Social Entrepreneur blog for the world changers
Archive for March, 2009
Contributing to WordPress, Part I: Development
Mar 12th
A week or two ago at WordCamp Denver, I gave a presentation about some plans to create more opportunities for people to contribute to the WordPress open source project. The icon design contest was such a success that it seems clear we need to come up with ways for non-developers to contribute their talents and skills to WordPress. Since the launch of 2.7, we’ve been working out what kinds of contribution opportunities would make sense, and we’ve come up with a handful.
This (long) weekend, many WordPress users and developers (including half the core team) will be in Austin, TX for South by Southwest. Matt Mullenweg, Ryan Boren, Mark Jaquith and I will all be there, so say hello if you’re there, too. In the spirit of all this WordPress community connecting, I’ll be posting here every day during after SxSW with information about the new contribution opportunities we’re creating. Each post will cover one or more of the following:
- Development (of course)
- QA
- Documentation
- Ideas and Opinions
- User Experience
- Graphic Design
- Accessibility
- Usability Testing
- WordPress.tv
- Community Organizing
Since the first thing people think of when they think of contributing to WordPress is PHP development, we’ll start there.
The code (which is poetry) is the meat of the application, so it makes sense that the most opportunities to contribute will continue to fall in this area. Trac is always filled with tickets that need patches, patches that need testing, and issues that need some creative developer thinking/collaboration to find the right solution to a problem that has us going in circles.
If you are proficient in PHP, consider looking through the tickets (especially the ones marked “bug,” since they should get higher priority) and writing a patch for one of them. If you’ve got more advanced skills, consider writing a patch for one of the more complex tickets, or offering corrections to a patch submitted by someone else (if needed). If you don’t trust your coding skills but know your way around the application files, look for tickets tagged has-patch and test the patches in as many browsers as you can, posting your results afterward in the ticket thread.
If you find a bug in the course of your daily use of WordPress, report it. First, check Trac to see if the issue already has a ticket. You could also scan the archives of the wp-testers list to see if people have been talking about the bug, or email the list yourself to see if anyone has any information on the problem. If these actions don’t bear fruit, start a new ticket in Trac (you’ll need to create a login to do this). Be as detailed as you can about the issue, and don’t forget to make the proper selections from the metadata dropdown menus. Just in case anyone is unsure of how to make these selections…
Use the severity field with caution. Most bugs will be of normal severity. Marking a bug as high severity will not necessarily speed up development, and if it turns out that you’ve marked a bug’s severity incorrectly it may even slow down development.
Priority will usually be normal. Leave it to the more senior developers to change the status to a higher priority, as they are familiar with all the tickets and Trac and will be better able to assess the priority in relation to other tickets.
Ticket type. This is one of most misused fields, with many people marking tickets as defects that should not be. To address this, here’s a reminder of the ticket types and their intended uses. Your choices are: defect (bug), enhancement, feature request, and task (blessed).
- Defect (bug). Something is broken. You know how the feature is supposed to work (if you’re unsure, check the Codex or ask in the dev channel), but something has gone awry that needs to be fixed.
- Enhancement. Something is awkward or slow and could be designed or coded better without overhauling the function or screen design. Please don’t mark something as a defect (bug) if it is really an enhancement.
- Feature request. If there’s something that could be improved that would require significant restructuring of code or screen design, it should be marked as feature request rather than enhancement. Please note: this is not really the place to request features that are not currently in WordPress. Please continue to use the Ideas forum to suggest new features. The core developers will add new feature requests to Trac as they review the Ideas forum with each release cycle.
- Task (blessed). This type indicates approval from the core development team. Only core developers should use this selection. If you mark something as Task (blessed) yourself, you will have bad karma.
Bug Hunts*! If you have checked the Codex page for bug hunts lately, you’ll notice it’s been awhile since there was one. No more! Official bug hunts, sprints for finding and fixing bugs, will be brought back on a regular basis. The first one will be announced soon, possibly next week, to try and tackle the bug tickets related to widgets. (No need to wait, though, there are hundreds of open tickets in the 2.8 milestone just waiting for a kind developer to pay them some attention.)
