Lately, I was reflecting on how far the Tech community has come in the past 2 years, with the introduction of COWPU, BendTech, COISUG, WOTech and others. It is really amazing how everyone has come together with a common goal and purpose, to bring the Central Oregon tech community together. A big thanks and congratulations to all.
We recently had a meeting with SmartSolutions and they, like others, offered the opinion that if we formalized we might be better recieved and better positioned to seek funding and support. With that said, it appears that we have reached critical mass and it is time to formalize and not lose any traction.
What does becoming formalized mean? For now it could mean a small strategic council that acts on behalf of the community and gives a unified voice to that community, with clear direction from that community. This would be a non-biased council, one that represents the body of tech in the area. The council would tackle outstanding issues and keep building momentum by recruiting volunteers, partnering with associations (local chapter of AdFed?) and participating in activities that promote our current mission. In the interim, this body would be a vehicle to help us take the next steps.
Task Items (Living List)
- Selection of Council
- Selection of 4-6 Strategic council members (rotating body)
- Mission
- Vision
- Name (Contest)
- 501c3 Status
Any ideas or thoughts to help us take the next steps?
Thanks again for your help and participation.