[Imc-alternatives] weekly check-in: August 5/6

[Jay]

Hi,

The first weekly alternatives IMC check-in meeting on IRC meeting 
took place August 5/6 (depending on where we all live) and it was 
really exciting.  Aaron K, Josh M, Anna, Strypey, Dave F and I were 
there at one point or another, and ekes was signed in too.  Please 
correct me, fellow meeting attendees, if I mischaracterized what we 
talked about, or missed something.

1) Aaron K is consolidating or has consolidated all the information 
from our docs.indymedia wiki over to
http://www.openplans.org/projects/imc-alternatives.  That includes a 
colsolidated volunteer list: 
http://www.openplans.org/projects/imc-alternatives/volunteers. 
**Don't post new alternatives IMC information to the docs.indymedia 
wiki pages anymore, just to the open plans pages!**

2) Josh M posted the following two documents as a way to help us make 
sense of how to go about developing the site.
http://www.openplans.org/projects/imc-alternatives/user-stories
http://www.openplans.org/projects/imc-alternatives/agile-development
Read them and let's talk about them.

3) DESIGN: We discussed reaching beyond the imc-alternatives and 
web at phillyimc organizing lists to seek someone to bottom-line the 
design process.  We briefly discussed the difference between design 
(appearance and site usability: how does it look and is it easy for 
users to navigate around it?), and the work we've done on developing 
functionality (what is the site supposed to do?  what functions does 
it need to have to accomplish that?).  Aaron suggested writing a task 
description to entice someone to do a design mockup.  Strypey 
suggested we do a revamped call-out for volunteers with information 
about where the alternatives project has come and what volunteer 
roles we still need to fill.

4) There was discussion, mainly between Aaron and Strypey, of the 
Activist Netwok software.  Strypey posted this part of the log to the 
open plans wiki: 
http://www.openplans.org/projects/imc-alternatives/questionsaboutactivismnetwork

5) I didn't mention it in the meeting, but the PhillyIMC has been 
making substantial progress on its drupal site.  Dave Z or any 
PhillyIMC person, when you get a chance, a short update would be great.

It was a really productive meeting.  I think we should meet again 
next week at the same time for the same kind of check in.
Jay