Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Never heard of it!
I think we should have a simple promotional package for SOR that anyone could pass on. These could also be mailed to stamp clubs, locally or on a broader scale. (feel free to improvise).
With 2000 SOR members even if just a few among us get active, I am sure we could have an impact on our overall membership. I am thinking handouts, sized like a postcard, or even just as a business card. On it would be an internet link, and a few descriptive words. This could be designed 4, 6 or 12 to an 8 1/2 x 11 paper sheet to be printed, cut and then handed out.
I could have handed a dozen or so, just at the last stamp show, and I usually have a stamp show nearby to attend once every several months.
What do you think?
My minimalist suggestion: SOR color or B&W logo, SOR Internet link, SOR defining caption, a brief list of what they will find: Approvals, Auctions, Discussions, References etc.. and an admonition: JOIN NOW
What do you suggest?
rrr...
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03:27:29pm
What a great suggestion.
In concert with Ralph's suggestion, how about a contest to design the best "StampoRama Business Card?" Maybe the the entire membership could vote on the best design? We could even have prizes (I'll be happy to donate a philatelic goodie for the cause).
Bobby
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As a Texas Philatelic Association member, I can put a classified ad in the TPA magazine.
We could put a business card-sized ad in the APS magazine (right next to the loser BidStart ad - lol), or try just a classified ad. Classified ads are cheaper, and we can measure if they bring in anyone new. The membership committee can ask the newbie how they heard of SOR, and keep stats on it.
One thing is that for most outreach that requires ads, fliers, and such, there usually is a cost associated with it. So, who will bear the cost of the outreach? I'm sure not everyone here will be willing to participate in a fund raiser, nor should they be required to.
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How much would an ad in the APS magazine cost? If enough members interested would donate a couple of bucks each I feel that we could raise enough money to put an ad in the APS magazine.
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It depends if you do a classified or a standard ad (which goes by size).
For a classified ad, the APS magazine has an Internet heading. If we took out a six line classified, it would cost $23.64 for 1 month, $127.66 for six months, or $226.94 for a year.
For other ads, check out page 970 in the October 2014 issue of "The American Philatelist". Those box ads are like down-sized version of business cards. I couldn't find a pricing for them, but I don't believe they cost that much, I think that would be good for us too.
If we want to go this route, I will offer $100 towards the cost of either of the above types of advertising.
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I was thinking along the line of a (postcard or business card size) handout any one among us could print, have with them and hand out, when appropriate, (or insert in some giveaway litterature).
But then, why not expand on the idea. However if you add funding, budgets, tracking etc.. etc, you make it much more complex.
I was just looking for something really simple and easy, we could all easily participate in. One thing does not preclude the others. rrr...
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Word of mouth is very powerful advertising. I had the same experience with my local club - most of the members had never heard of Stamporama. I know of a few that have since joined.
I simply added a mention of Stamporama on my little "business" cards I give to other collectors.
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I think the magazines offer the biggest audience. If we do the business card type ad, that could be printed in post card size and handed out at shows, etc., so it will have multiple uses. Just need someone to design the "card". Then anyone needing to print it out could download it off the SOR site.
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I am thinking of something like the Approval Book templates.
Anyone can download it to his/her computer, print it, cut it and hand it out. heck..you could even print it without downloading it.
rrr...
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06:03:24pm
I will match Michael's generous offer of $100 to get us started. I would like to think in terms of a year for APS since it will be our best exposure.
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06:26:35pm
Ok, then I guess we should get started on designing a postcard size advertisement. Then at least we have something to go on. The best method for printing and distributing is to use cardstock. For those of you who don't already purchase it to create your album pages, it can be obtained quite cheaply through your local Staples or Office Max, etc. We can create a basic card for advertisement and then that can be easily put into a 8.5x11 format with say a dotted line separation for people to cut or use their mounts cutter to give out at your local stamp clubs. Also at all local shows, you could print off 20 or 50 or whatever you think would be appropriate and place them on the entrance table. Everyone is always grabbing whatever can be found on the entrance table 
We may miss some local shows this fall but there are plenty to come in the spring and once created, it doesn't need to be changed, so they are ready for the shows next fall as well.
