Interview with the Communications Senior Manager - CL9 AJ!

Article by Navi

AJ: I've been here for 11 years, but that'll change to 12 in the summer of 2013! :D

Navi: What kind of things have you done during those 11 years?

AJ: I'm going to assume you mean aside from chatting and making good, firm friends? :D First of all, I started in Counselling. I can't remember what I did, so it can't have been anything too major! Once Counselling was abandoned I switched to my (still) beloved Entertainment. I was a Trivia minion, steadily rising upwards. I remember the team of Queen Demon, KC and myself! We all rose up together. I was the ATL under KC, before he moved to Senior Manager. At that time, I was made AM1 and TL of Trivia, with QD as the ATL. A few months later I got my first shot at the "big chair", running the department. It was a fun time, before the decline, when the department had 40+ members!!

During the same time I was also a Senator, assisting Hobbie and Jaden run the SW Affiliation. That was a lot of fun! However, real life intervened and I faded from knowledge for a good while.

A few years later I came back as an EC member and since then I've had various jobs, all with the same goal - rebuild the place! I've retaken the ENT job twice, and Communications twice (including current posting!)

Right now I'm constantly bugging the new QC in order to get my plans pushed through *g*

Navi: And now you're our big bossman here in Communications. Tell us, what do you want to do with the department? Any big plans?

AJ: Well, my first aim is to make the department self supporting and capable of almost running itself. I plan to start slowly, and focus mainly on the Blue Report. Previously I feel we've tried to do too much too soon, and think taking a measured and patient approach will have a better chance of success this time around.

I will not lie, I've not yet fully considered what other teams and projects I'd like Communications to take on. My only focus right now is a successful Blue Report, which will help show to the members that we are active and serious about what we are doing. Hopefully, that will create a snowball effect where new projects are added and shaped, and the process continues from there.

Navi: And who's on the team right now?

AJ: Right now it's just myself (Senior Manager), my right-hand Navi (Assistant Manager), Shannon, Robert, Cameron, T'Pel and Daniel. A small team, sure, but there's no need for a huge team right now at all. However, that being said, I am not against adding new people - but they have to be the right people. I don't want members for the sake of it!

Navi: Ultimately, what would you like to see OTF become? What would be your ideal form of the site?

AJ: One thing I'm always keen to stress is that we shouldn't focus on the past and look to reclaim the "good old days". Rather, we should look forward and create a future we can be proud of. We can't get drawn into measuring our successes against what the Outpost used to be like, as the demographics and internet makeup has changed a lot since then.

I still strongly believe the Outpost has a place. We provide the chance for people to chat directly with fellow geeks and nerds, and to make lasting friendships. I don't feel we're as anonymous as Facebook or Twitter, and that is something we need to sell hard.

We're not just a chat site, we are a community. With the right marketing strategy, and the right moves within the Community (projects, depts, etc) I think we've a solid chance of writing a new and successful chapter.

Navi: Any further comments you'd like to add?

AJ: I encourage people to get involved and help out - even if that just means visiting the chatroom more often than they usually would. For years people have sat in the corners and bemoaned the death of the Outpost. We need to break the shackles of that negativity and actually get those people to DO something. So, I would challenge those who would sit and grumble, to get up and be the change you want to see.