There’s been a flurry of calendar dates on the UKDoWire email list today. A while back whilst experimenting with Google Calendars I created one for eDemocracy events. Clcik on Agenda in the top right of the page to see the events so far listed. This button links to the calendar Read more
I’m a late comer to the BarCamp concept. In fact I don’t really know what I’m letting myself in for, but the reviews are good and people have encouraged me to join in what is promised to be an invigorating day of unstructured presentation, comment and discussion. The idea is Read more
A while back we blogged about how only 7 seats out of 32 were contested in the May 2007 District Council elections in Teesdale. On the Isle of Wight they have no such problem. Last Thursday 6 local people were contesting a by-election for a single Parish Council seat in Ventnor. On a cold December day just before Christmas they achieved a turnout of 28%.
There is no way of telling but the efforts of a local blogger, Simon Perry and his team on VentnorBlog may have helped. All 6 candidates were interviewed on camera and asked questions that had been left on the blog, results were live blogged and a Podcast from the returning officer was recorded.
Apparently the blog has 17,500 readers which is quite incredible for a town of only 6,000 people.
I spoke with Simon about why don’t more communities have thriving online presences? I feel the key ingredient is having someone with the energy, drive and commitment to produce the content rather than the tools. But that is probably coming from someone who doesn’t have a problem with the tools. Would having better pre-configured sites in WordPress and the right guidance help more communities thrive?
Simon also sent me some links:
I’ve now finished writing up the I’m a Councillor 2007 evaluation report (which you can download from our website). It’s been fascinating looking in detail at the feedback and the questions that were asked. Although of course I was there for the whole event, while it’s on I’m caught up Read more
Yesterday saw the launch of the YouCanDo Guides from The Scarman Trust at Westminster Central Hall. The highlight of the day were the stories from six ordinary (or extraordinary) people who have helped change their communities. The smooth running of the day was somewhat disrupted by one of the Read more
Last Thursday I went back to school. The teacher for the evening was Steve Johnston, Google Consultant. He was giving a one-off presentation on how to make Google Love Your Website in order to raise money for St Laurence School (which his 3 kids attend, and mine probably will in Read more
Shane Richmond from the Telegraph is hosting another Open House event and this time focussing on Political Blogging. In the interest of the Cllr2.0 project, Andrew and I are going along to take the pulse and add a ha’penny. (hat-tip to Simon Dickson for highlighting it)
A bit like the proverbial buses – you wait all year for an eDemocracy event and then suddenly three (and then some) appear at once.
Yesterday Sophia and I nipped across to the bright lights of Bristol and the Watershed for the Modern Methods of governance – democracy in action or mob rule?. (A Webcast has been promised).
We heard from Tom Steinberg of MySociety about how ePetitions and "golden pages" can help draw people into engaging with democracy and government. A view that was put forward in our evaluation of ePetitioner for ICELE (page 8). Mary Reid continued on ePetitions and Mike Brewin added some Bristol detail. Ian Wiebkin from Kirklees Council presented the DigiTV project and the imminent digital switchover was hailed as a potential tipping point when interactive TV services could become mainstream. I am currently sceptical about interactive services on TV and the figures that Ian was able quote from Sky were not comforting. 90% of Sky users have used the interactive service at some point, but nothing about how often they used them and what for. Personally I don’t know anyone who has ever used digital TV to access a non-TV service, yet last night in the pub (not a Hoxton digirati crew) we found that Mr T, the farmer, was on Facebook and for the next hour a masterclass on social networking and virtual knickers ensued. I have never heard that buzz about interactive TV services.
Shane’s career travelled through advertising, magazine publishing and broadcast TV before he started citizen engagement and e-democracy experts Gallomanor Communications in 2001. Gallomanor creates community conversations through providing creative audience-led events to local government and other organisations. Past campaigns include JurorOnline, Your Say Your Way Voter Education campaigns in 2002 Read more
Well, we’ve just about recovered here from the whirlwind two weeks of I’m a Councillor, Get me out of Here! AND the last few weeks of manic organisation before the event. Tbh, we’re in a bit of a post-adrenaline lull, doing all the clear-up with markedly less enthusiasm and pep Read more