A Grassroots Portal Project

[tangent4ronpaul]

we had operation cat herder as a wiki but that never went anywhere.

It's still around and quite a lot happened! - question is what to do with it. Some projects have been rather successful. Others not so.

-t

 

[fight4liberty]

This portal site could be very powerful

1st attempt at outlining is here...

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?p=1896949

I'm getting the vision and I can see how this new site could really harness/channel a lot of folks into the movement.

1. What are possible/alternative urls? Should we even use terms Liberty, Freedom, etc? Would it be better to stay with something generic like "xyz-net", or something descriptive like onlinelibertyalliance? Maybe something playing off the term activism? I'd like to see some ideas thrown around...

Since you are going to want to attract visitors from a very broad spectrum of people I would suggest that words like Liberty or Freedom by themselves would appeal to a narrower band of people then we would want so your onlinelibertyalliance would not have broad enough appeal. I personally like it but I'm an insider. If words like Freedom are used in combination with other issue type words such as RP's original slogan, "Freedom, Prosperity and Peace" then it would, of course, appeal to a much broader spectrum. "FreedomProsperityPeaceAlliance"? Too long? Not sure.

What I do know as a marketing person is that the key to the successful wording for the url and the name would be to actually survey people from other sites and have them choose from multiple choice questions and have one question for them to suggest names. You know visit sites of Dems, Indies, Repubs, Peace folks, etc. You would have to provide a link to a survey/poll site for them to go to and vote. You eventually narrow it down to two or three possible names and then make the rounds again to the same sites as before and survey them again and you'll end up with a broad appealing name.

One last tip. The name of the website and ideally the url, too, should as you suggest be instantly recognizable or self explanatory. Not to pick on the name "Liberty Forest" but this is an example of a name that I would bet if you did a survey on a hundred frequent on-line users (excluding people who have been to the RPF site, of course) you'd be lucky to find one person who knows or recognizes the meaning of it. You would even find it difficult to find someone who knows what it means among people that consider themselves American patriots. So we need to make sure the name is self explanatory. The words "online" or "Internet" and "alliance" or "coalition" are good words. I would have to give it more thought which I don't have time to do now.

Hey everybody. Put your thinking caps on.

But this portal site concept is a great idea!

 

[ronpaulhawaii]

I like the idea of a "Welcoming Mat" for new recruits. The site should be simple for newcomers and the ideas a bit "toned" down. Conspiracies would send them walking the other way.

Yes, the style can be described as "red-pill lite." My thinking is that all frontdoor/foyer content will stick to basics, palatable to most... Further, the affiliate descriptions on the sitemap (parlor) should hint at how far down the rabbit hole the individual unit frequents...

That looks good!

I've been missing around here because of holidays but I'm back.

The pics look like you had fun Glad you like the direction this is moving...

I have been looking into Open Source tools for this. To start with, we may have a work-around for implementing OpenID. I just created a limesurvey account to play around a bit. And openmeetings may be just the ticket for the conference hall.

I'm getting the vision and I can see how this new site could really harness/channel a lot of folks into the movement.

Since you are going to want to attract visitors from a very broad spectrum of people I would suggest that words like Liberty or Freedom by themselves would appeal to a narrower band of people then we would want so your onlinelibertyalliance would not have broad enough appeal. I personally like it but I'm an insider. If words like Freedom are used in combination with other issue type words such as RP's original slogan, "Freedom, Prosperity and Peace" then it would, of course, appeal to a much broader spectrum. "FreedomProsperityPeaceAlliance"? Too long? Not sure.

What I do know as a marketing person is that the key to the successful wording for the url and the name would be to actually survey people from other sites and have them choose from multiple choice questions and have one question for them to suggest names. You know visit sites of Dems, Indies, Repubs, Peace folks, etc. You would have to provide a link to a survey/poll site for them to go to and vote. You eventually narrow it down to two or three possible names and then make the rounds again to the same sites as before and survey them again and you'll end up with a broad appealing name.

