18:47 S-NCSU-LR ...
19:00 S-NCSU-LR This is an amazing piece of software
19:03 marosell we'll be getting started momentarily
19:05 B-NCSU-Mike test
19:08 B-NCSU-Mike I want to wait just a few more minutes, to see if anyone else shows up before we start
19:17 B-NCSU-Mike7 Alright lets go ahead and get started. I'd like to start out by welcoming you all to WebChat 2008. My name is Mike Roselli and I'm the president at the chapter at NC State University, and I will be MC'ing the chat this evening.
19:23 B-NCSU-Mike7 This chat seems a little bit slow at times, but hopefully it will hold out for what we need to use it for.
19:24 B-NCSU-Mike7 All logs are kept (see link above on the page) so if you need to look back on this evening, you can do so there.
19:24 B-NCSU-Mike7 And now, if I can turn your attention to Slide-2 on the right, we'll start the conference.
19:25 B-NCSU-Mike7 The purpose of this chat is to talk about where we've been, where we are, and where we want to go.
19:25 B-NCSU-Mike7 I want to touch on our purpose, and whether or not we believe it needs to be updated,
19:25 B-NCSU-Mike7 set up some plans for our immediate and possibly far away future, and start a plan to put those goals into action.
19:25 B-NCSU-Mike7 Slide 3
19:26 B-NCSU-Mike7 CATTG is a group of college table top gaming clubs, all of which are non profit. As such, CATTG is also non profit.
19:27 B-NCSU-Mike7 We currently do not have a budget, nor a need for one, and our current purpose is to keep our clubs in contact with each other.
19:28 B-NCSU-Mike7 This year, we added 5 chapters, and we are currently 8 chapters strong.
19:29 B-NCSU-Mike7 I would ask if there are any chapter/constitution issues that need to be addressed, but there seems to be a lack of presidents attending this evening.
19:30 B-NCSU-Mike7 Currently, Director is our only position, which I hold, and other presidents are board members who vote on issues. We'll continue to slide 5, and come back if we need to later.
19:30 B-NCSU-Mike7 Slide 5 - Short Term Goals
19:32 B-NCSU-Mike7 Currently, while we keep in contact with each other, we do nothing else with our structured organization activity wise, while there are plenty of things we could be doing.
19:32 B-NCSU-Mike7 While trips to visit other chapters are intruiging, this is something that needs to be set up on a chapter-chapter basis, so I'd really like to talk about philanthropy.
19:33 B-NCSU-Mike7 One of the best things we could be doing as a non-profit organization with so many members is philanthropy, and there are many benefits for us getting into it.
19:35 B-NCSU-Mike7 Contributing our time as students and mostly well-off members of society can only give us more of a reason to be supported by the gaming community.
19:35 B-NCSU-Mike7 This doesn't just include sponsors, but it includes acknowledgement in an industry we feel we are a big part of.
19:37 B-NCSU-Mike7 There are many ways we can get involved in activities that our withing our realm of interests. Proceeds from MSU upcoming convention will be donated to childsplaycharity.org
19:38 B-NCSU-Mike7 And our NCSU chapter helps with ToysForTots, and plays games with children at a local Ronald Mcdonald House for hospitalized kids.
19:40 B-NCSU-Mike7 These are just a few ways we (as gamers) can get ourselves out there, into the industry, into the minds of helpful sponsors, and into public acknowledgment.
19:40 B-NCSU-Mike7 Slide 6
19:42 B-NCSU-Mike7 I'm only going to touch on our webpresence as there are no other club presidents in the room this evening. I'm afraid that my ability to host the CATTG website myself will not be around forever.
19:42 B-NCSU-Mike7 As such, we need to keep in mind the possibility of sustaining commercial hosting by another means, sponsored, donated, whatever. Just something to keep thinking about.
19:42 B-NCSU-Mike7 Sponsors
19:44 B-NCSU-Mike7 This is something that is very important to us; not only does it insure that we can keep our gaming libraries up to date so that we can share new games with others, but it gives an incentive for clubs to be a part of CATTG
19:45 B-NCSU-Mike7 We were able to get dice and mats from Chessex last year when we were only three chapters, but thats not nearly enough to keep our individual chapters on their feet.
19:46 B-NCSU-Mike7 With average club dues of a couple bucks from empty-pocketed college students (and some clubs not having any possible funding at all), in order to keep ourselves running, our clubs need new content.
