Looking for Leaders — and We Need You!
May 7th, 2018
To All Co-Op Members,
Over the last few years, it has been my (Jenny Gibbons) privilege to be a part of the local St Louis Game Development Co-Op here in St Louis. When I attended my first game jam, I wasn’t even sure whether I’d pursue game development beyond my very first game, which I treated as an “experiment.” Now, about five years later, I run Woodsy Studio full-time with my partner, Malcolm Pierce, and I gladly devote every day to making more games. I’m not sure whether I would have made it so far without the encouragement and support of the local community cheering me on.
Board Elections
Over the last year, it has been my honor to work with the rest of the Co-Op board to serve this community. But running Woodsy Studio has demanded a great deal of my time and energy, and I don’t plan to run for the board again on May 15th. Meanwhile, another board member has also stepped down, and others have voiced concerns about having the availability to continue giving the community all the attention it needs.
Looking at the RSVP numbers so far, I worry about how many people in the community actually plan to attend the next batch of board elections on May 15th. Last year, not enough people attended to even hold an actual vote. So now it is time for me to make a desperate plea to you. If you care about the future of this community, PLEASE STEP FORWARD. Working together, we need to address some of the recent challenges this community has faced. We need a clear vision to help us all move forward. And that means WE NEED YOU!
With Growth Comes Challenges
It has also been my joy to watch the community grow in size, so that during Global Game Jams, we rank near the top of the list of cities with the most jammers! But with the growth has come new challenges. Some of those challenges include:
- Catering to the needs of both hobbyists and professional game developers
- Maintaining a clear goal for the community
- Properly enforcing our Code of Conduct so that people of under-represented identities feel welcome and comfortable and our community remains diverse
- Organizing and supervising all our regular events so that the community remains active
Share Your Vision
If you have any ideas about how to strengthen or improve this community, now is the time to step forward and take action. Even if you don’t think a role of leadership on the board is right for you, help us choose our path forward on May 15th and let your voice be heard. Help us maintain a thriving community in which a diverse group of game developers can find support and success!
Sincerely,
Jenny Gibbons