A Word About Our Community Reviews
Reflecting our deep admiration for the dedication, hard work and positive
social missions displayed by each organization we examine, CoreWeb "Reviews"
are written in a methodical, comprehensive manner using CoreWeb community
building principles as a framework for evaluation.
Should you find yourself in disagreement with, in support of, or with questions regarding, any aspect of the reviews, please tell us! Post a comment,
generate a conversation, contact us -- we welcome your feedback and would love to hear from you! If we don't know about the full breadth of your efforts, educate us, and we'll make sure to modify the review appropriately.
This open process is meant to provide constructive feedback and best practices among all the organizations we review. Growing a community of supporters is challenging, so learning from each other is a laudable goal!
Ratings are added to the end of each posted review as a quick-recap of the strengths, potential assets, and areas of improvement the author identifies at each site. The reviewer creates the ratings with a focus on the question, "How successfully does an organization layout a path towards boosterism?" By analyzing the community-building tools that are implemented by each organization, the reviewer creates the ratings informally, after re-reading the review, and noting the aspects of community building were best in class, had potential, or needed attention at each site. Each rating is supported by a simple graphic that reflects these evaluations:
Highlight particularly high-functioning, community-building aspects of online communitites
Point out good ideas that have potential, but need a bit of work
Outline aspects of a site where there seems to be a disconnect online when working towards a larger goal
What is a Joiner?
We were hoping you would ask! A booster is an individual who takes on a more sizeable role within an organization by engaging in activities that support a group's mission with a "multiplying effect". Boosters typically write blog entries or start forum threads, organize volunteer efforts, facilitate fundraisers, connect local and online communities for events and speak publicly in support of an organization. The activity of a booster allows an organization's energy to grow at an exponential rate.
What is a Booster?
We were hoping you would ask! A booster is an individual who takes on a more sizeable role within an organization by engaging in activities that support a group's mission with a "multiplying effect". Boosters typically write blog entries or start forum threads, organize volunteer efforts, facilitate fundraisers, connect local and online communities for events and speak publicly in support of an organization. The activity of a booster allows an organization's energy to grow at an exponential rate.
Further discussion:
International Women’s Health Coalition supports a website that is active, vibrant, and seems to accurately represent the feel and unique mission of the organization as a whole. I was enormously impressed with the clear, specific pathways and tools featured at the site that encourage supporters to be active advocates. The Media Advocacy toolkit and House Party toolkit both give individuals the knowledge, encouragement and hands on tools (many downloadable PDFs) to go out and galvanize support for International Women’s Health Coalition in their own communities. The House Party toolkits also double to encourage event hosting (boosting!) but I was disappointed that there did not seem to be any specified webspace or tools to let people add or highlight their house parties (to share stories online).
Recommendations:
While the Akimbo blog is a wonderful resource for supporters who want to keep up-to-date with news and commentary from organizational staff, perhaps adding a more obvious booster-level knowledge sharing component (such as volunteer bloggers, “young visionaries” bloggers, etc.) would bring more energy to the blog. Additionally, the “Events” tab at the website does not feature any tools that allow members to add their own events (such as house parties mentioned above) or register for events- adding these capabilities would make this section more dynamic.
