Purpose:

One thing most 'networking' events get wrong is that they treat everybody as if they're the same.

Which was kinda neccessary before the development of sophisticated databases that help communities assign different roles to different people.  Considering these tools are inexpensive and available to us, we're going to provide a framework for people that let's them self-identify in the way that makes the most sense to them.  Of course, this isn't going to be comprehensive, but our hope is that by organizing things in this way more people will find what they are looking for.  Below, find a straw-man doc that illustrates some of the various roles we're designing for the Net Tuesday Community. 

The Roots.

Provide the structure for the nutrients to flow, and for the overall organism to thrive. They are the lifeblood of the project.

Community members interested in checking-out -- and contributing to -- cool projects in the community.

Roots (members)

User-Profile: 

a. Students

b. Professors

c. Artists

d. Small biz owners

e. employees interested in new biz models

Soil (partners)

User-Profile:

* What existing organizations could provide the Seeds with the nutrients and support they need to grow and flourish?

* Chamber of commerce

* Existing tech groups

* Existing agency groups

* Existing nonprofits promoting envirnomentally-friendly development

* Venture firms

* UT Biz School?

Seed (Innovators)

User-profile:

* new approaches to everything from breweries to zoos to homeless shelters

Sun (sponsors and investors)

* Whole Foods

* Dell

* AMD

Architects (mentors and advisors)

Silona Bonewald

Jon Lebkowski

Randal Macon