Hi everyone. Please feel free to copy and paste any significant emails for the group you have personally sent if you think it would be helpful to have them logged here in this central place...
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TOP PRIORITIES FOR DISCUSSION/ACTION IN ADVANCE OF 1ST BOARD MEETING, EMAIL FROM BONNIE 1-25-13
Thank you Esther. I believe you have astutely nailed (for me at least) the top three issues of priority:
(i) the question of open or closed membership,
(ii) mission statement and
(iii) the look & navigability (for want of a better word) of the website.
I'll respond to other points you made in separate emails to keep them short enough for everyone to read (not always my strong suit! ) but want to invite anyone else who has a take on top priorities to chime in so we can add them to the list...
ALLIANCE ISSUES/INITIATIVES FOR BOARD REVIEW (EMAIL FROM BONNIE 1-21-13)
First--HOW do we celebrate or mark the the event of reaching 2000 members?—which happened yesterday! Is there a fun way to notify people? Celebrate? Get the word out to the general depth community? Ask people to post something specific about their experience on the Alliance? etc.
Board Structure
· How often to have meetings
· Best way to “meet”
· Best way to communicate between meetings?—private “group” inside the Alliance?
· Integrate depth practices to make us more cohesive: dream incubation, astrology, etc.?
Mission Statement for Depth Psychology Alliance
· Currently there isn’t one. This should be a first priority
Defining Depth Psychology
· Establish an ongoing discussion. How? Where? Who? How to make it a “living” entity that includes the greater community?
1) Depth Alliance as a Community: Should we consider an Open site or keep it Closed?
· Open site would be more accessible to general public
· Open site allows everyone to reference individual pages or events, etc.
· Open site allows specific pages to be viewable when promoted on FB, Twitter, etc. Currently any such link just goes to the home page.
· Open site would allow for an RSS feed for blogs or events into other web sites and they would be viewable
· Downside: fewer “members” (members mean email addresses to promote to via newsletter, Depth Insights ezine, event notifications, etc.)
If we stay with a “Closed” site: Regarding the Preliminary Membership Questions to Sign Up
· Too many questions?
· Too detailed?
· Too repetitive?
· Any missing you’d like to see?
2) Format/Structure of the Alliance web site
Home Page:
· Is it too busy or is there “something for everyone” to engage new users right away?
· If we consolidated and simplified, what would you KEEP on the home page?
· What sections would you move off?
· What would be the tabs at top and the sub-tabs beneath them?
3) Recommendations for Making the Site More Interesting and Interactive (from Ning.com). How can we implement a formal program to make this happen more?
1. Start interesting discussions. Successful branded communities post interesting discussions and prompt members to participate. They ask questions of members and encourage members to self-disclose their thought and opinions which increases their emotional investment in the success of the community.
2. Engage in micro-interactions. Successful branded communities have a community manager that actively engaged in hundreds of interactions with members and persuades them to be involved and participate. They nudge members to join conversations, sign up for events and spend lots of time asking for their opinions.
3. Write content about the community. Successful branded online communities write content about community members more than content about their own products and services. They talk about what members are doing, they interview members, they give members opportunities to write guest posts, they invite others to participate
4. Should We Incorporate Regular Pop-up Surveys on the Home page?
a. What topics?
b. How often?
5. Should we hold regular “training” sessions to help members navigate the site – could be done via a webinar that shows screenshots.
6. Should we host regular “Firesides”—either by teleseminar or chat where anyone who wants to get on can simply connect, ask questions, etc.
7. Would members (and/or board members) be interested in training sessions on social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) to build our ranks to get the world out about Depth Psychology?
4) Should the Alliance Go Non Profit or Not?
· Benefit: people can make deductible donations
· Benefit: some discounts are available from service providers
· Others?
5) Outreach
· How can we get the word out to existing organizations and entice them to share the Alliance opportunity with their members?
· Who do we target?