One last tip. The name of the website and ideally the url, too, should as you suggest be instantly recognizable or self explanatory. Not to pick on the name "Liberty Forest" but this is an example of a name that I would bet if you did a survey on a hundred frequent on-line users (excluding people who have been to the RPF site, of course) you'd be lucky to find one person who knows or recognizes the meaning of it. You would even find it difficult to find someone who knows what it means among people that consider themselves American patriots. So we need to make sure the name is self explanatory. The words "online" or "Internet" and "alliance" or "coalition" are good words. I would have to give it more thought which I don't have time to do now.

Hey everybody. Put your thinking caps on.

But this portal site concept is a great idea!

Thanks for adding your thoughts here. I just opened a survey account and will be learning the software. I could use help with the questions...

SEO and the Ideal URL ???

While the best url is being sought, can we could still move forward with any decent available url. Could we just build it using onlinelibertyalliance (or something else we already own), until we find something better?

Yes, thinking caps will help heaps at this point...

Something using Four Points, perhaps?

onward and forward

 

[ronpaulhawaii]

Re: the survey tool

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=174856

 

[fight4liberty]

Yes, let's keep the ball rolling

...the Ideal URL ???

While the best url is being sought, can we still move forward with any decent available url. Could we just build it using onlinelibertyalliance (or something else we already own), until we find something better?

onward and forward

I meant to mention this earlier and dropped the ball. Yes, we should move forward on building the site using "onlinelibertyalliance" or some other url we already have.

However, doing a decent survey quite often gives useful data that can be used for either content or layout decisions for a site so it shouldn't be put off until the last thing.

If needed I can help with the survey questions, the general strategy and goals of the survey but I won't have time to get involved in drumming up participants to do the surveys. I'm sure we can get many people involved in this step - you know... "many hands make light work", etc.

 

[ronpaulhawaii]

I meant to mention this earlier and dropped the ball. Yes, we should move forward on building the site using "onlinelibertyalliance" or some other url we already have.

However, doing a decent survey quite often gives useful data that can be used for either content or layout decisions for a site so it shouldn't be put off until the last thing.

If needed I can help with the survey questions, the general strategy and goals of the survey but I won't have time to get involved in drumming up participants to do the surveys. I'm sure we can get many people involved in this step - you know... "many hands make light work", etc.

Thanks

I have been quietly building other tools in preparation for this, don't really see a problem drumming up participants. I will move forward on starting up the OLA site, (will start with a skeleton) Will definitely need question sets for the Survey tool and agreed we could use a set for building the site. I am thinking to store the question sets in the WIKI, perhaps build the question sets there, and then link to the survey thread ^^^

At the moment, I have the full survey tool installed on the C4Liberty server. I will install it on the OLA once I get the frame together...

Facets I have been working on include:

Mission Statement - Could use some drafts here, I can create a simple one, but others will probably be better than mine for a final.

Issue Statements - ditto ^^^ - 4 points based for the foyer, and additions for the parlor (Environment, HealthCare, etc...)

Also, a programming friend has mentioned building a vertical search engine that I am now looking into...

onward and forward

 

[ronpaulhawaii]

A front door mock up...

The quote will be from a random generator. All elements are just place holders waiting for better... The idea is simple and inviting. Don't know if the "redpill" enter button is appropo

 

[mediahasyou]

A front door mock up...

The quote will be from a random generator. All elements are just place holders waiting for better... The idea is simple and inviting. Don't know if the "redpill" enter button is appropo

If there is to be a enter page. There should be a simple list of issues that people can click on to learn more. However, the issues should be very broad like individual liberty, financial liberty, equality, and general issues of liberty.

The homepage of the site must be very broad and appealing to everyone. But once the site visitor goes deeper into the site, there must be more links for further research.

So the red pill is not very appropriate on the front page. Especially, since the matrix is a fictional conspiracy movie. The site should stay away from conspiracies. Conspiracies are not appealing.

