Professional Documents
Culture Documents
[10:37] Gentle Heron: I just realized I need to set out more chairs!
[10:37] Gentle Heron: not so many... several interested people can't make this hour
[10:37] Gentle Heron: I expect four besides myself, one possibly arriving late as she's in an RL meeting
just now.
[10:38] Gentle Heron: Please have a seat and let me know how I can assist in getting this started.
[10:38] Idem Rajal: ok many thanks gentle we'll go with what we've got
[10:39] Gentle Heron: One is a disability service support group, federally funded.
[10:40] Gentle Heron: I used your outline, made a notecard for them to fill out in advance.
[10:40] Idem Rajal: thats great, MB do you think we should stick with text or go for voice?
[10:40] Gentle Heron: when we get off the pre-prepared bit, then voice will go faster.
[10:41] MB Chevalier: np
[10:41] Idem Rajal: ok so we'll let each group do their short presentation then have another voice
session to ask a few questions in an open session
[10:42] Gentle Heron: Also, although I know some of these people in real life, and although they may
reveal their RL names, could we please stick with SL names in your transcript?
[10:42] Gentle Heron: Probably you can say that in your introduction.
[10:43] Gentle Heron: You can have a seat, we are just setting up.
[10:43] Dahlea Milena: Hi Gentle, I can leave & come back if you'd prefer?
[10:46] Idem Rajal: ok i'm going to test voice can you tell me if you can hear me ok?
[10:46] Dahlea Milena: well in that case, smiles, I'll find a seat and review my notes :)
[10:49] MB Chevalier: yes working but I have no mic as I am using playback capture on my notebook to
record audio
[10:50] Gentle Heron: MB, even I know more about you than that!
[10:50] MB Chevalier: together with Idem (University of Coventry) and others we are running this six-
month project
[10:50] MB Chevalier: Idem should be able to tell more as using voice is much easier than typing
[10:50] Gentle Heron: Jenelle, MB and Idem are our hosts today.
[10:52] Gentle Heron: Jenelle, you are totally in text today, correct?
[10:53] Gentle Heron: I will do my best to do a quick transcription of whatever appears in voice.
[10:55] Gentle Heron: There really is a floor, despite what you may see.
[10:56] Gentle Heron: Chad, MB and Idem are our hosts today.
[10:56] Jen: I If someone will speak, I'll see if I can at least hear you
[10:56] Gentle Heron: Chad, I don't see you on active speaker either.
[11:00] Gentle Heron: Idem is speaking. He's the main host from Coventry University.
[11:05] Gentle Heron: (1) Introduce your organization and your role in it. (2 sentences, please)
Virtual Ability, Inc. is a US nonprofit corporation whose mission is to enable people with a wide range of
disabilities (physical, mental, emotional, and sensory) by providing a supporting environment for them
to enter and thrive in online virtual worlds. I am the president of the corporation and the head of the
community in Second Life, and am fully disabled by Multiple Sclerosis.
The day-to-day operations in Second Life are managed through tiered distributed leadership. Most
operations are viewed as tasks, which are led by one or two people. There is a four-person Executive
Team who sets the direction and organizes and manages the task leaders. Because so many of us live
with disabilities or chronic health conditions, we try to use two-deep leadership so that one will always
be available.
[11:07] Gentle Heron: The corporation is run by a Board of Directors to whom the inworld Executive
Team reports. We comply with all US laws and requirements pertaining to tax-exempt charitable
corporations.
[11:07] Gentle Heron: We have no paid staff in either world. We are an entirely volunteer operation.
[11:07] Gentle Heron: • Goals Describe the 3 most important aims/objectives/goals of the group/
community you represent.
Our vision is to be the leading provider of services and information for people with disabilities in online
virtual worlds.
[11:08] Gentle Heron: To that end, Virtual Ability, Inc. does the following:
* Conduct outreach and awareness activities to inform people with disabilities or chronic health
conditions, their family and friends, medical professionals and other caregivers of the benefits virtual
worlds can provide;
[11:08] Gentle Heron: * Identify the need for, and help with the use of, assistive hardware or software;
[11:08] Gentle Heron: * Assist with the signup, intake, and training process of entering a virtual world;
[11:08] Gentle Heron: * Offer ongoing support and community as residents become integrated into the
virtual world; and
[11:08] Gentle Heron: * Provide information about accessibility for and to people with disabilities in
virtual worlds.
