Re: [biz] fundraising / business newsletter
A two tiered membership system seems like a nice simple way to go. Outside of leveraging our numbers for discounts, what do people expect out of being part of a professional association? On Nov 23, 2007 12:12 PM, Keith Major | Aquarius Telecom Inc. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I think developing TAUG into a professional association would be a good idea with a small membership fee of $25-35/year. This would help cover the cost of website bandwidth and tables at conferences like IT360. Being a professional association, we could leverage our member numbers and get preferred rates with vendors such as, car insurance or movie tickets just to name a few. Regarding branding or our group, keep it the same as it is now. It takes a long time to develop a brand and one that is easy to say and unique is something we have going for us; TAUG. Vendors such as Aastra know us and IT professionals who are getting into VoIP know us about TAUG and let's not forget the branding that comes from Asterisk alone. Asterisk is used in multi-national companies and call centres deploying Cisco on the frontend and Asterisk in the backend. For those who might think about, What's in it for me? We could have a text based vendor directory were prospects can view in brief what you offer and click a like to visit your site for more details. I believe this to be a fair and workable proposal. Keith - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [biz] fundraising / business newsletter
I'm a member of the local Linux user group in Calgary. They recently went through the process of registering themselves as a society. They have a 2 tier membership system.Tier 1 is for anyone who wishes to join, come out to meetings and participate in the mailing lists. There is no cost. Tier 2 is the same as tier 1 except it costs $20 per year and this entitles you to voting privileges and discounts at sponsoring stores. (http://clug.ca/node/13) I am certainly in favour of a multilevel system as it lowers the barrier to entry for casual people as well as giving others the ability to benefit from the 'perks of the group. Martin Keith Major | Aquarius Telecom Inc. wrote: Meetings and user group membership should be free. I completely agree with that. Business membership should be fee based. Keith -Original Message- From: Jim Van Meggelen [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: November 23, 2007 12:22 PM To: biz@taug.ca Subject: RE: [biz] fundraising / business newsletter I would still want to keep the meetings and list membership free. In other words, there needs to be a way to be a part of this without being required to shell out any cash. If you want the t-shirt, bumper sticker or any promotional consideration, fine, but the basic membership needs to have as few barriers as possible. Jim -Original Message- From: Keith Major | Aquarius Telecom Inc. [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: November 23, 2007 12:13 PM To: biz@taug.ca Subject: RE: [biz] fundraising / business newsletter I think developing TAUG into a professional association would be a good idea with a small membership fee of $25-35/year. This would help cover the cost of website bandwidth and tables at conferences like IT360. Being a professional association, we could leverage our member numbers and get preferred rates with vendors such as, car insurance or movie tickets just to name a few. Regarding branding or our group, keep it the same as it is now. It takes a long time to develop a brand and one that is easy to say and unique is something we have going for us; TAUG. Vendors such as Aastra know us and IT professionals who are getting into VoIP know us about TAUG and let's not forget the branding that comes from Asterisk alone. Asterisk is used in multi-national companies and call centres deploying Cisco on the frontend and Asterisk in the backend. For those who might think about, What's in it for me? We could have a text based vendor directory were prospects can view in brief what you offer and click a like to visit your site for more details. I believe this to be a fair and workable proposal. Keith No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.4/1147 - Release Date: 23/11/2007 9:19 AM - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.4/1147 - Release Date: 23/11/2007 9:19 AM - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: [biz] fundraising / business newsletter