 

[mediahasyou]

The site does not have to be fancy. A simple blog would do fine.

The site does not have to persuade others to join the liberty movement the exact moment they visit the home page. All it has to do is point them to the right places on the web.

 

[mediahasyou]

Thanks

I have been quietly building other tools in preparation for this, don't really see a problem drumming up participants. I will move forward on starting up the OLA site, (will start with a skeleton) Will definitely need question sets for the Survey tool and agreed we could use a set for building the site. I am thinking to store the question sets in the WIKI, perhaps build the question sets there, and then link to the survey thread ^^^

At the moment, I have the full survey tool installed on the C4Liberty server. I will install it on the OLA once I get the frame together...

Facets I have been working on include:

Mission Statement - Could use some drafts here, I can create a simple one, but others will probably be better than mine for a final.

Issue Statements - ditto ^^^ - 4 points based for the foyer, and additions for the parlor (Environment, HealthCare, etc...)

Also, a programming friend has mentioned building a vertical search engine that I am now looking into...

onward and forward

Mission Statement: To promote liberty.
Is this obvious?

 

[ronpaulhawaii]

If there is to be a enter page. There should be a simple list of issues that people can click on to learn more. However, the issues should be very broad like individual liberty, financial liberty, equality, and general issues of liberty.

The homepage of the site must be very broad and appealing to everyone. But once the site visitor goes deeper into the site, there must be more links for further research.

So the red pill is not very appropriate on the front page. Especially, since the matrix is a fictional conspiracy movie. The site should stay away from conspiracies. Conspiracies are not appealing.

Two reasons I am proposing an enter page, like above, is:

1. There are many reasons people take one look and never return; apathy is among the top. I hope to be able to plant a seed in every mind who glances at the site.
2. It starts the process of digging deeper, which is something I think we want people to get used to doing.

I wonder how many would have noticed the "redpill" had I not mentioned it?

The site does not have to be fancy. A simple blog would do fine.

The site does not have to persuade others to join the liberty movement the exact moment they visit the home page. All it has to do is point them to the right places on the web.

The idea is to be inviting to as broad a spectrum as possible. That means appealing to emotions. I agree that it need not be fancy, but do think it should be elegant.

Mission Statement: To promote liberty.
Is this obvious?

haha - howabout?

To showcase the people, and organizations, who promote, and defend, the socio-economic value of liberty

Or ???

Thanks

 

[tajitj]

Great topic.

I have always been frusturated at the C4L in not trying to bring in the other major Ron Paul inspired sites.

There is so much room on the C4L homepage. Even a small section showing what is HOT on the sites. Something needs to happen before the next election, that way we are ready to battle the MSM effectively.

Spare me the "we don't need top down control" crap. Those ideas are for govt, not business and entrepreneurial online efforts.

I do think that ronpaulforums.com, and dailypaul.com are the top dogs. Someone can be tuned in to Paul friendly news and info by going to only those sites.

 

[ronpaulhawaii]

Great topic.

I have always been frusturated at the C4L in not trying to bring in the other major Ron Paul inspired sites.

There is so much room on the C4L homepage. Even a small section showing what is HOT on the sites. Something needs to happen before the next election, that way we are ready to battle the MSM effectively.

Spare me the "we don't need top down control" crap. Those ideas are for govt, not business and entrepreneurial online efforts.

I do think that ronpaulforums.com, and dailypaul.com are the top dogs. Someone can be tuned in to Paul friendly news and info by going to only those sites.

Glad you like it. I am hoping this will eventually be turned over to committee, from the several sites, providing structure.

 

[PitViper]

sorry so long!

