Sue, hi -- i really like your idea, and hope it will help encourage an ethos of 'no pressure giving,' although i think those who do might be rewarded with a "follow-up to action" (FTA? ;) point or something.

A few thoughts: * A "feature" randomizer, so there is a place somewhere on the interface to spotlight a campaign

• Maybe not call it "tin cup" as its kind of a negative associative (like i'm pushing something for pity?) -- maybe "positive change"?
• It would be nice if these were restricted to "mico" projects (say requests less than $2,500-5,000?) so that it doesn't get out of control and remains accessible? A separate area for vetting larger requests formally would work
• Provide some space for updates, i.e. an obligation on the part of the person passing the hat to provide updates? Maybe a place where people can build their own project 'blog a la typepad (they may not maintain it, but gives an incentive, way in for beneficiary)

Sue - thanks for the space! And Lars, I concur that this is a great area for smaller projects to take shape and hold.

I am assuming this thread leads back to the thread about a counter where we can put all the tip jars?

Lars Hasselblad Torres suggested:

• A "feature" randomizer, so there is a place somewhere on the interface to spotlight a campaign

If we could use javascript here, I'd know exactly how to do that! Got a toolkit I could pop in.

I'll ask Thomas Kriese about the extensibility of the environment. Would be nice to be able to do this.

Lars Hasselblad Torres suggested:

• It would be nice if these were restricted to "mico" projects (say requests less than $2,500-5,000?) so that it doesn't get out of control and remains accessible? A separate area for vetting larger requests formally would work

This is an interesting idea. How do others feel about this? Do we want to impose a ceiling on what gets shared in this area, or do we allow campaign managers to determine whether or not this is a vehicle they'd like to use?

I'm not sure I want to become a "filter" in that regard. I see the benefit of cultivating a space where smaller needs can be brought to light and thrive, but I also know how excited I was the first time I came across an online catalogue that allowed me to "buy a share" of a much bigger project, like building a school, or a well, or a community center.

I think there's a benefit to allowing people to choose for themselves where they think their money is best given. A lot in a few cups, or a little in a lot of cups, whatever the size of the need expressed.

How do other people feel about this?

Lars Hasselblad Torres said:

• Provide some space for updates, i.e. an obligation on the part of the person passing the hat to provide updates? Maybe a place where people can build their own project 'blog a la typepad (they may not maintain it, but gives an incentive, way in for beneficiary)

That's kind of what the "workspace pages" are. Unlike the discussions, they're really a standalone, editable web page. They also allow people to add comments to them, but the page stands to inform more than it does to serve as a threaded dialogue.

This is why I've invited people to create a new workspace page for each of their campaigns.

To do this, you would click on the "workspace" tab above. A new sub-menu appears below, including another "workspace" tab. When you click this, choose "new page" from the drop-down menu that appears.

In addition to sharing information about the initial campaign, I would hope that people would share updates. I think that will become self-managing. As people show interest in particular campaigns, they're likely to drop in and post comments to ask how things are going, and maybe even if there are other opportunities for them to help. This workspace might inspire some people to want to engage in a deeper level of service to projects and programs they find here.

David Rosenberg said:

I am assuming this thread leads back to the thread about a counter where we can put all the tip jars?

David, are you asking does it link back to that particular discussion, or was it inspired by it?

I did, infact link to this workspace from Ted Ernst' tip jar for malaria campaign in liberian refugee camp in ghana discussion, which is where you mentioned the idea of a counter, and Ted does want to share that particular project here as well.

Does this answer your question, or am I maybe misunderstanding?

I've received notes from a few people saying they'd like to share their tip jar here, but they don't want to be the first ones to do it ;^)

No worries. I took the plunge.

Look here for an example of how I've created a new workspace page to share the Computers for Grassroot Soccer campaign.

You can click on the "edit" link in the workspace to check under the hood and learn more about how I put this together.

*Sue.