As always, contributing developers can communicate with each other and with the core team in the #wordpress-dev IRC channel at irc.freenode.net, on the wp-hackers list, and in the ticket threads on Trac. Regular developer chats in IRC will be returning to Wednesdays at noon (Pacific time) starting next week.
[* - I used to love the bug hunt challenge in Space Cadet 3D Pinball back in the days of Windows 95]
Your Junk
Mar 10th
Your Junk is Your Responsibility
Communication to your business or nonprofit is like wind is to a kite. A kite can look great lying in the grass however, when the wind sends it soaring in the sky, it dances effortlessly with such delight. Communications is what connects your business to the outside world and can send it soaring into the sky or falling to the ground. You are the one holding the kite string so lets, briefly in this first of the “Communications Series,” cover some basics and in the next few articles we will cover all aspects of what you should have in place to communicate effectively with everyone. Make sure you grab the RSS or email feed above to receive all the articles.
Many Flavors
It is important that people can communicate with your nonprofit in the flavor that is comfortable with them. You may prefer old fashioned methods like email or postal mail, but the world is changing and you need to change with it. Yes, email and postal mail are old fashioned. I remember the days when people would give you a blank stare when you asked them for their email address or web site address, and have no idea what I was talking about. Well it’s time to update to the year 2009. Read on and I will explain how you can move your nonprofit into the current year and help people connect to you better and more efficiently.
Your Junk is Your Responsibility
First lets talk about your current means of communication paths. I will assume you have a postal address and an email address. If you are attempting to run a successful nonprofit, then a blog or at least a website is also necessary. My choice of words in the last sentence is important, you should have a blog and at the very least a website. This day and age, the blog is the most important means to communicate rather than a website or newsletter. The blog affords you everything the other two do plus the ability for everyone to read the latest news about your nonprofit, not just those that subscribe to your newsletter. To keep this post shorter, if you want to know more about blogs and why your nonprofit should have one, read the post Top 10 Reasons Nonprofits Should Blog oceangrand.org/top-10-reasons-nonprofits-should-blog/.
Your Junk
Now about your email. The most common thing I hear from others regarding the message I sent them on email is “I did not receive your email, could you resend it?” To which I reply “could you check your junk mail?” Many times the person has no idea how to locate or check their junk mailbox. 99.9% of the time if they did not receive my email it is sitting in their junk mailbox along with other important mail. I mention this because if I resent the email it would also end up in their junk mail. My email ending up in their junk mail is not my problem and there is little I can do to prevent it. I realize that a junk mailbox is there to catch spam and mail you do not want so you do not have to look at it. Instead, once and for all locate where your email program sends junk mail. Every couple of days check your junk box like it is your second inbox and skim the senders names and subject lines to make sure there are no messages there that you should have received. I check mine several times a day because as much as I wish that it only collected junk, many times important messages were moved there automatically by my email program. Take responsibility for the mail you receive and get on top of your junk mailbox.
Welcome to 2009
It is the year 2009 and communication is not as simple as it was last year. Or is it easier? Social Media has transformed the world and as a nonprofit your responsibility is to give people the ability to communicate with you like they want in all the flavors of the rainbow. Especially with the ease of communication on mobile devices, many find it easier to Tweet than to email you. At the very least your nonprofit should have communications set up on FaceBook and Twitter. Last month we did a whole series of articles on Social Media for the NonProfit and you can find all the articles below. The first and most important one to read is Tweet or Not to Tweet oceangrand.org/tweet-or-not-to-tweet/ which gives you a brief overview and then the steps to set up a FaceBook and Twitter Account.
Other articles you will want to read are:
- Tweet or Not to Tweet
- Building NonProfit Relationships Equals Success
- Tweet Tweet Nonprofit
- Top 10 Reasons Nonprofits Should Blog
- 14 Advanced Twitter Tips
Take some time this week and make sure your online communications are up-to-date. This allows people to stay in contact with you how they feel comfortable. To some it is easier to drop you a note on Twitter and others will prefer email. Whatever their preference, it is easy enough to accommodate them. Finally, check your email, Twitter, and FaceBook accounts on a regular basis it shows you care and want to be connected. Nothing is worse than unanswered communications with someone who wants to be connected to you and your business.