I'm game for this. I think it's an awesome idea 
Kelly
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07:12:59pm
Here's my submission:
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07:26:22pm
The above card can be reproduced in business card style on 8.5x11 paper providing 8 cards per page.
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07:35:24pm
Sorry guys, I get a little too excited when it comes to creating things like this - as you already probably know from the Rambler and the Historic Articles section. I loved designing the new Rambler and I tried to make the logo as close as possible to Jerry's original one, just updated and not pixilated 
I get a bit carried away, I know 
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Damn, Kelly, you're good!
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07:48:06pm
Thanks Michael 
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Hi Everyone;
Lots of great ideas, and I didn't even finish reading all the replies yet.
A great way to do this without all the extra work and expense and contests and hoopla, is keep it simple. Lets use Kelly's second image, the full page one, print it on our inkjets for next to nothing, and mail or e-mail to all the local clubs in your geographic area, including our foreign members.
Skip a bunch of time wasting loops and contests etc. I frankly don't care for basking in the glory, the real heroes just get the job done and don't care if someone else gets their thunder. That is how we define selflessness, unfortunately I possess little of that quality, so I'll leave it up to someone who is less self centered. I may not be a very giving person but I'm wise enough to know you should always pick the best person for the job.
My inkjet is kinda out of color ink, but I will e-mail Kelly's graphic to everyone I can.
Thank you Ralph for the idea, wished I would have thought of it first.
Keep on stampin
TuskenRaider
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07:57:33pm
Not meaning to oversaturate this thread but I wanted to include my design in greyscale as well to see the contrast and printability as sometimes when converting colour designs to greyscale you come up with a mess, but this one turned out alright.
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While I can't donate $100, I would happily donate $50 to this cause. I like the design Kelly. Great work!
Stan
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08:02:16pm
If anyone DOES decide to use my design, it would be easier to print it from the Word format (or whatever program you use) rather than the jpg image as that could distort it. Feel free to message me and I will email you the design in both colour and greyscale for 8.5x11 page as well as the single if you want it. (Although I could be wrong and it might print just fine by saving the jpg to your computer and printing it - I haven't tried.)
Please don't feel you need to use my design - I'm sure there are a lot of other members who would come up with something nicer.
Kelly
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I like it, but here is my artistic "critique" ( I printed it, to see better, on card stock, using a B&W printer ).
Resolution of the image is low. Prints a bit fuzzy on my (high end) laser printer. It says 600dpi? Is that all?
The type for "The Rambler Newsletter" is different from the type of the other items. It is also set at a different spacing than the list above it. Now I know Kelly wanted it to stand out 
, but I think it should have equal weight!
I also think it may be a chance to harp our 2014 GOLD APS web site Award.
Finally, if I was doing it, I would have put the perforation frame in a bright color, or in pitch black, for monochrome printing.
And the www.stamporama.com could be in a bigger type, for our growing membership with less than perfect vision.
Always looking,
never satisfied 
..lol 
rrr...
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Incidentally, the Rambler mentions 2013 APS vermeil award, and is mumm about the 2014 Gold!
rrr...
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Hi again Everyone;
Just right-click the graphic for a drop-down menu and select "copy image" or "Save Image As", much faster and easier. I have already done so and will e-mail to several places.
keep on stampin
TuskenRaider
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08:20:21pm
I did the Headline to match as closely as I could to the Font used on the Website.
I was thinking of including the award, but that would mean re-doing the card every year and where do you stop (including the 2013, 2014, etc.)
As for the Rambler - ummm - nope, the Gold award is listed in the new logo and if you look at August's edition there is a highlight on the award with the gold logo There is only so much I can include in the Logo on the Rambler before it ends up taking up 3/4 of the page.
I can easily change the Rambler Newsletter on the card to match the red printing of the other parts. The reason I put it in black is that it is not something that every member contributes to (not for lack of my trying to get you guys to contribute) whereas the other parts that are in red, every member can easily and individually contribute. I simply put it in the same font and colour as that of the next line.
