Cambridge Reporter Revisited
It seems that my foray into community publishing in 2008 has garnered some interest on the Twitter... There is some confusion, understandably, about who was doing what when and under what when.
I may do an in-depth post sometime on the whole experience, but for now I'll offer a simple timeline to clear the air:
(I'm doing this from memory, so I may revise these a bit after publishing)
June 2008: I launch CambridgeReporter.ca. it's a community-driven site where anyone can submit stories and opinion. It's intended to be more news than opinion - similar to NowPublic.com but on a smaller scale.
October 2008: TorStar sends me a friendly email about how they still own the Reporter name and they'd appreciate it if I could stop using it. Important to note that in Sept 2008 TorStar did not own any of the relevant URLs, but in October, CambridgeReporter.com suddenly appeared with syndicated content from the K-W Record. Update: Rabble.ca did a story about this here: http://www.rabble.ca/news/cease-and-desist-i-dont-think-so
Later in October 2008: CambridgeReporter.ca becomes CambridgeVoice.ca.
Spring 2009: The Cambridge Voice becomes The Cambridge Advocate under new ownership. (I'm totally drawing a blank on the timing here, so I'll update after a little research)
There it is - my best recollection of the events surrounding my involvement with the Cambridge Reporter.
On the Twitter, there's already talk about trying again to create a community-driven local news & opinion website. Stay tuned.
ShareCoWorking in Galt – Next Steps
Several of us met on Monday night to chat about coworking in Galt. and it was a fantastic discussion that covered all kinds of ground. This wasn't a formal meeting of any kind, but several points of view were expressed, concerns raised, questions answered and points clarified. In a word, it was great.
We realized that we have several options going forward - only one of which is setting up an NPO from scratch and going it alone. In order to properly move ahead - and fairly assess the options - it was decided that the most prudent next step was to identify clearly (and succinctly) what we mean when we say we want a coworking space in Galt - a definition.
We set an aggressive deadline of January 4th to have the definition completed. We will use the same Google DOc we used for brainstorming to keep things together: http://colincarmichael.ca/galtcoworkdoc
So have at it!
ShareMeeting Called to Discuss Coworking Space in Galt
Yesterday's blog post sparked quite the conversation on Twitter last night! I thought we should try to capitalize on the momentum and get a bunch of people in a room to brainstorm, so I called the first meeting of the Galt Coworking Group.
We will meet Monday, December 21st at 8:30pm at the Golden Kiwi pub on Dickson St.
RSVP here: http://guestlistapp.com/events/11064
Everyone is welcome to come and offer your $0.02 on this idea.
Update: There is a public working document for fleshing out the principles of what we are trying to accomplish. Read and edit it here: http://colincarmichael.ca/galtcoworkdoc
ShareWorking alone, together.
Not an ideal working environment...
Guess where I spent most of my day today? The public library. Why? Well, long story short, the weather made commuting to the office a silly thing to attempt so I was stuck in town with nowhere to work.
I essentially have three options in this situation: 1) work from home, 2) work from a cafe, 3) work from the library
The first option is really not an option since there are 4 pre-schoolers there and no "home office". Option #2 is my usual habit - but you can only drink so much overpriced coffee in a day. So today was #3 - no pressure to leave , but still less than ideal.
The biggest problem with each of these options (even #1) is isolation. Humans are social creatures and require social interaction, within the context of their work, to be creative.
So what to do? I've been intrigued by the concept of coworking for some time. The idea of being able to work on my own but in an office full of people I know is very attractive!
I have this feeling that we're reaching a critical mass in Cambridge that could support some kind of cooperative working environment. In talking with a few folks today and yesterday, I'm sure I'm not alone in that belief.
So let's do it. Let's incorporate a non-profit to create a cooperative working space for professionals in Cambridge that need a place to hang their hat from 9 to 5 but have no use for a full office of their own.
Who's with me?
UPDATE: a few of us are throwing around ideas on Twitter. Use the #galtcowork hashtag to particpate!
ShareColin Who?
I'm a digital communications executive specializing in community engagement, social marketing, and online identity management currently serving asthe Associate Secretary, Communications, at the national offices of The Presbyterian Church in Canada.
I can be found on LinkedIn and Twitter and Facebook.
What I’ve Said
- Cambridge Reporter Revisited
- Clay Shirky on Institutions vs. Collaboration
- On The Twitter This Week: 2010-02-06
- Facebook just keeps growing (with grey hair)
- Pranav Mistry on SixthSense Technology (TED Tuesday)
- On The Twitter This Week: 2010-01-30
- On The Twitter This Week: 2010-01-23
- On The Twitter This Week: 2010-01-16
- Oh those questions!
- It’s All In The Timing
What You’ve Said
- @rdjfraser on Clay Shirky on Institutions vs. Collaboration
- links for 2010-02-05 : Being Presbyterian on Facebook just keeps growing (with grey hair)
- Arminta on Beautiful Decay
- Travis Jon Allison on Beautiful Decay
- Sarah on Beautiful Decay
- Colin Carmichael on Beautiful Decay
- James Deane on Beautiful Decay
- James on WordPress Image Handling Sucks (WP Wednesday)
- James on WordPress Image Handling Sucks (WP Wednesday)
- James on WordPress Image Handling Sucks (WP Wednesday)
Categories
- General Interest Stuff (17)
- Local Stuff (4)
- Mobile Post (6)
- Personal Stuff (38)
- Political Stuff (3)
- Random Stuff (36)
- Social Media Stuff (118)
- The Commute (9)
- Twitter Updates (19)
- Web Stuff (2)
The Cloud
On the Twitter...
- .@divorcewealth um, thanks for the DM offering help with "divorce stuff" - but since I'm happily married, no thanks. #unfollow 2010-02-11
- RT @mariobourque: lets see some resumes http://bit.ly/trapezewebdesigner Solid company, 1 of Canada's largest software co's, great benefits 2010-02-10
- this is not cool... www.theglobeandmail.com hijacks the keyboard shortcut for search-in-page and sends focus to their site search! Argh! 2010-02-10
- On a quest to regain my Mayoralty! Maybe the other guy will have to pull out due to a sex scandal. (@ Melville Cafe) http://4sq.com/7yn7la 2010-02-10
- The headline @acoyne was waiting for... ;) RT @andrewbrett: That's what she said. RT @TorontoStar Giambrone pulls out #voteTO #Giambrone 2010-02-10
- More updates...
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