I just visited the workspace page. A thought: is it possible to have all the current campaigns appear at the top of the page. I don't know why I missed the link to the Computers for Grassroot Soccer page in Sue's last post, but I did. I went to the workspace instead and looked for the "new page".

Hi Arjun!

That's because I just put it up :^)

This is a new workspace, and I just updated the front door to include a link to the campaigns.

Glad to find you here!

Sue.

Hi Sue!

Thanks - please count me as a new admirer...

Sue, thanks for taking the plunge for me! :-) This is great! I'll be writing more about my project soon, in it's own workspace. I also have some more photos to share, but won't get to those until later in the week.

Just wanted to give you all a heads-up on something you probably know anyway: you can edit your own workspaces. Go ahead and add updates, change text around. Do whatever you need to do to make it your own.

Sue - What a great concept. In addition to asking for small change, how about miles? I took the liberty to expand the concept on the workspace.

Hope what I added works for you, if not please make changes.

If you need or have Miles for Travel visit: http://www.omidyar.net/group/tincup/ws/index/

This is a space where people can post their airtravel needs for others to see and contact you to donate frequant flyer miles or help you purchase tickets. For example, Cindy needs a ticket to attend a Giving Space event. She posts what the event is and why she wants to go and how it will contribute to a better world. And, Feeswell reads the post and contacts Cindy directly to make arrangements to purchase her ticket using his frequent flyer miles. Everyones happy.

Julie, brilliant! (and sorely needed!)

I'm so glad you thought of this. It's a real need for organizations with small budgets. Thanks, especially, for adding this to the This Week's Campaigns workspace.

What a great idea ...

I'm sorry, but I can't figure out how to post a new opportunity. Is there a template somewhere to use? My short attention span is showing, I guess...

It looks like you can edit the This Week's Campaigns page to add a synopsis and then link from there to a new page you create for the campaign in question. I think Sue created all the current pages but nothing says the campaign pages have to look a certain way. I'm not aware of a template.

Tom Munnecke said:

I'm sorry, but I can't figure out how to post a new opportunity. Is there a template somewhere to use? My short attention span is showing, I guess...

Tom, sorry for the confusion. The easiest way to add a new link is to go to the This Week's Campaigns workspace page and click the edit tab.

There are currently two sections: Cash, and Miles. Decide which section the new opportunity belongs in, then add the following text: (you'll want to edit it to make it specific to your own campaign)

`Name of the New Opportunity`_

:Goal: $ ???

:Sponsor: `Tom Munnecke`_

.. _`Tom Munnecke` : /user/u199359450/

Type a brief description of the campaign here ...

Once you're done typing, save your changes to the workspace. Now when you look at the Campaigns page, you should see your new listing. Click on the linked name of the campaign. This will allow you to create a new page in the workspace to offer more details about the needs, the goals, and the champions.

I don't currently have a template, but will create one that can be copied into new pages to make it easier for people to set up.

If you'd like, you can send the info to me if it's too much fussing around, and I'll be happy to post it for you.

Thanks, Tom.

Sue.

Sue

You might want to check out iCan at the BBC News site. I helped them develop this site and we wrestled with a lot of the same issue that you will running into. I hope that it helps.

Phil Noble

Sue Braiden said:

Check here to learn more about This Week's Campaigns.

Got a buck or two to spare? Here's a place to learn more about some of this week's new campaigns, and the people and goals behind various community tin cups.

Have a campaign you'd like to let people know about? Start a new workspace page, giving it the name of your current campaign. Use it to tell people about your goals, and how their spare change in your particular tin cup is going to help.

Looking for tools to help you start a campaign, and tips for getting it off the ground?

Check out our new Campaign Tools Catalogue.

where you'll find links and tips from others community members. You're invited to ask questions, and share ideas of your own, including thoughts about the way you may have used particular tools in your own campaigns.

