Jedi Council Forums - Attracting New Members

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Author	Topic: Attracting New Members
AramysStrael Registered: Mar '04	Date Posted: 6/17 5:20pm Subject: Attracting New Members
	Noted...... I still hold to my same argument. It is a matter of being a difference of opinion. I really don't care that you disagree with mine. I'm entitled to my opinion. I, too, have been here for a number of years. This is another niche I have for my Star Wars fandom. Yes, I was offended by the phrasing of the statement, as I did find it insulting for the very same reasons you described. The difference is that I am done sugar coating everything. I call a spade a spade. Did this person mean to be offensive? Probably not. Better they know now that unwisely chosen words can be offensive to those who are passionate about this group. But it is easy for someone like you and Rob (TattooineForceRecon) to jump all over me. You guys are mere talkers of the group. I, on the other hand, am one of the doers. Your objections would mean more to me if you actually contributed more to the success of the group, rather than just occupying a small corner of cyberspace. - Bill -----signature----- "In for a micron, in for a meter. No one makes a victim of folks I'm sworn to protect." Corran Horn Corellian Security
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jawafett Title: Oregon Fanforce Chapter Rep Registered: Mar '03	Date Posted: 6/18 9:16am Subject: Attracting New Members
	Bickering is pointless. Please, stay on target. As for who, what we are can be seen here: http://www.oregonfanforce.org// Although, it could stand to be updated. If you are a member seeking out other members or even Star Wars Fans in your area are to be found here, 501st Cloud City Garrison, Rebel Legion Kashyyyk Base members. Seek out their respective websites for upcoming events in your area, and make yourself known. Most of the events are in the Portland Metro area, but there are events in Salem, Eugene areas as well. You might find some of us who costume attending them as well. With a OFF T-shirt in the works, we'll soon be able to amke ourselves stand out when we wear it. As for who we are, we are fans of everything Star Wars. Books, Toys, Comics, Video games, Costuming, etc. Having a Flier with our info is good to have on hand at events you attend, we have an old one and we could come up with a new design or go with a multi group flier that is being worked on with the Star Wars Costuming groups. But getting the word out that there is a Star Wars social forum website here is what we can help with. -Eric -----signature----- May the Force of the others be with you! Never Tell Me The Odds! FanFilm Preproduction: Red Knights -2010 Rebel Legion/Kashyyyk Base Member-ANH Han Solo
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JEDIGUNSHIP Title: C&G Game Host Registered: May '08	Date Posted: 6/18 9:36am Subject: Attracting New Members
	I agree; we need to get the word out that we exist. -----signature----- Blue and yellow make a green lightsaber. How do you get red out of blue? Council Member in the New Jedi Trials/ Commander-in-Chief of the Rebel Alliance Addicted to Rock Band 2 and Proud of It! SWC Secret Rebel '09 Band Geek For Life!
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AramysStrael Registered: Mar '04	Date Posted: 6/18 9:41am Subject: Attracting New Members
	That old flier is still quite useable. Remember there was a panel that was pretty bare and we were scrambling to fill it. Now that the Mercs do exist in the area, I suggest we showcase them, as well... that is, if we still choose to do a multi-group flier. - Bill -----signature----- "In for a micron, in for a meter. No one makes a victim of folks I'm sworn to protect." Corran Horn Corellian Security
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Darth_McCain Registered: Oct '08	Date Posted: 6/20 4:12pm Subject: Attracting New Members
	There is the showing of Empire at the Bagdad on July 3rd I would assume that would be a great way to get support for the group.
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AramysStrael Registered: Mar '04	Date Posted: 6/21 12:41am Subject: Attracting New Members
	Yeah, Cloud City will be all over that one. They always are. I imagine some of the Kashyyyk Base guys may be there, too. I'd go to it, but I have transportation issues at the present - that is, I can't afford the insurance and the bus doesn't run as late as when the movie lets out. - Bill -----signature----- "In for a micron, in for a meter. No one makes a victim of folks I'm sworn to protect." Corran Horn Corellian Security
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JEDIGUNSHIP Title: C&G Game Host Registered: May '08	Date Posted: 6/21 9:23am Subject: Attracting New Members
	We need some events that are just us if we are to not be overshadowed by the other groups. About the Bagdad showing, who would people be attracted to talk to: a costuming group, because they have lots of members in costume. I'm not saying that it's a bad idea, but the problem is that we would have no chance to advertise our group. -----signature----- Blue and yellow make a green lightsaber. How do you get red out of blue? Council Member in the New Jedi Trials/ Commander-in-Chief of the Rebel Alliance Addicted to Rock Band 2 and Proud of It! SWC Secret Rebel '09 Band Geek For Life!