[11:09] Gentle Heron: Virtual Ability, Inc.’s success is not measured by how many people stay in our
group, however. Remember, our mission is to help people with disabilities to enter and then thrive in
online virtual worlds. Our goal, and the direction to which we point our many services, is for those
whom we assist in any way to become productive members of society in SL.
[11:09] Gentle Heron: • Technology Was any technology used to support/promote the group?
Yes! First, we function inside virtual worlds (right now, Second Life and InWorldz, and we are slowly
expanding to other worlds as well).
[11:09] Gentle Heron: We have a website that in addition to providing lots of information also has a
RegAPI. People can sign up for an SL account and enter as a brand new avatar directly onto our New
Resident Orientation Course.
[11:10] Gentle Heron: And of course, many of our community members use assistive technology to
access their computers. A truly awesome wide variety of assistive technologies, in fact, ranging from
screen readers to voice recognition to eye gaze technology.
[11:10] Gentle Heron: When we are notified (usually be email through our website) that someone
needing extra assistance wishes to enter SL, we coach them through the sign in process and their first
learning to use their avatar. Often we use Skype for this, and if we need to see their computer desktop,
we use CrossLoop.
[11:10] Gentle Heron: • How were/are the decisions made in relation to:
Individuals have their own assistive tech. We can not provide that, nor can we provide training on the
basics of how to use it.
[11:11] Gentle Heron: We use Skype and CrossLoop for training because they are free and reliable.
In terms of interfacing a person’s existing assistive tech with SL, we do have mentors who already use
different kinds of AT. They are the best trainers for a new person in SL.
[11:11] Gentle Heron: • Were/are there specific staff allocated to support/promote your organisation’s
use/adoption of technology?
One of our Executive Team members, a Vice President in our corporation, is an executive at Hewlett
Packard. He is excellent about thinking through our website and he manages our RegAPI. Both the
website and the RegAPI are contracted out.
[11:12] Gentle Heron: We also have many skilled community members who take on individual tasks.
[11:12] Gentle Heron: • Which technology do you use the most and why?
Inworld communication.
[11:12] Gentle Heron: Let me give an example of how this can link externally. When the US Access Board
(a federal regulatory agency) was updating its regulations about the accessibility of medical diagnostic
equipment, we notified our members about the upcoming opportunities for public input. (This was
through Group Notices.)
[11:13] Gentle Heron: Then we planned and held several sessions in SL to collect information from our
community members. (This involved Group Notices, Group Chat, exchange of notecards to collect input
from members, and a voice/text presentation with Q&A.)
[11:13] Gentle Heron: Then one of our community members wrote this up with a summary, all formal
with bound printed copies and a PowerPoint, and presented our thoughts at the public hearing in
Washington, DC. So our virtual community had real life representation into a real world issue.
[11:14] Gentle Heron: 3. Technology Barriers and Benefits (5-8 minutes total, please)
• What is/are the biggest barriers facing your groups in relation to using technology to:
Overall, the biggest barrier to the use of ANY technology is accessibility. But we soldier on.
[11:14] Gentle Heron: In SL, we use Group Notices, Group Chat messages, and a physical (?) calendar
that is linked to Google Calendar. This is mainly outgoing communication TO our members, although
Group Chat can be highly interactive. We face the usual SL challenges with these tools.
[11:14] Gentle Heron: Our corporation is not savvy about Social Media. We do have a task leader
creating an implementation plan at the moment, and one intended outcome is improved
communication (two-way) with members.
[11:15] Gentle Heron: Most of our communication is in written and spoken English. Our members have
other languages that are their primary forms of communication (ASL and other sign languages, other
world languages). We do use translator tools, but those could be improved. There is no way to use sign
effectively in SL.
[11:16] Gentle Heron: We do provide V2T and T2V transcription services for all our events. We hire
professional and well-trained amateur transcriptionists.
[11:16] Gentle Heron: b) effectively get your message across to external audiences
There is an “external audience” within Second Life of other disability groups, and other individuals who
might be interested. We advertise our activities to other disability groups through The Health Support
Coalition, a group of leaders of a variety of peer support groups in SL. We use the SL Events Calendar for
presentations that might appeal more to the general public.
[11:16] Gentle Heron: Another benefit we see to eventually using Social Media is informing external
audiences about our work and the potential benefits to our mutual audiences of participation in virtual
worlds.
[11:17] Gentle Heron: We have identified journals of English-speaking disability support organizations in
several countries, and plan to, but have not yet, submit informational articles to them.
[11:17] Gentle Heron: • Is there a communication technology that your group would like to use but
currently do not? If so, what is it and why don’t you use it?
