Some General Thoughts about exposure

[BLS]

Allow me to vent some inner frustration if you will please.

What I'm finding is that we are 'relatively' connected. By that I mean within a couple of emails, website visits, etc, we can loosely 'organize' RP's supporters.

And while we can make a 'dent', collectively, our numbers don't get the proper representation because we are unorganized overall.

Here's why I say that...

There are a TON of sites on Ron Paul...and that's GREAT!! It really is.
But say 50 are on site A, 250 are on site B, 70 on site C, etc, etc, etc.

What you get is a giant unorganized mess where the majority all want the same thing. RP to get elected.

So...what I personally (and I'm a nobody in the grand scheme) believe we need to do is CONSOLIDATE. We need a SINGLE POINT OF ADMINISTRATION.

IE...if we had a QUICK and organized way to gather EVERYONE'S attention, for example, towards yesterdays Iowa debacle, the phone calls would have been ASTRONOMICAL. The emails would have been insane...the Letters to the Editors of every major Newspaper in Iowa would have to been acknowledged.


It is my suggestion that we try to find a way to 'round em up'.
I think we need to find a way to MOBILIZE in a very quick, efficient manner.

So...(and I'm very open to open thoughts, etc), my suggestion would be to start by getting ALL of your local MEETUP GROUPS to join this site.
Maybe we could try to get users to create their names based on location, so we can determine who is from where. We just flat out need to get organized.

One thing I notice everyday on this site, is that the "RP NEWS AND DISCUSSION" forum seems to have more and more viewers each day I login. So that's good.

But instead of it being....109 viewers...I would like to see it be 109,000 viewers.

That being said...JOSH..we need to know...can your server handle it?
Would you need to setup a load balanced server farm, etc to make it happen?
If so...contact me...I can help you find some beef.


THOUGHTS???

 

[jj111]

I agree that to a degree centralization is a good thing, it does have some downsides.

If there are technical problems due to either malfunction or sabotage. a single centralized source going down is much more devastating, than if one source goes down in a decentralized system.

However, I think this is a great website and should be publicized more. If this site is not already publicized by the www.ronpaul2008.com website, I think we ought to request campaign headquarters that we get a link from them.

That will direct a lot of traffic here.

Also, if everyone mentions on their local bulletin boards elsewhere to check us out here.

To my knowledge this is the best bulletin board for Ron Paul on the net. If there is a better one, or a more popular one, please let me know what it is.

 

[jj111]

I think it does not hurt to have a presence though on MySpace and on other popular sites. I think a comprehensive list of important Ron Paul websites does exist somewhere, and maybe we ought to publish that list frequently so everybody has access to it.

 

[BLS]

I agree that to a degree centralization is a good thing, it does have some downsides.

If there are technical problems due to either malfunction or sabotage. a single centralized source going down is much more devastating, than if one source goes down in a decentralized system.

However, I think this is a great website and should be publicized more. If this site is not already publicized by the www.ronpaul2008.com website, I think we ought to request campaign headquarters that we get a link from them.

That will direct a lot of traffic here.

Also, if everyone mentions on their local bulletin boards elsewhere to check us out here.

To my knowledge this is the best bulletin board for Ron Paul on the net. If there is a better one, or a more popular one, please let me know what it is.

Well, as a network engineer, my job is to 'organize' data. It is my primary overall objective to be as efficient as possible with the availability of data.

Consolidation is essential for success.

Yes, you're right, if you can't support the new load, it will fail and become unuseable.

Hence why I asked Josh if his server can handle a huge 'migration'.
Also, I think contacting the official site for linkage is a GREAT idea...but we need to validate through Josh first that we have the infrastructure in place to deal with it.

Myself personally, this is probably the best organized, most public forum for RP, so I'm going to be biased towards migrating them here. BUT....there maybe a better, more prepared option (no offense Josh) that makes more sense.
I, however don't know of any such site.

 

[BLS]

I think it does not hurt to have a presence though on MySpace and on other popular sites. I think a comprehensive list of important Ron Paul websites does exist somewhere, and maybe we ought to publish that list frequently so everybody has access to it.

I absolutely agree...it never hurts to have MORE publicity, but having a 'central' or 'main' area of information and organization is going to be ESSENTIAL to getting us all to workt TOGETHER.

 

[dspectre]

There might be turf wars, so you will have to be diplomatic about this.

 

[jj111]

How do you address my concern about vulnerability to sabotage or malfunction?

 

[BLS]

There might be turf wars, so you will have to be diplomatic about this.

Yeah, and by no means do I suggest that 'we' are better than anything else.
But sooner or later in order to MAXIMIZE effectiveness...we need to be in 1 degree of seperation.

This thread was really intended to be an exploratory thought. I don't know as much as we all know together..so collaboration is critical as well.

Put it this way...if people get offended that their sites are more important, then we all as a whole have lost perspective. Our goal should be singular.