19:47 B-NCSU-Mike7 Content to be given away as prizes at contests to raise money for charities (as mentioned above). Content to share with visitors, and content to take with us on the road.
19:49 B-NCSU-Mike7 What incentives can we provide to sponsors? There are a lot of things our chapters can do for our sponsors; things that aren't unreasonable and aren't unheard of, and that will intice companies to give us the things we need to stay afloat.
19:50 B-NCSU-Mike7 With over a hundred CATTG gamers in our clubs (and growing) and an internet that is continually providing amazing communications, we can play test for companies like never before.
19:51 B-NCSU-Mike7 Got an idea for a game? Email sample rules and a couple generic jpeg image, and each one of our clubs can cut out piece of paper and use money counters and give that company great feedback.
19:51 B-NCSU-Mike7 And at any one of events and meetings (of each chapter) which ever games are sent to us are games that being played. Visitors and competitors see us playing these games, for charity and for fun.
19:52 B-NCSU-Mike7 Word of mouth, and proof of peers enjoying said products? In my opinion, there isn't a better way to advertise.
19:54 B-NCSU-Mike7 While the little man is a great man to have on our side (and we appreciate anything anyone will give our chapters), we need to really be trying for companies that can spare to donate their materials.
19:55 B-NCSU-Mike7 Any publishing companies or direct sales companies will do. And to be efficient, we need to delegate a "sponsor contact" that is prepared to deal with said companies, and be able to distribute materials we get to our clubs.
19:56 B-NCSU-Mike7 Slide 8 - Long Term Goals
19:57 B-NCSU-Mike7 In the long run (a couple years or more), there are plenty of other things we can put on our plate. Thinking about what we could do should we have funds is always a great place to start.
19:58 B-NCSU-Mike7 Say the chapter at Montclair State wanted to host a large convention this year? Well, CATTG could fund a project like that.
19:59 B-NCSU-Mike7 We could also provide scholarships to philanthropic gamers like ourselves who join and contribute to our organization, and who are in need of financial assitance for their college education.
20:00 B-NCSU-Mike7 These are are just some ideas of what we could do if we did have extra dough. At the moment, we do not have a flux of monies, and this is one of the last things on a lot of our minds.
20:01 B-NCSU-Mike7 But should a time come when we have the potential funds and the resources to keep up with them (a financial advisor to take care of tax paperwork and major bookkeeping), we can table issues like these.
20:01 B-NCSU-Mike7 Finally, I want to bring up the idea of a CATTG Convention
20:02 B-NCSU-Mike7 It has been my dream since I began working on this organization, to see dozens of clubs from around the country meet up with each other at a national convention for us, college gamers.
20:03 B-NCSU-Mike7 It can provide us students (who are about to enter the work force) with a great networking opportunity as well as a relaxing weekend to just hang out. We can invite companies as well as charities to attend.
20:04 B-NCSU-Mike7 And get the word out about gaming, what we do for our schools, and what we do for others.
20:04 B-NCSU-Mike7 But again, this is a future, long term goal, and these are topics I believe belong on the back burner until we have: more sponsors, more support, more members, and more participation.
20:06 B-NCSU-Mike7 I'm now on Slide 9, and at this point, I'd like to ask if there are any other ideas that members in this chat would like to bring forward?
20:08 B-NCSU-Mike7 We can combine this with our Questions and Answers session as well, and I'll leave the floor open until 10:30.
20:09 S-NCSU-LR ?
20:10 B-NCSU-Mike7 Hey Liam, whats up?
20:10 S-NCSU-LR We may want to contact those in charge of Animazement 2008 convention. The anime club at NCSU was just like our club and now they have a huge convention every year.
20:11 S-NCSU-LR Last year, the attendence was 4400.
20:11 S-NCSU-LR This is if a CATTG convention is a goal.
20:12 Sponser-PE-Pete Hello all, I'm a rep from a potential sponsor, PE Games.
20:12 B-NCSU-Mike7 It's definitely a good idea to start trying to meet our fellow chapters at other conventions before we start our own.
20:13 Sponsor-PE-Pete I'd just like to say that we are all excited about what's going on with CATTG, and can't wait to help you all along.
20:13 B-NCSU-Mike7 I tried to contact GenCon (gencon.com) about us being able to go there, I'm awaiting a response from them
20:13 B-NCSU-Mike7 Hey Pete, whats up?
20:14 B-NCSU-Mike7 tell us a little bit about PE Games?