[11:17] Gentle Heron: • Which technology do you think has given your group the most benefit? For
example, allowed effective communication internally/externally.
When they work, inworld communication has been effective in promoting our activities within our
community and to the remainder of SL.
[11:18] Gentle Heron: Externally, our website has worked well. If you Google “Second Life” +
“Disability”, Virtual Ability is at the top. And we continue to sign people into SL through our RegAPI.
[11:19] Chad Mikado: (1) Introduce your organization and your role in it. (2 sentences, please)
My name is Chad and I work for a nonprofit called the National Service Inclusion Project (NSIP). My role
within this organization is to create, generate, and maintain all of our online messages, training courses,
and web content.
[11:20] Chad Mikado: (2) Describe your group. (5-8 minutes total, please)
We are a Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) nonprofit that provides training and
technical assistance on the inclusion of people with disabilities to participate in all streams of national
service. Our group is housed in the Institute for Community Inclusion, and we are grant-funded by the
Corporation. We came about because people with disabilities had always been perceived as only being
recipients of service, rather than active participants. Our project has been funded since 2001, and the
Corporation has been in existence since 1993. Through ADA legislation and the Kennedy Serve America
Act, our scope for promoting inclusion and increasing people with disabilities in national service has
increased. In our 10 years, we, too, have evolved and grown as well.
Our training and technical assistance had always been done face-to-face, but in 2009, we started carving
a path toward conducti
[11:23] Chad Mikado: Goals Describe the 3 most important aims/objectives/goals of the group/
community you represent.
1. Deliver face to face and online train the trainer inclusion topics, which include everything from
person-first language and etiquette, to access/accommodations and to universal design, to resources on
legal information.
[11:24] Chad Mikado: 2. Provide technical assistance, products, and resources to the field on any
questions regarding disability inclusion via any of our communication outlets.
[11:24] Chad Mikado: 3. Help states create strategic planning and inclusion teams that partner with
other disability organizations to address the inclusion needs of steams of service in that state.
[11:24] Chad Mikado: Technology Was any technology used to support/promote the group?
Not initially. When our project first started, particularly before the “Web 2.0” culture of social media
and online presence, training was conducted primarily out-world and face to face.
[11:25] Chad Mikado: In the past 2 years, we have regularly participated in a number of out-world
outlets- Facebook, twitter, and our own website: serviceandinclusion.org. We even briefly used the
content management system Moodle as a community of practice to have participants share best
practices, exchange resources, ask questions, etc. We have since altered our approach to build upon our
website resources and environment in Second Life.
[11:25] Chad Mikado: Which brings me to in-world. For a little over a year now, we have been working
on ways to regularly incorporate our online training events into Second Life. While we are still working
on bringing the field in-world, we have accidently discovered new communities.
[11:26] Chad Mikado: How were/are the decisions made in relation to:
-In our larger institute, we would see what technology is available to us. If something wasn’t available,
we would assess how easy it would be to acquire it.
-We would then also poll the field for their input on the technology they are comfortable with and what
they know how to use.
-Accessibility is our number one priority. We would test it against accessibility standards: html web
standards, readability by screen readers, etc.
-A number of national programs have firewalls blocking electronic sites, Second Life among them. We
have to see what users in the field are allowed/able to access.
[11:28] Chad Mikado: • Were/are there specific staff allocated to support/promote your organisation’s
use/adoption of technology?
Yes- we allocate funds of our grant toward marketing and communications in our larger institute. This
includes production of video, online courses, and web page content. Internal to our team, I am
responsible for generating this content and working with this other teams to develop it.
[11:29] Chad Mikado: Which technology do you use the most and why?
We have email listservs that we use weekly to introduce regular topics on disability inclusion. It regularly
generates strong discussion from the field. This medium is time-tested and well-accepted by users. Email
is a medium which is well-established. It’s accessible and there are few barriers in place.
[11:30] Chad Mikado: Technology Barriers and Benefits (5-8 minutes total, please)
• What is/are the biggest barriers facing your groups in relation to using technology to:
• How accessible is the technology? For media and technology we use in-house, we test it thoroughly.
What about the accessibility of Facebook? I’m told that with each iteration, Second Life becomes more
and more accessible to people with screen readers. How is that progressing? Could I tell my audiences it
is easy enough to use for beginners?
[11:31] Chad Mikado: • What is their location? Is the person potentially in a rural or otherwise distance
setting that makes high-speed internet applications more difficult?
[11:31] Chad Mikado: • What kind of privacy exists for computer users in a program or organization? If a
person does not with to disclose their disability, but locate disability resources and communicate with
other organizations, would the user be able to do that?