I would still want to keep the meetings and list membership free. In other words, there needs to be a way to be a part of this without being required to shell out any cash. If you want the t-shirt, bumper sticker or any promotional consideration, fine, but the basic membership needs to have as few barriers as possible. Jim -Original Message- From: Keith Major | Aquarius Telecom Inc. [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: November 23, 2007 12:13 PM To: biz@taug.ca Subject: RE: [biz] fundraising / business newsletter I think developing TAUG into a professional association would be a good idea with a small membership fee of $25-35/year. This would help cover the cost of website bandwidth and tables at conferences like IT360. Being a professional association, we could leverage our member numbers and get preferred rates with vendors such as, car insurance or movie tickets just to name a few. Regarding branding or our group, keep it the same as it is now. It takes a long time to develop a brand and one that is easy to say and unique is something we have going for us; TAUG. Vendors such as Aastra know us and IT professionals who are getting into VoIP know us about TAUG and let's not forget the branding that comes from Asterisk alone. Asterisk is used in multi-national companies and call centres deploying Cisco on the frontend and Asterisk in the backend. For those who might think about, What's in it for me? We could have a text based vendor directory were prospects can view in brief what you offer and click a like to visit your site for more details. I believe this to be a fair and workable proposal. Keith No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.4/1147 - Release Date: 23/11/2007 9:19 AM - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: [biz] fundraising / business newsletter
I think developing TAUG into a professional association would be a good idea with a small membership fee of $25-35/year. This would help cover the cost of website bandwidth and tables at conferences like IT360. Being a professional association, we could leverage our member numbers and get preferred rates with vendors such as, car insurance or movie tickets just to name a few. Regarding branding or our group, keep it the same as it is now. It takes a long time to develop a brand and one that is easy to say and unique is something we have going for us; TAUG. Vendors such as Aastra know us and IT professionals who are getting into VoIP know us about TAUG and let's not forget the branding that comes from Asterisk alone. Asterisk is used in multi-national companies and call centres deploying Cisco on the frontend and Asterisk in the backend. For those who might think about, What's in it for me? We could have a text based vendor directory were prospects can view in brief what you offer and click a like to visit your site for more details. I believe this to be a fair and workable proposal. Keith No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.4/1147 - Release Date: 23/11/2007 9:19 AM - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [biz] fundraising / business newsletter
On Thursday 22 November 2007 20:27:06 Shidan wrote: reflects that we are more than Asterisk would only help. Something like the Ontario VoIP list makes much more sense for who we are now, Actually I think oVoip is kind of catchy... oh-voip... I like it. :-) -A. - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [biz] fundraising / business newsletter
Simon: I suggested on this idea a while ago. I'm glad you are seeing the benefits. If you build, they will come. Advertising opportunities will come after the group has been properly incorporated as a non-profit, and/or charity. I got some heated email a while ago (off list) from people within the TAUG community who disliked the concept of forming an official organization. As mentioned earlier, I would be more interested in offering financial support through my organization if a tax receipt was a possibility. Forming an official organization may also entail some sort of membership fee. There is administrative work involved and some initial expenses involved for proper registration. I sit and assist on the board of a couple of non-profit charities. No question, time and dedication is required, along with initial cost of registration. Most banks offer free or heavily discounted service plans for non-profits and/or charities, such as Scotia Bank. My 2 cents. Best, Reza. - Original Message - From: Simon P. Ditner [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: biz@taug.ca Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2007 2:05 PM Subject: [biz] fundraising / business newsletter It's fun been doing everything with shoe-string budgets, but it would be nice if we had a bit of cash coming in to cover incorporating the group, and then be able to properly accept sponsors for larger events. So I'm just testing the waters ... would anyone be interested in a) advertising in a business newsletter, and b) receiving a business newsletter if TAUG were to produce one? If anyone has other fundraising ideas, please send them :) Cheers, spd - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: [biz] fundraising / business newsletter
