Web414 - Milwaukee's Web Community

Last year, we prepared a business card to promote web414:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johndecember/2763174220/

Would you like to be on the 2.0 version? We share the cost of printing these among people contributing domain names.

If so,

1. you must be a member of the web414.com site and have attended at least 1 meeting over the past year; and
2. you must have a working domain name (up and running) that represents your work (your domain or a domain that you've had major contributions to); and
3. you must have set aside about $4 per domain name you contribute for printing costs (plus a donation (if you have not already made one) to barcampmilwaukee3); and
4. you must email me (john@december.com) and use the subject line "web414 card") as soon as possible, but no later than 11:59 pm CDT on September 11, 2008 with your domain name(s). Domain names will be listed in the order received (unless the designer moves names for best use of space). We'd like to list it without the "www" so we can save space. You can have multiple domain names on the card if there is room. In 2007, several people got multiple domain names.

Also, I had suggested these might be used for a fundraiser for barcampmilwaukee3 and collect money at the same time, but let's keep it simple. If you get a domain on the web414 card, you are on your honor to also contribute some $$ to web414's sponsorship of barcampmilwaukee3.

I'll be in contact with you about the card printing payment and your domain name when you email me.

• I'll collect domains until September 11, 2008
• I'll make the overnightprints.com order as soon as final art is done: rounded corners, glossy both sides, 1000 cards
• I'll figure the exact share of the printing cost, and you can pay me for the printing cost by cash or paypal when I give you the cards
• For the donation to barcampmilwaukee3 (any amount you wish; if you've not already made one), go directly to http://www.barcampmilwaukee.com/donate
  

Hello --

Last fall, I helped coordinate the distribution of a web414 business card:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johndecember/2073789477/

Mike Rohde designed it, and we had it printed in time for BarCampMilwaukee2. On the back of the card are domain names of web414 members who each chipped in some money for the card's printing. The card serves as a convenient way to pass along the web414 mission statement and URL to a colleagues, contacts, or friends, plus it is cool to have participant domain names on the back--it gives a great deal of credibility to our group as we actually build the web, as the card says.

We still have some cards left, but perhaps it is time, and particularly since we have so many new members, to think about a new card. It is good that we have some time to get consider some options. I'd be glad to help organize it this time, also, or defer to someone else or to accept assistance.

Here are some ideas that I have -- perhaps we could bring this up at a future meeting and/or leave comments here:

1. The card really is a nice way to build our group identity with our domain names on the back. We had room on the last card for anyone who wanted to have a domain name included, and some members were able to have multiple domain names on the card, so if you didn't make the last card, you should be able to make this one, but please make sure:

A. You have at least one domain name you'd like to have on the card. It must represent your work and not be a subdirectory of another site (for example, not your flickr photos or facebook URL), but your own domain. This is actually a great way for some members to break into having their own domains--it was nice that in the last card, several members got their own domain names because of the card preparation--they became masters of their own domain.

B. You'll need to be a registered on web414 as a member

C. You'll need to attend at least one web414 meeting

The main idea is that it is neat to see domain names from members on the card -- you might even be able to have multiple domain names if there is room.

2. IDEA: The card might be a good way to raise funds for Web414's sponsorship contribution to BarCampMilwaukee3. For example, if each person gave $10 per domain name (or some other formula, like $10 first domain and $3 if there is room for others), after the costs of printing, we'd likely have almost all the funds necessary for Web414's sponsorship.

3. Comments on print run size: The thing is that the marginal cost of 1000 cards versus 500 cards is not all that much.

Estimated costs based on overnight prints current prices for glossy, double sided:

500 cards: $39.95 + $10 rounded corners = $49.95 + shipping (I think it would have been around $10, we got free shipping)

1000 cards: $49.95 + $20 rounded corners = $69.95 + shipping (I think it would have been around $10, we got free shipping)

So to get 1000 cards is only about $20 more .. plus there was a coupon we had and free shipping that kicked in... so we got 1000 last time and it was a small marginal cost over getting 500.

The order was $78.80 total last fall for 1000 cards (that with the coupon and free shipping because of buying the card holders). NOTE: we must order well in advance when we need the cards--"overnight" prints is not overnight--they delayed the order preparation as we didn't pay expedite fees, so it was orderd on Sep 24th and arrived at my place on October 4th, and only after I had written to them and complained about the delay.

