There are many unique and diverse aspects to Information Technology (IT), computing and related technologies. Members of the Trinidad and

Tobago Computer Society (TTCS) have varied personal interests in many of these diverse fields.

Diversity of interests among TTCS members is good for general discussion forums such as the Pizza Limes. However, such diversity

makes it difficult for the TTCS, as a whole, to cater for members who wish to have technical meetings that are focused exclusively on their

particular interest.

 

In order to address this need for more in-depth coverage we have decided to introduce TTCS Focus Groups.

 

A Focus Group is defined as a group of TTCS members who wish to discuss and/or work on a specific aspect/topic of Information Technology (IT)/computing and related technologies, on a regular basis. The Focus Group would "specialise" in this aspect/topic and not hold meetings/discussions on any other topic.

 

These Guidelines/Rules have been drafted in order to lay the ground work for Focus Groups operating within the Trinidad and Tobago

Computer Society (TTCS). We have to plan for the long term so in the short term, some of these guidelines/rules may appear harsh and

restrictive. However, they are necessary in order to provide groups with a certain level of independence but not so much independence that

members/leaders feel they have no accountability and responsibility to the TTCS.

 

The text drafted in 2004-5 reflects the idea of using email lists. However, it would be likely that focus groups would be browsable via a web interface similiar in concept to groups on social networks.

 

 

What is a focus group?

 

A Focus Group is defined as: a group of TTCS members who wish to discuss and/or work on a specific aspect/topic of Information

Technology (IT)/computing and related technologies, on a regular basis. The Focus Group would "specialise" in this aspect/topic and not

hold meetings/discussions on any other topic.

 

How do I join a focus group?

 

Focus Groups are part of the TTCS and thus only TTCS members can join such groups. Non-members who are interested in joining a focus group

must first join the TTCS and then join the focus group of their choice.

 

 

 

How do I leave a focus group?

 

Should you decide to cease being a member of a focus group, you will need to :

• unsubscribe  yourself from the focus group mailing list(s)(where applicable).
• Stop attending all meetings held by that particular focus group.

 

 

How do I create a focus group?

 

If a TTCS member wants to create/lead a focus group: He/she should first check whether there are any focus groups with objectives similar

to what he/she has in mind. If there is a similar group, then join and participate in that existing focus group.

 

If such a group does not exist, the potential focus leader along with another TTCS member should then email admin -a-t- ttcsweb.org with the following information:

 

• A short name for the focus group.
• A mission statement/statement of purpose/objective of the group with a short description. This info would be used to "advertise/promote" the focus group on the TTCS website.
• Contact information for the two leaders of the focus group (if not provided to TTCS earlier) : name, telephone number and email address.

 

General Rules for Focus Groups

 

• Each focus group must have two adminstrators/leaders.? - Is this viable? Each focus group
• Potential focus group leaders must be regular attendees at TTCS meetings. A person known to the TTCS only via email would NOT be allowed to create a focus group.
• The proposed focus group objective must be related to some aspect of computing or Information Technology.
• The "focus" of Focus groups while must be IT related, should not be against other focus groups or against some aspect of computing or IT.
• The proposed focus group must not promote activities that are illegal in Trinidad and Tobago.
• The proposed focus group must not promote activities that are contrary to the purpose/interests/objectives of the TTCS.
• Focus group members are first and foremost, members of the TTCS and then members of any focus group. If a focus group member cancels his/her membership in a focus group, that individual is still a member of the TTCS (unless he/she decides to cancel membership in TTCS as well).
• There cannot be more than one focus group with the same objectives. All focus groups are part of the Trinindad and Tobago Computer Society(TTCS). They may have a certain level of independence for their operations but are accountable to Management and other members for their actions.

• Focus Groups are topic specific, not region specific. For example, a focus group about using the Mozilla web browser is acceptable but a focus group simply to collect members from Diego Martin is not acceptable.
• Group members and leaders must subscribe to the TTCS announce list.
• Group members and leaders must abide by the laws of Trinidad and Tobago.
• Groups will operate under the same conditions as the TTCS (e.g. groups should not be promoting illegal activities, allowing members to be abusive to one another, etc).
• Groups cannot be used for the sole purpose of "free" promotion of commercial/proprietary goods and services.
• Focus groups are not allowed to use or ask for the priviledges, concessions, permissions, etc, currently granted to the main TTCS group/TTCS management. If in doubt about this clause and how it applies to you (as a group leader or a group member), discuss this with TTCS management

 

 

Lifespan of focus groups

 

The lifespan can :

• be of limited duration: e.g. last as long as it takes to accomplish the goals of a specific project.
• last as long as the leader and members wish to keep it in operation.

