Meetings on YouTube
So many people say "What you do with your meetings in Aleppo is awesome!--I wish our <municipality, school board, church group> did that." In fact, I hear it so frequently that I wanted to have something to give folks in response to this comment. So here's that "something!"
Cost
We got started in Aleppo with $322 worth of gear. And that took us a long way! We've since upgraded some of our equipment, but the $322 plan lasted us for years and is certainly enough for any group to get started.
Skill Required
It also does not involve an undue amount of technical knowledge. We did everything we did with off-the-shelf software. It's just YouTube and Gmail--if you know how to plug in a USB cord and you understand how to copy and paste, you have all the technical skill necessary to execute what we did.
Excuses
In short, if your <municipality, school board, or church group> is not using this technology, it's because they don't want to. They may not like the public scrutiny of what they're doing, they may be afraid that people will grandstand, or they may be frightened to create a record of what they do and say. None of these are good reasons to ignore using existing technology that makes it easier for residents to know what's going on.
How To Implement
So here are the resources I've assembled. Feel free to share this page with the leadership of your <municipality, school board, or church group> and ask them "if you're serious about these claims you make about 'transparency', why aren't we doing this?"
1. Here is a list of everything that we bought (including part and model numbers) and the steps that we took to install it. These instructions are a few years old, so there are a some things that have changed. But they'll give you a good idea of what's involved (it's not much!)
2. Here is a link to Aleppo's webpage showing how this can be implemented. Notice all the links to the "Digests" in the right column--that's the secret to making this all successful! (If you don't know what a "Digest" is, click here for our explanation.) If you think a Digest is too much for your organization right off the bat, click here to see our "channel" on YouTube ... without doing any extra work, you can have all of your meetings posted to YouTube and stored in one place.
3. Click here for a list of the most common objections I hear to this technology and my response. This list is a work in progress, so feel free to send me an email telling me what you are hearing.
Stream or Be Streamed
Don't forget that boards who are subject to sunshine laws or open-meeting requirements often cannot prevent the public from making recordings. It is not going to take much longer for your citizens to realize that they can record these meetings and post them on social media (if you're not already seeing that). So here's a question--would you rather get there first and control the way this content is created and disseminated, or do you want to leave that up to the residents that are discontented and coming to your meetings with a camera?
The Public's Response
People love this system. Aleppo residents have said things such as:
- "This is a great service to the residents." -- Thomas A., 27 October 2016
- "We think you do an amazing job with the digests of your meetings!" -- Debbie T., 3 January 2018
- "This is a good example of effective local government and transparency." -- Tom B., 15 November 2017
We've also been featured on the Pittsburgh Local News Podcast. (Click here to visit that show's page, then listen to the episode dated 17 May 2018 and scroll to 23:23 to hear the story we're on!)
I'll Help You!
One final thought: I am passionate about using this technology to make governments better everywhere. "A rising tide lifts all boats" and if your <municipality, school board, or church group> implements this technology, it only makes a stronger case for others to do so, as well. So I have a vested interest in seeing this succeed in your venue.
To that end, I offer myself as a free resource to you. Here are ways I can help:
1. Speak to your group. I have an existing slide deck from a presentation I already gave and it would be very easy for me to repeat it for your board. If you're not near Pittsburgh, we could easily work out some way for me to present via web-conference.
2. Talk things out. I've had long, theoretical conversations about this stuff with my wife, Township Manager, and solicitor--we've discussed it for hours. So I know some of the questions that are going through your mind and I am aware that they don't have easy answers ... it's a new way of thinking and doing things. But I'm happy to continue that conversation with you, so feel free to call or shoot me an email.
3. Help you install gear. I'm serous enough about this that I'll come put boots on the ground in your meeting place and help you get it done. If you've got a group that is seriously interested, I do not want "doing it" to prevent you from making it happen. Let's just pick a date and we'll get started.
“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.” Make it happen! 'Cause--you know--all we're talking about doing is radically improving the way governments interact with their citizens.