Can we start an incorporation fund? I'd be willing to pitch in a few bucks for that, and I am sure I'm not the only one. Once we are a legal, non-profit entity, I for one would love to have a thank you sponsors page where benefactors can receive acknowlegement for contributions made. Nothing fancy, but anyone who makes some reasonable contribution can put up a gif/jpeg of a pre-defined size that links to wherever they want. Any time a contribution is made to the group, a spot is made on the thanks to page where a picture/link can be posted. The pics are rotated randomly, so each entity has a chance to be the top dog. Not sure if we would offer different sizes for different prices, but I think to start we go with one size for everyone, and some reasonable minimum contribution that earns a square that month. The executive of the new corporation can take the decision process from there. I see this concept as a win-win because a) it demonstrates that taug has corporate sponsorship, which lends credibility to the group, and b) allows sponsors to be able to brag that we are involved with the community. The only thing I would say is that we start cheap, so that as many of us as possible see it as a no brainer to sign up. I would run my idea (and any others) by some entities that have gone before us, though, as there may be pitfalls that we would miss due to inexperience with such things. Jim -- Jim Van Meggelen Core Telecom Innovations [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.coretel.ca 416-425-6111 x6001 877-CORETEL x6001 (Canada) www.oreillynet.com/pub/au/2177 http://downloads.oreilly.com/books/9780596510480.pdf -Original Message- From: Simon P. Ditner [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: November 22, 2007 2:05 PM To: biz@taug.ca Subject: [biz] fundraising / business newsletter It's fun been doing everything with shoe-string budgets, but it would be nice if we had a bit of cash coming in to cover incorporating the group, and then be able to properly accept sponsors for larger events. So I'm just testing the waters ... would anyone be interested in a) advertising in a business newsletter, and b) receiving a business newsletter if TAUG were to produce one? If anyone has other fundraising ideas, please send them :) Cheers, spd - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: [biz] fundraising / business newsletter
There are huge benefits to doing this and it depends on where the group is going exactly. If there are big visions for the future, then yes, do it. If it is more of the same, with incremental improvements, I would keep it as is. This will be a LOT more work. As well, the warm and fuzzies will likely stop soon afterward since it becomes less of a 'for the love of it' and more of a 'because I have to'. If things do grow and the momentum is there, then I do it being of benefit. As well, could always start this without TAUG at the heart of it but linked... but not sure where your vision is. My 2 cents. Regards, Chuck -Original Message- From: Simon P. Ditner [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: November-22-07 2:05 PM To: biz@taug.ca Subject: [biz] fundraising / business newsletter It's fun been doing everything with shoe-string budgets, but it would be nice if we had a bit of cash coming in to cover incorporating the group, and then be able to properly accept sponsors for larger events. So I'm just testing the waters ... would anyone be interested in a) advertising in a business newsletter, and b) receiving a business newsletter if TAUG were to produce one? If anyone has other fundraising ideas, please send them :) Cheers, spd - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [biz] fundraising / business newsletter
I'd be in for providing some funds to get things moving, this group is an invaluable resource. Chuck brought up, about linking to TAUG, and this brought on the thought that Are we morphing? Have we evolved?. Maybe a question we need to ask ourselves is: Are we still TAUG or are we becoming TVUG ( Toronto Voip Users Group )? I clearly hear threads of many other applications, like SER, freeSwitch, sipX, etc Yes, Asterisk is the main focus, but other issues like routers, phones, PSTN trunking are generic ones. But then the next steps are: - configuring SER with Asterisk. - the VoiceMail project, will it become a standalone app? - Clustering/HA Thoughts? Mike Chuck Mariotti wrote: There are huge benefits to doing this and it depends on where the group is going exactly. If there are big visions for the future, then yes, do it. If it is more of the same, with incremental improvements, I would keep it as is. This will be a LOT more work. As well, the warm and fuzzies will likely stop soon afterward since it becomes less of a 'for the love of it' and more of a 'because I have to'. If things do grow and the momentum is there, then I do it being of benefit. As well, could always start this without TAUG at the heart of it but linked... but not sure where your vision is. My 2 cents. Regards, Chuck -Original Message- From: Simon P. Ditner [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: November-22-07 2:05 PM To: biz@taug.ca Subject: [biz] fundraising / business newsletter It's fun been doing everything with shoe-string