All and any of it can be changed quite easily. I used the colour scheme of the website for everything.
Feel free to sent your critique and suggestions - I will change whatever is agreed upon.
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08:28:18pm
Also re: the frame - there is no way I can change the texture of it without actually doing it by hand (literally). I have to create it in Word as a page border, then adapt it to size and it doesn't come up any deeper. I COULD re-create it in Word in a different colour (give me a colour other than black and I'll do it) and then re-set it.
I created it on photoshop and saved it as high end jpg the way I do all my other stuff. I haven't tried printing it out - I was just creating a prototype submission.
As for the website address - it IS in bigger type than the rest of the writing with the exception of StampoRama itself. How big do you actually expect it to be? If you make things too big, it takes it out of proportion PLUS you only have so much space and if you put the writing too close together line-wise, you end up with a conglomerated mess.
Sorry, don't mean to sound defensive but like I said - I just created a prototype - if someone else can do something better - hats off to you
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"Incidentally, the Rambler mentions 2013 APS vermeil award, and is mumm about the 2014 Gold!
"
ooops, my mistake..I looked at the First Issue!
rrr...
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"Sorry, don't mean to sound defensive but like I said - I just created a prototype - if someone else can do something better - hats of to you "
Mmummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!It is TERRIFIC! rrr...
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09:19:47pm
I just printed from the jpg file as well as from the Word file. It is definitely cleaner from the Word file. That is the norm though when converting a Word file to a jpg file.
I printed the single 4x6 card and it came out clear as a bell in greyscale (I have very little colour ink right now).
I cannot create a jpg 8.5x11 page without re-creating the entire card because when you reduce the size of the original 4x6 card, as any of you who do printing know, it then changes the structure of the print. I did a trial run of it and it came out with the print blurry.
Printing from the jpg that I created from the Word page, the type is not as clear as it is directly from the Word file as it is lighter than the greyscale in Word, however, if you hold the page out at regular reading length (rather than 2" from your nose!), the print is hardly noticeably blurred - it's just the greyscale comes up lighter than the Word format.
There may be ONE way I can fix that and I will try and see if it will work. If it does I'll post it here for you guys.
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10:11:34pm
Ok guys - here's the final verdict.
The ONLY way to print absolutely clear cards (particularly the sheet) is using the actual Word copy NOT the jpg. The jpg will result in blurry text (as expected).
Even converting the Word to PDF causes a change in text which becomes blurred. The reason? I have created the card in jpg format in 4x6 card. Then in order to create the page, I had reduce the size of the jpg which if printed as a jpg will distort the text, however printed within the Word document, creates a beautiful clear text.
The Word document MUST be printed set as borderless printing in order for it to come out properly.
Now, unfortunately the SOR system will only allow jpgs and pdfs to be uploaded. I cannot upload the .doc file for you guys. If Tim and I can work around that, perhaps we can get it up. I did upload it as a PDF and you can see for yourselves how the text becomes distorted when converted to PDF.
So, that's where we stand with my design. You CAN print the single 4x6 card from this page in colour or greyscale and it should be just fine without any blurring but you CANNOT print the page examples I put up here from jpg.
And that's all she wrote, my friends
P.S.
The colour and greyscale Word formats are available - just let me know if you want them. And now I promise to shut up since I've taken up the majority of this thread when there is someone else who will probably come up with a better design 
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If everyone wants, I will solicit the graphic "card" to the APS and see what it will cost to use as an ad. Kelly, please email me the color Word file as similar ads in the APS magazine are in color.
I'll also check with the TPA and see how much it will cost to use. At the least, I will place a classified ad in the TPA magazine (that is on me).
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Kelly, if someone can come up with a better design then what you did, I will be super impressed. Your design hits a home run. After that it would have to be a walk-off grand slam.
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I am going out of town for a couple of days. I'll check in on this when I get back on Sunday.
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When we were doing a fund raiser at StampWants we had many generous souls donate stuff for auction and let everyone know their purchases were going for a good cause. That generated a lot of interest in the auctions and raised a fair sum of money. If someone wants to do something similar here, I'm sure I can find some goodies to donate to the cause!
