Why should the IALS blog?

I am writing this post more to get people thinking about how they might like to use the IALS blog and what features they most would like to see on the blog.

For those that have not blogged before, a blog is a regular forum or space for discussion that is open to anyone in the world. The "posts" are generated by a blog team--which could be expanded to include the entire Advisory Committee or self-selected subsection thereof. However, the comments section are truly open to the entire internet public, both anonymous or regular users of Google blogger. If you click on the comments section of this blog, you will see three options for leaving a comment---sign in as google blogger, sign in with another website name, or anonymous.

Given the remote geographical spread of many of our members and the wider public interested in ladakh issues, the blog can enable a more democratic discussion of issues relating to the IALS among our members and wider constituency around the globe.

Thus, a conversation about the nature of the IALS and the services it provides for the Ladakhi public could be open comments by anyone in the world, who has an internet connection and is aware of the blog. The blog would allow real time conversations on key issues BEFORE and AFTER we gather at a conference, that might deepen the conversations and thinking around issues for our developing organization. In this manner,a blog can tap into some of the energy that follows or precedes a conference.

If there are issues we wish to discuss in a more limited format, the blog can be limited to a set of users such as the AC or even the EC, although the latter is as easily served by email exchanges one can argue. The blog, in short, can be made as open or closed as circumstances require or an additional 'closed' blog for the AC can be developed to facilitate more technical discussions. There could be a pdf of the constitution on file to facilitate a discussion of the constitution, for instance.

The advantage of a blog over email exchanges are that a blog is archivable, allowing access to past conversations/comments, and it has a structure, with the benefit of links/text boxes, that can summarize information on a specific topic that the membership wishes to publicize or that is under debate.


I look forward to your comments/conversation.