OK I am a Noob here, so holler if I step on any toes and I will get to the back of the bus. Sorry this is so long. :o

-- What follows is my image of an Ideal website for the “Liberty movement” composed of any sites liberty oriented, not jut Ron Paul. --

{If this is off topic, please delete, I actually thought it contributes.}

0. But first: Man! I thought I was all alone in seeing CFL as an "inhibition" to the movement. Thank goodness a few agree! I find its main weaknesses to be that the member blog posts are only up for a single day and then (for all practical purposes) disappear into oblivion! A waste of time for most posters making it discouraging to ever post again. Further more there is no networking, it reminds me Wholly of a site created by the CIA! Why? One word - Compartmentalization!

It seems to isolate and single out, more than it helps network and gain for any member any significant impetus. I actually stopped going there because of it., and refused to link to it from my website.

I see a lot of ideas on sites in this post, on unifying all the Freedom fighters, on concentrating our power to a significant force, etc. I do think the OCH is a nice tool offered up (thanks). I also strongly believe in what one other poster listed:

1. KISS!!! Keep it simple stupid!

I saw many sites listed which were very, very professionally done, well done . . . but IMHO, simply MHO, there was too much info on them! Maybe not for us . . . but, a lot of viewers, especially the sleeping sheep, will be turned away by the slightest demand of effort. Again just my opinion, offered in respect not spite.
I used to pedal books to the sheep, then I found I wasn’t getting the message across because few would read them, and of that few, fewer would finish them, and of that few, fewer would comprehend what they just read!
So I switched to simple documents . . . Same result, few would read . . . etc.
Now I am at videos. And STILL some people won’t even take 5 “F”ing minutes to watch a life changing video, but will charge through Armageddon to watch a football game! ARG! Why do I even try????
So I think it is important to keep things VERY simple, because, honestly, there are some very “simple” people in this present world. In fact, they outnumber us.

2. Tools

Just like the OCH site listed above, excellent tools need to be provided by us for free, for the use of ourselves and any newcomer, consolidated clearly into One Place. Tools only empower. So the end goal of this section of the site is to empower, to streamline and expedite the evolution/development of our members and potential members. If everyone has to spend weeks searching the net for decisive info to act and react, our movement shall remain cumbersome, clumsy, stepping and fetching, stumbling and crawling. Again the OCH is a good example on how to give people tools, but it doesn’t have to be limited to just this type of tool, but always - KISS. For example I read aloud the constitution and other docs to save others the effort, and organized my website (www.individualism.asia) according to all the principles I mention in this post. Anything saving others time and effort effectively saves the entire group time and effort. Selflessly combining our works will empower us all equally, I call this “the force of inspiration” in my book.
By freely sharing your knowledge or works with others, they become empowered and thereby generate their own works, which they then share with you; thus empowering you. So, to share actually empowers yourself and the community exponentially. In this way we can actually out grow the “Old Machine” because the corrupt bureaucrats do everything for money, thus slow down their evolution. So even though they have a 100 year head start, by exponential growth, we can overtake them. A nice, clear list of “tools” in an easy to find place would be a good part of the Ideal site.

