Wiser Earth Integration Work: Blog

Dear Joe,

It has been great for us to envision how M1 and WiserEarth can collaborate together.
Thank you for answering so  many of our questions last week.
We attempted to write down a list of ideas we thought was key to have at launch, for the WiserEarth community to feel empowered and engaged in the new environment. We would love to discuss those points with you.

When is a good time of you to talk with us?
We are available today in the afternoon (Wednesday), tomorrow Thursday anytime in the morning.

Warmly,

Peggy and the team

Suggestions on key items to happen before transferring WiserEarth Community to M1:

1. Community Drives Technology Improvements: The ability for community members to participate in the technology development process (for example, many of the features on WiserEarth have been generated by engaging in dialogue with key organizations, receiving specific proposals for new features, translating these proposals into tech requirements, and implementing new features in a reasonable timeframe)
2. Parallel Sites: Both platforms will exist in parallel for the first few months to ease the transition.
2.1 There is a single sign-on option during this period, where users only need one login.
2.2 All the data on WiserEarth will be displayed on both sites and updated live for this period of time.
3. Groupware and Site Architecture: All current WiserEarth groupware and site functions are offered on ManyOne platform. (personalized group page, removal of the platform branding on group page, choice in privacy settings, emailing the group, file upload, Google map, network visualization tool, bulletin board etc.)
4. Content: All groups, discussion forums, personal profiles, organization profiles, events, jobs, resources, and files (uploaded) are transferred to the ManyOne platform.
5. Subscriptions: All existing groups on WiserEarth are exempt from ads/subscription model.
5.1 All future organizations that are not registered NGO's (student organizations, volunteer organizations and coalitions) are exempt from advertisements.
6. Terminology: So as to ease confusion, the current terminology for the entities on WiserEarth (organizations, groups etc.) remain intact, as opposed to the current portal and sub-portal terminology on ManyOne
7. Area of Focus: WiserEarth's current Areas of Focus taxonomy and tagging structure stays intact (with the possibility of expansion and cross-reference with EoE).
8. Wiki principle: The ability to edit and see who has edited what (recent activity etc.) remains intact on all pages except Encyclopedia of Earth content. (EoE may have their own needs around wiki)
9. Name Identity: Have both brand live on both sides until we identify the best branding strategy
10. User Interface: Access to all CSS files so we can modify the interface to clearly reflect the social networking, community-driven, and information rich elements of WiserEarth
11. For-Profits: Until a strategy is designed, the site does not permit for-profit entities to enter post-branded content or solicit services on WiserEarth at launch.
12. Networking: WiserEarth's current networking features (including permission-based networking) will be implemented on ManyOne platform.
13. Impeccable Search: The new platform will provide a strong, search function that allows for advanced search. (for example, a user can search for a community-based organization located in India, focused on water rights)
14. User Privacy: Personal information of our current users is kept private and non-monetized.
15. Open Source: Platform is open-source.

WiserEarth serves the people who are transforming the world. It is an international directory and networking forum that maps, links and empowers the largest and fastest growing movement in the world – the hundreds of thousands of organizations within civil society that address social justice, poverty, and the environment.