Freedom's Chain

[joshua]

this reminds me of the migratory box of stuff... you might want to look at that page to flesh out your idea, miss ravyn. (as usual, the TGIMBOEJ should live up to its inspiring qualities).

the projects are obviously different, but i can see how it might be helpful to learn from the example. recipients maintain a list of people and who've received the box before and their email addresses. The usefulness of this: it is easier to approach people and ensure that they want to participate, and people who are at a loss for worthy recipients can always try to persuade one of the unchecked names.

if it's like this i think we can all rest assured that the links in our chain are sturdy and not to be prematurely broken. you wouldn't want to send the book to someone and have them not send it to someone else... even well-meaning people can just not do things after being thrown into it, but maybe i'm just not a trustworthy person.

hope it helps.

oh, and the box is just cool... ;D i had to mention it.

[Ravyn Crescent]

Maybe you can help out in this area, Joshy?

[joshua]

i'm not sure what you mean. i haven't decided if i want to receive the book yet or not. if there is something else i can help with, just ask me. we can talk about it.

[Ravyn Crescent]

Sorry, let me be more specific! I'm hoping you can help me with ideas.

I like the idea they have of keeping a log, of sorts. The only problem is, since we have so few people in charge of the book, we don't have a specific "send to" list. Also, since the people receiving the book are young adults, teens, and even pre-teens, we don't want their addresses just... out there!

SO! Those who do sign up to handle the book will get a box with:

1) Custom email address for email forwarding. This will be [e-mail]
So far we have:
[e-mail] =Tiphphy
[e-mail] =Me


2) Cards that state they are an active participant who is responsible for the book in this project. It will list their name (usually first name ONLY and user-name on the forum) as well as the custom email address. They can hand these cards out to anyone.

3) Posters explaining the project. They should get at least 5 each, and they can scan them in to make more. These posters will be for them to pass out, post up, put up... in their area. It'll have their custom email address listed on it so if people want to join, they'll contact them for how to get involved. Everyone will have 2 weeks to get the book to people, unless they request more time. It's sorta like a race... you want as many people as you can in the time you choose. BUT, don't have people just sign, you have to explain it to them...

4) Press Release Packet. This will tell about the book, slavery, the project, etc. They can give these to their local media groups. (If you get on TV, you get bonus points and...lots of free goodies!

5) Either a yard sign or a car magnet advertising the book! Currently we have 2 yard signs and 2 car magnets. I know a lot of people live in an apartment, are prohibited from having yard signs, know the signs will be stolen.... so we have spiffy car magnets! (I'll get pictures of all this, soon) The yard sign is simple! It'll come with metal... stick....thing... you pound it into the ground with a hammer, mallet, rock, dictionary, shoe, etc. and put the cardboard sign on. Then, if you can, bend the top of the metal stick thing over so no one can steal the sign. If not possible.... ductape works nicely.

6) A nice letter from me detailing their responsibilities and giving them the address of the person they are to send the book to once their 2 weeks are up.

7) An envelope that'll hold the book, with that persons address already written on it.

8) A bunch of bookmarks and cards to pass out.

With any luck, we will also have:
9) Pre-paid shipping +tracking on the envelope so they won't have to pay for that.

10) T-Shirt


We need some donors, though... This gets expensive on my end rather quick.

The t-shirts, I admit are primarily novelty. It'll say they were involved in this project, the date, what it was... and ONLY those who are responsible for the book will get them,

But the postage is something we DO need... Shipping the book isn't that expensive, but we MUST get a tracker put on it. If this gets lost in the mail... I'd rather not trust whoever finds it to contact us, or find the person it was supposed to go to.

(though, LATER, we might send the book to someone at random and tell them to do the same... not for this, though, as that can easily become problematic)

SO, Joshy, as you can see I need a lot of help. Any ideas?

[joshua]

well the easiest idea is to make it cheaper by sending less stuff.
TGIMBOEJ has the problem of being expensive to send out because as you add stuff the box will be heavier, and if you send too much you just have to pay more. we can avoid this problem entirely.

after all, they'd need time to read the book before passing it on (seems to be the most important thing) to someone else, and they shouldn't need to sweat the details. if they want to get involved, remember that they can do that anytime. Promotional tools are available on the web.

The log is not like a chain letter since you don't have to send it to the next person on the list. it functions as a history only. the book should be sent to anyone as long as they are on the list already, or simply added to the list. starting with a short list like the one we have should be fine.

I'm not sure I understand why email is such a bad medium for approaching potential people, especially since it's not personally identifiable. keep in mind that the easier you make it to participate, the more likely that the book will stay mobile. i understand your concern though. you could suggest that your participants work with an adult (like a parent). that way, they could at least list their parent's email or maybe dad has a P.O. Box they could ship it from. ultimately a parent will be able to keep their child safe.

whether the book is being tracked or not really depends on the person sending it along. i imagine that whatever requirements you have for participants would be written inside the log. Like Death Note "How to Use" except without the murder.

[Ravyn Crescent]

hehe, the boxes I've got covered. Each person will receive it before they even get the book.

The book... we could send out the book and a log... tell people to check in... forced them to access the website, too!

You're right, a 2 week per person time limit IS a bit harsh, but we DO need to get the book sent out to as many people as fast as possible... The length of the book... the average person could get through it in about 3 days. Though most people get through it in 1 day. And whoever is in charge of the book is only responsible for getting 5 names. SO, it seems possible at 2 weeks... but we could easily change it to 3 weeks.

