Ministry Information and Development Journal Minister: @USoVietnam On NationStates: United States of Vietnam | On Discord: watari#5292 Overview This Ministry serves the Coalition by facilitating government outreach and helping to get new players integrated or involved with the region. Engagement also sets presentation standards for government documents, and produces many of the fine graphical assets that are used in the South Pacific's presentation. Most importantly, the Ministry oversees the creation and maintenance of public infrastructure such as informational dispatches, automated telegram systems, and presently, the creation of a brand new NationStates Trading Card program for the South Pacific. In this thread, we will deliver updates about our Ministry's projects and their content development. We will also post general information about new types of projects we're planning or how existing projects are changing when those developments may not necessarily warrant their own threads. Keep up with this thread to stay apprised of our work. If you have any questions of comments about the Ministry of Engagement or its work, a thread has been specially set up to receive them, access it here!

Services we run

Unified Application Process	@USoVietnam	Operational
The Dispatch Service	@USoVietnam	Operational (Details)
Graphic Design	@Somyrion	Operational
The South Pacific Wiki	@Rabbitz	Operational

Unfinished projects

South Pacific Association for Cards Exchange (SPACE)	@USoVietnam	In implementation
Automated telegram service	N/A	Concept study

(This post was last modified: 10-23-2021, 07:03 AM by USoVietnam.)

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General Engagement Agenda, June 2021 Term

Salutations, The following is an overview of items that Ministry of Engagement will specifically seek to accomplish in this term. My objectives will primarily focus on recruitment strategies and outreach, allowing the Coalition to develop a more diverse government composition, with the easiest possible access for volunteer opportunities. At the same time, we will be keen to not let perfectionism delay progress. In this regard, a number of objectives for this term are the same as the objectives for the previous term. It is my intention that this ministry shall bring to publication our long-lingering projects in a sound and dignified quality, while saving more advanced features for enhancements at a later date. The following priorities are generally (but not necessarily) arranged by expectations of when they will be completed: Engagement Self-Assessment As a part of the transition from the previous ministration to the current one, it is worth a brief moment spent assessing the present staff conditions and what they believe their strengths and challenges are within the ministry. In this regard, we will be releasing a feedback form to collect optionally anonymous opinions from Ministry of Engagement staff. This will be in a format which is conscientious to be free of influence or expectations. Responses may have key insights for structural improvements in our department. Unified Ministry Application System As main objective from my campaign, we will be following through on working with other cabinet members to reach an agreement on the implementation of a single, unified ministry application scheme. The unified application should encompass all of its component ministries' needs, be accessible to candidates, and have an output that is highly visible to ministry workers (particularly in the Ministry of Engagement). Our primary goal is to see applicants processed with considerably greater expedience, and with applications no longer going unseen entirely. Considerable progress has already been made towards constructing a theoretical forum-based solution. Consequently, we will primarily focus on content and integration talks in order to see this system finally realised. As the unified application system launches, it should ideally be paired with a dispatch, accessible via the regional World Factbook Entry, which advertises the government's ministries and what they do in order to entice prospective volunteers. Launch of the Dispatch Project Work is nearing completion on the development of a more robust and updated series of dispatches and player guides. Thanks to @USoVietnam's colossal work in creating a system to safely and conveniently have vast volumes of dispatches updated with relatively little work, the Dispatch Rennovation project will likely transition to more of a Dispatch Maintenance endeavour which keeps us up to speed. Launch of this project is anticipated next month. South Pacific Association for Cards Exchange (SPACE) Our plan for the South Pacific's own card program has been ambitious and complex, possibly overly so. As this program has been in development since mid-October of 2020, the time has certainly come to release a smaller scale version of the project in order to get citizens interested in cards as an idea, as well as to help support the region's interactivity. I will be looking to simplify a number of our plan's more complicated schemes in order launch SPACE (or if you prefer, launch into SPACE). More updates on what exactly this entails in the future, but at this time, launch is anticipated within the next two months. Spotlight Weekends Players' return to school present many opportunities for outreach, and it's important that the South Pacific be able to capitalise on this upcoming traffic. Engagement will work with other areas of government to develop educational and marketing materials on just what makes these areas a fun place to be in, and why new players should be a part of that experience. Therefore, following the launch of SPACE, we'll dedicate ourselves to putting together Spotlight Weekends, highlighting different areas of government, how they work, and how new players might be able to imagine themselves in those roles. With the application process more streamlined, and our various government departments looking more approachable than ever, may we be able to reduce the average player's trepidation to getting involved.

