A group of internet artists from all over the place who have decided to give each other a challenge every few weeks, on a theme chosen by each in turn. We have different ideas and styles, but share a love of textiles, and want to have some fun.


Monday 19 September 2011

Admin

Firstly, a reminder that this first challenge ends on the 23rd September; if you haven't already finished ( or started...), now would be a good time!


I suspect that the whole 'lets have a group on facebook to keep the boring admin posts away from the interesting art posts' is not working, basically because not everyone in the group is on Facebook. That means that I'm going to end up posting everything twice, once on FB, once here, which defeats the object of the exercise and gives me extra work, which seems a tad silly. The only way I can think of other than FB to keep the boring admin away from here is to start a yahoo group of some kind. I know that not everyone in the world likes yahoogroups , just as not everyone likes FB...but it is the only other option I can see. I would be grateful if you would let me know your preference, either a group or just sticking to the blog for everything.

Meanwhile, I'm collecting ideas for the months to come, intending to draw them from a hat, and record them on the Challenges page...it gives us a bit of extra thinking time on the later challenges. I'd like the ideas by Friday, but if for one reason or another you can't come up with anything by then, I could then add them as they come in. Hopefully, everyone will be happy with this; if not, let me know.

15 comments:

Gerrie said...

Twelve by Twelve found that a Yahoo group for admin stuff is very effective. Just saying!!

Julie said...

I belong to several Yahoo groups and they seem to work well for keeping in touch. You can choose whether to receive a daily update digest or individual notifications when people comment. You also have the benfit of Files for keeping permanent information. Facebook has been working for me but I'm happy with whatever works for the majority.

artmixter said...

I do think a yahoo group would work well, just as Gerrie says... if everyone else is happy with the idea, I'll set one up.

magsramsay said...

I'm a member of several yahoo groups - I access them as web only rather than daily digest or individual emails. There's also the advantage of having files and photos as well.
I would actually prefer not to know future challenges ahead of time. Apart from liking the surprise , I would find that very distracting, I have enough problems deciding on what I'm doing to do for the one in hand!!
I thought we were going to take it in turns?

Anonymous said...

Well, I quite like the Facebook group, but am happy to do whatever suits. I probably wouldn't tune in as much to a yahoo group, but would find my way there sometimes I'm sure!! If not everyone likes the FB group or doesn't want access, and prefers something else, then there's probably not a lot of point in keeping it.

I'm also with Mags, preferring not to know what the challenges are in advance. That's part of the fun; confronting something unknown each time and having to do a bit of quick thinking.

I also prefer to take turns in setting the challenges, as that in itself, is a challenge. As my name begins with An(nabel) then it would work quite well to go alphabetically. Just saying!

Whatever you want to do Marion is fine by me though. Please let me know if I can help again with all this, as I feel a bit guilty that you now have so much work. I'm happy to share the load if you would like. xx

Claire said...

I'm in several yahoo groups as well and find them very easy to manage.
Would like to keep the future challenge themes a surprise as well, and keep with the idea of the themes being picked by group members in turn. Think it will keep us on our toes and make things more interesting...

artmixter said...

Right. How about I post the challenges to the challenge page only, and then if you want to know in advance, you can go and look, and if you don't, you don't (if you see what I mean). On the day the challenge starts, the person who set the challenge can post to tell everyone about it, as Annabel did.

To be honest,I don't see the difference between taking it in turns to set a challenge, and giving your challenges to me and having them done at random; the end result is the same.

My concern over the admin stuff is making sure everyone sees it; if that means sticking to the blog to post it, that's fine. I just thought it might be more elegant to have it 'behind the scenes'. And yes, I'm enjoying the fb group, but if not everyone has access, then it's not working.

I'm just trying to be helpful, here, not bureaucratic, I'm sorry if it's coming over that way. Also trying to meet everyone's needs.

Anonymous said...

It's not coming over as bureaucratic at all Marion. It's difficult to balance everyone's wishes and you should just do what suits.

I truly have no strong feelings, but since you asked, I felt it was ok to say what I preferred. I can always "not look" as you suggest - if you're happy, I'm happy.

Liz said...

I like the Facebook group best personally. I get the blog comments by email... paradoxically I read the comments before I read the actual blog posts on Google Reader every few days (which is why I'm only just leaving a comment on it!) A bit bizarre...

I find it easier to post to Facebook so I think I'm more likely to contribute if the group is on there. If it goes to a Yahoo group I'll probably read the emails but end up not saying anything (speaking from previous experience!).

magsramsay said...

In terms of admin, I'm happy whether it be blog, facebook or yahoo group.

I don't think choosing themes at random is quite the same as taking it in turns - submitting all the ideas at once doesn't give the opportunity to reflect and respond as the challenge progresses.
I don't know how many suggestions for challenge themes you have received already but I don't want to feel pressured to think of something for Friday.

I think that when it comes to my turn to set the theme I might well come up with a different idea than if I thought of one now, part of the process of being involved with a challenge.

Claire said...

What about if we take it in alphabetical turns (as Annabel suggested) to come up with the next theme?
Or we could just could draw everyone's name out of a hat, the order that they come out in, will be the order that the challenge themes will be set.
The day after a challenge is completed, the person who's coming up with the next theme challenge can post a blog post with the new theme.
This would also mean that we have to come to a decision fairly fast especially as the 1st deadline is on Friday...

Elma in Lochwinnoch said...

i am happy yo go with the majority, having said that, however, I am a member of various Yahoo groups both quilting and others and they do seem to work well, both for postings and photos.

As for each challenge,alphabetically or drawn, either I am happy with. I would not like to see a full list however, I would prefer just to be given that particular month's challenge, less anxirty about what is to come :-)

Sue Krekorian said...

I don't have any strong feeling about this, either. I'm happy with the Yahoo Groups I belong to, which I receive in Digest form to my e-mail box at least once a day. The blog is great and the Facebook Group seems to be working for some - I don't find it a problem, the posts come through to my e-mails too, as do the blog posts and comments. Not very helpful, am I?

Esther Aliu said...

I run a Yahoo Group and the major set back is the non immediate currency of pictures, it's in a seperate file location so the experience is not visual at all.

Actually I think the best place for this challenge is on this blog.

Linda B. said...

It's great to see a group of real and virtual friends exhibiting together. can't wait for the first reveal.

I belong to 12 by the dozen and we manage what little admin. there is by group e-mail - sems to be enough for now!