I do think that external organizations can/will/should exist to service different segments; for instance, I think there's a ton of potential for an organization that aims to service cafes that host (co)working folks.
Many cafes are struggling with the onslaught of laptops, as their business models count on people getting their coffee and leaving quick to make room for the next guy. If an organization came along that helped cafes tweak their business models to take advantage of this shift, everyone would benefit. (More on that another time.) The Cowork Network, as envisioned above, looks to be leaning towards helping people establish and run dedicated workspaces. Providing a knowledge base, access to technology, and potentially even seed funding, could all be very useful services for folks to partake in. Karen, it sounds like your game plan is a good one-- gather together the people interested in this concept and start to identify the market and its needs. That'll provide a framework for ensuing discussions. Tony On Thu, Oct 9, 2008 at 11:44 AM, Tara Hunt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Tony, > Thanks for stepping in and reminding people that coworking works because it > is decentralized. We didn't start this movement to make an organization. We > started this movement so that people, like in the case of BarCamp (the model > it was built on), could take it and do what they want. > > The truth is, it's working the way it is. Any one of you can help another > one of you. Raines travels around and helps people, I travel around and help > people, Alex, Jacob, Susan, etc. We all pitch in. The idea is to keep that > moving and keep encouraging everyone to bring their continued support to > making spaces happen. > > I like Alex's idea of unified set of tools. Amit and Darrell are working on > billing systems and passport-like functionality. Derek came up with a > directory site (wurkspaces.com). People add to the blog, the wiki and > other pieces like the map. We share our stories here so that others may know > what is going on and give us advice or learn themselves. These are > centralized tools and I hope more are built that people can use as a > resource. > > Besides...coworking is a registered trademark...not owned by us. AND a > centralized organization. http://www.coworking.com/ (the Coworking > Institute) Gerritt Visser is a nice guy, but I highly doubt he'd want to > give up his institute for us. > > Tara > > > On Thu, Oct 9, 2008 at 8:19 AM, Alex Hillman <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > wrote: > >> I'm glad Tony said everything i wanted to, so I didn't have to. >> >> Bottom line is, de-starfishing the starfish isn't going to work. Having a >> unified set of tools that are at our disposal, though...I imagine that would >> get a fair amount of use. Think of it just like the wiki and the blog and >> the google group...but for business services instead of communication. >> Everything is opt-in. >> >> -- >> ----- >> -- >> ----- >> Alex Hillman >> im always developing something >> digital: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> visual: www.dangerouslyawesome.com >> local: www.indyhall.org >> >> >> >> >> On Thu, Oct 9, 2008 at 10:49 AM, Tony Bacigalupo < >> [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >>> Hi Karen, >>> >>> There are a lot of great and diverse ideas here; for the moment I'm going >>> to think on a big-picture level and try to provide a counterbalance which I >>> hope will help define how best to proceed. >>> >>> * Puts on Starfish hat * >>> >>> (This hat is really uncomfortable and pointy) >>> >>> Okay, so as many of us well know, the Coworking movement is a starfish >>> organization, which is to say, it's a decentralized entity of people who >>> share a belief in a central concept. >>> >>> Ori Brafman & Rod Becksrom's book, *The Starfish and the Spider*, does a >>> fantastic job detailing why such organizations are so powerful. >>> >>> Perhaps my favorite chapter, though, is the one that describes how to >>> *kill* a starfish. I don't have a copy of the book on me, but I'll try to >>> get the gist of it here. >>> >>> One way that they described was "Turn the starfish into a spider." That >>> is, centralize that which was once decentralized. The chapter detailed the >>> story of a starfish movement that was wildly successful, and very innocently >>> and with the best intentions established a central fund to help more people >>> interested in the movement get on their feet. >>> >>> The problem? The central fund was a huge success. Millions of dollars >>> poured in, and this fund ended up needing a huge staff of people to figure >>> out who gets what amounts of money. >>> >>> The constituents were less empowered, and hierarchies formed, and the >>> strengths and flexibilities that the organization once had were lost. >>> >>> * Takes off starfish hat * >>> >>> Okay, so that being said, does that mean we do nothing? No. But it means >>> we act carefully and responsibly so as to ensure we maintain the >>> accessibility and flexibility of the movement. >>> >>> So how to proceed? I'm not sure exactly, but I'm forming an idea. >>> >>> I think the ideal goal would be to establish an entity which **services** >>> the Coworking movement, but is its own separate organization. This >>> organization does have the ability to have a central structure and a bank >>> account and so on, but does not have authority over the movement as a whole. >>> >>> >>> So, perhaps, the Cowork Network would identify a particular segment of >>> the Coworking movement that it chooses to service, and it could become a >>> very successful entity that services that segment while still maintaining >>> the movement on the whole. >>> >>> That's entirely doable, and I'm happy to help however I can in fleshing >>> that out... because finding a way to help provide a lot of the resources you >>> suggested would be fantastic. I think there will be many successful >>> companies & organizations which will service the people who have adopted the >>> concept of coworking, and now is a great time to start forming them. >>> >>> Karen, I think we're in for a really good discussion today, and hopefully >>> by the end of it we'll have a much better idea of where to go next. Thanks >>> for stirring it up! >>> >>> Best, >>> Tony >>> New Work City >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Thu, Oct 9, 2008 at 6:52 AM, Karen Origlio <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: >>> >>>> >>>> Over the past few weeks I've met/emailed several group members to >>>> discuss the idea of creating a non-profit organization to support >>>> coworking space owners and members. >>>> >>>> The idea is to have an organization whose mission is to help spaces >>>> start and sustain themselves, and link them together. Imagine a >>>> knowledge base of information and resources for a space catalyst, or >>>> collaborating with members in other locations via video conferencing >>>> or finding the specific expertise you need for your latest project >>>> through a member directory... Coworking will be an industry, not just >>>> a movement. >>>> >>>> This organization can also assist the independent worker and >>>> entrepreneurial spirit found in so many members...I'd love to connect >>>> members with affordable and much-needed medical or disability >>>> insurance... >>>> >>>> There seems to be some interest in this idea. What do YOU think? Good >>>> idea? Let's discuss. >>>> >>>> If yes, I see two next steps: >>>> >>>> 1. Form a Board of Advisors to define the mission and vision of the >>>> organization and contribute their expertise and knowledge. Not sure of >>>> the time commitment needed - probably minimal - perhaps an hour >>>> conference call in the next few weeks. >>>> >>>> 2. Define a list of projects for the Cowork Network and help identify >>>> people to assist. >>>> >>>> Would love to hear your opinions pro or con, on list or off. >>>> >>>> Thanks, >>>> Karen Origlio >>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> > > > -- > -- > tara 'missrogue' hunt > > Book: The Whuffie Factor: Using the Power of Social Networks to Build Your > Business ( > http://www.amazon.com/Whuffie-Factor-Capital-Winning-Communities/dp/0307409503?ie=UTF8 > ) > Company: Citizen Agency (http://www.citizenagency.com) > Blog: HorsePigCow: Marketing Uncommon (http://www.horsepigcow.com) > Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/missrogue > phone: 415-694-1951 > fax: 415-727-5335 > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. 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