Suggested user-centric features (Jay):

1) how would an individual best use the site?
2) how would an organization best use the site?
3) how would an administrator best use the site?

1) individuals

a) As a very new user, especially as someone new to the concept of
alternatives, I'd like to be able to
-- go to the front page and see clearly laid out features about news,
success stories and other things relating to alternatives. (I
envision this as a center column and open newswire layout similar to
most indymedia sites)
-- get an overview of different issues in the world of alternatives
(meaning, the site should have clearly navigable general categories,
so if I want to learn about altenative education, for example, I can
get to a general overview that will give me some information about
that without having to know everything about it)
-- easily find alternatives-oriented organizations, events and
individuals in my geographic area (maps are nice)
I'd like to be able to do this all without having to register for anything.
Basically, I'd want a confident, elegant and clear site that gives me
easy access to information

b) As as more interested user I'd like to be able to do all of the
above, plus be able to
-- make a home page on the site with information about me (where I
can list my interests and link up with "friends")
-- customize the front page so I can see news about alternatives I'm
interested in, as well as syndicate content from blogs and gets
alerts for local events and important announcements from local
organizations (event and announcements for which I've signed up)
-- easily find local organizations and other local site users
-- post my own alternatives news to the general newswire and comment
to the newswire
-- edit the site's wikified information pages (like the general
overview of each category, and "how-to" pages)
-- join an organization's mailing list or forum
-- view and edit "how-to" information for how to do things (like
build rooftop solar collectors or start an alternative school)
-- create forums about alternatives-oriented topics
-- write a blog about alternatives issues that other site users can syndicate
-- chat with other site users
-- rate newswire articles
-- be able to tag content and view tagged content
-- have access to a ride-board/couch-surf space
-- have the option of receiving news and event listings via e-mail
-- be able to list available skills and needs, as well as search for
other users with similar skills and/or organiations/users with compatible needs

2) organizations

a) As an organization that uses the alternatives site for basic
information, I'd like to be able to
-- have access to a lot of basic news content and audio/video
resources, as well as organizational how-to pages and lists of
similar organizations broken up geographically
-- have access to a calendar of events, local and beyond depending on
our choice, related to our field/s of interest

b) As an organization that uses the alternatives site as its home
base, I'd like to be able to
-- have a home page on the site, with information about the group and
its issues as well as links to a mailing list, any forums, any blogs
by members or interesting blogs about the issue/s at hand, meeting
times/event calendar, "friends" such as group members or supporters,
and links to organizatioal "friends" working on similiar issues --
i.e. to "network")
-- a place to post meeting minutes and other internal information for
the group (being able to choose whether members need to log-on or if
minutes are public)
-- searchable mailing list archives (accessible publicly or not, by
choice of organization)
-- have wiki pages for organizational projects
-- an announcement e-mail list that can shoot e-mails or front page
alerts to site users who sign up
-- decision-making software so group can come to consensus/tally votes on-line
-- have easy access to "how-to" information, as well as successes,
best practices, etc.
-- have a chat space and the ability to open up forums
-- be able to list skills available and organizational needs, as well
as search for individuals/organizations with compatible needs

3) administrators

As an administrator I'd basically like to have being site admin not suck.
-- simple, intiuitive, fast site admin screens
-- good spam-catching
-- easy method to move content around the site, like putting a great
newswire article into the center column or being able to feature an
interesting blog entry
-- straightforward and transparent access to all admin functions
In general, I envision some individuals using the site to get general
information about alternatives, while others would become part of the
community and find other people and organizations working on similar
issues and get involved that way. For organizations, I'd like to see
the alternatives site develop as a home base for groups that can use
all the tools to make their own local organizing easier, while also
connecting with individuals and organizaitons around the world that
do similar things. As we've discussed before, the key is to enable
individuals and organizations to translate all this on-line
information and networking into off-line action.

This is a lot, but even still I'm sure I missed something.

UI examples:

• goingon.com - A rather busy user interface. Only included here because this social networking site was built on top of Drupal, so we can explore some possibilities and functionality here.
• last.fm
• tribe.net - Highly customizable user interface. Users may select/deselect which blocks/modules are included and visible on their start pages.
• virb.com

• http://we.riseup.net  - Pre-alpha, but has lots of promise--being built with Ruby by the Riseup Collective--considering the issues proposed about and much more--very interesting and potentially what we seek for this project in the long run. 

UI with interesting features:

• global ideas bank