President's Corner

May 06, 2006

Message from the President

Greetings fellow Porcupines!   This is the first issue of what I hope will be an approximately weekly addition to the FSP website, titled President's Corner.  It's not on any set schedule, but my goal is to add one roughly each week.  I believe you, the Porcupines already in NH, Participants around the world, Friends, prospective Participants or Friends, and the whole rest of the world ought to get the inside track on what's going on.  I hope you'll find these interesting and informative.

I may be getting a little bit ambitious here, but I hope to include two sections in each issue.  First, a message about something timely and/or important.  I want to inspire you each week or so to 're up' your commitment to do the very best you can to promote freedom wherever you are.  I also want to remind you of the importance of the FSP, and maybe tempt you with a glimpse into what's going on in New Hampshire.  The second section will be a summary of some of the things that the FSP has been up to.  I'll include what I, personally, have worked on, as well as any important reports from others.  I may also include action items that you can help us with, or help wanted ads for jobs that we really need to get done right away.  

If you have any suggestions or ideas for this feature, please feel free to send them my way.   Email me at president@freestateproject.org for the best quality response.

Recent FSP Activity  (lots of action items!)

1. First 1000 - The First 1000 mailing has reached mailboxes and the signup rate has gone through the roof!  It's very exciting to see people increasing their commitment to freedom, and some even coming back after lengthy absences.  What we don't know quite yet is how many people will respond to this mailing or future ones.  Even though Pledge Bank shows us far exceeding our goal right now, that can change quickly.  We need to spread the word about the First 1000 as far and quickly as possible.  I'll talk more about that in a future update.
2. New FSP website - The IT Department continues to work on the new FSP website.  This page is one example of the kinds of things we'll be able to do with the new website.  I'm typing this directly into a WYSIWYG editor on the FSP website.  Soon, officers, department heads, and other volunteers will be able to directly add content to the FSP website, giving many more people the ability to collaborate on projects and publish new material.  There have been some challenges and there's lots more work to do.  If you'd like to volunteer to help the IT department, please email our Volunteer Coordinator, Nik, at volunteer@freestateproject.org and offer your assistance.  Drupal / CivicSpace experience helpful but not required.
3. Banner Ads - The FSP has, at times, placed banner ads and/or other types of ads on various internet websites.  We'd love to do more of that, but we need someone to help organize the program.  We can help with the banners themselves, but we need someone to come up with search engines and search terms and combinations to place ads for.  If you'd like to help, email Nik at volunteer@freestateproject.org.  In fact, if we had 2 or 5 or 20 people working on this, that'd be okay!
4. Flags - Some Porcs are considering making Flags that would be available at Porc Fest.  Feedback can be provided here.
5. Porc Fest - Speaking of Porc Fest, planning continues to move along.  There's a forum for discussion and questions about the fest or offers of assistance (much appreciated, BTW) can be directed at Kate, our Porc Fest Pooh Bah via email at porcfest@freestateproject.org.
6. Survey - We'd like to do a voluntary survey of FSP Participants and friends to try and find out how to better market the project to prospective participants.  We need to know how to supercharge recruiting to meet our goal of 20,000 participants as soon as practical.  Our PR Firm is ready to help us, but we could use some help on the volunteer end.  If you'd like to help with the survey, please email Nik at volunteer@freestateproject.org.  Nik's email box should be full by now!
7. Local Groups - Several new local groups seem to be starting up all the sudden.  In addition to being our Volunteer Coordinator, Nik is our Local Groups leader and has obviously been lighting fires under some people around the country.  Or mabye it's the other way around?!?  Regardless, he reports there are new groups starting up or in the works in Central Minnesota, West Virginia, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Wausau, Wisconsin, and maybe San Diego.  Wow!  Alson on the Local Groups front, the Northern California local group is meeting on May 7th.  There will be not 1, not 2, but *3* Porcs who have moved to NH at that meeting, including Board Member Sandy and myself. 
   
8. Board Opening - Jean Alexander, one of our long time valuable volunteers has decided it's time to 'retire' from what seems like more than full-time FSP work.  Jean has been a very productive volunteer for the FSP for a long time and is deserving of a break and a great big Thank You!  I've enjoyed working with Jean and wish her the best in her future endeavors.  The Board will be considering candidates to fill her slot in the near future.

That's it for this issue!  Thanks for reading.