3. One Plan of action

IMHO. Soo many people are out there who are all fired up and ready to do something but – have no idea what to do or how to do it! (Not us, but you know, . . . them. ) Part of this (A) would be in the “tools” section, like, how to take action etc.
But the other side (Us) already have their own ideas, goals, methods etc. Therefor I suggest (B) to gather ALL OF OUR GOALS together, in one comprehensive place, and synthesize them into a detailed “Archgoal” and detail the steps necessary to reach each aspect. For example, say we all want the fed repealed, then we want the Patriot act repealed, then we want . . . whatever. Each one of us may be specialized in one area of this Archgoal, thus they will naturally be inclined to handle that aspect, in fact the mere suggestion of a part of the Archgoal may have come from that “team” specialized to tackle it. However one item may be held as priority by multiple groups, allowing them to combine their efforts and resources.
Then we simply, simultaneously and systematically begin initiating actions to achieve this Archgoal with realistic but STRICT deadlines. Using our “tools”; as we progress we will generate more powerful tools for our web community tool box, thus exponentially empowering the impetus of the entire community! Hence there would be an Archgoal page in this Ideal website with each subsection having a link to the “team”(specialized website/group/organization/ect.) tackling that section and their progress.
A volunteer team of moderators would need be set up to oversee the entire progress of the Archgoal and maintain the deadlines, and also provide impartial feedback to the community at large as to the level of cooperation of each team, e.g., are they serious or just wannabees. This central communication with each team will act as a cohesive force, and efficient conductor of work energy. Eg if one team completes all its goals, it can help another team who may be behind. This central communication will also be encouraging because all our separate websites will feel encouraged that we have become allies to One synthesized cause, which wholly recognizes our independent goals, and is a bountiful source of free tools and info.
This central group will “harvest” all the data from each team and post it on the “Archsite”(the Ideal site), from new tools, articles, progress, complaints, etc.
Another job of this volunteer team is to seek and contact potential member sites. No Militant sites should be included in case a possible haphazard action disgraces our One Flag. But being that I am a pro militia man, maybe this exact same model could be used for a strictly militant central hub site, in tandem with the Ideal site.
Finally this central communication IS BY NO MEANS a commander, it is simply a reporter and suggester/organizer, no independent site has to comply with anything, but its actions will be listed for the community at large to view and judge. Also the community can post requests for the central volunteers to persue.
With all the illumianti hype, and the constant images of the eye in the pyramid, I suggest this central group be called “The Greater Eye of the Populus” or GEP. As a rival to that “evil eye”. In fact, the whole central website could be called that! Symbolizing that the eyes of the people have finally opened!

I hereby volunteer to the above central monitor

Here are my “Goals” I hope to see yours:

http://www.individualism.asia/Pages/Mega reform.html

http://www.individualism.asia/Pages/bills.html


4. One Flag

IMHO To gain any kind of recognition we must operate under one “flag” (such as GEP above). Because say we pick up steam and we start getting acts repealed and making real concrete changes, and media, and representatives, and corporate owners start having to take notice, it would not be taken seriously if one week they (whoever) get a letter, or witness a successful action from , “Joewebsite”, then 2 days later from “Campaign to end corrupt idiots”, the next day from “whatever”. So, IMHO, I believe if they realized that all these forces have “mutually pledged to each other their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor” and coalesced, organized into a cohesive whole, they might actually tremble, and slip. So the Ideal site, AND the movement as a whole, needs One flag, One unifying symbol, IMHO

5. Economy of Force

To illustrate: I love everyone, and want to help everyone, but time is limited. So, to spend great time and effort teaching the “real” way things work to a stubborn old man who never comes out of his house and talks to anyone anyway is a waste of your useful skills, effort and time - the force has been devoured, dead ended.

A. VIRAL EMPOWERING. OK the above example is wholly wasteful in time and energy to recruit an impotent soul, even if you dearly love them. Now a simple yet powerful website like this post speaks of, is little energy on our part with contact to many Potent individuals who then tell many individuals each of them empowered by our efficient tools and data base. We all already run our own sites, with the center site and a handful of volunteers = the economy I speak of. “1000 acorns rightfully placed will become 1000 oaks, otherwise they make but one meal for one Hog.”

B. KEY INDIVIDUALS
Your next door neighbor, or friend at work might be all well and fine to invest your time and energy into BUT. . . I suggest that that should be second priority. First priority is Key Figures, like Judges, Magistrates, Police chiefs, military service, and your immediate local government officials. Simply befriend them!! Then go to lunch/dinner a few times a month, reason with them . . . I have also found that the volunteer fire company is an excellent resource. The people who selflessly serve are genuine and good people. They quickly see the truth and they are Engrained into the locality, firemen seem to know everybody!! With a 1or2 hr talk at the fire hall, you could have many powerful allies viraling the movement throughout the entire community. Show a movie if you can’t talk, or if they aren’t into speeches, tailor a bit to the crowd. My only point is Economy of Force.