In the next articles in this “Communications Series” we will discuss all the aspects of keeping those that want to be connected to your business informed, connected and happy. Don’t forget to subscribe to the RSS or email feed above so you don’t miss our step-by-step guide to making the most of your communications.
Remaining Optimistic About the Economy
Mar 9th
According to the Associated Press, “Billionaire Warren Buffett said unemployment will likely climb a lot higher depending upon how effective the nation’s policies are, but he remains optimistic over the long term.
Buffett said the nation’s leaders need to support President Barack Obama’s efforts to repair the economy because fear is dominating Americans’ behavior and the economy has basically followed the worst-case scenario he envisioned.
‘It’s fallen off a cliff,’ Buffett said Monday during a live appearance on CNBC. ‘Not only has the economy slowed down a lot, but people have really changed their habits like I haven’t seen.’”
Perhaps we needed to change our habits. President Obama told the nation that it would take time for his economic stimulus package to begin working. The President has only been in office for 49 days and yet there are those who are criticizing that he is taking on too much while others wonder whether enough is being done with the banks.
It seems like a little patience is in order here. I know that we get information instantly these days, however, we need to stand back and wait a little bit while the plans are implemented. Perhaps we need to let some of the banks fail or let companies like AIG reorganize themselves and stop throwing more money at dying companies.
Like a bleeding patient in an emergency room, the preliminary measures taken are to stabilize the patient’s vital signs. Only when it is clear that the patient is stable can any additional efforts be made to “fix” the problem. We need to stop the bleeding that appears to be coming from the housing market and then go back and infuse money into the banks.
Until our economy is stabilized, the nonprofit sector will continue to feel its effects. What are you doing to remain optimistic in this difficult recession?
Buffett said the nation’s leaders need to support President Barack Obama’s efforts to repair the economy because fear is dominating Americans’ behavior and the economy has basically followed the worst-case scenario he envisioned.
‘It’s fallen off a cliff,’ Buffett said Monday during a live appearance on CNBC. ‘Not only has the economy slowed down a lot, but people have really changed their habits like I haven’t seen.’”
Perhaps we needed to change our habits. President Obama told the nation that it would take time for his economic stimulus package to begin working. The President has only been in office for 49 days and yet there are those who are criticizing that he is taking on too much while others wonder whether enough is being done with the banks.
It seems like a little patience is in order here. I know that we get information instantly these days, however, we need to stand back and wait a little bit while the plans are implemented. Perhaps we need to let some of the banks fail or let companies like AIG reorganize themselves and stop throwing more money at dying companies.
Like a bleeding patient in an emergency room, the preliminary measures taken are to stabilize the patient’s vital signs. Only when it is clear that the patient is stable can any additional efforts be made to “fix” the problem. We need to stop the bleeding that appears to be coming from the housing market and then go back and infuse money into the banks.
Until our economy is stabilized, the nonprofit sector will continue to feel its effects. What are you doing to remain optimistic in this difficult recession?
Click to Get Your Wish Granted
Mar 5th
Genie In a Bottle
You are walking on the beach, and there in front of you is a genie lamp. The inscription reads, “Rub me”. So you rub the lamp and out pops a genie and says, “I will grant you one wish, any wish. But there are two conditions. Your wish has to be focused towards helping others and not yourself, and you have to be committed to seeing your wish come true.” Of course, you are wondering what happened to the other three wishes, since isn’t the offer supposed to be for three wishes? However, the genie explains that even his economy is tight right now but he should get the benefit of the doubt since, “When did anyone ever offer to grant you wish in the first place?” Today your wish is granted, read on to learn how to get your wish.