[11:32] Chad Mikado: • Are there programmatic restrictions such as firewalls which prevent a user from
accessing a particular resource, Second Life?
[11:32] Chad Mikado: • Is the technology/platform we’ve chosen to use going to be well-received by
users? It is not a precise science. For example, we built our Content Management Moodle system as a
result of polling audiences during training. They all gave positive indications for use. In the end,
however, almost no one ever used it; we’re now working on enhancing our existing website instead.
[11:33] Chad Mikado: • An argument we’ve heard from the field is: why should we use a new technology
when the existing means of communication (email, phone) works just fine?
[11:33] Chad Mikado: effectively get your message across to external audiences
• We try to obtain numbers of audiences for any training or event we participate in. With online
content, we have few ways of really knowing who is accessing our information and how often
[11:34] Chad Mikado: • We do check unique hits to our website on a bi-annual basis
[11:34] Chad Mikado: • We poll people in surveys for their use and satisfaction
[11:34] Chad Mikado: • We also have to respect the privacy of members/volunteers. Some people may
not want to identify themselves, and enjoy the privacy that online communication provides
[11:35] Chad Mikado: What would help overcome these barriers?
• Particularly for users that are unsure how to use technology, training, as well as buy-in from other
users would aid technology integration
[11:35] Chad Mikado: • Perhaps accept that not all users will buy-in, and appeal to newer generation of
members/volunteers- Millennial volunteers: youth and young adults that have always known technology
[11:36] Chad Mikado: • There are some barriers that also may not be crossed- due to government
firewall. In that case, having simultaneous availability of other, accepted technologies will keep
communication in place
[11:36] Chad Mikado: • Is there a communication technology that your group would like to use but
currently do not? If so, what is it and why don’t you use it?
[11:36] Chad Mikado: A content or learning management system, such as Lectora, or Moodle again, that
will allow the field to have an easy to use location to store files, speak with each other, and
communicate.
[11:37] Chad Mikado: Which technology do you think has given your group the most benefit? For
example, allowed effective communication internally/externally.
I would have to say Second Life. Not only has there been the unintended consequence of speaking with
new communities, we are also able to make training come to life- most notably by showcasing practical
applications of universal design in a building. We’re still in the process of developing how best to
integrate the field into it, but hope to increase participation by others in the service world in the future.
[11:39] Jen: TAVA was founded in 2003 to provide support and information to transgender veterans. We
also are geared toward educating our legislators at all levels of government regarding Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, and Transgender ( LGBT) issues with an emphasis on Transgender veterans.
Jenelle Levenque, me, is the inworld representative for TAVA. In addition, I'm the National Treasurer and
am the one who handles IRS interactions. We are a Nonprofit incorporated in the State of Ohio and
recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3).
[11:40] Jen: I also have a business card that I can pass out with more information
TAVA was formed by Monica Helms and Angela Brightfeather to address inequities in how transgender
veterans were treated vice non transgender veterans. Other LGBT groups tended to put transgender at
the bottom of the list. The result was a transgender focused organization.
[11:41] Jen: Many LGBT groups were not addressing the T in the acronym
[11:42] Jen: I originally got involved with TAVA putting the request together for the IRS (Internal
Revenue System)
[11:43] Jen: TAVA is run by a Board of Directors. Membership has input to the board. Run by myself in SL
[11:43] Jen: Other than the usual, each of the directors takes an area of expertise
[11:43] Jen: • Goals Describe the 3 most important aims/objectives/goals of the group/ community you
represent.
Gather and analyze valid demographic data concerning denial of service to veterans due to
acknowledged or suspected GID.
Determine a course of action to eliminate denial of authorized services to veterans due to their having
GID.
Determine impediments to VA provision of adequate treatment for veterans with GID, including, but not
limited to, Public Law, VA regulations, attitude of local VA managers, and lack of staff education.
[11:44] Jen: A major issue has been the treatment of Transgender veterans by the Department of
Veterans Affairs
[11:44] Jen: Some members have been denied any treatment even though non Trans related
[11:45] Jen: Each Medical Center is run to suit their own views
[11:45] Jen: From the beginning, TAVA has used the internet.
Internet was used due to the physical location of the board and regular members.
[11:46] Jen: Since we are scattered all over the world, (some veterans retire to other countries) we had
to use a communication technology that was reliable, inexpensive, and simple
Was used used for a website for general information plus for internal communication with members,
and board meetings.