4. IDEA: It would be most excellent to have some payment system set up for web414 (paypal, etc to an account);

Last time, I was able to collect the funds OK--some before printing, some after printing. I have no problem with paying for the whole thing up front myself, getting it shipped to me (home office), and then being reimbursed from the web414 account funds for the exact amount when the cards are here for distribution. But particularly if we use this for fundraising, we might want to have this in an online account so it could be a more organized way to make sure people are paid up before ordering (as it would involve more $) and the funds can be held securely in an account for later use for BarCampMilwaukee3 for example.

5. We will have a firm deadline for persons wanting to be on the card to have their domains up and running. So if you don't have a domain ready now, start getting ready. We could have a little talk about domain name strategies and web hosting options at the web414 meeting. But make sure you work ahead, as domain names that aren't live by the deadline can't be on the card. Also, make sure that it is a domain name you'll stick with, as these cards, with their lamination, likely will last centuries.

6. Mike Rohde and others -- is there some design change that would be appropriate for the second edition of the card? Not that it is necessary--it looks awesome as it is, but perhaps some subtle change to distinguish it?

Hi -- the photos I took at the web414 meetings are posted to the Web414 flickr group.

Let me know if you don't want me to photograph you in the group meetings or if you do a presentation that you don't want photographed--just send me a private email or let me know--it would be no problem.

Or if you want specific actions not photographed, let me know. For example, Kevron doesn't want to be photographed while eating. No problem. He poses for photos fine otherwise.

I also make the photos Creative Commons license for use for web414 publicity, posters, projects, etc.

John

Hi -- the following folks will have all the domain(s) they requested on the web414 card:

jannenej@mso...
mike@roh...
pete@ras...
kevronrulz@gm...
gwollenburg@gm...
ashleydryden@gm...
john@dec...
bradfordw@j1b1...
tmbailen@gm...
jordan@bli...
davidr@kor...
workingwriter@gm...
j@jas...

If your email is not on this list, and you wanted to be on the card, contact me john@december.com before 11:59 pm on Thursday, Sep 13th, as of midnight, I'll then send the final domain list to Mike Rohde for artwork.

Thanks!

Regards,

John

Still space available -- see the post at:

web414 card

It would be great to finalize this on at our September meeting, so bring $3 per domain you reserved (unless you made arrangements with me to front the money for you). I believe everyone who is on the list so far will get their 1st choice... as it is, there will likely be room for 2nd choices.

To help promote web414, we'd like to see if we can make up a business card that our members could give out to contacts and colleagues. On the front of the card will be the web414 logo, url, and information; on the back will be a display of domains from our members, with the idea that it shows the wide breadth of different work we do, something along the lines: "We build the Web..." [list of domains] "...Join us."

We first want to see if this is feasible given the space limits of a card. So we'd like to get a list of people interested, how many domains there would be, and how many would fit on a good card design. I'm assisting Mike Rohde in the preparation of this card (he will do the card design work), so if you are:

1) a registered member of web414 (on this site); and

2) have attended at least 1 meeting; and

3) have at least one Web domain name for a currently-operating Web site that represents your work--this must be a domain name like:

milwaukeepressclub.org
brewcityradio.com
foo.bar.com

but not a section of a site or a link such as to your flickr photos; and

4) are willing to pay $2 to $3 for each domain you have listed on the card,

please email me

john@december.com

with the subject line "web414 card"

and list, in order of priority, domains you'd like listed. Please list your domain without the "www" preceding it if that works for your site--we need to save as many characters as possible.

The priority will be for every member to have the chance to list at least 1 and then if there is room, go down the list again to get the 2nd choice and so on. We'd get thousands of these cards printed up and distributed to members to give out. I think this could redone periodically as we welcome new members of web414 -- I'm sure these cards will become collector's items ;) The order of the domains will be determined by the order received and by the spacing -- for example, a short domain will be moved around to fill out a line to make maximum use of space according to the designer's judgment.

Look for a further announcement on this site closer to our September meeting, and be prepared to bring the amount (estimate $2 to $3 per domain) to the meeting to finalize the inclusion of your domain(s) on the card.

Regards,

John