I DO like the idea that people can get involved at any time... I say, I send out the first of the kits 1 week before the book leaves my hands (I THINK I'm giving it to someone in Arizona... though, I also plan on doing an "Arizona ONLY" version of the project that will have the money donated to a different organization. Since they boxes will be sent out earlier, it gives people time to start advertising that they will be doing this project. That way they ca start getting names and start figuring out how long they'll need the book for (I suggest encouraging people to purchase their own copy, AND to visit the website we'll set up)

The website will have the Death Note HOW TO USE thing (HAHA! Props for the "without the murder", but I also like the idea that the book will come along with a "how to use" guide... I could get that written up on the inside cover.

The people who sign up HERE on THIS thread, to join, will be responsible for tracking the book, advertising the project, getting the signatures, and sending it off.

... One main thing we need to do is make sure people aren't just signing and not visiting the website and not skipping out on reading the book... Maybe they have to register on the website? And we'll ask them questions about things in the book, things about Human Trafficking, and they have to be able to complete the "test" or they won't be listed on the website as someone who has signed and "may have your name erased from the book" ? What do you think?

Email is fine. I just want to be sure the sponsors have custom addresses so that no one can IM spam them, we can shut off the re-direct when needed without them losing an address, and it looks more professional.

This is ONLY for those who are responsible for the book. The random joiners and people the book is simply passed along to will be able to use their regular email addresses.

[Ravyn Crescent]

Also, we need to get people advertising that we accept donations... In the forms of cash, books, and Hygiene Kits for ALERT.

[nekoteen7189]

I don't quite follow

If I want to be nevermind its way too late... isn't it

[Ravyn Crescent]

Nope, we haven't started yet. Not too late.

[nekoteen7189]

Okay that's good If I want to do this what do I have to do exactly I didn't understand.

and how much is it going to cost?

[Ravyn Crescent]

It'll cost participants.... Nothing, if all goes right. At MOST... shipping the book.

If you choose to Host, then you accept responsibility for the book and the project when it gets into your hands. You receive the stuff I listed above in a box and I pay shipping on that.

What do you do, exactly? Simple! When the book arrives you check it over for damage and if there is any (torn pages, bent cover, spills, etc.) REPORT IT by contacting me.

Then, the next step is simple... find people to give the book to. Explain what we're doing and get it to at least 5 people to read it, visit the website, and THEN sign their name. Let them know that it is very important they read the book and the website before signing, or they won't get recognition for this and they won't be helping the project or you at all.

Use the posters to get people, tell your school news paper, your town paper, the media around you anyway you can using the supplies provided.

Once you have your 5 signatures, see if you have anyone else in your area waiting for a chance to see the book. If there are people waiting, give the book to them. If not... pass the book to the next person on the list. Once we begin, I'll compile the list myself and get everyone's addresses. We'll start with the person closest to me and move out in order to cut down shipping time.

But that's it. When you sign up, you become responsible for the marketing in your area for this project. The more people you get, the better you look and the more you help. When you pass the book along in your area, I suggest you ask the person when they would be able to read it. If they say "in a few days" or 'whenever I get the chance" request that they contact you when they'll have time. Remember that you want to get as many people to read the book and the website we are making as possible, in the shortest amount of time. I'm sending out the "Care Packages" at roughly the same time, as soon as I get them made up. The longer you take, the more time you "competition" has to advertise. You mark the damages because there are penalties for them. People will be given enough bookmarks to give 1 to each person who has the book and they that way they don't need to "dog ear" it.

Now, we're fighting to end slavery, not fighting each other. So why race? A little competition tends to get people motivated! And we want to get this project done and labeled as a success as soon as possible.

Why advertise?
Because the whole point of this is to spread the word about Human Trafficking. If this project goes by unoticed... who do we help?

Why do it this way?
There isn't a financial gain to me with this project. Donations will be listed openly on the website and if someone donates and doesn't see their name they can complain. Donations will go directly to the project and nowhere else, so I'm actually only losing money in this deal. The point is to give people a way to help that takes only their time. Time is valuable, of course, but we're experimenting to see if people have enough heart to spend a few hours reading and learning rather than just passing the issue aside. A chance to prove they care about the issue in a way that requires minimal effort of their part and to show how dedicated the Hosts are.

What is the End Result?
The book will return to me. My assistant will go over the book to be sure things are in order and then will return it to me, and I'll go over it as long as it has been checked out as OK. Then, I take pictures. Lots of pictures and add them to the, hopefully, many pictures we have built up during this project.
Once that is done, I take all the donations, write a check, and send the check and book to freetheslaves.net with a list of the Hosts names and our pictures (those who wish, can supply a photograph of themselves and their names. Those who choose not to, are in no way required to do so.

What if someone sends the book directly to freetheslaves.net?
There's no need, they have a few copies... if they try to sabotage the project by sending it directly to freetheslaves.net, we will contact freetheslaves and request they return it to one of us, along with the name and address of the person who sabotaged. The Host of that area will be responsible for finding out who that person was and we will erase their names (even if it's in pen, there is white-out.

We know some jerk might try to ruin the project by vandalizing the book, sending it early, throwing it away... so it is the Host's responsibility to keep track. If someone has had the book more than 3 days, ask for it back, or to at least see it. Check the book after each person to see if any damage has been done, and if it has contact me for a repair option.

[munchinmonster]

Shipping it over to me might be a bit costly, want me to pass around my copy instead?

[Ravyn Crescent]

No, passing around yours won't help get the signatures we need It is a good tool to use, everyone just passing around their copies, but for this project we need the signatures...

Maybe we should do one per country....? Anyone have any opinion on that?

[nekoteen7189]

Sounds great I can totally do that... Do I PM you my address or something now

[Ravyn Crescent]

*nods* Yes, once we begin I'll ask people to PM me their addresses!