4 minutes reading time (814 words)

Soundtrack for Joomla Volunteering Mode

Soundtrack for Joomla Volunteering Mode

This story is about volunteering for Joomla and one of our volunteer's favourite bands.  If someone had come to me 13 years ago and asked me to be part of a software project distributed for free, with no salary for employees, I would have laughed and walked away. Now, 12 years into the Joomla project I find myself volunteering more and getting more excited about the future of Joomla.

Joomla! is very underrated - period.  As one of the top Open Source CMS's, Joomla gets compared to WordPress and Drupal regularly. The one thing none of these comparisons seem to mention is Joomla! is the only CMS maintained and managed 100% by volunteers.  From programmers to the marketing team to the president, Joomla is all volunteer.

The volunteer aspect of Joomla might not seem like a fantastic concept until you run the numbers.  Let's use Microsoft as an example.

MICROSOFT OS:

Windows 8 26 October 2012
Windows 7  22 October 2009
Windows Vista 30 January 2007
Windows XP Professional x64

25 April 2005

From 2005 to 2012 Microsoft released four major updates to its OS.  In the same timeframe, Joomla has released more versions of its CMS than a billion dollar company!

JOOMLA:

1.0 September 22, 2005   
1.5 January 22, 2008
1.6 January 10, 2011
1.7 July 19, 2011
2.5 January 24, 2012
3.0  September 27, 2012    

Volunteering has its upsides and downsides - the lack of free time, differences of opinions, and burn out all play a role in the volunteering blues.  

Over the years I have found that many of the Joomla volunteers and myself share a passion for one band - Depeche Mode.  This shared love for Depeche Mode has deepened our friendships, and often we are reminded of the band when we are volunteering.  So with a little help from our community, I have compiled a list of Depeche Mode songs that go hand in hand with volunteering for the project:

I Feel Loved | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL8Wqe-QWM8
The Joomla community is one of the most vibrant and loving community’s, and I always feel loved!

World in my eyes | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhZdL4JlnxI
Our global community gives volunteers a chance to show us Joomla! in their eyes.  Joomla’s worldwide events are also a great place to let Joomlers show you the world in their eyes.

Get the balance right | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtswlY4WflI
Joomla! is always striving to get the balance right - “Twist and turn 'til you've got it right. Get the balance right.”

Clean | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1mD-_DKHc0
In Joomla!, everything is clean, and you know what I mean ;)

Wrong | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TosTUP2Rw5E
When you feel lost and alone, remember that there are thousands of volunteers around you. With Joomla, you'll never be wrong.

Heaven | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy7FzXLin7o
Sharing your time and your passion for Joomla with others volunteers will bring you to Heaven.

Strangelove | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy7FzXLin7o
Volunteering for Joomla is a strange but real love. Joomla! will take more than another river full Yes, and will make it all worthwhile. Joomla will make your heart smile

Never Let Me Down | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snILjFUkk_A
"I'm taking a ride with my best friend; I hope he never lets me down again."  - We are reminded of this song when someone fails to do their "job."

Enjoy the silence | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0AKJMGxwpE
"Words are very unnecessary, they can only do harm" - This can often happen when disputes cause volunteers to leave the project.

Walking in my shoes | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrC_yuzO-Ss
We should always keep in mind that volunteers have day jobs and lives to live and we as a community need to be respectful of each other.

Nothing's Impossible | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2W-jb4DcV0
A simple reminder that with Joomla, nothing is impossible.

People are people | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzGnX-MbYE4
"People are people so why should it be, you and I should get along so awfully" - Another testament to treating volunteers with the respect they deserve.  

Everything counts | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1t-gK-9EIq4
"Everything counts in large amounts." -  Every volunteer matters and every contribution counts in large amounts!

A Question of time | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pt7EWFF_T8
It is always a question of time when volunteering. Setting aside a few hours a week and scheduling your time can pay off in the long run when volunteering.

Going Backwards | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5oO0PT_-Ao
This one goes out to the programmers behind Joomla!  It's always two steps forward and one step back!  It can also be a reminder about backward compatibility, and we don’t need to make the same mistake twice.

Policy of truth | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2VBmHOYpV8
"Never again is what you swore the time before" - Honesty is a great policy, but keeping the gossip and personal attacks out of the project is a must.  

Just can't get enough | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6FBfAQ-NDE
We just can't get enough Joomla!

Thanks to our global community for the song suggestions and quotes.  

I feel loved!

 

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