Menu of Collaboration Options

[John Wonderlich]

I wouldn't be surprised if, over the next few years, governmental and congressional administrators are approached, or presented with a mandate, that says: You must initiate a pilot program to incorporate public input into your (agency's, committee's) Web site.

I expect that administrators and online communications directors will increasingly be in the position of scrounging around for public collaboration options.

When they search for ways to benefit from the enthusiastic civilian volunteer base that exists on the Internet, they should find some meaningful suggestions.

My question is this:  What are the options available to those looking to invite public collaboration?



E-rulemaking is one good example, and the best may be the USPTO's Peer to Patent project.

Some broad options would include email lists (like this one), wikis, blogs, and what else?

Is there a good way to organize our thinking about collaborative projects?

--
John Wonderlich

Program Director
The Sunlight Foundation
(202) 742-1520 ext. 234

[marci harris]

John,
I am a congressional staffer and have an idea that has been stewing for a while on this.  Clay Sharky suggested that I talk with someone from Sunlight.  Could I make an appointment to come in and see you?

Thanks,

Marci Harris
202-246-2157

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Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:25:01 -0400
From: johnwon...@gmail.com
To: openhous...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [openhouseproject] Menu of Collaboration Options

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Helping your favorite cause is as easy as instant messaging. You IM, we give. Learn more.

[marci harris]

apologies for emailing the whole list on this!

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Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:25:01 -0400
From: johnwon...@gmail.com
To: openhous...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [openhouseproject] Menu of Collaboration Options

[AllThingsReform]

Yes, perhaps Sunlight's own Earmark Watch, though not in collaboration
with government, is an example of what citizen web tools can do for
government.

Tools can be available on the web for citizens to support government
works. For example, the wiki Readable Laws at www.readablelaws.org is
dedicated to explaining Congressional legislation in plain English. I
know that sounds crass, but we hear often of legislators voting on
bills before they fully comprehend them!

And of course, let's not forget that our public servants in government
always want to hear from their constituents, so electronic tools that
facilitate the transfer of text and data between citizens and them is
desirable. Now, if only our US Senators can file their periodic
campaign finance reports electronically, That would certainly help us
constituents on our end.. :)

David Weller
www.allthingsreform.org



On Mar 12, 11:25 am, "John Wonderlich" <johnwonderl...@gmail.com>
wrote:

> I wouldn't be surprised if, over the next few years, governmental and
> congressional administrators are approached, or presented with a mandate,
> that says: You must initiate a pilot program to incorporate public input
> into your (agency's, committee's) Web site.
>
> I expect that administrators and online communications directors will
> increasingly be in the position of scrounging around for public
> collaboration options.
>
> When they search for ways to benefit from the enthusiastic civilian
> volunteer base that exists on the Internet, they should find some meaningful
> suggestions.
>
> My question is this:  What are the options available to those looking to
> invite public collaboration?
>

> E-rulemaking <http://www.regulations.gov/search/index.jsp> is one good

> example, and the best may be the USPTO's Peer to

> Patent<http://www.peertopatent.org/>project.