budgets, but it would be nice if we had a bit of cash coming in to cover incorporating the group, and then be able to properly accept sponsors for larger events. So I'm just testing the waters ... would anyone be interested in a) advertising in a business newsletter, and b) receiving a business newsletter if TAUG were to produce one? If anyone has other fundraising ideas, please send them :) Cheers, spd - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Mike Ashton Quality Track Intl Ph: 647-722-2092 x 301 Cell: 416-527-4995 Fax:416-352-6043 QTI CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION The contents of this material are confidential and proprietary to Quality Track International, Inc. and may not be reproduced, disclosed, distributed or used without the express permission of an authorized representative of QTI. Use for any purpose or in any manner other than that expressly authorized is prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately delete it and all copies, and promptly notify the sender. - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: [biz] fundraising / business newsletter
We evolved out of Simon's Ontario VoIP list, so in a sense we have always been more than just Asterisk-focused. You make a good point, though. Still, I think that I still like TAUG for at least the following reasons: 1) I just like the sound of it. Tee-Vug just doesn't quite do it for me, and frankly, if we're going to take the Asterisk out of the name, I think we in good conscience should also consider taking the Toronto out of the name, for much the same sort of reasons. 2) I think that Asterisk is still the primary phenomenon. We're all wise enough not to get caught up in the fanboy mentality, but Asterisk is still a big part of what we are all about, so unless the semantics becomes a problem, it's probably not an inaccurate moniker, even if we stray into other areas of common interest on a regular basis. 3) I am not really a fan of the term VoIP, mostly because it seems to have be taken over by the media to mean little more than cheap long distance. Given that we have members from the other side of the globe, perhaps should grow our vision beyond NPA 416. How about the Commonwealth Emerging Communications Enthusiaists and Opportunists . . . A rose by any other name . . . :-) Jim -- Jim Van Meggelen [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/au/2177 A child is the ultimate startup, and I have three. This makes me rich. Guy Kawasaki -- -Original Message- From: Mike Ashton [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: November 22, 2007 3:35 PM To: biz Subject: Re: [biz] fundraising / business newsletter I'd be in for providing some funds to get things moving, this group is an invaluable resource. Chuck brought up, about linking to TAUG, and this brought on the thought that Are we morphing? Have we evolved?. Maybe a question we need to ask ourselves is: Are we still TAUG or are we becoming TVUG ( Toronto Voip Users Group )? I clearly hear threads of many other applications, like SER, freeSwitch, sipX, etc Yes, Asterisk is the main focus, but other issues like routers, phones, PSTN trunking are generic ones. But then the next steps are: - configuring SER with Asterisk. - the VoiceMail project, will it become a standalone app? - Clustering/HA Thoughts? Mike Chuck Mariotti wrote: There are huge benefits to doing this and it depends on where the group is going exactly. If there are big visions for the future, then yes, do it. If it is more of the same, with incremental improvements, I would keep it as is. This will be a LOT more work. As well, the warm and fuzzies will likely stop soon afterward since it becomes less of a 'for the love of it' and more of a 'because I have to'. If things do grow and the momentum is there, then I do it being of benefit. As well, could always start this without TAUG at the heart of it but linked... but not sure where your vision is. My 2 cents. Regards, Chuck -Original Message- From: Simon P. Ditner [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: November-22-07 2:05 PM To: biz@taug.ca Subject: [biz] fundraising / business newsletter It's fun been doing everything with shoe-string budgets, but it would be nice if we had a bit of cash coming in to cover incorporating the group, and then be able to properly accept sponsors for larger events. So I'm just testing the waters ... would anyone be interested in a) advertising in a business newsletter, and b) receiving a business newsletter if TAUG were to produce one? If anyone has other fundraising ideas, please send them :) Cheers, spd - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Mike Ashton Quality Track Intl Ph: 647-722-2092 x 301 Cell: 416-527-4995 Fax: 416-352-6043 QTI CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION The contents of this material are confidential and proprietary to Quality Track International, Inc. and may not be reproduced, disclosed, distributed or used without the express permission of an authorized representative of QTI. Use for any purpose or in any manner other than that expressly authorized is prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately delete it and all copies, and promptly notify the sender. - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail
