Data Collection and Chapter Organizational Management

Ethan LaRochelle - Denver Professionals

Managing a Chapter• Leadership Structure

• Roles and Responsibilities

• Project Selection

• Raising Funds

• Growth

• Institutional Knowledge

My Background• President, Northeastern University

Chapter (2006-2008)

• Various roles before

• Traveled with NEU team to Honduras multiple times

• Chair, EWB-USA Mentors Committee (2009-Present)

• Membership Chair, Denver Professional Chapter (2011-Present)

Project SustainabilityChapter Sustainability

Introduction

Institutional memory is a collective set of facts, concepts, experiences and know-how held by a group of people. As it transcends the individual, it requires the ongoing transmission of these memories between members of this group.

Institutional memory From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Institutional Knowledge

Types of Data• Water Flows

• Water Quality

• Geographical Surveys

• GPS Waypoints

• Health Surveys

• Demographic Information

• General Discussions

• MOUs

An Example: Field Data

What not to do with it• Write a report (and forget

about it?)

• Save it on a computer (or USB drive, CD, DVD, etc.)

• File it in an office

• Put it in a pile

• Lose it

An Example: Field Data

An Example: Field DataOther options• Share It!

– Web site– Meetings– Maps– Post photos (with

Metadata)

– Post a report– Put it in the Cloud

The Players

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---------- Data Saturation ----------

Highly Customizable

Data Rich

Not Customizable

Data Poor

The Players

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---------- Data Saturation ----------

• MediaWiki• Drupal• Joomla • WordPress• Google Sites

• Google+• Facebook• LinkedIn• Twitter• Google Calendar

The Players: Mapping

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---------- Data Saturation ----------

• ESRI - ArcGIS• Ushahidi• Google Earth

The PlayersTechnologies• Wiki• CMS• Social Media• Photo Sharing• Mapping• Communication

The PlayersTechnologies• Wiki• CMS• Social Media• Photo Sharing• Mapping• Communication

The PlayersTechnologies• Wiki• CMS• Social Media• Photo Sharing• Mapping• Communication

The PlayersTechnologies• Wiki• CMS• Social Media• Photo Sharing• Mapping• Communication

Denver Professionals• Joomla CMS (www.ewbdenver.org)

– JNews for Mailings• Wiki (www.ewbdenver.org/wiki)

– Project Data– Event Planning

• Webdisk (Password Protected)

– Funding Information– Project Logs

Northeastern University• No CMS (www.ewb.neu.edu)

• Google Groups for Mailings• Wiki (www.ewb.neu.edu/wiki)

– Project Data– Event Planning

• Google Documents (Password Protected)

– Funding Information– Project Logs

Distributed CollaborationStudents• Geographically concentrated • University IT resources• Quick to adopt technology• High turn-over

Professionals• Geographically sparse• Multiple company IT

– Silos• Generally have more

resources– Monetary– Contacts

The PlayersTechnologies• Wiki• CMS• Social Media• Photo Sharing• Mapping• Communication

Conclusions• Each chapter may have different needs• Identify the tools for your chapter• Standardize on a format• Raise awareness

– Record everything– Needs to be a habit

Thank You

Possible Discussion Topics• Sharing resources between chapters• Template for organization of web presence

• Other topics in chapter sustainability

Questions and Discussion

Continue the discussionhttp://www.ewbdenver.org/wiki

Additional Information

Additional Tips• Minimize overhead

– Most of the services in the presentation are free– Use free services as much as possible

• Have term limits– Student chapters: Don’t let Seniors hold an executive board position,

but turn to them for advice• Always have a design “under-study”

– Under classman or new members should shadow the project design lead

• Talk with other chapters– What you’re trying to do has probably been done before

Additional Tips• Make sure you have a solid relationship with your partner

NGO– Have open communication

• If your chapter is new, start with a small project and work up– Make sure the project is a good fit for your chapter

Example: Joomla

Example: Joomla

Example: JNews Newsletter

Example: JNews Newsletter

Example: Wiki

Example: Wiki