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Development Update

A Renovation of TSP Dispatches During past few months, the Ministry of Engagement's Dispatch Team has worked on updating the dispatches that welcome and guide new members of our region with new content and better design. This renovation is carried out as an attempt to address many deficiencies in our region's current dispatch system such as broken links, non-uniform design, and lack of information. Please go have a look HERE, an index of all dispatches can be viewed here. This system is still very new and as such is prone to many problems. We are asking for your feedback regarding the content and design of the new dispatches. Please telegram Coalition of the South Pacific nation with answers to these questions if you have some free time. Thanks! How long have you stayed in the South Pacific? Does the design (layout, font, color,...) of the dispatches look reasonably good? Does the "Welcome to NationStates and the South Pacific" adequately give you basic information about this region and lead you to common places (e.g. Discord server, legislator signup, roleplay,...) ? Try to search for the name of the current Chair of the Assembly by navigating the dispatches. How long does it take? Try to search for the time the Cabinet elections happens by navigating the dispatches. How long does it take? Is there any problem or suggestion you would like to share? If the reception is good and we finish fixing all problems, these dispatches will go into official use. What is new? The welcome dispatch has been reworked into a brief introduction and a list of links to useful resources like important guides and places. The Erinor's guide will serve as a longer alternative. Major government bodies now have their own dispatches explaining what they do and how they work in an understandable way The design of all dispatches now complies with the modern Design Guideline. A set of detailed guides covering complex topics like our political system, law-making, participation in elections,... has been made. You can find them here. You can learn more about the behind-the-scene of the project here. This project has been worked on-and-off since 2018 and involved these players in our region: Tepertopia, Amerion, Erinor, Purple Hyacinth, North Prarie, Agalaesia, United States of Vietnam.

(This post was last modified: 07-14-2021, 02:31 PM by Luca.)

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Development Update

The Unified Application Project Citizens, Have you ever wanted to get more involved with the government of the South Pacific? Now it is easier than ever! Where our previous systems called for applicants to lodge forum posts, Google forms, or send direct message in a dozen different places, your hard working leadership has reached an agreement to consolidate everything into a singular, easy to use system. Starting now, and filling another Ministry of Engagement term objective, you can use our new Unified Application system. This thread will guide you to a streamlined form where you can apply to the area of government that you wish, all in a flash. You can even apply to multiple areas at the same time! Use this form to make an application to become a Legislator, work in any Cabinet's staff, or work in the Office of World Assembly Legislation. As all applications will be under one roof, the most eyes possible will be on the system to make sure that no one will fall through the cracks. There's never been a better time to get involved. Toss in an application today! Cheers, Lucabaduka Minister of Engagement

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Minister Resignation

Citizens, I regret to inform you all of my immediate resignation as the Minister of Engagement. This is not a decision that I make lightly. While I have provided a great deal of hours to the South's government to help achieve its goals, I believe this is not the flavour of work that was most desired. Indeed, my social work and ability to hype people up within the Ministry is where I am most deficient and, in this, I make no excuse. For my part, I enjoy infrastructure development and maintenance, but it isn't in particular a role that gets a lot of action in the same way SPSF work may. Our work here takes place on a generally slower pace, with projects being rather long term. It is difficult, therefore, to maintain the actual engagement of the Ministry when there are few parts that are allowable to move, political explosions for the parts that ought to move, and a high standard of expectation in the areas of development we know are necessary where few may be able to contribute. There are simply logistical limitations. When I debated this topic last, I was invited to destroy the Ministry and remake in my ideal image, as was my right as Minister—as was the purpose of an elected office. This is irresponsible, however. We provide sprawling infrastructure for the South Pacific, well beyond the borders of our own office. We cannot afford to start from square one even once, let alone every term. Even in individual cases like dismantling the dispatch project and replacing it with something less thought out, it is absolutely unacceptable because of how much the region itself relies on our informational dispatches, alone. Our goals should be to support the existing infrastructure and ensure that it is improved upon and continues to function. In this regard, an improvement ought to be reached in the Assembly where the interactivity, the engagement, the integration aspect is picked up by Media or Culture, and the technical aspect is treated just like the forum administration, with a dedicated and apolitical OOC team of admins ensuring our stability and continuity. I am proud to have been witness to the Ministry of Engagement's accomplishments over the last few months. I recognise, however, that I am not the appropriate candidate to resolve the challenges the ministry faces, perform the development my station expects, provide the social engagement that critics desire, and deliver the type of propaganda necessary to reinforce the fact that we are continuing to work. Coupled with the fact that I am extremely depressed, and more so recently, the Ministry is better served under the care of another. For the sake of my own health and the health of the South Pacific, I find it prudent to tender my resignation at this time. Kind regards and best wishes, - L

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Hugs, from the Engagement Minister across the...pond? Not sure if that works. Your mental health is indeed important and if you don't believe yourself to be suited to your role, you can always step out. Good luck in the future, Luca.

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Luca,
Take care of yourself; That should be your top priority.

I am certain that it adds to your frustration level when you have ideas on what it takes to move something forward but then you are looking at the immovable mass of how things were always done before.