[11:48] Jen: We use the Yahoo groups for group specific communication
[11:48] Jen: • Which technology do you use the most and why?
The most prevalent mean of communication is via email with Yahoo groups used to augment discussions
and more general communication.
[11:48] Jen: This is being reviewed in light of the Social Media such as Facebook and Twitter
[11:49] Jen: Our constituency consists of a wide range with WW 2 veterans to Active Duty members
No way of knowing the impact of a communication with the members. It's difficult, or impossible, to
determine if members actually receive a communication.
Secondarily is our presence in Second Life. We have a place for members to meet and chat at their
convenience. It also makes us visible to a very large audience.
[11:50] Jen: It's not easy to assess the impact of communication via electronic means It's so
asynchronous
Currently, this is our website, being remodeled. A lack of understanding of the mechanics of social
media is our biggest barrier.
[11:52] Jen: Most of our board are Vietnam Veterans so we are sort of between the phone/snail mail
generation and the Facebook/Twitter groups
[11:53] Jen: Most of our board are Vietnam Veterans so we are sort of between the phone/snail mail
generation and the Facebook/Twitter groups
[11:54] Jen: I'm working with my Amvets Post as well as the Veterans Service Commission on upgrading
our skills so we can reach our audience
The biggest help would be some specific training on the mechanics of using Facebook, Twitter, and other
social media.
[11:54] Jen: • Is there a communication technology that your group would like to use but currently do
not? If so, what is it and why don’t you use it?
The entire spectrum of the social media. We don't use it because a) we don't understand the mechanics
of using it and b) we don't understand how to deploy a strategy effectively.
[11:55] Jen: When we went in the military, they trained us to use our tools
[11:56] Jen: We've had no such formal training with technological communication
[11:56] Jen: • Which technology do you think has given your group the most benefit? For example,
allowed effective communication internally/externally.
I'm pleased with the response in SL. We have 3 locations in SL, all listed in search under several
keywords.
For 2011, through April, we are averaging around 8 avatars per day. Many of these are current
members, but we have also seen about 20 to 30 per month of first time visitors. Several of these have
become SL members/supporters with a few also joining the RL organization.
[11:57] Jen: Since I first opened our office in SL, I've kept track of the traffic and avatars that come
through our facilities. It's gone up and with current members and first timers, we are seeing an average
of 8 to 9 people daily
[11:58] Jen: That's an unprecedented reach for an organization of 150 paid members
[11:58] Jen: In addition, we've had the opportunity to learn from people we never would have seen or
met otherwise
[11:59] Jen: I was also asked to present to a LGBT group based in France
[12:00] Jen: I would be more than happy to discuss with you any time
[12:01] Dahlea Milena: My name is Dahlea Milena, I am here today representing the National Native
American Veterans Association (NNAVA).
I am a Co-Founder and charter member of the organization and hold a seat on the National Council
Representative with the title of 'Elder at Large' and officially represent NNAVA within the Second Life
community.
[12:03] Dahlea Milena: (2) Describe your group. (5-8 minutes total, please)
Launched July 2004, the National Native American Veterans Association, or NNAVA, was the brainchild
of U.S. Air Force and Navy veteran Thomas Berry, of the Choctaw nation, who served as the
organization's first chairman. NNAVA's No. 1 priority, Berry said, was educating Native American
veterans and tribes about veterans' rights, benefits and entitlements.
Although Berry came up with the idea for the association nearly two years ago, it was not until 2003
when he met U.S. Air Force Reserve and Army veteran (Dahlea Milena), of the Cherokee Nation, on a
Web site for Native Americans that NNAVA really began to take shape.
"I'd been kicking this idea around, and (Dahlea and I) kicked it back and forth on-line," Berry said. "We
looked at what we would like to see in this organization, what it would mean to Native American
veterans and the tribes themselves. ... One thing led to another, and the program is up an
Our organization is incorporated as a not-for-profit U.S. Military Veterans organization under US Federal
Tax guidelines and is governed with a Constitution and Bylaws. We have a chair, a national council of
representatives, and our membership. Our council, comprised entirely of US Military Veteran
volunteers, many of whom are disabled from their military service, meets regularly with an agenda
based on veteran related issues as pertains to legislation, benefits and resources both from a cultural
and a military service background as to how we may best provide information and support for our
members and any veteran in need. Bi-annually we hold a national gathering for council elections,
organization business, legislative agendas, and review or update of our Constitution and Bylaws.
[12:06] Idem Rajal: jen can you switch off your mike please?