If it's not....you're probably just getting in the way.

 

[BLS]

How do you address my concern about vulnerability to sabotage or malfunction?

That is a good question. Sabotage...like digital (IE hacking)?, is pretty much all up to Josh.

Of course in my world there are way to combat that..including redundant servers in different physical locations (IE..one in MN, one in IA, one in TN, etc).

But alot of this really comes down to Josh and what his infrastructure can handle.

 

[jj111]

Our goal should be singular.

If it's not....you're probably just getting in the way.

Our goal hopefully is singular, but our opinions, methods, skills, personalities, inclinations, preferences, etc. are not going to be singular.

 

[BLS]

Our goal hopefully is singular, but our opinions, methods, skills, personalities, inclinations, preferences, etc. are not going to be singular.

No, and I fully understand that. That's why it's EVERYBODY'S duty to be willing to make compromises for the greater good.

Myself included.

Personally, I'd like to see 50 people named by the authority (ronpaul2008.com) as the PRIMARY leaders/organizers in each state.

Then they can organize and mobilize here, in an structured format.

So...if something like Iowa's BS yesterday, the Iowa leader can 'call in the troops' on the fly and say "we need to make some calls". And BAM..you now have 10,000 phone calls instead of 400.

 

[jj111]

I think the first step is finding out if we are of the opinion that this is the best and most visited RP bulletin board out there, and if not, which site is. The next step is to ask campaign HQ to link to it on their page. Those two steps must happen first before you talk about trying to trying to persuade any sites to consolidate the more "centralized" site.

 

[PatriotOne]

I absolutely agree...it never hurts to have MORE publicity, but having a 'central' or 'main' area of information and organization is going to be ESSENTIAL to getting us all to workt TOGETHER.

Do you have a list of other Ron Paul forums so we can take a look at what we are dealing with out there?

 

[BLS]

I think the first step is finding out if we are of the opinion that this is the best and most visited RP bulletin board out there, and if not, which site is. The next step is to ask campaign HQ to link to it on their page. Those two steps must happen first before you talk about trying to trying to persuade any sites to consolidate the more "centralized" site.

Agree wholeheartedly.

So, that being said...would you be willing to help me 'find' out what site is likely the most visited?

 

[jj111]

I think you are also going to need a couple of people to step up to the plate and volunteer to act as a national coordinator of a website.

And that person or group of persons have to be really trustworthy.

This is a tough issue, I'm not sure I'm smart enough to know the answers on this.

I think the most pressing issue is:

How do we communicate quickly and efficiently with as many RP supporters as possible, especially when there is an action alert.

Another option:
Designate a group of people to find out what the most important alerts are and to post them on all the main sites.....

This campaign is bottom up - mainly grassroots.

Consolidation and centralization is a top down approach.

I really don't know how to reconcile those two models.

RP has said that the bottom up approach is one of the strengths of our campaign.

I think the first challenge is attracting more people to this site.... IMHO

 

[Shmuel Spade]

Central website for the hundreds of thousands of Ron Paul faithful:
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/

If you fiddle with this, you'll get updated. I got updated today.

Collection of Ron Paul links:
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=15

 

[BLS]

I think you are also going to need a couple of people to step up to the plate and volunteer to act as a national coordinator of a website.

And that person or group of persons have to be really trustworthy.

This is a tough issue, I'm not sure I'm smart enough to know the answers on this.

I think the most pressing issue is:

How do we communicate quickly and efficiently with as many RP supporters as possible, especially when there is an action alert.

Another option:
Designate a group of people to find out what the most important alerts are and to post them on all the main sites.....

This campaign is bottom up - mainly grassroots.

Consolidation and centralization is a top down approach.

I really don't know how to reconcile those two models.

RP has said that the bottom up approach is one of the strengths of our campaign.

I think the first challenge is attracting more people to this site.... IMHO

Well, I have to admit, your points are well thought out and intelligent.
And you do bring up some very good points. I like the stimulating conversation and I think ultimately it will be beneficial.

I guess in my mind, what I've envisioned is a way for RP's campaign organizers (official organizers) to send some directives down and have trust that their intentions are pushed down to those of us who are willing to 'volunteer' our time and efforts.

What this does is eliminate micromanagement from RP's HQ, thus overall reducing costs. But it does leave a level of 'trust' that the original message is pushed through the tree.

I think it can be done though, but you're right..it will require some stepped up effort.

 

[BLS]

Central website for the hundreds of thousands of Ron Paul faithful:
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/

If you fiddle with this, you'll get updated. I got updated today.

Collection of Ron Paul links:
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=15

HEY...this is QUALITY!!!

 

[CountryB4Party]

Hi guys! There are such critical advantages to consolidation including the ability to quickly mobilize, information sharing, resource access and availability, eliminating duplication of efforts, keeping everyone on one page for national grassroots pushes / activities, campaign announcements and involvement, and the list goes on.