Lars
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04:38:44am
My sincerest thank you for the support here and via private message for the SOR card I created. I only did it as part of a prototype submission to be included by others with designs. Your kindness has been quite appreciated.
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Hi Kelly, that's a great design can you send me the file so I can print some out please
thanks
martyn
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Could you forward the file to me as well please,thank you !
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Please send a copy to me, too? Our club show is coming up on Nov 1 and I'd like to print them out to place on the welcome table. GREAT DESIGN!!! You're a talented designer! 
Wait! I was able to download and print it from your image here, so I am all set!!! Awesome! Thanks, Kelly. I'll print a bunch for the show.
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Kelly, the cards look AWESOME--I really think they will attract new members to SOR!
Great job!! 
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Great stuff, managed to download from your picture the same as philatelia did so no need to send me the file after all.
thanks
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I am taking some cards today to the show in Orlando--hopefully we'll gain a few more Floridians as members! I added my contact information to the bottom of the page and made 2 to a page in Word. They look ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!!!
FOLLOW UP: I was able to leave the sheets on the table at the Florida show. Now I have to do this for the big FLOREX show in December, this time in COLOR. BOB
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That is a great idea and incredibly fast design! May I suggest though, that instead of saying "approval books" you say "online approval books" as this is unique to our site. Anyone can send out approval books but only here can you buy such items online!
Peter
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Hi Everyone;
I already think this is a great idea. However cocollectibles points out that our approval books
are different and we should make sure that potential new members know this.
Many SOR members and non-members alike are familiar with APS circuit books. Altho I've never
seen one, I did belong to a stamp exchange via mail. Those used to be popular back when
postage was not so outrageous. You sent in your duplicates and were issued credit less 10%
based on Scott's. Then you received other members books and removed stamps and wrote
your account number in that space.
So I think we should change the wording as cocollectibles suggests to reflect that there is no
need to mail books back and forth. If you have already handed out some of the invites maybe
you can pass on that they are on-line if you know the person to whom you gave the invite
card to.
Just sortin' stuff....
TuskenRaider
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I printed out about a dozen of the cards and handed them all out at the APS show last month in Grand Rapids.
Quite a few people sounded as if they were interested.
Randy
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03:27:01am
Peter -
When I'm feeling a bit better, I'll re-design the cards to say Online Approval Books.
Kelly
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Retired Ap. Book Mod, Pres Golden Gate Stamp Club, Hi Tech Consultant
10 Oct 2014
03:06:50pm
At the last stamp show that I attended, I had a good conversation with a couple of other collectors attending, who happened to be club presidents of their own nearby stamp clubs, and the subject of SOR came up.
Never heard of it!
I think we should have a simple promotional package for SOR that anyone could pass on. These could also be mailed to stamp clubs, locally or on a broader scale. (feel free to improvise).
With 2000 SOR members even if just a few among us get active, I am sure we could have an impact on our overall membership. I am thinking handouts, sized like a postcard, or even just as a business card. On it would be an internet link, and a few descriptive words. This could be designed 4, 6 or 12 to an 8 1/2 x 11 paper sheet to be printed, cut and then handed out.
I could have handed a dozen or so, just at the last stamp show, and I usually have a stamp show nearby to attend once every several months.
What do you think?
My minimalist suggestion: SOR color or B&W logo, SOR Internet link, SOR defining caption, a brief list of what they will find: Approvals, Auctions, Discussions, References etc.. and an admonition: JOIN NOW
What do you suggest?
rrr...
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They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin
10 Oct 2014
03:27:29pm
re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
What a great suggestion.
In concert with Ralph's suggestion, how about a contest to design the best "StampoRama Business Card?" Maybe the the entire membership could vote on the best design? We could even have prizes (I'll be happy to donate a philatelic goodie for the cause).
Bobby
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re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
As a Texas Philatelic Association member, I can put a classified ad in the TPA magazine.
We could put a business card-sized ad in the APS magazine (right next to the loser BidStart ad - lol), or try just a classified ad. Classified ads are cheaper, and we can measure if they bring in anyone new. The membership committee can ask the newbie how they heard of SOR, and keep stats on it.
