EA London Strategy Quarterly

Taking the model from the quarterly reports that Peter makes I thought I would add the London EA strategy quarterlies into the mix in case anyone has some good ideas to add, constructive criticism (also open to unconstructive criticism if it makes you feel better) or wants a framework for doing their own.

In the first strategy meeting we created teams to focus on each project assigning one person as team leader and then they would organise project meetings, tasks for individuals and goals for that specific project. I aim to inventory the projects and goals, explain how they’ve been accomplished or fallen short throughout Q1, and then set out projects/goals for Q2. There was also discussion about the EA London vision, mission and values but that would probably suit a separate post if anyone was interested.

This review covers the time period of 25 April 2015 through 18 July 2015. I have not added any additional information about things that have happened since the last meeting. The next strategy meeting should be happening at the end of October.

University Outreach

Q1 Goal

Organise setting up of EA societies at several London universities.

Progress

We have someone researching how to set up an official society and contacting people willing to set one up, as well as how to advertise events through university channels. We messaged people on the EA London Facebook group who are currently studying in London and 11 out of the 13 contacted said they were willing to help in some capacity, ranging from telling friends about it to actively setting up a society. We have people willing to set up chapters at UCL, LSE, Kings, Imperial, Regents and LSHTM.

What Went Right

There are four universities with very active EA London members that are setting societies up, applying for official status and arranging talks for students.

What Went Wrong

We missed out on most applications for freshers fair which is probably one of the best way to raise awareness amongst people joining university. There are quite a few universities that haven’t been contacted yet and we haven’t found the key one or two passionate people to start the process at most places.

Q2 Goals

To continue finding students at universities in London who want to set up societies and to introduce these leads to people who have already started this process to pass on advice.

To create official societies that can be given free marketing and a free stall at freshers fair by the universities for next year. To normalise the idea of having an EA society at a London University.

Workplace Marketing

Q1 Goals

The team should meet to set goals (outside of the main strategy meeting) with ideas of goals being outreach to colleagues and workplace giving schemes.

Progress

This team didn’t meet before the second strategy meeting so no progress was made.

What Went Wrong

The lead person ended up not having the time to lead this project. We should make sure going forward that project leads have the time to organise and maybe have a monthly check up with each of the leaders to see how things are progressing so that we can switch earlier. We should also log which projects do make progress and which don’t so that we can see what the differences are and what ways we can improve.

Q2 Goals

We had the idea of giving more talks in London in places like coding bootcamps. We decided to merge this project with workplace marketing with someone who had more time to organise. The new goal is for this group to meet and arrange talks at workplaces or other venues in London and find people who would like to give talks about effective altruism.

Events

Q1 Goals

To have more people help organise the monthly social meetings, to hold the Peter Singer talk on 8th and 11th of June, to potentially have a casino night.

Progress

The Peter Singer talks filled capacity and led to more interest on Meetup and Facebook, there is a pub social arranged monthly and there have been summer picnics as well. I didn’t hear anything about the casino events discussed in this meeting.

What Went Right

There are more events and more people attending each month as well as slightly more varied events. Looking at Meetup, between the 25th of April and 18th of July we went from 271 members to 423 and from 102 active members to 116. On Facebook we went from 239 members to 351.

What Went Wrong

Event organising has tended to end up with the same person each time and it would be better if this could be spread out between more people. Events were mainly pub based and happen after work in Central London and could drive away people who don’t want to go to a dingy pub on a weeknight in Holborn.

Q2 Goal

Have more people organising events, have events for different careers and at different venues. Have people give talks at London based TEDx events. Have a venue for London based people involved with .impact workathons.

Fundraising Group

Q1 Goal

To discuss potential fundraising for EA London

Progress

Have been talking to EA Ventures, they want a more specific plan before funding.

Q2 Goal

Two approaches

Running a marketing campaign to get more interest, then increasing capacity to handle additional people being interested. EA Ventures not interested in this yet.
Overall coordinator for London. EA Ventures is potentially interested in funding this.

Career Specific Subgroups of EA London

Q1 Goals

Organise a meeting to discuss creating Facebook groups for different career and arranging meetings/networking. Sectors could include finance/banking, charity and tech (from the careers of people who showed interest in this project)

Progress

A finance group has been set up on Facebook and a meeting has been held for EA programmers.

Q2 Goals

This is similar to the workplace marketing project and so will probably be merged with that, with more career specific groups and events being set up.

Contacting new people who are interested

Q1 Goals

We need to respond to people that show interest in effective altruism in London.

Progress

We have a spreadsheet to show when someone has contacted EA London Meetup and who is responsible for replying and arranging a meeting.

What Went Right

There were four people who contacted EA London and there were responses on the same day, three of which then went on to a meeting and people getting more involved in EA and volunteering their time to work on projects.

What Went Wrong

We didn’t respond to people signing up on the Giving What We Can London mailing list and we don’t have any proactive outreach for people mentioning Effective Altruism on social media.

Q2 Goals

Include the GWWC mailing list which has more people signing up than messages on Meetup. Have one person responsible for replying, and if they can’t meet they should find someone who is available. Look into ways of finding people expressing interest on social media. Look into making a website for EA London.

New Project

Measuring EA London’s impact

Q2 Goals

Find out how to monitor and evaluate the impact EA London is having, seeing if people are deciding to give more and give more effectively, changing careers and letting other people know about EA London as well as how much they do or don’t enjoy the atmosphere and people.

Let us know if there are any ideas you think we should try and anything we could do better to reach more people.