We need tools that satisfy various needs for remote communication. Our numerous members should be able to view and post information: send announcements (automatic notification), collaborate to create documents such as forms, guides and shop signs (collaborative editing and attachments), and coordinate events such as staffing (a public calendar). The public at large should be able to view almost all information; but we might want to restrict editing to members, so members should get some kind of log-in to authenticate themselves.

Communication Needs

Discussion

Not everybody can make or want to go to meetings and meetings are difficult to schedule. Remote discussion can be a valuable resource, but it should engage as many people as possible and keep them active and informed in the discussion.

Documentation and Reference

Meeting minutes, forms, guides, drafts and many other types of documentation and reference materials need to be available to the FreeRide! community as well as easy ways to edit and create new documentation/references.

Collaboration

Working on ideas and drafts without needing to hold meetings.

Scheduling (Calendar, etc.)

Keeping everybody (especially the public) up to date with events. Helping organize meetings that can accommodate people. Know if we have enough staff/interest to hold events.

Notifications

One of the most frustrating things I find about FreeRide! communication is that nobody is aware of new things that are done. Like a helpful new reference for pricing parts? A few people may be aware of the reference, but it may otherwise go un-noticed. How do we notify the group so everybody can take advantage of others’ hard work? An additional aspect of notifications is helping committees inform the FreeRide! community of what they are up to.

Method Collabo- rative editing? Record of commu- nication Versi- oning Notifi- cation of updates Calend- aring Attach- ments Cost Log-in for sending Who owns data? Who owns the program? Adverti- sements?
Email no no no yes no yes 0 none we depends no
Word Press yes no ? no no no 0 Word Press we Word Press no
PBwiki yes yes yes ? no yes 0 ? ? PBWiki no
Brown Bear yes no no ? yes no 0 No we BrownBear yes
Crab Grass yes yes yes no no yes 0 CG we free no
Google Calendar yes no no yes yes yes 0 Google Google Google no
Google Docs yes no some ? no yes* 0 Google Google Google no
Google Groups no yes ? yes no yes 0 Google Google Google no
Yahoo Calendar yes no no ? yes yes 0 Yahoo Yahoo Yahoo yes
Yahoo Groups yes yes ? yes no yes 0 Yahoo Yahoo Yahoo ?