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AramysStrael Registered: Mar '04	Date Posted: 6/21 2:50pm Subject: Attracting New Members
	Matt is right.... the best way to advertise is to simply have tables at conventions and comic book shows. Every time there is a Portland Comic Book Show, Eric puts out stuff on their table. OryCon is real easy to get a table, especially if you aren't using any electricity. The only thing that is required is to have a the day or weekend admission pass. But I can tell you, that since it is in the common areas, most people don't check that the folks at the table don't have a pass - at least they didn't seem to when I was there last year and had two KB members manning the table that didn't have admission passes. Not advocating that sort of thing, I am just saying. I think I will be having a Mercs table there this year. As harsh as it sounds, Cloud City and Kashyyyk Base can fend for themselves if they want a table. If any are willing from the OFF, I won't mind sharing a table with you guys. It seems to me that both groups are in need of the promotion more so that CCG or KB. - Bill -----signature----- "In for a micron, in for a meter. No one makes a victim of folks I'm sworn to protect." Corran Horn Corellian Security
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ImperialJedi Registered: Sep '01	Date Posted: 6/21 4:46pm Subject: Attracting New Members
	jawafett posted: 4) Spread the word that we are on Facebook/myspace. You guys are on Facebook? Awesome! -----signature----- Making a fool of herself on tf.n since 1999. Thrawn Fans Unite!!! No, seriously. (EU Community board) Co-founder of the Oregon FanForce and Savannah Quidditch League. That geeky enough for you? haha
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ImperialJedi Registered: Sep '01	Date Posted: 6/21 4:50pm Subject: Attracting New Members
	hmmm, You guys should make a Facebook page instead of a person. Or at least a group. It would be a lot more effective. -----signature----- Making a fool of herself on tf.n since 1999. Thrawn Fans Unite!!! No, seriously. (EU Community board) Co-founder of the Oregon FanForce and Savannah Quidditch League. That geeky enough for you? haha
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AramysStrael Registered: Mar '04	Date Posted: 6/21 4:51pm Subject: Attracting New Members
	Yeah, Skot and Brandy did that for us. One of them has us on Facebook and the other has us on Myspace to help promote us. Pretty cool, if you ask me... - Bill -----signature----- "In for a micron, in for a meter. No one makes a victim of folks I'm sworn to protect." Corran Horn Corellian Security
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JEDIGUNSHIP Title: C&G Game Host Registered: May '08	Date Posted: 6/22 3:58pm Subject: Attracting New Members
	Hey Bill, what exactly is OryCon? I'm not really familiar with conventions in the area. -----signature----- Blue and yellow make a green lightsaber. How do you get red out of blue? Council Member in the New Jedi Trials/ Commander-in-Chief of the Rebel Alliance Addicted to Rock Band 2 and Proud of It! SWC Secret Rebel '09 Band Geek For Life!
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Darth_McCain Registered: Oct '08	Date Posted: 6/22 6:05pm Subject: Attracting New Members
	JEDIGUNSHIP posted: We need some events that are just us if we are to not be overshadowed by the other groups. About the Bagdad showing, who would people be attracted to talk to: a costuming group, because they have lots of members in costume. I'm not saying that it's a bad idea, but the problem is that we would have no chance to advertise our group. Networking you have to put yourself out there to get people to know you are there. The costuming groups will always be at conventions. If we talk with those in the costuming group we can all get integrated like the Inland Empire Fan Force. Just because we are 2 separate groups doesn't mean that we can still be involved with one. I found people in the IEFF were willing to work with other groups like the 501st to help others who were just getting into the community a leg up. If you are trying to compete with the other groups you are already setting yourself up to fail not to sound like a jerk but the best thing we could do to grow as a community is to connect with others then once people in our group start costuming growth will be a easy thing because every Star Wars fan wants to be behind the mask of a stormtrooper or in a Jedi hood and if we can partner with some of the local costuming groups to share there knowledge of building costumes with us we can then be the ones to help new fans.
