Thursday, November 19, 2009. Ok so what is so special about today’s date?
The date in itself is not whats important, it is the fact that it is the third Thursday of November.
Still saying what the heck Jims, OK . It is the:
“Great American Smoke out”
As you’re probably all aware, Linden Lab’s volunteer mentor program (which was effectively closed a little over a year ago from memory) is now finally being disbanded. We’ve already had a number of folks from the program ask to sign on with NCI staff, and so this is probably as good a time to talk about that process as any.
NCI is, as you should know, a volunteer organization. Nobody gets paid for the work they do, except for instructors and event hosts who are paid a small fee for classes. NCI has a very large footprint in Second Life, in terms of people, land and facilities. It is not cheap to run, and there’s nothing left over for wages.
NCI does not have ‘positions of power’ (with the exception of the owner/trustee). Instead it has positions of responsibility. NCI staff and officers are expected to fulfill those responsibilities with diligence and principle.
Being a volunteer organization and a widely distributed one, we value key criteria in different priorities to what you might find in more centralized organizations or businesses. Your principles, trustworthiness and reliability are more important than raw ability. The latter can be learned. The other things are harder to come by.
Civility, courtesy and respect are the three things we look for in people dealing with new Second Life users, and in dealing with NCI responsibilities. Those three core qualities should be a part of everything you do, whether you’re dealing with new users, your fellow staff, or griefers (whether accidental or intentional). Everyone makes mistakes or slips up now and again, but those three qualities will help get us all past mistakes and failures, whether we’re NCI staff or new users.
We select staff members through a double-probation system. Anyone who is willing to comply with the rules of our spaces, and who is willing and able to help new users is welcome to do so — just show up and start helping. Ask one of the staff for more information about the rules of the spaces, if you need to.
Not everyone who is both willing to help and able to help is necessarily an ideal fit for NCI’s operation, but those that distinguish themselves in action and principle, are provisionally taken on staff as Helpers. Helpers who continue to distinguish themselves are given increased responsibilities within NCI, if they want it and some appropriate role is available.
At one time, we had an actual application process, but the actual results were quite poor compared to this rather longer process.
Your ethical compass is, of course, expected to point firmly towards new users and, by extension, NCI. Assisting as many new users as possible, and as effectively as possible, is why we’re all here. It’s good for the new users, and what’s good for them improves all our Second Life experiences as a whole.
We help more than an estimated 40,000 new users each year, and that number continues to grow. We remain the most vigorous and heavily trafficked organization of our type because we stick to our principles, we maintain order in our facilities, and we’re selective about our staff.
 Well here I am again, coffee in one hand and pop tart in the other trying to figure out how to type. I am just a bit worried as to how things are going in our great little group. With some of the talk that I hear on the info channel, the lack of people at the newbie get togethers and the continual change of command at the top. That worry my friends is the simple thought of:
“Then There Were None”
Dear NCI folk, before I get to the heart of the post, I want to thank each of you for dedicating your time and skill (be it scripting, building, helping new citizens, or a sense of humor that can help lighten the mood of Group Chat.) NCI can be a great organization without a single Linden Dollar or a single square metre of land. But it must have great people to be a great organization. And NCI is full of great people. Thank you for making NCI what it is.
No coffee, however do have a glass of tea. I know that I have neglected you for awhile, I will not offer any excuses, just say I am sorry.
OK, now that that’s out of the way. With Halloween fast approaching I did a quick and I mean quick search of the internet for info on this fun holiday.
So kick back, pour yourself something to drink, hey it’s afternoon and enjoy.
 Well another late night for me working on a project for “Show and Tell”. Waking up the first thought running through my mind was how to make it better, so quickly I made my coffe did my morning routine set down at my computer with just that in mind.
 Wait a minute not even dress yet, then the thought hit me.
         “Is Second Life Addicting”
Well here it is Friday morning  again and there is a great list of classes and event’s lined up as always from now through the weekend.
Choice’s, choice’s, choice’s that is what this essay is all about. It is entiled:
           “However, on the Other Hand”
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On my first cup off coffee here this morning so may be a little laggy :). However, Â that is what I want to talk about this morning.
                     “Embracing the Lag”
Do you have your morning coffee in hand? You know that I do, can’t live without my caffeine. Today I am going to talk about reasons to blog.
With coffee in hand I sat down to guild you on yet another journey through this sticky, gooey grey matter I call a brain. This essay is entiled “Everything is Impossible” . So pour yourself a cup of your best coffee and enjoy.
I have been trying to get some things caught up with around here (real world stuff) and doing my best to get an AO working with the help of a wonderful and helpful little lady.
For almost one year now, NCI has been working in concert with CF University in Second Life, holding classes and events at their sim location Boomer island. Fourteen classes each week and one regular event, Boomer Hours, each Wednesday evening from 4pm to 5:30pm SLT. Find out more about CF University and their partnership with NCI after the break!
Continue reading NCI and CF University, a match made in Second Life