A possible incentive for mentoring could be a registration slot at the conference (not paid for, just not having to join the stampede). It might encourage participation. Annette On Wed, Nov 28, 2012 at 9:19 AM, Becky Yoose <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Some observations about conference-y stuff: > > - Newcomer dinner groups tend to see a disproportionate n/v ratio, even > with some prodding to get more established members to participate and > disperse themselves out in the groups. Then again, I can't make things > mandatory, lest I get pelted with book snakes. > - Since 2009, I've noticed that the number of first time attendees range > between over 1/3 to roughly 1/2 of the conference crowd. [1] > - Even when it's not their first code4lib conference, people at their > second or third conference still identify as newbies, so these folks might > not be comfortable being mentors quite yet... > > [1] Count taken from raised hands when asked the annual "How many > code4libcons you've attended" question > > Thanks, > Becky, uncaffeinated > > On Tue, Nov 27, 2012 at 8:33 PM, Cynthia Ng <[log in to unmask]> > wrote: > > > Getting traction for mentoring online is always difficult, but what > > about starting that mentorship at code4libcon? > > > > Maybe almost like a buddy system, so that the first meeting between a > > mentor and mentee is at a code4libcon (national, regional, or > > otherwise) if possible. > > > > This might simply be a good idea for first timers who are not going > > with colleagues too. > > > > Just throwing out some ideas here... > > > > On Tue, Nov 27, 2012 at 7:49 PM, Nick Ruest <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > > Matt McCollow proposed something like this a while back. We have a page > > up > > > and everything! But, it never got much traction. > > > > > > http:[log in to unmask] > > > http://wiki.code4lib.org/index.php/Mentorship > > > > > > -nruest > > > > > > On 12-11-27 07:30 PM, Bess Sadler wrote: > > >> > > >> +1 to this idea. I have benefited tremendously over the years from > kind > > >> people taking me under their wings. Many of us try to do this > > one-on-one, > > >> but some kind of introduction service would be a huge benefit for the > > >> community, I would think. > > >> > > >> Mentorship is a great example of a robust solution - a solution that > > >> addresses more than one problem at once. I suspect that this would not > > only > > >> improve our diversity as a community, it might also solve some tech > > >> leadership / succession planning problems and maybe expose some > training > > >> needs. > > >> > > >> Bess > > >> > > >> On Nov 27, 2012, at 4:20 PM, Nathan Tallman <[log in to unmask]> > wrote: > > >> > > >>> This is a slightly different topic, but relates to Kelley's post: > Does > > >>> code4lib have a mentor program where more inexperienced geeks can > pair > > up > > >>> with someone to guide their development? I don't have anyone like > that > > in > > >>> my network, but would really like to. I don't mean to discount the > > >>> existing > > >>> resources on code4lib or this list, which both have been very useful. > > I'm > > >>> sure I could just start by attending some of the conferences, but for > > >>> more > > >>> inexperienced people they can be a bit intimidating, albeit > inspiring. > > >>> > > >>> It would also be a way to directly engage minorities. > > >>> > > >>> Just a thought. > > >>> > > >>> Nathan > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> On Tue, Nov 27, 2012 at 6:20 PM, Kelley McGrath <[log in to unmask] > > > > >>> wrote: > > >>> > > >>>> I'll second the idea of approaching people individually and > explicitly > > >>>> asking them to participate. It worked on me. I never would have > > written > > >>>> my > > >>>> first article for the Code4Lib Journal or become a member of the > > >>>> editorial > > >>>> committee if someone hadn't encouraged me individually (Thanks > > >>>> Jonathan!). > > >>>> > > >>>> It would also be good to find a way to somehow target the pool of > > >>>> lurkers > > >>>> who maybe aren't already connected to someone and get them more > > >>>> involved. > > >>>> > > >>>> As far as anonymous proposals go, we recently had a very good > workshop > > >>>> on > > >>>> implicit bias here. Someone brought up that found significant > changes > > in > > >>>> the gender proportions in symphony orchestras after candidates > started > > >>>> auditioning behind screens. There are also lots of studies about the > > >>>> different responses to the same resume/application depending on > > whether > > >>>> a > > >>>> stereotypically male/female or white/black name was used. Probably > > it's > > >>>> impossible to make proposals completely anonymous, but it would be > an > > >>>> interesting experiment to leave off the names. > > >>>> > > >>>> Kelley > > >>>> > > >>>> PS Interestingly, I wouldn't instinctively self-identify as a member > > of > > >>>> the Code4Lib community, although my first thought is that that has > > more > > >>>> to > > >>>> do with not being a coder than with being a woman. > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> ************************** > > >>>> Kelley McGrath > > >>>> Metadata Management Librarian > > >>>> University of Oregon Libraries > > >>>> 1299 University of Oregon > > >>>> Eugene, OR 97403 > > >>>> > > >>>> 541-346-8232 > > >>>> [log in to unmask] > > >>>> > > > > > > -- > > > -nruest > > >