Future Initiatives
1. Community Education
a. Allow Alliance members to set up Teleseminars using Alliance software; Boardmembers who wish to be involved would be on hand to introduce, monitor, facilitate (Boardmembers get training on the console),
b. Add these teleseminars to a Subscription-based Archived Library where members can pay a set monthly fee (say $5) to access the archives as much as they want
2. Establish Regional Chapters and Meetups
a. How to choose “leaders”
b. How to help them find speakers or content
c. How to maintain the Alliance “brand” and values
3. Annual Alliance Conference? When? Where? What?
4. Depth Psychology Film Festival?
5. Implement Alliance Excellence Awards for individuals/ organizations/ publications, etc. to establish the Alliance as an authority in the field? How to nominate/choose/what to call them/ how to award, etc.
6. Contests of some sort? Writing?
7. Alliance Scholarship(s) or grants? (fundraising, donations)
OTHER ITEMS
Do something around the theme of the 100 year anniversary of the split between Jung and Freud? (Suggested by James: perhaps we can use it to frame the defining Depth Psychology discussion). For that matter, can we do something special to honor certain dates/events throughout the year?-- Freud's and C.G. Jung's birthdays etc?)
REGARDING AGENDA, INITIATIVES FOR FIRST MEETING, STYLE OF MEETING,--AND DREAMS!
Following/attached is a download/brain dump of most of the topics I’d like us to address as a board at some point... (SEE NEXT POST IN THIS GROUP) We may not get to even a small percentage on the upcoming call—but there may be a way to at least familiarize us all with the issues and ideas and then we can even vote as a Board on which to prioritize. I definitely would like to have a conversation about whether we should open the community to the public or not. This is critical to several projects right now.
Meanwhile, I suggest you just skim this list so as not to feel too overwhelmed and if any particular item grabs you, read that one. I’m hoping each of us will be willing and able to attach ourselves to one of the issues and thereby organically form committees and some momentum to then act on the issues that have the most interest. We'll try to cover each of these as an agenda item but some may just require a sentence or two of explanation and we can decide to address offline, via a vote, by email or in another meeting.
By the way, I really appreciate that several of you have asked about the style or format of board I have in mind and offered some very valuable suggestions. I will get back to you individually, but/and I just want to say I’d like to keep the dream I shared front and center on that issue—that is, staying with the “Stage 3” way of transplanting a plant (whatever that means) that is more organic and less planned and formal; less "doing". I know many of you have been on more formal boards—as have I—but I’d really like to organize ourselves in a “depth” way if at all possible. To me, that means without too much structure but conscious and open—and asking questions without necessarily settling on set answers AND employing depth methods amongst ourselves.
On that note, I’d like to invite you each to engage some dream incubation this week leading up to our meeting. Maybe write down an intention before you sleep each night to understand what you need to know regarding the board itself or the Alliance in general and let’s see what comes up. Great idea from Brent to be a board who used dream incubation. Thanks!
For the meeting itself, if we can plan for two hours for this first one, that would be great. It may be too long, and I’d like to keep them to an hour for the most part—but if we have the space this time around at least, we can always end early. If you can’t make it for the full two hours, I understand and no problem. Again—let’s just do the best we can.
Thank you all again for being who you are—and being here! I welcome our feedback any time on any of this….
ALLIANCE VS DPA, EMAIL FROM BONNIE SENT 1-9-13
...On another note, I should have mentioned this sooner, but I have a favor to ask regarding branding/identity of the Alliance. I have a very strong preference that we all refer to it as the ALLIANCE --not necessarily in caps :) -- and not DPA. For me, reducing it to the initials sort of de-humanizes it and makes it yet another organization that goes by something similar and no one can remember what it stands for--whereas the 'Alliance" at least to me gives it some warmth. If you can get in the habit of referring to it as the Alliance that would be great. Of course, there may be times when we're in correspondence amongst ourselves that a shorter reference is nice so of course that's fine.
BTW, I'm totally open to group discussion on this if anyone has a strong desire to argue for DPA...in which case we should all decide together so feel free to speak up.
Thanks all!
BB
WELCOMING MEMBERS, EMAIL FROM BONNIE SENT 1-8-13
OK, this where I need some help putting the pedal to the metal if you'll forgive an aggressive sports metaphor of sorts here...