20:14 B-NCSU-Mike7 ^sorry, im experiencing a horrible lag here
20:15 Sponsor-PE-Pete We provide rpg settings and board gaming material, and work with various independent game publishers.
20:15 Sponsor-PE-Pete Same here.
20:17 B-NCSU-Mike7 I know a bit about PE Games, but in general, for other readers and the for log of this chat
20:17 B-NCSU-Mike7 awesome! do you have any visions about what we can provide each other?
20:18 Sponsor-PE-Pete Hopefully, after tomorrow nights conference, we'll be better able to return to you all some feedback on how we can assist CATTG get off the ground, gain sponsors, and get free or discounted admission to the convention circuit.
20:19 B-NCSU-Mike7 Pete, that is great news, if only you knew how wide I was smiling :)
20:19 Sponsor-PE-Pete We're very interested in starting up chapters of various traditional table top game settings for several geographical locations across the US - and should be ready to supply material to that effect in the beginning of March.
20:20 Sponsor-PE-Pete That way, different chapters can enough playing together even while separated by many miles.
20:21 Sponsor-PE-Pete *different chapters can play together
20:22 B-NCSU-Mike7 This is very interesting, and I'm looking forward to seeing this develop further. Sounds like the start of a great relationship.
20:22 B-NCSU-Mike7 From reading in on the conference (my speech), and perhaps from a more personal view instead of a company, do you have any suggestions or ideas that you think we could use?
20:22 B-NCSU-Mike7 Perhaps dealing with philanthropy, sustainability, participation, any ideas?
20:24 Sponsor-PE-Pete In the past, we've suggested using Child's Play for organizations like MSU - which I think worked to great effect.
20:26 Sponsor-PE-Pete Similar charitable organizations, with gaming as a central theme, work wonders. Also, getting members to interact with people in need is an excellent idea on getting gaming clubs
20:26 Sponsor-PE-Pete recognition as charitable, and not just entertainment, organizations within their respected universities.
20:28 B-NCSU-Mike7 I tried to contact Lindsay from Childs Play but I didn't receive a response. I imagine her inbox is busy, as shes the only email listed on the site, and I have a feeling the program is bigger then most people think.
20:30 Sponsor-PE-Pete Several of the student organizations we've had contact with have used them, and Penny Arcade seems to have put them on the map.
20:30 B-NCSU-Mike7 It's been incredbily difficult to get this club's foot in any door.
20:31 B-NCSU-Mike7 You won't believe how many people I've tried to contact in the last six months to no avail.
20:31 B-NCSU-Mike7 I've sent numerous emails and letters to companies like WhiteWolf and Wizards of the Coast but I haven't received responses.
20:31 B-NCSU-Mike7 Even GenCon hasn't responsed to the email I sent a few weeks ago
20:32 Sponsor-PE-Pete Numbers should rectify that. Of course, the trick is to increase membership in the organization on the promise that there will be dividends to come. Hopefully, we can make a dent in that for you.
20:33 B-NCSU-Mike7 Thanks a lot Pete. I look forward to working with you and Frank. If there are no other comments on the table to be brought up (which there seems to not be), I'm going to try to wrap up tonights chat.
20:34 S-NCSU-LR Pete, is there a website for PE Games?
20:36 Sponsor-PE-Pete that, too, should be fully functional by March
20:37 S-NCSU-LR Thanks Pete. Thanks Mike, excellent presentaton.
20:37 marosell In a just a couple quick statements to wrap things up, I believe the most important issues of the conference deal with our relationships; to ourselves, our community, and the industry we enjoy.
20:38 marosell I propose that philanthropy be added to our organizations purpose, or rather, the encouragement of phlanthropic activity in our chapters. It's relatively simple thing to do, and it will definitely help us out in the long run.
20:39 marosell This is something our chapter presidents should consider adding to our constitution relatively soon, and I'll post something in the forums about it.
20:40 marosell I'm relatively happy with tonights participation and in the words I was able to get out, and I look forward to repeating this presentation tomorrow evening, at 9PM EST
20:40 marosell Hopefully, with some more participation, and some more great ideas and friends to come aboard.
20:40 marosell Thanks for attending WebChat Conference 2008. Have a great evening!
20:41 Sponsor-PE-Pete thank you
20:42 marosell For purposes of book keeping and the log, users marosell and B-NCSU-Mike are the same. A log of this chat is viewable anytime at the link posted on our contact page.