I Know the above seems Off Topic, but I needed it to lead into this next item:

6. Active website

I know this is common sense to almost all of us but I felt compelled to mention it. This Ideal Site needs to be actively pedaled by ALL of US! Not just on the web, but as you go through life, make business cards with the site and simply hand many out per day, remember the KEY FIGURES thought. Thus the popularity grows in the real and virtual world. Just making the website and sitting back . . . is passive and dead, we all know that.

Now on this Ideal Site, there is a link farm to ALL our independent sites. Thus as I said before, by working together on such a central site, we will actually exponentially empower our own sites, which will loop back to the “Archsite” which loops back to us, etc etc etc, exponential growth in a massive loop controlled by . . . US! We will dominate the search engines on liberty topics! This mechanism should encourage us all to work together on such a central site.

Also, eventually we could get mirroring for all our sites on all our servers (for those who have unlimited space) therefore, if the internet is ever threatened, or one of us singled out, none of us will easily be forced offline.

Finally:

7. Real world meetings of the site contributers/members.

We ALL should meet at least once per year in the center of the nation (simply to equalize travel distances), for a weekend event, fri night to sun eve. Preferably longer. Real world meeting strengthens the ties towards our brothers and sisters, and provides great encouragement, and more rapid exchange of ideas. This doesn’t have to be expensive, I even suggest an outdoor event, on a 15 acre farm, tents and camping type setup, reminding us (slightly) of the hardships of our founders and causing appreciation for our luxury and liberty, desiring to defend it even stronger. My friends often throw concerts like this with great success.

I hope I have contributed a few ideas, and thanks for tolerating my verbosity!

 

[ronpaulhawaii]

OK I am a Noob here, so holler if I step on any toes and I will get to the back of the bus. Sorry this is so long. :o

-- What follows is my image of an Ideal website for the “Liberty movement” composed of any sites liberty oriented, not jut Ron Paul. --

{If this is off topic, please delete, I actually thought it contributes.}

...
I hope I have contributed a few ideas, and thanks for tolerating my verbosity!

lol - Welcome to the forum

1. agreed
2. the tools I have proposed include the "Library", a survey tool, and an online meeting tool. The library would be the natural place downloadable materials, tutorials, reference materials, etc. Much of this can be built on Tangents work with OCH
3. Yes, defining a common set of principles is essential. This goes back to point #1. What has been proposed is keeping the portal's initial positioning to the "four points" agreed upon by RP and the major third parties during the last election cycle. I think we could expand upon these in the "parlor", but not necessarily in the "foyer". You touch on many of the potential benefits of the portal and have obviously put some time into developing a plan/goal (that I do not have the time to dissect at the moment). In the interest of #1 though, I think this site should focus on the draft mission statement above, "To showcase the people, and organizations, who promote, and defend, the socio-economic value of liberty"
4. is debatable, and unlikely, regardless. If one flag arises in this movement, it will rise organically. I, also, wonder that representatives getting input from multiple organizations would have a good effect, as well.
5. fair enough...
6. That is the idea...
7. Agreed, but kinda OT, as well. An alliance would help with these kind of meetings and the meeting tool could help plan them.

I appreciate your input, I imagine toning down the verbosity would be better on a message board, but I'm just one voice...

A note about the meeting tool: one reason I am proposing this is cause I dislike conference calls for multiple reasons, not the least of which is the thought that my fellow campaigners are holding cel phones to their heads for hours...

 

[LibertyIn08]

Anyway we could merge this with Freeople and link news from LibertyMaven?

The more we unify the various sites, the better.

 

[ronpaulhawaii]

Anyway we could merge this with Freeople and link news from LibertyMaven?

The more we unify the various sites, the better.

You mention two of the best sites to come out of this movement and the hope is to promote them all by showcasing.

A convoy, rather than a bus...

If anyone wants to help, please PM; could use writers, graphic designers, and open-source web-gurus...