I spend a lot of time talking with people about cool ideas they have come up with to make the world a better place. Many of them are amazing and I am privileged to be one of the first to hear about them and spur them onto success. This day and age anyone can have a great idea to make the world a better place, but the process to take that dream and make it a reality is often confusing. Ocean Grand has made a commitment to help those who have a dream, a wish, and turn it into reality and we are counting on the rest of the technology, nonprofit and philanthropy world to join us in seeing dreams come true. Continue on and find out how you can be part of a new revolution.
From extreme makeovers, building homes for those that need them, losing excessive amounts of weight, to even finding the perfect job, television is transforming peoples’ lives by giving them the once-in-a-lifetime chance to change their world. Many times these complete solutions are the collaboration of hundreds or even thousands of people all bringing a piece of the puzzle to the table to make the dream come true. Granted, most of the time these transformations are created in the form of a competition and while some win, many lose. But for that one lucky person, their life could be turned upside down for the good.
Perhaps more than ever, with the aid of the internet, more and more people are finding that it only takes a little collaboration from a few others to make another person’s dream come true. It no longer takes meeting in person, complicated meeting schedules or years to create a strategy for success. For years I have run companies virtually and outsourced highly technical solutions to enable companies to run smoothly and much more efficiently.
One Lucky Person
What if I said, “Come up with an idea for a project to make the world a better place and no matter what your idea, I would help you put it in place?” In addition, I would not only help you put the project in place, it is yours to keep, and I will help you learn to easily fund it and make it a stunning success. You might think you stepped onto the stage of a TV reality show and all your dreams are coming true. In reality, (not reality TV), that is what I have the joy of doing each and every day. If you need someone to help you put your nonprofit project in place, learn for free how to fund it and have support in making it a huge success, then this invitation is open to you. It all begins with a short application to start a nonprofit and I will step you through the rest of the process.
Your Wish Granted in One Step
- Decide whether or not you’re committed once and for all to seeing your wish granted.
- If you are still committed, and want to make your wish come true.
- Take a minute and make sure you know what your wish is.
- Say your wish out loud 3 times and click the button below.
Top NonProfit Posts for February
Mar 3rd
Most Popular Posts of February
February has been a big month for great posts that help nonprofits learn to fundraise, brand their image, and use social media to get their messages out. We thought a nice post to round out February would be a link to many of these articles on the same page for easy reference. Maybe you dream to start a Nonprofit but don’t know how. There are even links to great articles on how to start a nonprofit. Whatever your depth of knowledge in the nonprofit arena, there are quick and timely articles for everyone below that are sure to help you increase the success of your nonprofit. Read on and enjoy the free information, all we ask is that you pass the web site address on to at least one other nonprofit that could benefit from the information also.
Fund Raising
Every Nonprofit wants to know more about how to fund raise successfully. The 4 articles below will guide you with step-by-step instructions on how to build stable and dependable financial support even in a challenging economic economy. Great articles for the beginner to the expert.
- Simple and Effective NonProfit Fundraising
- A Simple Fundraising Formula
- Fundraising Ideas
- $2K in 2 Hours
NonProfit Branding and Design
Nothing increases your success in running a successful nonprofit more than its image. A great looking image and professionally designed marketing materials helps retell a nonprofits story with class. A professional image is one of the keys to running a successful nonprofit and the articles below can help you step through that process with ease. Whether you are a church or other type of nonprofit, these articles can help you.
* Is Your Image the Problem?
* The Secret to NonProfit Success
Philanthropy
These are great articles to get to your donors and those interested in your nonprofit, as well as great encouragement to you if you’re involved in a nonprofit. These articles will help your donors and supporters understand the importance and best way to get involved with your nonprofit. Hopefully we have made your job a little easier just by having your supporters read these articles. Feel free to direct those involved in your nonprofit back to these articles.
- What Have You Done Lately That You’re Proud Of?
- 6 Steps to Making a Bigger Splash
- The Wonder of a Star
- 401K Alternative
Social Media 
Never before has it been so easy to connect with ongoing relationships and build new ones with a couple clicks of the mouse. The 5 articles below give you step-by-step instructions on how to use the internet and social media to connect better to your supporters and donors while
easily finding 1000’s more who would enjoy being involved in your nonprofit. Read the 5 articles below and apply them, and you will be on your way to connecting your nonprofit to others in a highly visible way.