The great news is that we have amazing momentum on the Alliance right now--50 new members in the past week alone. That is definitely a record! I think it's due in part to the great events we have put together this month--both the 4-week teleseminar series with David Schoen on addiction as well as the special Red Book study group. Also due in part to some aggressive posting on my end on social media (as I'm sure Brent can attest to being the Facebook King!)
I have tried during the past to send each new member a personal message (OK, it's cut and paste, but I try to customize it a bit: no doubt some of you will recognize this.) I just don't want new members to land in a vacuum, but rather know and understand that their entry into the community is noticed and valued. Ed has been hugely valuable in this capacity over the past couple of years!
However, as you you might imagine, at this point I just can't keep up. I'm hoping some of you will be able to and be willing ot be on the "Welcome" committee -- that is, to go in individually to those new members and post a personal welcome message for them. It literally takes 1-2 minutes for each post. If we could, say, split the alphabet into 4-5 (or more) equal parts, each person on the welcoming committee could commit to post a welcome for their letters (say: A-G, H-L....etc.) three times a week ensuring each new member gets acknowledged with 48-72 hours of joining. If we continue at this rate and had 5 board members welcoming them, that would come out to 10 greetings a week each--totally do-able, I'd say. AND it's probably a rare week...
If you think you can commit to this AND can start right away (i.e in the next 2 days or so), at least for the short term, let me know and I'll get you the template for the message--which you can personalize a bit if you like. You can always opt out sooner than later if you just find it's too much--but some immediate help would be AWESOME!
Let me know! I'll either assign out letter of the alphabet or find time to dig in myself by Thursday afternoon.... Thanks!
PERMANENT ASSIGNMENTS, EMAIL FROM BONNIE 1-12-13
Hi Team!
You all are so amazing. Thank you so much again for your willingness to help with the welcoming.
Given how well things went this week with that big rush--and the fact that each of you who stepped in seems OK with doing it on a permanent basis, I'm going to assign for now each of you to a few letters of the alphabet and ask that you check in a few times a week and welcome any new members whose LAST name starts with the letters you are assigned.
If you could incorporate the following, it would be great--though any greeting still important and meaningful. I personally feel it does make a difference rather than letting people land in a void and there's no way on earth I can keep up with it myself--(or even BOTH Ed and I as we've been tag teaming it for over two years now.)
First, if you can just make a point to greet each person by name, I think they'll feel it's more personable.
Second, if, when you copy and past the message you can make sure the links in the copy are intact, that will help people go straight to the good stuff. If the links get de-activated, they may have trouble knowing where to go. One note: I find the links don't always translate if I paste too fast after the page opens up. Don't know why--it's an odd bug, but if you see the links don't work, just delete and paste again and it might.
Third, if you can REALLY to get to new members within 72 hours, that would be great. I know it's not always possible, but if you are able to check in at least 2-3 times a week and see who's new, that would be ideal. If you ever get too busy or go on vacation, etc., let me know so we can cover. Also, if you just get tired of it after doing a few or life gets too busy as it tends to do, it's fine to bail on this process. I think there are enough of us who can do it and are willing that we don't have to burn anyone out on it.
On that note, we may have another bit of a run this coming week as the Robert Bosnak Red Book Study Group is starting and I haven't really promoted it outside of the Alliance much. I'll be doing that heavily this week, so we'll see if we get any takers....
SO...HERE"s THE PERMANENT (for now) ASSIGNED LIST (I've just gone in order by last name for those of you who (I think) are available for now):
Bonnie A-B-C
Patricia D-E-F
Ed G-H-I
Jesse J-K-L
Brent M-N-O
Mark P-Q-R
Esther - S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z (I know--it looks like a lot but there should really be mostly S, T, and W's...)
So, we're already a "few" behind--but not bad. New welcomes need to start with "Nina Noble" (Brent--that's yours!) who is currently as of this writing in the 2nd from bottom row on the first page of members you get to when you click on the Members link (That's a good sign!). After her is F-O-E-M-R-A-V-W (and several more) so there are plenty to go around. Go check it out and see who above her falls into your assigned letters. You may note Ed has already done a couple--but you might still want to do them with this specific "orienting" message.
Below is the current text. Again--feel free to customize a bit if you have time--do use their names--and I'll try to update this regularly to keep up with what's going on.