 

The lifespan of a focus group will not extend beyond the life of the Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society (TTCS). In other words, if/when

the TTCS is dissolved, all focus groups in existance at that time will automatically be dissolved.

 

 

Communications

 

(Note This section needs to be rethought to take advantage of web based groups)

 

TTCS will create a separate mailing list for the focus group. This could be similar in function to either the ttcs_announce mailing list

(one way, only moderator can post) or a the ttcs discussion mailing list (if one person sends mail to the list, everyone subscribed to the

list receives it).

 

Regardless of which type of mailing list option is selected, the mailing list will be PUBLIC in order to allow TTCS members and the

general public to read past messages and to keep track of the progress of the group and/or decide whether they want to be involved with the

focus group.

 

The Focus group leader would have moderator priviliges for the group and the Rules for using mailing lists operated by the TTCS would apply.

 

The focus group leader can also develop a website/webpage to promote the focus group if he/she wishes. If there is a lot of material and/or

the possibility of frequent updates, a separate website could be developed and linked to from the main focus group webpage at the TTCS website.

 

The content of this website must are subject to the same conditions as the TTCS (e.g. not promoting illegal activities, etc).

Sites with links or banners to pornographic or other questionable content are not allowed.

 

 

 

Responsibilities of group leaders

 

Groups leaders :

 

• must distinguish between group/TTCS activities and personal activity/motives/objectives at all times.
• will provide TTCS Management with regular updates (at least once a month) of their activities.
• will formulate internal guidelines/rules for the operation of their group (such guidelines/rules are optional but should they be implemented, they should not contradict or conflict with the exisiting General guidelines/rules detailed on this page).
• acknowledge/accept that TTCS Management can approve, reject or modify these internal guidelines/rules at its sole discretion.
• are directly responsible for the activities of themselves and their group.
• agree that their groups will adhere to the principles and objectives of the TTCS.
• must attend TTCS meetings (including but not limited to Pizza Limes and other tech meetings) on a regular basis.
• must give prior notice to TTCS Management if they decide to dissolve their group.
• will post periodic updates (at least once a month) to the general membership via the TTCS "Discussion" list. These updates will inform the rest of the TTCS about the progress of the particular focus group.
• will make certain that potential members know they must first become TTCS members before joining any focus group. This information must be included on the main page of the focus group mailing list archive and/or any separate website/webpage used by the focus group.
• cannot transfer leadership of their group without prior approval of TTCS Management.
• are not authorised to enter into any sort of arrangement/contract/agreement etc on behalf of the TTCS.
• are not authorised to solicit/collect: money, donations, charity, goods, services, etc on behalf of the TTCS.

 

 

Focus group meetings

 

Focus groups can have as many internal meetings and/or discussions via their mailing list(s) in order to fulfill their stated

purpose/objective. If there is a need to conduct a technical demonstration/public meeting, then this should be communicated to TTCS

management in advance so that the TTCS can announce/publicise it.

 

Technical demonstration/public meetings should be conducted in the same manner/follow the same rules as regular TTCS meetings (see

http://www.ttcsweb.org/faq.htm)

 

 

Funding of activities

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There is no fee (at this time) for attending a meeting held by a focus group.

There is no membership fee (at this time) for being in a focus group.

Groups are responsible for funding their own activities.

Money should only be collected at focus group internal meetings to cover the expenses of the group and not for profit.

Focus groups are not allowed to collect funds for profit from the general public either from charging a fee for meeting attendance or

from the sale of of commercial/proprietary goods and services to TTCS members in the focus group.

 

Focus groups are not allowed/not authorised to solicit/collect: money, donations, charity, etc on behalf of the TTCS.

 

Status of "intellectual property" produced by focus groups/individual members

 

Any and all content produced by focus groups/individual members of focus groups for use by the group and/or TTCS and/or the general

public (e.g. print/electronic documents, photographs, software, webpages, etc) is to be "published" under an appropriate creative commons/open source license by the TTCS.

 

What is the privacy policy for Focus Groups?

 

The TTCS privacy policy is as follows: We do not sell/lease/give-away or in any other way disclose members' personal information to any

third party. Focus Group leaders and members would be expected to comply with this policy and not sell/lease/give-away or in any other

way disclose members' personal information to any third party.

 

Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society trademarks, etc

 

The term "TTCS" as used to refer to the Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society and the phrase "PizzaLimeâ„¢" as used to refer to the regular

meetings held/conducted by the TTCS are the property of the Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society and are not in the public domain.

 

They are not be used be used to promote events/activities not sanctioned by the Management of the Trinidad and Tobago Computer

Society.

 

They are not be used be used by third parties without the permission of the Management of the Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society.