Tisha

Tisha
Minister of Engagement
Legislator
Coral Guard
Ambassador to South Pacific region
OWL senior staff

Tishers ?☢ [Nyxonia]

LEDA #1             June, July, August, September 2021
COB #10            April, May 2021
Wingspan #10     August, September 2021

"I am an endorsin fool"

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All the best, Luca. Take care of yourself and thank you for your service as Minister

Admiral General of the South Pacific

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The agenda for the remaining of the term and a few issues to talk about

Citizens, I have been appointed as the Minister of Engagement for the remainder of the June 2021 term after the departure of minister Luca. The ministry under Luca's leadership has finished the two important projects that are the Dispatch Project and Unified Application Process. I want to extend my thanks to Luca for leading the ministry to accomplish these goals and wish her the best. My goal for the remaining of the term is continuing to execute Luca's agenda, especially regarding the card program as well as addressing a few issues about the ministry's activity level. The three main goals for the remainder of the term are: Allowing the Dispatch Service to be used by other ministries Constructing the South Pacific Association for Cards Exchange Card Program according to the new plan. Addressing issues about the activity level and operating principle of the Ministry. (IMPORTANT)   Allow the Dispatch Service to be used by other ministries The Dispatch Service is currently only maintaining the integration-related dispatches of the region. We will extend the Service to allow its tools to be used by other government bodies as well. The current implementation is to provide each user with a Google spreadsheet in which editing work will be done. This one has the highest time-priority (completion within less than 2 weeks if possible) since a ministry currently needs it. Construct SPACE according to the new plan As some of you may have known, the plan for SPACE underwent substantial changes this term to simplify many of its aspects for better sustainability. We will build SPACE according to this new plan. A new thing here is that we will work to provide the "minimum viable product", the barebone version of the program, and continually improve on it rather than making a long plan and ensuring everything perfect before launch as has been done with other MoE projects. This will help cutting down the time until citizens can engage with the program and make it adaptable to unexpected challenges. Addressing issues about the activity level and operating principle of the ministry If some of you do pay attention to the Cabinet log release or former minister Luca's statement, the ministry's activity is depending entirely on infrastructure work which tends to only exist for a small duration and is quite difficult for beginners to participate. With major infrastructure projects like the Dispatch Service finished, this issue has become more prominent as people nowadays will only work if there is a request to serve or things to maintain. I plan to address this by creating a team of people to approach and guide newcomers in the region on many platforms, basically the LC but more hands-on and strategic. This will make the ministry actually does what is in its name and provide opportunities for both beginners and inactive members (due to lack of work to do). This idea has been tried before with MoRA but it was a failure due to the lack of adequate materials (such as guides or dispatches). Now with the gameside dispatches finished, this idea is worth reattempting. We haven't yet decided on the details and scope (where should they operate, forum, discord, RMB?) of the program so a discussion with the ministry staff to flesh out the ideas will be hold. Once the card program is done, using cards as rewards for engagement work may be considered. This program (and any similar program in the future) will hopefully mark the shift of the ministry from infrastructure building to actual integration and engagement. Infrastructure will become our second priority. Actual engagement work will be the ministry's primary activity driver. Another crucial work to do is training new leaders. Anyone who wishes to run any project within the ministry will be provided training to build a base of capable future leaders for both MoE and the region. The bar to entry into upper leadership will be significantly reduced. With how procedural and "safe" MoE projects are, they are good places for beginners to try out managing a government institution. Finally, the ministry will hold frequent internal surveys to better identify any issue and seek for anything new to work on. This has only been done once during the June 2021 term and we want to continue doing it in a more frequent manner. As an interim minister, I hope I will be able to deliver most of what is written here and in Luca's agenda. If you have any question, please contact me on Discord or posting on here. Regards,

Chief Supervising Armchair

(This post was last modified: 08-26-2021, 01:14 PM by USoVietnam.)

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2021/09/05 update

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• Dispatch Service: The ministry is working on expanding the editing service to other government ministries. We have successfully tested loading dispatches directly from spreadsheets and automatically updating status messages on the spreadsheets which are the most difficult parts. Remaining work is working on loading placeholder variables from spreadsheets and an on-demand update system (press a button to update gameside dispatches) before we can announce the service to others. Also, we will have a new and prettier header and footer for gameside dispatches soon!
  
• SPACE: The card team will launch a bare bone version of SPACE for concept testing soon following this plan. We are working on acquiring and customizing the issue counting script of 10KI for our needs.
  
• The ministry is working on a general recruitment campaign for all ministries and the Assembly. Every week, we will send a mass telegram and pin a dispatch promoting a ministry. Hopefully this will bring in some new members for the government.
  

Chief Supervising Armchair

(This post was last modified: 09-04-2021, 03:05 PM by USoVietnam.)

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