Vote to Replace Google Groups with Discourse Forum

Sponsors

• Andrew C

History

• Announced:
• Language locked:
• Voted on:

Background

The Private Google Groups is the main form of communication for members, and accounts for the majority of communications with regards to authorizations and pertinent space information. Due to it's flat and simple format there are many issues that arise with this communication channel. In particular:

• all messages are sent to everyone (you can't tune out discussions you aren't interested in).
• sorting and finding specific information is difficult.
• no community standards or moderation options.
• signing up new members and removing old members is completely manual
• low new member engagement

Discourse solves many of the issue with Google-Groups because it:

• is a well-thought-out modern forum that is feature rich and geared specifically to generate quality civilized discussion. It is self-policing and has the options to flag inappropriate messages and up-vote important messages.
• can be used to combine our public and private google groups by using category tags with permissions.
• has an amazing code of conduct that is reflected in the design of the forum and that dovetails with our own policies.
• works through email clients just like Google Groups does.
• can interface with our member database which means new users are automatically added when they create their PS:One user account and deactivated when they leave. This automates the current process board members go through.

Language

• We authorize the board to implement an instance of Discourse as the main member forum sanctioned by Pumping Station: One, NFP.
• We authorize the board to lock out the Public and Private Google Groups from additional posts as long as it remains available to the membership for review and historical information.
• We authorize the board to spend up to $500 to implement a hosted version of Discourse.

Results

Quorum: The number of votes required to have a valid vote (1/3rd of the full members must vote, check the member site. If the vote doesn't meet quorum it will have to be proposed again, and can be voted on the following week (consider campaigning for your particular vote). Yay: This is the number of members that vote but that agree with the vote language. Nay: This is the number of members that vote but that disagree with the vote language. Present: This is the total number of members that voted (physically present and by proxy) and includes those that abstained from voting.