Experts and Vendors
We’re meeting with experts and software vendors to help improve SEI’s chances of success to spread SE tools to others around the world.
10 January 2022
Over the holidays me and other members of Street Epistemology International have been meeting with experts in various disciplines to build up our own skills and engage with software vendors to begin finding tools to help us work more efficiently.
For example, we held two video chat discussions with an expert in organizational management that was instrumental in the start of an effort to develop policies including a code of conduct for SEI members and its volunteers, the pros and cons of creating an Advisory Board, and how we might be able to broaden our appeal to more diverse groups. Most of this is administrative and tedious, but it’s very important for the long-term success of the organization.
Now that we’re starting to see some significant funding coming our way, we’ve begun looking for software providers in order to manage our financial records. This will allow us to better track expenditures, assets purchased for SE content creators, lay the groundwork for an independent financial audit, and begin appearing on charity navigator sites.
Related to the self-directed SE course, we started speaking with vendors in the “help desk” space so that learners going through the course will be able to submit a ticket and obtain assistance if they get stuck. I wouldn’t be surprised if we found other uses for such a system in the coming years, so we’ll make sure whatever we go with has the capability to grow with us. We’ll be looking for volunteers soon to manage this important support function.
Related to the SE website, we’ve started building a list of vendors and making initial contact. I’m hopeful that we’ll start receiving quotes soon and narrow down our list before kicking off our first of perhaps three fundraising efforts this year to help support this specific effort. This will be the first major project SEI has embarked on which is not being largely performed by volunteers.
We’ve purchased yet another laptop for an individual who is an active SE content creator, funded a few other SE-related projects, and added several more “server boosts” to one of the popular SE-themed Discord servers.
I’m disappointed that we haven’t found someone with fundraising experience to help us. Even an hour long video chat would probably be enough to help make our effort a success. If not, we’ll probably just do our best with what we have. If you know someone with such skills, please email [email protected] so we can chat with them.
Passionate about our mission? There are still important voting positions available on the board. Committed and ready-to-work volunteers are needed. Private message me if this interests you.
I’ve been really happy with how things are going with SE and SEI in general. I’m constantly swamped on a daily basis with SE-related tasks and it’s been a wonderful thing.
Best regards,
Anthony Magnabosco
Executive Director, Street Epistemology International
#SEIEDAM032