Re: [biz] fundraising / business newsletter
Well personally I have to agree with Mike that we have grown to be and constitute much more than just Asterisk users. I think it's a wonderful idea to incorporate and work on getting capital to do some interesting projects and meetings together, as Reza said, this involves dedication and some hard work, but the results would be worth it. It's also a wonderful idea for us to acknowladge that we are in fact a group of people who tinker with emerging telecommunications, particularly in the open source space. Whether it's Asterisk, Freeswitch, SER, VoIP, voice over wireless, frontiers of speech recognition and interaction and lot's more. If we include all these things formally in our charter we will only attract more bright and interesting people and better sponsorship. I think a name change that reflects that we are more than Asterisk would only help. Something like the Ontario VoIP list makes much more sense for who we are now, not sure if it's as catchy as taug, I think it would be a good idea to brainstorm a new name. --- Shidan On Nov 22, 2007 7:08 PM, Jim Van Meggelen [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: We evolved out of Simon's Ontario VoIP list, so in a sense we have always been more than just Asterisk-focused. You make a good point, though. Still, I think that I still like TAUG for at least the following reasons: 1) I just like the sound of it. Tee-Vug just doesn't quite do it for me, and frankly, if we're going to take the Asterisk out of the name, I think we in good conscience should also consider taking the Toronto out of the name, for much the same sort of reasons. 2) I think that Asterisk is still the primary phenomenon. We're all wise enough not to get caught up in the fanboy mentality, but Asterisk is still a big part of what we are all about, so unless the semantics becomes a problem, it's probably not an inaccurate moniker, even if we stray into other areas of common interest on a regular basis. 3) I am not really a fan of the term VoIP, mostly because it seems to have be taken over by the media to mean little more than cheap long distance. Given that we have members from the other side of the globe, perhaps should grow our vision beyond NPA 416. How about the Commonwealth Emerging Communications Enthusiaists and Opportunists . . . A rose by any other name . . . :-) Jim -- Jim Van Meggelen [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/au/2177 A child is the ultimate startup, and I have three. This makes me rich. Guy Kawasaki -- -Original Message- From: Mike Ashton [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: November 22, 2007 3:35 PM To: biz Subject: Re: [biz] fundraising / business newsletter I'd be in for providing some funds to get things moving, this group is an invaluable resource. Chuck brought up, about linking to TAUG, and this brought on the thought that Are we morphing? Have we evolved?. Maybe a question we need to ask ourselves is: Are we still TAUG or are we becoming TVUG ( Toronto Voip Users Group )? I clearly hear threads of many other applications, like SER, freeSwitch, sipX, etc Yes, Asterisk is the main focus, but other issues like routers, phones, PSTN trunking are generic ones. But then the next steps are: - configuring SER with Asterisk. - the VoiceMail project, will it become a standalone app? - Clustering/HA Thoughts? Mike Chuck Mariotti wrote: There are huge benefits to doing this and it depends on where the group is going exactly. If there are big visions for the future, then yes, do it. If it is more of the same, with incremental improvements, I would keep it as is. This will be a LOT more work. As well, the warm and fuzzies will likely stop soon afterward since it becomes less of a 'for the love of it' and more of a 'because I have to'. If things do grow and the momentum is there, then I do it being of benefit. As well, could always start this without TAUG at the heart of it but linked... but not sure where your vision is. My 2 cents. Regards, Chuck -Original Message- From: Simon P. Ditner [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: November-22-07 2:05 PM To: biz@taug.ca Subject: [biz] fundraising / business newsletter It's fun been doing everything with shoe-string budgets, but it would be nice if we had a bit of cash coming in to cover incorporating the group, and then be able to properly accept sponsors for larger events. So I'm just testing the waters ... would anyone be interested in a) advertising in a business newsletter, and b) receiving a business newsletter if TAUG were to produce one? If anyone has other fundraising ideas, please send them :) Cheers, spd