Once a week we'll offer an updated listing of some of the new campaigns to hit the deck, tips on how some of the more successful campaigns were launched, and an update on campaigns that have met their goals and how it's helping them grow their capacity to make good things happen along the way.

This space is not intended to be an endorsement of any particular campaign, but rather an "artisan's alley" to make it easier to drop in when you have a few minutes here and then and a buck or two to spare.

How do you know if a campaign is credible or it's attachment to a particular project or organization authentic? The first place to start is a look at the reputation points attached to the person sponsoring the campaign, and the feedback points given to the campaign itself. Ask questions of the sponsor, and those who have left comments supporting the campaign along the way. It's just one of the ways to help you decide which cups you'd like to drop some change in to support this week, and perhaps to help you begin to build a relationship with people and projects that you think you might like to contribute to in a more active way as you go along.

Thanks for your contributions, whether in the form of spare change in a cup or two, tool, tips for launching and managing successful campaigns, and even just a heads-up on new ones!

Sue.

Phil, thanks for the heads-up on this!

I had an accident shortly after launching this group, and am just getting back to it again. I appreciate anything people can offer in the way of wisdom and guidance.

Sue I have read through most of this and I think it's a great idea. I think that Lars first suggestions are very valid. The one about $ restricions for any certain project I think is good. If you post here you should be asked to keep it small and for specific purpose or goal. Also an obligation for the person passing the hat to provide updates is good the more the better to help the donor to feel more secure in their giving.

Lars Hasselblad Torres said:

Sue, hi -- i really like your idea, and hope it will help encourage an ethos of 'no pressure giving,' although i think those who do might be rewarded with a "follow-up to action" (FTA? ;) point or something.

A few thoughts: * A "feature" randomizer, so there is a place somewhere on the interface to spotlight a campaign

• Maybe not call it "tin cup" as its kind of a negative associative (like i'm pushing something for pity?) -- maybe "positive change"?
• It would be nice if these were restricted to "mico" projects (say requests less than $2,500-5,000?) so that it doesn't get out of control and remains accessible? A separate area for vetting larger requests formally would work
• Provide some space for updates, i.e. an obligation on the part of the person passing the hat to provide updates? Maybe a place where people can build their own project 'blog a la typepad (they may not maintain it, but gives an incentive, way in for beneficiary)

Thanks Ray

Hi, I'm seeking advice.

Does it make sense to seek a mix of miles and cash?

Have there been Tin Cup requests for miles yet?

-MM

Michael, there haven't been yet, but it's a great idea. My airmiles are Canadian. I'm not sure if they're of use to you or not, but if they are, I'm willing to transfer them to you. Perhaps you can add a note into your request workspace to let people know what kind of miles you are able to receive? I think if we can help each other out this way when things come up it will be a really useful new tool for investing in good things! In the absence of transferable miles, I've thrown a bit of spare change into your tin cup to get you started. Good luck with the conference!

I thank you, and I'd like to list a bunch of other people thanking you, in a George M. Cohen sort of way.

Julie added the idea of transfering "miles", so I have no idea how it would work. I am guessing cash simplifies that.

I'm committed to returning value gained in my endeavors to the community (in widest sense, as well as the O-Net community),

thats my pledge.

Michael, there are some really interesting folks there. I see Jon Lebkowsky, Bob Frankston, Judith Meskill, David Isenberg and Isabel Walcott are attending. (Was at a retreat with Bob and Is back in July. Pretty dynamic crowd!)

Are you planning on taking in any of the keynotes being given by Vint Cerf, David Weinberger or Jeff Jarvis? Keen to hear more about your adventure when you get back. Looks like you'll be in some pretty good company!

I'll immerse myself. I've been in dialogue with Jon Lebkowsky online here and through AFCN auspices. AFCN is planning a conference in Austin at end of April, Jon is to be involved. I have work cut out for me in getting the planning and resources together for that, too! I know Jim Baller from gis involvements here in Illinois, and he is a frequent contributor on the GIO listserv I run.