- Tweet or Not to Tweet
- Building NonProfit Relationships Equals Success
- Tweet Tweet Nonprofit
- Top 10 Reasons Nonprofits Should Blog
- 14 Advanced Twitter Tips
Start a NonProfit
Have you dreamed of starting a nonprofit but don’t know how to get started? You might already have a nonprofit but are not seeing the success you had hoped for. Either way, the articles below will guide you step-by-step through the process of easily starting, funding and running a successful nonprofit. Starting a nonprofit does not have to be expensive, and funding and running it does not have to be hard. The articles below take the guess work and difficulty out of starting and running a successful nonprofit.
- Rebranding the NonProfit
- The Secret to NonProfit Success
- 3 Most Common NonProfit Hurdles
- 6 Steps to NonProfit Freedom
- NonProfit One Stop Shop
- NonProfit Job Listing
- Start a NonProfit | Medical
Types of NonProfits
There are hundreds of charitable causes that nonprofits address. In the articles below, we explore 5 charitable causes that you may not have thought of as being a cause to start a nonprofit around. While reading the articles you may think of friends, family or acquaintances that could enjoy the benefits of having a nonprofit directed toward one of these causes. We would be glad to help them start, learn to fund and run a successful nonprofit directed toward one of these charitable causes.
- Actors Are People Too!
- Medical Foundation Success
- Start a NonProfit | Medical
- Family Foundations
- NonProfit Adoption
- NonProfit Memorials and Tributes
We Are Committed to NonProfits
As always, Ocean Grand is committed to helping those around the world who dream of starting a nonprofit do so with ease and efficiency. Likewise, we are committed to those that run nonprofits to better fund and run successful nonprofits. For the last 12 years, we have helped thousands of nonprofits make their dreams a reality and in the next years we will help thousands more. Join the Ocean Grand Network and let us help your nonprofit connect better, be better funded and see the success you have always hoped for.
If your dream is to start, fund and run a successful nonprofit and want to do it in the least expensive, most efficient and quickest way, while having the most support, get started today by visiting us on the web http://oceangrand.org/start-501c3/
Don’t Forget
Make sure you take a moment and subscribe to our RSS Feed or by email subscription so that you do not miss another article. Our subscribers get timely articles delivered to them for free plus other information and tips that help them to implement strategies to make their nonprofit as successful as it can be. Subscribe to our blog and get a free bonus copy of my book – “Simple and Easy Fundraising” once it is published.
Recovery.gov
Mar 3rd
In a video on President Obama’s Web site Recovery.gov (http://www.recovery.gov/) the president promises that “The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be carried out with full transparency and accountability.” This new Web site will be the centerpiece of that effort. President Obama describes how we can track the Recovery Act's progress. He promises to disclose full details in a “timely, targeted and transparent manner.” Once the money starts to flow we will be able to see how that money is spent. Here is an overall breakdown of the budget:
According to the timeline, Federal Agencies will begin reporting their use of the funds beginning today, March 3, 2009. By May 3rd, Federal Agencies will make their performance plans publicly available and will report allocations for entitlement programs.
The site encourages citizens to tell their stories about how the investments are working. They also want to know what is not working. As soon as the money begins to flow into the veins of the economic machine, we will be able to communicate our perceptions of how well it is really working. Obama has told us that he will try new things and get rid of ideas that are not working so this is our chance to really get involved in our democracy directly.
During his run for president, Obama used the web and technology to reach out to his constituents and raise an unprecedented about of funding for his campaign. This use of technology in his administrations has put information directly in the hands of the people and at an incredible pace. This kind of transparency is only possible because of the Internet.
There is an interactive map under the “Impact,” “Jobs” tab that allows you look at your own state to see how much money will be used to create new jobs. In the “FAQ” section they answer commonly asked questions with links to the actual “Recovery Act” documents.
Take a look at the site. Let us know how you believe this Web site will affect nonprofits like yours. Has the recovery program had adverse or positive effects on your organization? Let us know.
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