From sustag@BETA.TRICITY.WSU.EDUMon Nov 21 22:56:16 1994 Date: Mon, 21 Nov 1994 19:28:47 -0800 From: "Tom Hodges (moderated newsgroup)" To: Multiple recipients of list SUSTAG-L Subject: INVITATION (fwd) [this from devel-l may be of interest. TH] ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Mon, 21 Nov 1994 16:45:00 -0500 From: BOB_HART.parti@PARTI.INFORUM.ORG To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L Subject: INVITATION Dear Colleagues on DEVEL-L I would like to invite any of you who are not currently subscribed to the SARDBB-L list on the UNDP computer who might be interested in Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (SARD) to join us in our current effort to design an un-moderated technical information exchange process. Over the last few weeks we have developed a framework based on over-lapping hierarchical systems. The general approach that will probably evolve is based on the assumption that there are many Lists that are either narrowly focussed on specific topics or broadly focussed on general topics (such as DEVEL-L) and both types of List are doing a good job of serving their clients. However, subjects such as SARD require exchange on inter-connected topics. We would like to give potential users the option of subscribing to SARD-TIE and getting everything sent to all systems and their components, subscribing to one or more systems and getting everything posted to their components, or subscribing to single components. Users submitting technical reports would be asked to pick an appropriate component-level lists. Our discussions to date have led us to begin with an empty framework that looks like this: SUBSYSTEMS: SOCIOECONOMIC BIOPHYSICAL _______________|_______________ | Nation | Region | Country Systems | components*|*components | | _____________|_____________ | |_| Town | Landscape|_| Community Systems | components*|*components | | ___________|___________ | |_|farmers | fields |_| Farm Systems |components*|*components| |___________|___________| The idea of overlapping systems evolved when people pointed out people may be interested in the same component but from different perspectives. For example, households can be components of farms as well as communities. Agroforestry can be looked at from the field or landscape perspective. Food security can be farmer, town, or national issue. Our challenge, and this is where we invite you to join us, is to identify the first set of key subsystem components. On November 20 I sent out the attached questionnaire asking people to identify their primary subsystem interest and to identify up-to-5 key components (i.e. topics, issues, tools, etc.) for "their" subsystem. There are about 200 of us subscribed to SARDBB-L, but we want to development of the SARD-TIE process to be as participatory as possible. To be able provide your input you need to: 1. Subscribe to SARDBB-L, by sending the 1-line email message: SUBSCRIBE SARDBB-L to the address: MAJORDOMO@UNDP.ORG 2. After you receive a confirmation from the Majordomo Listserver that you are subscribed, answer the 3 questions in the attached questionnaire and send it to: SARDBB-L@UNDP.ORG ====================================================================== IDENTIFICATION OF KEY COMPONENTS WITHIN THE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE & RURAL DEVELOPMENT TECHNICAL INFORMATION EXCHANGE (SARD-TIE) PROCESS Please fill in your: NAME: INSTITUTION: TEL: FAX: EMAIL ADDRESS: QUESTION 1. Please put an X by ONE of the Subsystems listed below where you feel that you can most contribute to the identification of key topics, issues, tools, etc. of critical importance to sustainable agriculture and rural development. If you are willing to contribute your ideas for more than one subsystem, please fill out and email in multiple copies of the questionnaire. Socioeconomic subsystem of Country-level systems:____ Biophysical subsystem of Country-level systems:____ Socioeconomic subsystem of Community-level systems:____ Biophysical subsystem of Community-level systems:____ Socioeconomic subsystem of Farm-level systems:____ Biophysical subsystem of Farm-level systems:____ QUESTION 2 For the Subsystem you indicated above in Question 1, please identify up-to-five components (i.e. topics, issues, tools, etc.) that merit being included within the Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Technical Information Exchange (SARD-TIE) process. Component 1 Short (1 or 2 words) Name: Brief (2 or 3 sentences) Description: Component 2 Short (1 or 2 words) Name: Brief (2 or 3 sentences) Description: Component 3 Short (1 or 2 words) Name: Brief (2 or 3 sentences) Description: Component 4 Short (1 or 2 words) Name: Brief (2 or 3 sentences) Description: Component 5 Short (1 or 2 words) Name: Brief (2 or 3 sentences) Description:: QUESTION 3 Please indicate the level that you would be willing to participate in the discussion to put together the overlapping systems framework for the Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Technical Information Exchange (SARD-TIE) process in January, 1995. Actively moderate a discussion for "my" subsystem interest:____ Participate in a discussion to prioritize key components:____ Comment on the overall framework as it evolves:____ OPTIONAL: YOUR COMMENTS ON THE SARD-TIE PROCESS Please remember that any comments you make will be sent out to all SARDBB-L subscribers. But any and all comments and concerns of any kind are welcome. ================================================================ Thank you for investing your time; Bob Hart; INFORUM Please send this fill-in questionnaire to: SARDBB-L@UNDP.ORG ================================================================