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jawafett Title: Oregon Fanforce Chapter Rep Registered: Mar '03	Date Posted: 6/23 6:05am Subject: Attracting New Members
	But there are some people that are just content at being Fans. The attraction to our group needs to be seen as an alternative to the local costuming groups, but I do think that being present with them at events is how we will draw in members. We do have a few new members posting here, what drew you here? Previous knowledge of theforce.net forums or word of the OFF through other channels? If you are from another FanForce in a different state, what worked in that FanForce group to bring in new members especially now since we don't have the prequels to help bring in new members? With the New Clone Wars series, Live action Star Wars in the future, all we have is collecting figures, reading novels, comics, video games, costuming, etc. What are your thoughts? -----signature----- May the Force of the others be with you! Never Tell Me The Odds! FanFilm Preproduction: Red Knights -2010 Rebel Legion/Kashyyyk Base Member-ANH Han Solo
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_Vengeance_ Title: Oregon FF VIP Registered: Jul '02	Date Posted: 6/23 7:15am Subject: Attracting New Members
	When I was up in Seattle I went to a couple meetings with their FF and had a great time. And I'm trying to think what it was that drew me to the meetings in the first place and what made them so enjoyable. Some key points that I recall was the excitement of planning it. Not sure how that could be something we could control, but there was so much involvement and excitement in planning the meetings with everyone who came (a good... seven or eight people maybe?) So much so that I gladly took the hour and a half trip on three buses to get to the locations. I don't even really remember what we had planned for the meeting or what we talked about, but it was great. So a thought: Gaining new, ACTIVELY ACTIVE members requires getting them to a meeting AND ensuring that that meeting is exciting and memorable. Obviously the more difficult task is getting them there in the first place. New people in new places, that requires ensuring a comfort of some sort for each new attendee, insurance that their time won't be wasted, they won't be embarrassed, shy, what have you. So, broaden meeting agendas. Show proof of previous meetings, of camaraderie at those meetings (and here on the boards, an issue that seems to be resolving peacefully ), of an amiable and accepting nature amongst our ranks towards the new posters, and even the lurkers who may be silently watching. Think on these things, and start imagining ways to achieve them. A few ways I've thought of: 1. Take some good group photos at meetings, especially of new members who came (when they start coming) and everyone welcoming them. The most memorable events to me that have been posted on the OFF (that I haven't attended at least) have been costuming events Eric and Crash have attended in the past because they posted pictures of themselves there at the meeting. 2. Make FUN a large part of meeting agendas, haha. Anywhere in Portland do Blacklight Bowling or anything spacey like that that could easily be turned to some Star Wars goofdom? That's just something I think would be cool, but everyone has a different tickle somewhere that will make them smile and get them pumped to go to one of these awesome meetings they keep reading (and seeing! remember #1!) about. It doesn't have to be 100% Star Wars 100% of the time, just a good reason to get together with some folks who know the Pants game, get the funny quotes and jokes, and want to have a good time. From there, when you have a lot of people having a good time, then you can start making specific gatherings like costuming or collecting. Just remember, fun for everyone first of all! 3. Infection. You have to find something truly, universally infectious (and infectious enough) to snatch up those who may be on the edge about coming to a meeting or not. Excitement, pride, a sense of belonging, use these and others to instill the same in prospective attendees. Get them rooting for something. For the OFF, together, in a good way! In a "We know we're gonna win, but we want to be loud anyways!" kind of sporting event audience kind of way. There's a reason a couple million people watch a bunch of jocks run back and forth for a few hours every week (or day!) and pay so much money and attention to it: the infection of excitement, it's exponential with each new person you add to the mix. I dunno, just some thoughts, and I think I had some more but they're not coming to me now. Perhaps they'll come back. Oh, and know that none of this was meant to pointed towards anyone, nor am I saying that everyone was unaware of these things. Discussion breeds discussion breeds discussion. Now that they're out there, we can all take them, build on them, reconstruct, deconstruct, and recalibrate these ideas until we have some surefire ideas in hand that can be set to work. That's all. -----signature----- A great man (whose name has rather humourously long since been forgotten) Once said that "Though the apple falls not far from the tree, the coconut will roll for many miles." ------ I dislike my username.
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