.

Just a thought.

Jen

Hi Melissa, thanks.
It looks like a regular forum indeed - a proven format.
Raul, thanks for the module suggestion, I've seen that one.

Are you familiar with Basecamp? I actually like the way they set up the messages page a lot.
I'll see if I can find a link.

Pelle

Hi Jen,

Frans is working on the same kind of page, showing the latest tasks and the ones that need help.
Finding a place where the link will be shown is the most complex bit now. It's something that needs to be fit at a logical place.

Pelle

I wasn't familiar with Basecamp, but I guessed it was something to do with project management software.... good guess :)

I googled it..... http://forum.37signals.com/basecamp

Is what you were talking about? If so, that would work well.

Mel

Hi Pelle,

I liked the welcome letter you proposed. That's what I had in mind - nice, short and clear and with links to what people could do.

Any news about forum?

Sonja

I was thinking about what is difficult for new volunteers and I think one of the biggest issues is to understand how you can get involved in a village. Maybe it's possible to develop a document which explains to volunteers how they can search for villages and tasks. It's also important to make clear that volunteers need to look actively to find villages where they can help. I think some volunteers expect to be asked for help by the villages. It's also not always clear what the questions form the villages are, and what they expect from the volunteers. Finally I think some volunteers have difficluties to get involved in a project which already running for a long time. It would be good if you can make clear that they can post a message or contact the facilitator or local rep. for further information and a general up-date. Think it's also good to know that you can search for villages who are realitively new on Nabuur, think it's sometimes easier for volunteers to get involved at a realitively early stage, because later on it's difficult to get an overview of the tasks and the way you can get involved.

--
Warm regards, Lotte

Hi Lotte

I am also receiving messages from quite a few new neighbours who don't understand how to use the site. I have had two tonight. Provided I have the time I am happy to give them a bit of guidance, but we really do need a more organised way of doing this.

Not sure I completely agree about directing them to the newest villages - sometimes its easier to join an existing busy discussion than one where things are very much at the early definition stage. But everyone will have their own preferences on that. Its also important for Facilitators and/or Local Reps to keep their village pages clear and up to date as this will make it much easier for new neighbours to work out what is going on.

I thought that there was going to be a revamped, more user-friendly version of the How Nabuur Works group, and a user guide, but things have gone very quiet on that. Romina, please can you tell us what the current status of this is?

Mary

Lotte - thanks for your thoughts. I agree it would be good to explain 'How can I join a Village', and explain the difference between a new village and an older, active one.

Mary - the discussion had halted upon the conclusion that an easier forum would be needed. That is not something that can be done right away (technically), but will be taken up in the redesign that is being planned.
Of course you're right that shouldn't mean that this whole discussion should be stopped.

Lotte already mentioned a few things that any new Neighbour would need to know:
- How can I find a task to work on?
- How can I get involved in a Village?
- I think a basic explanation of Villages, Local Reps, Facs & Neighbours would be useful
- basic site instruction.. how to post etc...

More ideas?

Pelle

P.S. I haven't checked which info is there, which is lacking