Re: [libreoffice-marketing] Re: A documentation project for Scilab and other FOSS

Hi :)
That is quite a bit more money than i thought.  So, maybe some of that could be used to reward one 
or 2 of the authors in some small way.  

I think probably better if it's more like a medal, or like the DistroWatch rewards system (where 
people kinda vote informally for which project gets the sundry gift).  Perhaps it might be possible 
to give "karma points" or something as many other projects do.  Perhaps the person with the top 
points gets a reward and anyone achieving certain levels also gets a cash reward?  

Paying people to do the more glamourous and exciting work while continuing to rely on volunteers 
for the hardest struggle seems the wrong way around to me.  Also there is not enough money to pay 
people adequately.  

Since the Docs Team is generating that much money it would be nice if some of that could be 
regularly donated to TDF's main funds.  Also to ODFAuthors since the Docs Team uses resources that 
ODFAuthors has to pay for. Regular flat-rate payments can significantly help projects, perhaps 
review the amounts annually.  Perhaps around $10/mnth to each?  Percentages and a varying amount 
take time&hassle to arrange with banking systems so a flat-rate means less time gets eaten up on 
side issues.  

Ideally i would like to see Jean get at least some sort of regular pay.  There is no chance of us 
paying her what she deserves as she has always done a phenomenal amount with almost no recognition. 
 Her crucial role as Community Development but also in setting up distribution, 
co-ordination&leadership of the team, liaison with other projects such as ODFAuthors and even a lot 
of hands-on work with the guides themselves.  It's almost entirely due to her that the Docs Team 
are so much more successful than the Accessibility Team.  

Since it is the Docs Team that generates the money i think it would be great if they were able to 
say how they think it should be spent and how much built-up as a reserve.  

Regards from
Tom :)  





> ________________________________
> From: Jean Weber <jeanweber@gmail.com>
> To: Tom Davies <tomdavies04@yahoo.co.uk>; documentation@global.libreoffice.org 
> Cc: Kannan Moudgalya <kannan@iitb.ac.in>; "marketing@global.libreoffice.org" 
> <marketing@global.libreoffice.org> 
> Sent: Wednesday, 23 January 2013, 0:19
> Subject: [libreoffice-marketing] Re: A documentation project for Scilab and other FOSS
>
> Responding to a thread on the marketing list, and taking it to Docs as well.
>
> The general topic of paying some people to work on documentation has come up before but was not 
> really discussed here. The context was submitting a list of items to be considered for inclusion 
> in the budget for TDF. 
>
> There are many things on the Docs wish list that no one is working on at this time, but which 
> could be valuable additions to the delivery of information to users. Professional quality video 
> tutorials. Well written, up to date, thorough information targeted at specific audiences such as 
> business installations, accessibility, and others. Training materials (workbooks). And so on. Some 
> of these could be specified and contracted to appropriately skilled and knowledgeable people, to 
> be paid for. This would not overlap with work being done on the user guides, FAQs, etc, by 
> volunteers. I think it's well worth considering.
>
> If this were to occur, I would certainly not envision that consideration for payment would be 
> restricted to TDF members. Did anyone suggest that might be the case? 
>
> Where would the money come from? Probably the general budget, from TDF's fund-raising, but only if 
> we made a case for it. BTW, book sales raise around $100-$200 per month; this is not enough to 
> cover many payments for work done, but it's quite a bit more than what Tom suggests as "barely 
> enough to cover the costs of appearing in such places in the first place with perhaps a little bit 
> to cover contingencies and maybe push into other similar distribution networks." 
>
> --Jean
>
> On 23/01/2013, at 1:04, Tom Davies <tomdavies04@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>
> > Hi :)
> > I don't see how this would be possible in LibreOffice and even if it was i'm not sure it 
> > wouldn't back-fire.  People currently or previously in the Docs Team might be offended that it 
> > wasn't offered earlier.  People doing similar levels of work in other areas might get offended.  
> >
> > Of course we already know that some people are getting paid to do work (mostly by supporter 
> > organisations (either listed or unofficial supporters)) and others volunteering.  That doesn't 
> > seem to create problems so perhaps this wouldn't either.  
> >
> > If TDF do go this route then as a volunteer i don't know whether i would prefer it if people 
> > getting paid were excluded or not.  Generally i think that i personally would prefer it if 
> > everyone was treated equally regardless of whether they were paid or not.  If it was restricted 
> > to just official members of TF then i probably would be a little upset because i see a LOT of 
> > non-members doing a LOT of the work.  
> >
> > Also i don't see where the money would come from.  Would it be paid out of the fundraising done 
> > by TDF?  The official guides themselves don't raise enough revenue to cover such costs and that 
> > was not the reason for selling through Lulu and Ubuntu's place.  The amounts raised that way are 
> > deliberately tiny and are barely enough to cover the costs of appearing in such places in the 
> > first place with perhaps a little bit to cover contingencies and maybe push into other similar 
> > distribution networks.  
> >
> > Regards from
> > Tom :)  
> >
> >
> > > ________________________________
> > > From: Kannan Moudgalya <kannan@iitb.ac.in>
> > > To: "marketing@global.libreoffice.org" <marketing@global.libreoffice.org> 
> > > Sent: Sunday, 20 January 2013, 2:36
> > > Subject: [libreoffice-marketing] A documentation project for Scilab and other FOSS
> > >
> > > Dear All,
> > >
> > > I am not sure whether the documentation project that we have implemented for Scilab, Python and 
> > > a few other FOSS systems will be applicable, or even relevant, to LibreOffice.  Let me explain 
> > > the Scilab Textbook Companion (http://scilab.in/Textbook_Companion_Project) below:
> > >
> > >    1. Worked out examples from standard textbooks (mainly engineering)
> > >       are coded in Scilab and uploaded on to our portal
> > >    2. We pay honoraria to the creators (about $200) and to the reviewers
> > >       (about $100)
> > >    [...]
> > >
> > > If the above is not applicable for LibreOffice, can we think of another crowd sourced, 
> > > targeted, activity?  If by chance such a crowd sourced activity is already available for 
> > > LibreOffice, we would like to explore it for India.
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > >
> > > Kannan
>
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