One thing is that for most outreach that requires ads, fliers, and such, there usually is a cost associated with it. So, who will bear the cost of the outreach? I'm sure not everyone here will be willing to participate in a fund raiser, nor should they be required to.
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re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
How much would an ad in the APS magazine cost? If enough members interested would donate a couple of bucks each I feel that we could raise enough money to put an ad in the APS magazine.
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re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
It depends if you do a classified or a standard ad (which goes by size).
For a classified ad, the APS magazine has an Internet heading. If we took out a six line classified, it would cost $23.64 for 1 month, $127.66 for six months, or $226.94 for a year.
For other ads, check out page 970 in the October 2014 issue of "The American Philatelist". Those box ads are like down-sized version of business cards. I couldn't find a pricing for them, but I don't believe they cost that much, I think that would be good for us too.
If we want to go this route, I will offer $100 towards the cost of either of the above types of advertising.
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Retired Ap. Book Mod, Pres Golden Gate Stamp Club, Hi Tech Consultant
10 Oct 2014
03:59:08pm
re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
I was thinking along the line of a (postcard or business card size) handout any one among us could print, have with them and hand out, when appropriate, (or insert in some giveaway litterature).
But then, why not expand on the idea. However if you add funding, budgets, tracking etc.. etc, you make it much more complex.
I was just looking for something really simple and easy, we could all easily participate in. One thing does not preclude the others. rrr...
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re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
Word of mouth is very powerful advertising. I had the same experience with my local club - most of the members had never heard of Stamporama. I know of a few that have since joined.
I simply added a mention of Stamporama on my little "business" cards I give to other collectors.
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re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
I think the magazines offer the biggest audience. If we do the business card type ad, that could be printed in post card size and handed out at shows, etc., so it will have multiple uses. Just need someone to design the "card". Then anyone needing to print it out could download it off the SOR site.
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Retired Ap. Book Mod, Pres Golden Gate Stamp Club, Hi Tech Consultant
10 Oct 2014
05:25:23pm
re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
I am thinking of something like the Approval Book templates.
Anyone can download it to his/her computer, print it, cut it and hand it out. heck..you could even print it without downloading it.
rrr...
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They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin
10 Oct 2014
06:03:24pm
re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
I will match Michael's generous offer of $100 to get us started. I would like to think in terms of a year for APS since it will be our best exposure.
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A Service Dog gives a person with a disability independence. Never approach, distract or pet a working dog, especially when (s)he is in harness. Never be afraid to ask questions to the handler (parent).
10 Oct 2014
06:26:35pm
re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
Ok, then I guess we should get started on designing a postcard size advertisement. Then at least we have something to go on. The best method for printing and distributing is to use cardstock. For those of you who don't already purchase it to create your album pages, it can be obtained quite cheaply through your local Staples or Office Max, etc. We can create a basic card for advertisement and then that can be easily put into a 8.5x11 format with say a dotted line separation for people to cut or use their mounts cutter to give out at your local stamp clubs. Also at all local shows, you could print off 20 or 50 or whatever you think would be appropriate and place them on the entrance table. Everyone is always grabbing whatever can be found on the entrance table
We may miss some local shows this fall but there are plenty to come in the spring and once created, it doesn't need to be changed, so they are ready for the shows next fall as well.
I'm game for this. I think it's an awesome idea
Kelly
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10 Oct 2014
07:12:59pm
re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
Here's my submission:
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10 Oct 2014
07:26:22pm
re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
The above card can be reproduced in business card style on 8.5x11 paper providing 8 cards per page.
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10 Oct 2014
07:35:24pm
re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
Sorry guys, I get a little too excited when it comes to creating things like this - as you already probably know from the Rambler and the Historic Articles section. I loved designing the new Rambler and I tried to make the logo as close as possible to Jerry's original one, just updated and not pixilated
I get a bit carried away, I know
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re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
Damn, Kelly, you're good!
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A Service Dog gives a person with a disability independence. Never approach, distract or pet a working dog, especially when (s)he is in harness. Never be afraid to ask questions to the handler (parent).