Thanks

 

[JoshLowry]

I can do some graphics work.

I'm hoping it is you that has already bought the domain names for OLA?!

 

[fr33domfightr]

Finally:

7. Real world meetings of the site contributers/members.

We ALL should meet at least once per year in the center of the nation (simply to equalize travel distances), for a weekend event, fri night to sun eve. Preferably longer. Real world meeting strengthens the ties towards our brothers and sisters, and provides great encouragement, and more rapid exchange of ideas. This doesn’t have to be expensive, I even suggest an outdoor event, on a 15 acre farm, tents and camping type setup, reminding us (slightly) of the hardships of our founders and causing appreciation for our luxury and liberty, desiring to defend it even stronger. My friends often throw concerts like this with great success.

I hope I have contributed a few ideas, and thanks for tolerating my verbosity!

It might be difficult or cumbersome to get everyone together in one place. What about multiple locations throughout the U.S. and use technology to link us together, like Video Conferencing?

I found this on Microsoft's website:

Windows Meeting Space gives you the ability to share documents, programs, or your desktop with other people whose computers are running Windows Vista. Some advantages are:

• You can share your desktop or any program with other meeting participants.

• You and other meeting participants can distribute and co-edit documents.

• You can pass notes to other participants.

• You can connect to a network projector to give a presentation.

Windows Meeting Space uses peer-to-peer technology and automatically sets up an ad hoc network if it can't find an existing network. So you can use it in a conference room, a favorite hotspot, or a place where no network exists. You can join a meeting that someone else sets up, or you can start a new meeting and invite other people to join it.


Maybe this could be setup in multiple locations throughout the U.S. and we could have a virtual U.S. conference.

You know, this just gave me an idea. Perhaps this could be used to link people in Meetup.com that are spread over the U.S. For instance, those in the high level End The Fed Meetup, http://www.meetup.com/End-The-Fed/ . I know they use teleconferencing, but maybe video would be nicer. StickAM or Ustream might come into play as well.


FF

 

[ronpaulhawaii]

I can do some graphics work.

I'm hoping it is you that has already bought the domain names for OLA?!

Yes, I bought OLA...

A few design needs are; logo submissions, page element/layout submissions, and themes for the survey tool. I imagine the front door and foyer need to be very simple and attractive, the parlor would be more of a traditional page, built on a theme we can maintain throughout the rest of the site... I am thinking the front two pages should be as simple as possible, so that people who pull up the site from a 3G phone will be able to easily see what we are about...

Thanks (and let me know if you want to play with the survey tool themes, I'll just need to create an account for you...)

It might be difficult or cumbersome to get everyone together in one place. What about multiple locations throughout the U.S. and use technology to link us together, like Video Conferencing?

I found this on Microsoft's website:

Windows Meeting Space gives you the ability to share documents, programs, or your desktop with other people whose computers are running Windows Vista. Some advantages are:

• You can share your desktop or any program with other meeting participants.

• You and other meeting participants can distribute and co-edit documents.

• You can pass notes to other participants.

• You can connect to a network projector to give a presentation.

Windows Meeting Space uses peer-to-peer technology and automatically sets up an ad hoc network if it can't find an existing network. So you can use it in a conference room, a favorite hotspot, or a place where no network exists. You can join a meeting that someone else sets up, or you can start a new meeting and invite other people to join it.


Maybe this could be setup in multiple locations throughout the U.S. and we could have a virtual U.S. conference.

You know, this just gave me an idea. Perhaps this could be used to link people in Meetup.com that are spread over the U.S. For instance, those in the high level End The Fed Meetup, http://www.meetup.com/End-The-Fed/ . I know they use teleconferencing, but maybe video would be nicer. StickAM or Ustream might come into play as well.


FF

I was thinking OpenMeetings would be more suitable and customizable. Would love for an open source guy to go through it and see what they think. I am especially interested in if people would be able to call in to meetings from a phone...