xivk/gist:2bfd9a4f814655d97e0c24ace4eca4f9

## gistfile1.txt
Thanks Joost, (blabla, handover informal stuff!)

I'm Ben, I'm part of OSM Belgium a board member of HOT and occasionally I contribute to missing maps but I'm also a member of the LCCWG and the OSMF.

I've been a part of the OSM community for more than 10 years now and from the beginning when we started with OSM Belgium we have been thinking about how we can reach mappers to help them get started and introduce them to our local community.

Basically our efforts were all about showing first time mappers OSM Belgium existed and OSM is not just a website where you can map the world but that there is entire community behind this.

The strategy here is two-fold, we need to inform new mappers that a community exists and we need the OSM enviroment to better reflect the way OSM works.

Thanks to Midgard in our small Belgian community we have built an 'osm welcome tool'. You log in to the tool with your OSM account and you get a list of all new mappers. It suggests a welcome message for each mapper in three languages and you just copy/paste the message and send the message via the OSM website.

(show the tool)

We also like to suggest a few changes to the OSM API, for example the ability to send message from the third-party appliction. This would greatly improve this tool.

Another thing the LCCWG is very excited about is the microcosm idea of Brian DeRocher. This project is about adding some of the OSM community to the osm.org website. Communities around the world have different places to meet, some do this via facebook, others use the mailinglist, telegram, meetup, etc...

The goal is to add groups, microcosms, of mappers that represent a local community or a group focused on a certain topic. The website can display these groups, allow members to join, it allows to organize events and discussions online.

(demo micocosm shortly)

So this is what we are doing. If you would like to help with any of these or have more suggestions of other tools we can develop or things we should change let us know or join the group. Everyone is welcome!
	Thanks Joost, (blabla, handover informal stuff!)

	I'm Ben, I'm part of OSM Belgium a board member of HOT and occasionally I contribute to missing maps but I'm also a member of the LCCWG and the OSMF.

	I've been a part of the OSM community for more than 10 years now and from the beginning when we started with OSM Belgium we have been thinking about how we can reach mappers to help them get started and introduce them to our local community.

	Basically our efforts were all about showing first time mappers OSM Belgium existed and OSM is not just a website where you can map the world but that there is entire community behind this.

	The strategy here is two-fold, we need to inform new mappers that a community exists and we need the OSM enviroment to better reflect the way OSM works.

	Thanks to Midgard in our small Belgian community we have built an 'osm welcome tool'. You log in to the tool with your OSM account and you get a list of all new mappers. It suggests a welcome message for each mapper in three languages and you just copy/paste the message and send the message via the OSM website.

	(show the tool)

	We also like to suggest a few changes to the OSM API, for example the ability to send message from the third-party appliction. This would greatly improve this tool.

	Another thing the LCCWG is very excited about is the microcosm idea of Brian DeRocher. This project is about adding some of the OSM community to the osm.org website. Communities around the world have different places to meet, some do this via facebook, others use the mailinglist, telegram, meetup, etc...

	The goal is to add groups, microcosms, of mappers that represent a local community or a group focused on a certain topic. The website can display these groups, allow members to join, it allows to organize events and discussions online.

	(demo micocosm shortly)

	So this is what we are doing. If you would like to help with any of these or have more suggestions of other tools we can develop or things we should change let us know or join the group. Everyone is welcome!