10 Oct 2014
07:48:06pm
re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
Thanks Michael
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re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
Hi Everyone;
Lots of great ideas, and I didn't even finish reading all the replies yet.
A great way to do this without all the extra work and expense and contests and hoopla, is keep it simple. Lets use Kelly's second image, the full page one, print it on our inkjets for next to nothing, and mail or e-mail to all the local clubs in your geographic area, including our foreign members.
Skip a bunch of time wasting loops and contests etc. I frankly don't care for basking in the glory, the real heroes just get the job done and don't care if someone else gets their thunder. That is how we define selflessness, unfortunately I possess little of that quality, so I'll leave it up to someone who is less self centered. I may not be a very giving person but I'm wise enough to know you should always pick the best person for the job.
My inkjet is kinda out of color ink, but I will e-mail Kelly's graphic to everyone I can.
Thank you Ralph for the idea, wished I would have thought of it first.
Keep on stampin
TuskenRaider
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A Service Dog gives a person with a disability independence. Never approach, distract or pet a working dog, especially when (s)he is in harness. Never be afraid to ask questions to the handler (parent).
10 Oct 2014
07:57:33pm
re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
Not meaning to oversaturate this thread but I wanted to include my design in greyscale as well to see the contrast and printability as sometimes when converting colour designs to greyscale you come up with a mess, but this one turned out alright.
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re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
While I can't donate $100, I would happily donate $50 to this cause. I like the design Kelly. Great work!
Stan
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A Service Dog gives a person with a disability independence. Never approach, distract or pet a working dog, especially when (s)he is in harness. Never be afraid to ask questions to the handler (parent).
10 Oct 2014
08:02:16pm
re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
If anyone DOES decide to use my design, it would be easier to print it from the Word format (or whatever program you use) rather than the jpg image as that could distort it. Feel free to message me and I will email you the design in both colour and greyscale for 8.5x11 page as well as the single if you want it. (Although I could be wrong and it might print just fine by saving the jpg to your computer and printing it - I haven't tried.)
Please don't feel you need to use my design - I'm sure there are a lot of other members who would come up with something nicer.
Kelly
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Retired Ap. Book Mod, Pres Golden Gate Stamp Club, Hi Tech Consultant
10 Oct 2014
08:09:43pm
re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
I like it, but here is my artistic "critique" ( I printed it, to see better, on card stock, using a B&W printer ).
Resolution of the image is low. Prints a bit fuzzy on my (high end) laser printer. It says 600dpi? Is that all?
The type for "The Rambler Newsletter" is different from the type of the other items. It is also set at a different spacing than the list above it. Now I know Kelly wanted it to stand out , but I think it should have equal weight!
I also think it may be a chance to harp our 2014 GOLD APS web site Award.
Finally, if I was doing it, I would have put the perforation frame in a bright color, or in pitch black, for monochrome printing.
And the www.stamporama.com could be in a bigger type, for our growing membership with less than perfect vision.
Always looking, never satisfied ..lol rrr...
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Retired Ap. Book Mod, Pres Golden Gate Stamp Club, Hi Tech Consultant
10 Oct 2014
08:12:31pm
re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
Incidentally, the Rambler mentions 2013 APS vermeil award, and is mumm about the 2014 Gold!
rrr...
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re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
Hi again Everyone;
Just right-click the graphic for a drop-down menu and select "copy image" or "Save Image As", much faster and easier. I have already done so and will e-mail to several places.
keep on stampin
TuskenRaider
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A Service Dog gives a person with a disability independence. Never approach, distract or pet a working dog, especially when (s)he is in harness. Never be afraid to ask questions to the handler (parent).
10 Oct 2014
08:20:21pm
re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
I did the Headline to match as closely as I could to the Font used on the Website.
I was thinking of including the award, but that would mean re-doing the card every year and where do you stop (including the 2013, 2014, etc.)
As for the Rambler - ummm - nope, the Gold award is listed in the new logo and if you look at August's edition there is a highlight on the award with the gold logo There is only so much I can include in the Logo on the Rambler before it ends up taking up 3/4 of the page.
