Community mentoring

David Lemphers has posted to his blog an article about community. He says the best thing he can do to help community is to facilitate it, not drive it. I happen to agree, although I think there's a little more.

Community is run by people. No-one denies that. Having a website that helps the communities share knowledge, meet each other, advertise events, all that jazz - it's great, but you still need champions of the cause. If Dave were to produce a fantastic site and then just disappear, then I doubt the thing would really take off. But if Dave becomes a champion, mentoring people into a community-mindset, then there's a good chance the thing can fly.

Conversely, there are probably a bunch of people out there who already think community is where it's at. I'm probably one of those people. But still those people need empowering. They need encouragement. They need mentors. People like Dave (who are paid to help the community) can find these people (and others), and work with them to help them achieve the goals they all have in mind.

Dave Lemphers as a mentor... is that a scary thought, or what? ;)