Many of us on the main Meet Up board (which was established by the national campaign), quickly identified a need for a more flexible, user friendly, and stable forum (the Meet Up board is just so very limited) as well as a need for a more secure area where more sensitive strategic planning and discussions can take place out of 'public' (meaning potential opposition / anti-RP media) view.

Last month as an offshoot of the official Meet Up board, we created the Ron Paul Volunteer Network forum where Justine, the e-Campaign Director is a member.

We have a section for the Meet Up groups by state and by group; we have an open/public area where people can chat and exchange info and a more secured area for anyone who has a need to handle more strategic group planning, get down to business and hold other discussions (such as those involving potential sensitive PR issues); and we are ramping up to include file sharing features.

We are not structured as in titles or roles in any way, shape or form. We do, however, have boards within the forum for Meet Up states and groups. We do not dictate or 'manage' others, but Meet Up members from across the nation colloborate to strategize, organize and share resources, knowledge and skills. It is this that will make the grassroots efforts strong, efficient and effective.

By the by, I visited two 'opposition' camp grassroots sites this past weekend to check things out. Result: they are highly organized and are making a significant national impact on the ground. We are behind the curve.

Volunteer Network Registration: Just as everyone has to register to gain access to this forum, the same applies to the RP Volunteer Network. However, there is an additional security level IF you want to have access and participate in the more sensitive planning and work discussions that should not be openly available for potential opposition eyes (don't ever tip your hand or provide ammo to the opposition)...but this is *not* required to participate in the more 'open' areas / boards.

We are currently trying to get the word out, and we invite everyone to join us at RP Volunteer Network:

http://ronpaulnetwork.info/forum/index.php

If anyone has questions, don't hesitate to ask. We would love to have everyone there to connect and make this national grassroots movement as strong and as effective as possible.

Yours in Liberty,
Dena Turner

Who is this Dena person they ask.

I am the individual who wrote and launched the petition objecting to the Saul Anuzis attempt to ban Ron Paul from future debates. I am also a seasoned marketing professional who is contributing my experience, skills and time to help other volunteers with efforts getting Ron Paul into the White House.

I look forward to working with everyone to realize the Ron Paul mission!

 

[BLS]

Hi guys! There are such critical advantages to consolidation including the ability to quickly mobilize, information sharing, resource access and availability, eliminating duplication of efforts, keeping everyone on one page for national grassroots pushes / activities, campaign announcements and involvement, and the list goes on.

Many of us on the main Meet Up board (which was established by the national campaign), quickly identified a need for a more flexible, user friendly, and stable forum (the Meet Up board is just so very limited) as well as a need for a more secure area where more sensitive strategic planning and discussions can take place out of 'public' (meaning potential opposition / anti-RP media) view.

Last month as an offshoot of the official Meet Up board, we created the Ron Paul Volunteer Network forum where Justine, the e-Campaign Director is a member.

We have a section for the Meet Up groups by state and by group; we have an open/public area where people can chat and exchange info and a more secured area for anyone who has a need to handle more strategic group planning, get down to business and hold other discussions (such as those involving potential sensitive PR issues); and we are ramping up to include file sharing features.

We are not structured as in titles or roles in any way, shape or form. We do, however, have boards within the forum for Meet Up states and groups. We do not dictate or 'manage' others, but Meet Up members from across the nation colloborate to strategize, organize and share resources, knowledge and skills. It is this that will make the grassroots efforts strong, efficient and effective.

By the by, I visited two 'opposition' camp grassroots sites this past weekend to check things out. Result: they are highly organized and are making a significant national impact on the ground. We are behind the curve.

Volunteer Network Registration: Just as everyone has to register to gain access to this forum, the same applies to the RP Volunteer Network. However, there is an additional security level IF you want to have access and participate in the more sensitive planning and work discussions that should not be openly available for potential opposition eyes (don't ever tip your hand or provide ammo to the opposition)...but this is *not* required to participate in the more 'open' areas / boards.

We are currently trying to get the word out, and we invite everyone to join us at RP Volunteer Network:

http://ronpaulnetwork.info/forum/index.php

If anyone has questions, don't hesitate to ask. We would love to have everyone there to connect and make this national grassroots movement as strong and as effective as possible.

Yours in Liberty,
Dena Turner

Who is this Dena person they ask.

I am the individual who wrote and launched the petition objecting to the Saul Anuzis attempted Ron Paul debate ban. I am also a seasoned marketing professional who is contributing my experience, skills and time to help other volunteers with efforts getting Ron Paul into the White House.

I look forward to working with everyone to realize the Ron Paul mission!

Fantastic!!! BUT....I just registered...and I'm the ONLY Person online right now. I realize it's 1:20am CST, but in our forum alone there is 35 people online right now.

We need to decide if it's easier to move New York City into Buffalo, or Buffalo into NYC......