[amsat-bb] Slack vs. eMail -- The medium is the message

[VA7KBM]

Hello everyone,

As others have pointed out, there can be very significant downsides to 
conference systems over email. As much as we might think we want topics 
to be separated you can easily end up with too much fragmentation of 
both topics and responses, navigation can be an issue, moderation is 
much more labor-intensive, and it forces everyone to use yet another 
platform which may lead to a loss of interest and participation.

If staying with an email list, AMSAT should consider a more modern email 
list system. Someone else mentioned groups.io which is one example of an 
email list system that provides some limited group features. I'm sure 
there are other such systems worth considering, and they will all 
provide the usual refinements over AMSAT-BB like text formatting 
(colour, bold, underline, bullet lists, etc.), embedded images, and 
attachments. In addition to usability features, such platforms will 
likely improve email deliverability and will not require AMSAT to 
operate their own email list services. [It's generally not a good idea 
for most small organizations to run their own email servers these days - 
too much security and technical overhead, and who needs that?]

73 Ken VA7KBM

On 7/14/2020 7:23 AM, Robert MacHale via AMSAT-BB wrote:
> Can I suggest moving AMSAT member communications from eMail to Slack?
>
> When I taught at UC Riverside last year - we used Slack to communicate with students. The tech companies I have worked with in Southern California have used Slack for many years. Recently, I noticed the Parrot Disco (RC Glider) club uses Slack to communicate with volunteers and members:
>
> https://github.com/uavpal/disco4g
>
> The benefit to Slack is having channels for each topic. In this case, discussion about Board Membership can be in it's own channel. People who are not interested are not required to read.
>
> Each technology can have it's own channel. Each project can have it's own channel. And, members can find each other easily.
> This current eMail subscription for all things creates a pain point - encouraging everyone to read everything.
> I highly recommend the Board of Directors evaluate Slack as a replacement for eMail; the corporate cost per user in low compared to value: excellent ROI. Remember, eMail subscriptions became popular in the 1980s. This protocol is entirely outdated and outmoded for conversations today. Keep in mind, the Medium is the message - another reminder AmSat has become outdated and outmoded and not keeping up with the times.
> Slack has been a positive and transforming tool employed on many projects I have worked with recently.
> Sincerely,
>
> Robert MacHale. KE6BLR Ham Radio License. http://www.aprsat.com/predict
> . http://www.spaceCommunicator.club
> . Supporting Boy Scout Merit Badges in Radio, Robotics, and Space Exploration
>
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