FIRST SKYPE EMAIL IS SET FOR JANUARY 27, 2013 - EMAIL FROM BONNIE, 1-7-13
Hi everyone, OK! We have a winner! Believe it or not ALL OF US can make that January 27th at 11am PST date! I'm so excited. Though "most' of us could do some sooner dates and I was tempted, I'd rather everyone have the opportunity to be present for our first live interactive call--so mark the date.
I AM going to put us all to work sooner, though, in asking you to consider a series of items I'd like us to jointly make decisions on and so I'd love to have your feedback if you will offer your opinion or log your thoughts on those specific items before we meet. I'll get those to you shortly.
The other thing I would say for now is that I'd really like to encourage each of you to try and log on to the community at least 2-3 a week and make a comment or post. Even one sentence in response to someone else's post would be enough--I'm more interested in frequency and increasing interaction than anything. Also--in case you didn't see it, we now have our own thumb up "Like" buttons on mosts major postings (events, blogs, etc.) so please use it liberally if you would.
I'll be sending your "homework" questions...
Meanwhile, can't wait to SEE you all on the 27th!
WELCOME/ INTRODUCTORY EMAIL FROM BONNIE 12-27-12
Hi Patricia, Ed, Jesse, Brent, James, Shane, Mark, and Esther!
I am ecstatic! This is a big day for Depth Alliance, and more--for me personally, Look around: the names on this email are now officially the new FIRST EVER administrative board for Depth Psychology Alliance. I thank you each from the bottom of my heart for being willing, stepping up, and making time to submit, to speak with me as needed, and for already beginning to share your ideas and hopes for the board. I think this is a very diverse and enthusiastic group of people who have come together for a reason at this time.
I too have huge hopes--and I can't tell you how happy I am to feel we have a team who is committed to moving the Alliance forward. I said to a couple of you--for the first time--I would like to see "depth psychology" become a household term so that everyone at least knows what it means when they hear it--a tall order, to be sure, but so important as our world continues to desperately need the tools it can bring.
Meanwhile, to launch us, I have put together a draft of a web page with all of our photos and bios. Please note: I know its a super busy time and some of you haven't had a chance to send in your preferred photo or bio. I'm probably ahead of myself---something you'll learn is one of my challenges but also one way "stuff" gets done :) --but I have taken the liberty of finding images of some of you from social media and/or grabbing bio information wherever I could get it. While this page is published for US to see--no one else knows it's there, so I won't go live until each of you has had a chance to look at and change anything you want. I can always grab existing photos or info off other web site pages if you'll point me right--OR--if this saves you some trouble and you're OK with it as is, just let me know.
Finally, please know that I'm wholly aware that we all have LIVES and sometimes get feeling overwhelmed, so I am convinced that this is the right team for now and some of us may end up investing more time and energy to start while others dealing with challenges, deadlines, and other obligations may sometimes be holding space while others are more active. Regardless, I remain convinced each of you has a place here until you decide definitively otherwise and I'm anxious to see what's next.
On that note, I'll be sending you a survey tool in the next couple of days with a few suggestions for dates and times of our first Board meeting in January and then we can start working on the itinerary and first things we want to address. I would LOVE to do that first meeting by Skype if at all possible. I find it so helpful and compelling to see each others faces while we talk. If that is a challenge for you, however, just let me know and we'll find a way to dial you in by regular phone at the time that meeting happens.
So--let me know about changes to your info on the web page as soon as you can--would be great to launch it first thing in January so if there's any way you can finalize your info by January 1, that would be great. Meanwhile, enjoy reading about your peers and I know you'll be excited about meeting them soon! In spite of having such diverse backgrounds, many of you, in fact, have interesting things in common so we'll see what those are as we go! For instance: which of you are involved in drama and theater? Which of you have direct connections to Jung institutes? Which of you have a passion for music? Which of you have a strong background/history in spiritual practices? Which of you have attended the same school? Which of you live in the South? There's much more....
All the best to each of you and warm wishes for the holidays. Here's the web page: http://www.depthinsights.com/DepthPsychologyAlliance/board.html