I can easily change the Rambler Newsletter on the card to match the red printing of the other parts. The reason I put it in black is that it is not something that every member contributes to (not for lack of my trying to get you guys to contribute) whereas the other parts that are in red, every member can easily and individually contribute. I simply put it in the same font and colour as that of the next line.
All and any of it can be changed quite easily. I used the colour scheme of the website for everything.
Feel free to sent your critique and suggestions - I will change whatever is agreed upon.
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A Service Dog gives a person with a disability independence. Never approach, distract or pet a working dog, especially when (s)he is in harness. Never be afraid to ask questions to the handler (parent).
10 Oct 2014
08:28:18pm
re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
Also re: the frame - there is no way I can change the texture of it without actually doing it by hand (literally). I have to create it in Word as a page border, then adapt it to size and it doesn't come up any deeper. I COULD re-create it in Word in a different colour (give me a colour other than black and I'll do it) and then re-set it.
I created it on photoshop and saved it as high end jpg the way I do all my other stuff. I haven't tried printing it out - I was just creating a prototype submission.
As for the website address - it IS in bigger type than the rest of the writing with the exception of StampoRama itself. How big do you actually expect it to be? If you make things too big, it takes it out of proportion PLUS you only have so much space and if you put the writing too close together line-wise, you end up with a conglomerated mess.
Sorry, don't mean to sound defensive but like I said - I just created a prototype - if someone else can do something better - hats off to you
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Retired Ap. Book Mod, Pres Golden Gate Stamp Club, Hi Tech Consultant
10 Oct 2014
08:29:40pm
re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
"Incidentally, the Rambler mentions 2013 APS vermeil award, and is mumm about the 2014 Gold!
"
ooops, my mistake..I looked at the First Issue!
rrr...
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Retired Ap. Book Mod, Pres Golden Gate Stamp Club, Hi Tech Consultant
10 Oct 2014
08:34:57pm
re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
"Sorry, don't mean to sound defensive but like I said - I just created a prototype - if someone else can do something better - hats of to you "
Mmummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!It is TERRIFIC! rrr...
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A Service Dog gives a person with a disability independence. Never approach, distract or pet a working dog, especially when (s)he is in harness. Never be afraid to ask questions to the handler (parent).
10 Oct 2014
09:19:47pm
re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
I just printed from the jpg file as well as from the Word file. It is definitely cleaner from the Word file. That is the norm though when converting a Word file to a jpg file.
I printed the single 4x6 card and it came out clear as a bell in greyscale (I have very little colour ink right now).
I cannot create a jpg 8.5x11 page without re-creating the entire card because when you reduce the size of the original 4x6 card, as any of you who do printing know, it then changes the structure of the print. I did a trial run of it and it came out with the print blurry.
Printing from the jpg that I created from the Word page, the type is not as clear as it is directly from the Word file as it is lighter than the greyscale in Word, however, if you hold the page out at regular reading length (rather than 2" from your nose!), the print is hardly noticeably blurred - it's just the greyscale comes up lighter than the Word format.
There may be ONE way I can fix that and I will try and see if it will work. If it does I'll post it here for you guys.
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A Service Dog gives a person with a disability independence. Never approach, distract or pet a working dog, especially when (s)he is in harness. Never be afraid to ask questions to the handler (parent).
10 Oct 2014
10:11:34pm
re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
Ok guys - here's the final verdict.
The ONLY way to print absolutely clear cards (particularly the sheet) is using the actual Word copy NOT the jpg. The jpg will result in blurry text (as expected).
Even converting the Word to PDF causes a change in text which becomes blurred. The reason? I have created the card in jpg format in 4x6 card. Then in order to create the page, I had reduce the size of the jpg which if printed as a jpg will distort the text, however printed within the Word document, creates a beautiful clear text.
The Word document MUST be printed set as borderless printing in order for it to come out properly.
Now, unfortunately the SOR system will only allow jpgs and pdfs to be uploaded. I cannot upload the .doc file for you guys. If Tim and I can work around that, perhaps we can get it up. I did upload it as a PDF and you can see for yourselves how the text becomes distorted when converted to PDF.