[12:06] Gentle Heron: She disconnected her set but may need to relog
[12:06] Dahlea Milena: I am on headphones, if I switch to speakers, I can no longer use my mike because
I will have worse feedback
[12:09] Dahlea Milena: • Goals Describe the 3 most important aims/objectives/goals of the group/
community you represent.
The mission of the National Native American Veterans Association is to educate and assist Native
American Veterans as to their Veteran Rights, Entitlements, and Benefits and access thereto.
[12:09] Dahlea Milena: • Technology Was any technology used to support/promote the group?
From the beginning, technology has been at the core of our organization's growth. The use of internet
for communications and information provided the grass roots for reaching out to and in locating and
providing access to information for Native American Veterans. In 2008 the decision was made to add
social networking such as Facebook and VIrtual World technology through Second Life as part of our
outreach capabilities.
[12:10] Dahlea Milena: • How were/are the decisions made in relation to:
The decision of which technology was used was based entirely on the organization's early structure and
growth. Run solely by volunteers, the technology used was based on each members ability to provide
their own technology based equipment, i.e. computer, laptop, facsimile machine, phone, printer, etc.
[12:11] Dahlea Milena: • Were/are there specific staff allocated to support/promote your organization’s
use/adoption of technology?
Yes, we had/have a webmaster who works with a graphics designer and the Council to keep our website
and email system running and updated. Myself and another Council member manage and operate the
Second Life collaboration.
[12:12] Dahlea Milena: • Which technology do you use the most and why?
Primarily electronic: laptops, desktops, printers, facsimile machines, cellphones, servers and networks.
We are a small organization still in the process of growing, on an extremely limited budget; our ability to
run the organization, reach our target membership, and educate the legislatures and public is primarily
through the use of electronic technology.
All of our members and Council utilize the internet and this is the basis for our main method of
communication with our membership.
[12:13] Dahlea Milena: 3. Technology Barriers and Benefits (5-8 minutes total, please)
• What is/are the biggest barriers facing your groups in relation to using technology to:
Some members do not have access to internet due to location (such as living rurally or on a reservation),
finances due to fixed incomes, or because of a lack of faith in modern technology sometimes due to
cultural background. As a result, we also use surface mail to reach some members.
[12:14] Dahlea Milena: b) effectively get your message across to external audiences
Issues rising from cultural backgrounds or physical location all or in part play a role in restricting our
ability to reach out to more Native American Veterans and educating legislative representation about
the needs of Veterans in general and Native American Veterans specifically.
[12:15] Dahlea Milena: • Is there a communication technology that your group would like to use but
currently do not? If so, what is it and why don’t you use it?
We would like to standardize our networking ability by use of a consistent platform so that all our
communications may be centralized and more easily managed. Use of standardized software and
networked drives via servers would provide a faster avenue for information sharing. Hosting our own
server for these needs would be more effective than relying on outside resources as we are currently
forced to do due to a lack of funding.
[12:16] Dahlea Milena: • Which technology do you think has given your group the most benefit? For
example, allowed effective communication internally/externally.
Without a doubt, video and teleconferencing/streaming. Because of the geographical distances between
our various council members and our membership at large, use of technology for distance conferencing
and information sharing has proven essential to keep our organization running and instrumental in our
continued ability to reach out.
[12:22] Nany: Virtual Native Lands is dedicated to the use of virtual worlds and related technologies to
facilitate communication within and between Native American communities and general public
worldwide. Native American communities are widely dispersed geographically often in rurual locations
with limited accessibility. Virtual worlds technology can help overcome the obstacles and islolation
imposed by geographic distance. The unique cultural diversity supported by Native American
communities enriches humanity in general and can be made more accessible to the public as well as to
members of those Native communities in the urban diaspora. Virtual Native Lands' focus is on the use of
virtual worlds technologies for communication.
Formulate your mission statement to exactly express the purpose for the existence of your organization
or project. This is the reason your organization exists. This is the purpose and goal of every single
decision made and action taken on behalf of your organization. Keep your mission statement directy in
front of you at all times and never make any decision or take any action or make any statement that
deviates from your mission. Weigh every single choice without exception based on whether or not that
choice best serves your mission.
Formulating and adhering to your mission statement will keep your own and others' egos
Formulate your mission statement to exactly express the purpose for the existence of your organization
or project. This is the reason your organization exists. This is the purpose and goal of every single
decision made and action taken on behalf of your organization. Keep your mission statement directy in
front of you at all times and never make any decision or take any action or make any statement that
deviates from your mission. Weigh every single choice without exception based on whether or not that
choice best serves your mission.
