Invitation: INKSCAPE OFFICE HOURS TODAY! - Inkscape Project News, Announcements

#1

2021-07-16

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Hello Inkscape contributors!

The Inkscape project has grown so much in the last couple years, and we have teams spread all over the internet, working on improving Inkscape and helping the project and its users. Also, we have lots of exciting new things to decide upon together as the Contributors' Team!

For this reason, we've thought of trying out something new to allow every contributor to also contribute their ideas for the future of the project as a whole:

The "Inkscape Office Hours"!

The first meeting of this kind will take place on

Friday, 16th July (today!)
at 5 p.m. UTC (in your timezone: https://inkscape.org/cals/ )

in https://chat.inkscape.org/channel/inkscape_board

If it is well received and productive, we'll make this a regular thing.

We will have members from the Inkscape Board there, and also some of the other people who are most involved with Inkscape matters on a day-to-day basis. And YOU (hopefully)!

Don't know whether you 'count' as a contributor? Doubts?

Well, that's one of the things we'd like to figure out together! We really need to, it's required for voting rights. There's a Board vote pending, because we haven't yet come up with a good definition.

We are planning to update our project charter to include more than only developers, as is currently the case.

So please come and join us, even if you're unsure whether you 'qualify'!

Another important topic is collecting and finding help with ideas for how to spend our donations. The pandemic left us with a lack of opportunities to spend them. They need to be spent in a manner that respects the charitable (non-profit) status of the project (if you didn't know, we're a member project of the Software Freedom Conservancy (SFC)! [1]), and also needs to obey to high standards of honesty and conflict of interest policies. All our ideas will need to be approved of not only the Inkscape Board, but then also by the SFC.

You can also bring other topics, as long as they have to do with the Inkscape community as a whole. During the meeting you can get help with
implementing those ideas and making them a reality, from people who already understand how the project works.

NOTE: this is NOT about any software features / bugs!
For those, please use the bug tracker [2].

See you in a few hours (and sorry for the late notice, we hope you can still make it)!

Ted, Michèle and Maren

[1] https://sfconservancy.org/
[2] https://inkscape.org/report

#2

Polygon @Polygon⚖🌶

2021-07-16

Ok in four and a half hours? You couldn't have done it any quicker? Yikes! 🤔

#3

Maren Hachmann @Moini⚖

2021-07-16

Yeah... I wasn't available yesterday and had hoped someone else could post it after reviewing. Unfortunately, nobody felt responsible.

#4

Maren Hachmann @Moini⚖

2021-07-16

We may have another meeting and start slow this time....

#5

Hum @Hum

2021-07-16

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Hi. I am not sure I count as a "contributor", though I have donated some money and ideas over the last few years. My 2 cents for now is the timing of the meeting. I live in the southern part of the USA and around 5 pm my time, most are leaving work, or traveling to their homes, and Friday evenings are geared more for relaxing after a long week and anticipated weekend. I know everyone has their own preferred days and time. Thinking ot loud, why not first poll folks, to learn what particular days and times suit those who want to participate. Then see if a consenus (or two) can be made as to 2 key times a week would better fit those interested. Thanks.

#6

Maren Hachmann @Moini⚖

2021-07-16

It's not 5 p.m. your time, it's 5 p.m. UTC, @ken10001000 . Click the link to see what time that corresponds to in your region of the world. (It's in 10 minutes from now, though)

#7

Maren Hachmann @Moini⚖

2021-07-16

But yes, the part about asking for optimal times is a good thing. Would you like to take that on (needn't be during the meeting)? Also, it would help to know which contributor group prefers which time.

#8

Hum @Hum

2021-07-16

I apologize. I misread. I will check the time, though doubt I can attend. All the best to you all. Have a great, lively meeting.

#9

Maren Hachmann @Moini⚖

2021-07-16

It was nice, indeed, sorry the announcement was so late. I'm going to post a summary later.

#10

Roy Torley @Roy_Torley

2021-07-16

Dear Maren,
Roy Torley here. I live in Oregon, USA, with a 17-hour time difference between us. I applaud the idea of Inkscape Office Hours. I agree with you about the need to organize our huge community of contributors and participants into a cohesive body. We need it as an organ of communication. It will become all the more important as the community continues to grow.

My connection to the community is through the avenue of tutorial writer. By defining my participation as a tutorial writer, I can manage my communication with everybody easily and others can streamline how they interact with me.

Right now, I probably sound like a cross between a politician and philosopher. At least, it is a good start.

I wish you success with this endeavor,

Roy Torley

#11

Maren Hachmann @Moini⚖

2021-07-29

The meeting log is available from https://inkscape.org/paste/28194/ .

Cleaned-up community feedback notes are available from https://inkscape.org/paste/28295/ now. (Further contributions to the pad will not be taken into account)

I'm going to hand the feedback notes over to the Board now.

Thanks everyone for contributing!