So, that's where we stand with my design. You CAN print the single 4x6 card from this page in colour or greyscale and it should be just fine without any blurring but you CANNOT print the page examples I put up here from jpg.
And that's all she wrote, my friends
P.S.
The colour and greyscale Word formats are available - just let me know if you want them. And now I promise to shut up since I've taken up the majority of this thread when there is someone else who will probably come up with a better design
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re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
If everyone wants, I will solicit the graphic "card" to the APS and see what it will cost to use as an ad. Kelly, please email me the color Word file as similar ads in the APS magazine are in color.
I'll also check with the TPA and see how much it will cost to use. At the least, I will place a classified ad in the TPA magazine (that is on me).
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re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
Kelly, if someone can come up with a better design then what you did, I will be super impressed. Your design hits a home run. After that it would have to be a walk-off grand slam.
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re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
I am going out of town for a couple of days. I'll check in on this when I get back on Sunday.
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re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
When we were doing a fund raiser at StampWants we had many generous souls donate stuff for auction and let everyone know their purchases were going for a good cause. That generated a lot of interest in the auctions and raised a fair sum of money. If someone wants to do something similar here, I'm sure I can find some goodies to donate to the cause!
Lars
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A Service Dog gives a person with a disability independence. Never approach, distract or pet a working dog, especially when (s)he is in harness. Never be afraid to ask questions to the handler (parent).
11 Oct 2014
04:38:44am
re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
My sincerest thank you for the support here and via private message for the SOR card I created. I only did it as part of a prototype submission to be included by others with designs. Your kindness has been quite appreciated.
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re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
Hi Kelly, that's a great design can you send me the file so I can print some out please
thanks
martyn
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re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
Could you forward the file to me as well please,thank you !
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re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
Please send a copy to me, too? Our club show is coming up on Nov 1 and I'd like to print them out to place on the welcome table. GREAT DESIGN!!! You're a talented designer!
Wait! I was able to download and print it from your image here, so I am all set!!! Awesome! Thanks, Kelly. I'll print a bunch for the show.
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re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
Kelly, the cards look AWESOME--I really think they will attract new members to SOR!
Great job!!
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re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
Great stuff, managed to download from your picture the same as philatelia did so no need to send me the file after all.
thanks
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I am taking some cards today to the show in Orlando--hopefully we'll gain a few more Floridians as members! I added my contact information to the bottom of the page and made 2 to a page in Word. They look ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!!!
FOLLOW UP: I was able to leave the sheets on the table at the Florida show. Now I have to do this for the big FLOREX show in December, this time in COLOR. BOB
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10:58:15am
re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
That is a great idea and incredibly fast design! May I suggest though, that instead of saying "approval books" you say "online approval books" as this is unique to our site. Anyone can send out approval books but only here can you buy such items online!
Peter
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re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
Hi Everyone;
I already think this is a great idea. However cocollectibles points out that our approval books
are different and we should make sure that potential new members know this.
Many SOR members and non-members alike are familiar with APS circuit books. Altho I've never
seen one, I did belong to a stamp exchange via mail. Those used to be popular back when
postage was not so outrageous. You sent in your duplicates and were issued credit less 10%
based on Scott's. Then you received other members books and removed stamps and wrote
your account number in that space.
So I think we should change the wording as cocollectibles suggests to reflect that there is no
need to mail books back and forth. If you have already handed out some of the invites maybe
you can pass on that they are on-line if you know the person to whom you gave the invite
card to.
Just sortin' stuff....
TuskenRaider
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re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
I printed out about a dozen of the cards and handed them all out at the APS show last month in Grand Rapids.
Quite a few people sounded as if they were interested.
Randy
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A Service Dog gives a person with a disability independence. Never approach, distract or pet a working dog, especially when (s)he is in harness. Never be afraid to ask questions to the handler (parent).
13 Sep 2015
03:27:01am
re: A Campaign to Increase SOR Membership?
Peter -
When I'm feeling a bit better, I'll re-design the cards to say Online Approval Books.
Kelly
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