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New members – Please start here (public read only)

March 29th, 2009 by

Welcome to FTI!

You are here because you are a leader. Leaders don't need to be told to do things. They just go ahead and do whatever they know needs to be done. Therefore, as part of a team of leaders with similar goals for India, you are expected to jump right in and start doing whatever you think needs to be done on FTI. If you find something missing on FTI, or some defect, point it out so it and get involved in fixing it. You must act on your beliefs. <

As a fist step ensure your biodata and contact details are provided on on the blog. This is not visible externally, but will help members to contact you.

Mechanics of working together

We communicate on FTI mostly on the Forum: http://freedomteam.in/blog/forum. To log in, use the FTI Blog username/password emailed to you at the time of joining FTI. The Forum guide can help you understanding how to use the Forum: http://freedomteam.in/blog/forum-guide. Also try this.

Make sure you have a GMAIL account!

It will give you access to the FTI Google Group (to which you can't post till you become full member, but you have access to all documents). On gmail, create a label for FTI usinghttp://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=118708. Set the label to archive the message (skip Inbox). Create a filter for FTI on gmail using http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=6579 . Now all mails from google group should go to label.

Find out about other members. Get to know about them here, with more details once you log into the blog. Update your information also. For updating your information log into the blog using the username/password you should have received. Then go to "profiles" and fill up all relevant information.

How do I know what is going on?

You have access to FTI's internal blogs (i.e. posts not made public). A number of guidelines are posted on these internal blogs. How do you find these? Log in to the FTI blog, click on 'posts' or 'edit' under Posts, and you'll find the list of FTI blog posts. Select 'FTI guidelines' under 'View all categories' box. That will take you to the key guidelines.

Some tips!

Do take some time to read various documents and understand what is going on. Read about the draft internal processes and strategies, also available at FTI Google Group under 'files'. Most of that material is now uploaded on blogs, but a copy has often been kept there for convenience.

Speak to someone from FTI: Mr. Shantanu Bhagwat has kindly agreed to speak to new members over Skype. Write to him at jai.dharma@gmail.com with the subject: "FTI new member: wish to talk" and arrange a suitable time to speak. You can also contact nearby FTI members over the phone, from the "contact us" page on the FTI website.

Mentoring/ buddy system: If you have questions please write to the person who vetted your application. He or she will provide you with more information. Alternatively, write to the main Forum. Your questions are valued but do show some concern for others' time by having done some homework yourself.

How can I get involved?

You can get involved in many FTI activites.

Write to your friends and tell them about FTI. Use this template.

Apply to join FTI sub-groups (as you applied for FTI main group), e.g. join the team the Accounts Team of FTI that will manage our accounts as we establish and operate a Trust. Write about your interest to the person who vetted your application. He'll direct you approriately.

Help review/ update rules for the FTI Trust, such as membership rules. Read the FTI brochure carefully and propose changes where you feel it should be improved. Also review FTI's website and propose changes. Review all draft documents and propose changes (note everything published or proposed is only a draft until accepted by 1500 full members).

Write articles for the FTI magazine. We currently publish once in two months. This has become dormant since late 2010 and will depend on your efforts to resume.

Read the draft policy development process blog, and start developing/proposing policy in a structured manner. Research world best policies and educate each other. Since FTI aims to implement world-best policies, members of the should spend 80% of their spare time reading up the best books and journals in the world. Educate other members on what you have learnt. Our job is to absorb the world's best ideas and to implement them. World-best policy cannot be delivered without knowing world-best research. Write articles on what you have learnt.

Work on the ground. This includes work through your own group/party/NGO but also starting groups like Freedom Partner groups or Adharshila

Participate in the fortnightly telephone meeting organised by FTI members, or organize extra meetings if necessary. Take minutes of these meetings. Contribute!