I would love to be part of your community day that is passionate about making a difference and being awesome. Let me know how I can help.

Sometimes we first have to define for ourselves the type of woman we want to be. That type of woman may not fit any particular feminist or old school paradigm. The type of women we are may be someone we never knew…nor could imagine

So, nothing wrong w/being the token female. all depends on how you do it and if you are comfortable with that role. I have my own ways…which right now I’m comfortable with (as I’m not the greatest public speaker. I’m better at “holding court.”)

To stay grassroots: mingle with grassroots. never forget about the community you live in and get involved there too–lots of communities have grassroots orgs that need volunteers. I’m an assoc. director of a local film festival and also doing some press release writing for a small local arts org and possibly something w/ a streaming radio station–even though I still seem to show up as a “presence” at cons (12 total in 18 months–will be at Beyond Broadcast at MIT this weekend with mini entorage.)

How much you need to be grassroots, and how much you need to speak to them, and be understood, will teach you a lot.

Always remember, too, that water will seek its own level. You will go as far as you are able, then you will stumble and things will even out. You will, in time, learn to balance making money with your ideals. One may win over the other, but only time will tell you the answer.

http://www.communityguy.com/sites/doingtoday/index.cfm/id/Bandwagon_has_arrived_Please

Lord knows I do.

I think this already happens to a large degree (people share business tips, ideas, etc. without the company framing it). A very solid example of this can be found on the eBay boards. But I can assure you that the company has a community because they can learn from them as well, which helps the company make money and address business issues.

Optimal: Companies wouldn’t use companies solely for money.
Practical: Companies will “leverage” community in some way; a company has to dedicate resources to support a community, after all (customer support, moderation, providing the software platform(s). I’ve rarely seen a company do something because it is “the right thing to do” w/o some sort of value going back to the company (feedback, loyalty, retention, etc.).

Be yourself; but also make sure your arguments are well structured and make sense. A study of anthropology might actually help you frame your thoughts on cyberspace communities; just keep in mind that while the same positive, touchy feely, aspects of real world communities also apply to cyber ones (common need, cause, purpose, group-likeness, individual empowerment, identification, etc.); so do the negative, nasty and destructive aspects (common need, cause, purpose, group-likeness, individual empowerment, identification, etc.) ….

We are social animals and we (general population) hardly understand our own group needs; though, there is a lot of material written on the subject of social dynamics.

I am weary of “community” because I’ve seen how negative it always ends up; but I also know from my own self-imposed hermitness (a near death hearth attack and total disappointment in all people — both of which I’m still recovering from) that it is near impossible to isolate oneself without self destruction.

Whatever you do, try to keep in mind that “community” and “sacredness” aren’t the same thing.

As for “making money from community”, I think that is the wrong approach; rather, why not make a community where members can, each at their own abilities, have opportunity [to make money or otherwise]? Think about the framing difference.

Many of the bloggers that I read have self-interests at heart as well ; some have books that they sell, some are public (paid) speakers on these topics, etc. Does this cause a conflict of interest?

What I don’t like about the topic of community is that a lot of people out there promoting it probably haven’t really engaged in communities as a customer advocate (fixing/identifying problems, communicating to customers, etc.). I also don’t like how people are trying to break it down into something that can be strategized and/or something that requires an action plan.

Even if I don’t always agree with what you say, I do have a great deal of respect for you trying to shake things up a little:)

Hehe, picking an established side in a fight is easy. Trying to bring both sides together in mutual understanding and respect of their differences is what’s hard. If we want to make the world a better place, we need to stop putting up walls between our differences and start building bridges between our commonalities. That’s what I believe communities can and should do.

“I love the whole “explorer” metaphor. Mind if I use that?”

Not at all, primarily because I got the idea from somewhere else myself and I liked the feeling of it as well. I think it was either from Margaret J. Wheatley’s Finding Our Way: Leadership For An Uncertain Time or David Holmgren’s Permaculture: Principles & Pathways Beyond Sustainability. Both are excellent books if you haven’t read them yet. Even after reading them myself, I continually refer back to them as resource guides on community development.

Man, it’s awesome to hear that I’m not the only one who is struggling with this (especially coming from you!). Like I said to Mark (above), I agree that it isn’t one or the other. It’s difficult to balance both, but putting yourself firmly in one camp or the other can be divisive.

I love the whole “explorer” metaphor. Mind if I use that? I’m thinking of changing my blog bi-line…:)