2019-06-28 OCA Website

Time: Fri, Jun 28, 10:30-10:45pm ET
Location: https://appear.in/patcon
Attending: patcon, pcameron

The purpose of this call was to talk about collectivizing maintainance and care for ontario.coop website via open source practices. (Originated from contact form submission by patcon on website.)

Summary

• ontario.coop is maintained by a co-op partner
• Peter is unable to connect us with that partner at this time
• Peter suggested contacting some partners to discuss digital strategies more specific to worker co-op needs (incl platform coops)
• re: routing opportunities between client-services co-ops
  • out-of-scope for OCA, which deals mostly with traditional housing/food co-ops, not client services worker co-ops
  • made suggestions to talking to other networks

Notes

• Peter: really interested to support platform co-op movement, but very new
  • talking to NYC folks like @ntnsndr
• patcon explained potential rationale for open sourcing website, allowing Ontario co-op community to work together in building their shared space online.
• Peter mentioned that they have a company that manages the website
  • this company even forwarded the very message that initiated this convo, which patcon sent via contact form on OCA website
• Peter mentioned phishing attack last few weeks, which actually caught a newer employee.
  • patcon walked through how, if the website were openly developed, someone might learn about a challenge like that, and be able to assist (e.g., adding a captcha to the webform)
  • patcon talked about balance between decent work (rightfully paying for maintenance) and open source spirit (where members might contribute for free)
• Peter not sure how to move forward
  • wanted to refer to a woman at UofT involved in tech (out of office, so didn’t have name)
  • also suggested talking to folks in waterloo tech scene
  • suggested GTA co-op, and talking to Urbane Cycle (president of CWCF as well) #action
  • patcon asked whether one path forward might be to connect him to tech co-op managing the website, as their support and interest would be the only thing that made this possible
    • Peter didn’t feel able to do that. mentioned that there were very few tech co-ops.
• patcon asking about whether Peter had advice on how to route opportunities between co-ops
  • walked through OCRCC (Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centre), which seems very amenable to building a platform co-op but needs a partner who cares about co-op ecosystem
  • Peter suggested getting touch directly.
    • mentioned that roots were in more traditional co-ops like housing and food, and tech was new
  • patcon had impression that routing of opportunities between client services co-ops was out of scope for OCA’s mission

Follow Up

• Contact Reba (hyphacoop)
  • routing opportunities via GTA/Can-wide networks
  • creating solidarity via open sourcing safe co-op assets
• Send UofT contact to patrick (peter)
• Investigate Waterloo co-op scene (hyphacoop)

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