Formulating and adhering to your mission statement will keep your own and others' egos from clouding
your judgement. Your mission statement keeps your organization larger and more important than
yourself. All decisions become much easier to communicate and to make when there is a very clear
mission statement guiding them.
In my experience, it is a mistake to avoid controversial or awkward aspects of your mission in the hope
that these unspoken topics are mutually understood. Surrounded by the conditions your organization or
project addresses every day, topics that may seen too obvious to mention to you may not be obvious at
all to the general public. Develop ways to communicate your position on controversial and awkward
issues inherent in your mission that are crystal clear yet non-confrontational. Using your mission
statement as your guide, formulate ways to address controversy immeadiately, directly and still
[12:28] Nany: In my experience, it is a mistake to avoid controversial or awkward aspects of your mission
in the hope that these unspoken topics are mutually understood. Surrounded by the conditions your
organization or project addresses every day, topics that may seen too obvious to mention to you may
not be obvious at all to the general public. Develop ways to communicate your position on controversial
and awkward issues inherent in your mission that are crystal clear yet non-confrontational. Using your
mission statement as your guide, formulate ways to address controversy immeadiately, directly and still
without stridency. Addressing controversial and awkward issues directly clears an important hurdle in
achieving your mission.
Every volunteer has their own motivations for participating in your cause. Even where your
organization's mission is very clear, each volunteer and contributor will have a slightly different reason
for helping achieve your goals. It is important to keep in mind that volunteers always have their own
motivations and priorities which are separate from yours. Some volunteers may start off overflowing
with enthusiasm then suddenly wander away. Some may jump in with both feet and begin work on
projects that diverge from or drain resources from the organization's mission. Keep your mission in front
of you, be gratious and thankful for all the help you get and accept that the help may be fleeting.
[12:33] Dahlea Milena: (what Nany is saying is very true, we encounter it with the Native American
Veterans, and it does create a barrier in providing representation and keeping the communications lines
open thru technologies when different tribes have cultural issues that make it more difficult to interact
& combine forces to further the goals of "the greater good"...
[12:39] Gentle Heron: What a great summary for our whole group!
[12:42] Jen: But my security system records who stops by so I can contact them even if I've missed them
[12:43] Gentle Heron: We have a data tracker too, of who goes where.
[12:48] Jen: So the WW 2 vet is happy with snail mail and phone
[12:48] Jen: The OEF/OIF vet is happy with facebook and twitter
[12:48] Jen: Use the tech savvy to help the older ones
[12:48] Dahlea Milena: correct, they prefer 'old school' but sometimes that leaves them out of the 'quick
& easy' methods technologies offer us
[12:49] Chad Mikado: One strategy we'll try to learn what topics/interests members of the field have.
We make it relevant to them.
[12:50] Dahlea MilenaDahlea Milena inserts (OEF/OIF - our more modern war veterans from combat
locations such as Afghanistan & Iraq, since our Hosts today may not be familiar with our acronyms)
[12:52] Gentle Heron: Yes, you need to define yourself as a member of MANY communities. We are part
of the education community, the library community, the nonprofit community, the mentoring
community.....
[12:55] Gentle Heron: There seems to be more sharing in virtual worlds than in the real world, at least
for me.
[12:56] Jen: A very good argument for recruiting volunteers to pick up on areas of interest
[12:57] Dahlea Milena: I agree with that also... I know NNAVA has formed ties & collaborations with
Virtual Ability, Virtual Native Lands, and several other Veterans groups here in SL, so it has increased ALL
of our outreach capability by broadening our network capability
[12:58] Gentle Heron: We look for the capabilities to bubble up through task leadership, then we train
for higher levels of leadership.
[13:00] Gentle Heron: Have a plan for how the technologies fit together.
[13:00] Gentle Heron: Plan the message as well as the tools. Some messages fit better with particular
tools.
[13:00] Jen: As a course developer, I always wanted to know, who I was going to be dealing with
[13:00] Chad Mikado: 1) Accessibility; 2) Training and integration with other resources; 3) Evolution-
creating new and better ways to use it long-term
[13:01] Dahlea Milena: you can also run things more effectively if you combine resources, for example, I
don't duplicate the resources that Nany, Gentle, or the US Military Veterans Center already have in play,
I instead created our SL location to address a cultural reference & placed the means to access
information available thru collaborative sites with other groups
[13:01] Gentle HeronGentle Heron chuckles..... I assumed accessibility, and I should not have!
