I had an idea.
Within our community, there are individuals actively contributing to Ubuntu who, for reasons that are hard to understand, haven’t sought Ubuntu membership.
From conversations and stories shared within our circles, it appears some contributors might underestimate their efforts, believing perhaps that their level of activity isn’t significant, or that their contributions don’t meet some perceived threshold of value or impact.
Although this perception might hold true for a few, I’m convinced it doesn’t apply to all. I see many within our ranks as ‘unsung heroes’—individuals who, with just a bit of encouragement or perhaps a small additional effort, could cross the threshold where they feel confident enough to apply for membership.
Announcing…
PUMP - Potential Ubuntu Member Program!
This is my vision for its implementation: Members currently within our community—be it developers, council leaders, or community advocates—would step forward to mentor both new and existing contributors. The ultimate aim is to guide these individuals toward becoming Ubuntu Members, and PUMP them up!
This mentorship would involve regular interactions between the mentor and mentee, utilizing whichever communication platform they mutually prefer. Mentors would offer guidance, encouragement, and answers to questions, all designed to support the mentee’s growth and progress on their path to membership, and keep them PUMPED!
How it works:
We’ll establish an accessible wiki page on Discourse where current members can volunteer as mentors by listing their names alongside their areas of expertise—such as development, archive administration, documentation, snap packaging, etc.
Mentees, in turn, are encouraged to browse this list and reach out to a potential mentor via direct message on the forum (or through IRC or Matrix, depending on preference) to inquire about their availability for mentorship.
It’s advisable for mentors to manage how many mentees they take on to ensure the mentorship remains manageable and enjoyable, rather than becoming burdensome or akin to an additional job. The aim is for this to be a positive, straightforward, and rewarding experience for everyone involved.
Once a mentor-mentee pair is established, they should collaboratively set a realistic goal for achieving Ubuntu membership and outline a plan to reach it. This process should be flexible and tailored to the specific contributions the mentee will make during this period.
When the mentee is ready to apply for membership, they can proceed through the standard application process on Discourse, with the added advantage of having a mentor—and possibly other contributors—who can personally attest to their contributions, work ethic, precision, and communication skills.
What does everyone think? PUMPED?