[13:01] Jen: Knowing who your parallel resources are is sometimes difficult
[13:02] Dahlea Milena: yes, such as Jen's organization, definately a niche that needed to have it's own
independent recognition
[13:02] Jen: And yet we still have to fit in with not only veterans but the LGBT communities as well
[13:04] Dahlea MilenaDahlea Milena nods, as my organization finds we have to with not only all
veterans, but also with the various native american cultures, tribes, nations
[13:05] Chad Mikado: Thanks for such an informative session. It's helpful to see how others are
addressing technology for the field
[13:05] Jen: Will you be looking into how decision makers listen to presentations
[13:05] Dahlea MilenaDahlea Milena is going to be very interested in seeing how you address many of
the directions we all approached this, will be most informative
[13:06] Jen: MB
[13:06] Dahlea Milena: yes, I have to do a presentation about SL at NNAVA's National Councile gathering
in about 3 weeks
[13:07] Chad Mikado: Thanks again everyone for info on your orgs
Early beginnings: To tell the tale of NNAVA in SL, you must first be made aware of their relationship with
the USMVC.
USMVC aka The U. S. Military Veterans Center of Second Life (SL). A US Navy Veteran, Cowboy Wayne,
along with four other individuals, Nomad Albatros (US Navy), Asdzaa Oh (Military Family), Hondo Slade
(US Navy), and Gwill Brickworks (USMC) got together and over time, created a safe social location for
veterans of all branches, active duty military, family members, and supporters, to gather and network.
Using land that Cowboy Wayne donated, they built a center for veterans, inviting veterans organizations
and supporters to supply information for our veterans, thus essentially creating a vital portal here in SL
to veterans organizations and veterans benefits our SL veterans and military members can utilize in First
Life (FL). From those early beginnings, the membership to the center has grown to well over 1200
members.
Through the portal they've created, many veterans not only find kindred spirits, but have accessed much
needed information on benefits, assistance, and counseling.
So begins the connection between NNAVA and the USMVC. When Dahlea Milena first came to the
Center in July 2008, she was not only welcomed as a veteran, but also as a national council
representative of National Native American Veterans Association, Inc. (NNAVA - First Life). She was
invited to add NNAVA to the roster available for SL veterans.
Upon seeing the amazing social networking, creative SL introductory training methods, and responsible
management of First Life veterans benefits access provided by the Veterans Center, Dahlea, with
approval from NNAVA National Council , asked the Center to assist her in creating a Second Life
representation for NNAVA. The Center's management and many members came together to assist in
creating a native american themed location for Native American Veterans to feel comfortable when
seeking assistance.
The cooperation between the U.S. Military Veterans Center, a USAF veteran as a representative of
NNAVA (First Life) & NNAVA Tribal Lands (Second Life), launched another successful Veterans outreach
location here in SL. NNAVA is very proud to endorse this fine example of what can be done to benefit
others here in Second Life.
National Council Member and official SL Representative of the National Native American Veterans
Organization
http://www.nnava.org
TAVA was founded in 2003 to provide support and information to transgender veterans. We also are
geared toward educating our legislators at all levels of government regarding Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and
Transgender ( LGBT) issues with an emphasis on Transgender veterans. In Second Life, TAVA is
represented in SL by Jenelle Levenque who is the National Treasurer.
TAVA is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the United States as a tax exempt
organization under section 501(c)(3) and is incorporated in the State of Ohio as a Nonprofit Corporation.
As such, donations are considered Tax Deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Our mission is to act proactively with other concerned LGBT) organizations to ensure that transgender
veterans will receive appropriate care for their medical conditions in accordance with the Veterans
Health Administration's Customer Service Standards promise to "treat you with courtesy and dignity ...
as the first class citizen that you are." Further, TAVA will help in educating the Department of Veterans
Affairs (DVA) and the Department of Defense (DOD) on issues regarding fair and equal treatment of
Transgender and transsexual individuals. Also, TAVA will help the general Transgender community when
deemed appropriate.
TAVA is open to all Transgender veterans and their supporters whether veterans or not. In Second life
we are headquartered at the TAVA Office in Ogilvie. (slurl below) As of November 17,2009, we have
been assigned an office at Nonprofit Commons and now have a beach property in Oligard.
For questions or comments, please contact Jenelle Levenque, Murray Haefnir, or any member.
Jenelle Levenque
Second Life
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Ogilvie/24/161/51
Beach
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Oligard/59/205/22
Nonprofit Commons
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Plush%20Nonprofit%20Commons/2/36/26
First Life
http://www.tavausa.org
http://www.tavasl.jenelle.us
Rev: 101206