01.Blogs :
mario  

Tsunami Assistance

I’m happy to say that theSpoke is sponsoring a tsunami relief program.  If you take a look at my avatar, you’ll notice it’s changed.  Here’s why…

From now until the end of February, theSpoke will donate $5 to the Red Cross for every avatar that is changed to one of the three below: 
         

You can download the pictures here:
Blue Avatar (tsunami_help_blue.gif)
Green Avatar (tsunami_help_green.gif)
Red Avatar (tsunami_help_red.gif)

When you change your avatar, please name the picture file one of the three names in parenthesis above.

All donations will go to help those affected by the tsunami tragedy in late December.  At the end of February we will count the number of changed avatars across theSpoke community and we will donate up to $5,000 to the Red Cross in early March. (This means that if 1000 people change their avatar, we'll donate $5,000).

The program starts now and goes until February 28, so I invite you to update your avatar and help those in need.  When the program is over, you're encouraged to change it back to your current picture.

Thanks!

posted on Sunday, February 06, 2005 2:41 AM by mario

# @ Saturday, February 05, 2005 12:14 AM

Great idea -- I changed mine. I'd love to see the member mosaic fill up with these in Febuary!

blakejr

# @ Saturday, February 05, 2005 1:45 AM

I've changed mine too... Thanks Mario!

adriangodong

# @ Saturday, February 05, 2005 3:44 AM

Great idea! -Cheers

mattcassell

# @ Saturday, February 05, 2005 4:19 AM

Kudos to theSpoke in initiating this idea !! I hope more fellow bloggers contribute and god bless the tsunami victims..

Vico

# @ Saturday, February 05, 2005 2:07 PM

Great idea! I have one issue though... why not just donate the full $5,000?

punzki

# @ Saturday, February 05, 2005 3:30 PM

nice idea sir!

jasin14

# @ Saturday, February 05, 2005 6:05 PM

Thanks for your support everyone! Punzki, we wanted to get everyone in theSpoke community involved in showing their support to the tsunami victims. That's why we we made it $5/avatar change.

mario

# @ Saturday, February 05, 2005 11:05 PM

Really nice promotion...I think blue is going to dominate the member mosaic.

shredas

# @ Sunday, February 06, 2005 4:00 AM

Hi Mario, why don't you advertise the announcement text on the top banner too :)

Charisse

# @ Sunday, February 06, 2005 4:06 AM

Nice and cool change!

Haze

# @ Sunday, February 06, 2005 4:47 AM

i fully support this one!

bobreyes

# @ Sunday, February 06, 2005 11:47 AM

i fully support this program and will definitely tell everyone i come across with who still haven't change their avatars :D whose idea was this btw? it's great!

jasin14

# @ Sunday, February 06, 2005 3:43 PM

Great idea!

BrianS

# @ Sunday, February 06, 2005 4:03 PM

It is a great idea.

Eleanor_Chan

# @ Monday, February 07, 2005 12:13 AM

Wow this is a great idea.:D

cat_d_NET

# @ Monday, February 07, 2005 3:05 AM

Cool idea, I am going to change soon..

Pohsze

# @ Wednesday, February 09, 2005 5:47 PM

go green!!

marcusjmu

# @ Thursday, February 10, 2005 8:24 AM

Nice. :)

Tudy

# @ Friday, February 11, 2005 5:25 PM

vigrid -- the reason we decided to donate like this was so theSpoke community could visibly show their support across the site. We thought about just donating the $5000 on behalf of theSpoke community, but we thought it would be more meaningful if everyone would take the small amount of time necessary to update their avatar.

mario

# @ Friday, February 11, 2005 6:17 PM

I am changing mine. Great idea. ---------------- automated accounts - somebody said ? I guess assumption is being made that people here are honest. Besides why whould anyone goto the trouble of creating automated accounts so that more money can goto Tsunami victims ?? ----------------------- -Soliton Hedge Fund

solitonhedgefund_com

# @ Friday, February 11, 2005 6:26 PM

solitonhedgefund_com -- yes, we are hoping that the people in the community are honest and are legitimately representing themselves when changing their avatar.

mario

# @ Monday, February 14, 2005 5:59 PM

vigrid -- thanks for the feedback. We'll definitely consider it the next time we sponsor a promotion like this.

mario

# @ Thursday, February 24, 2005 7:37 PM

I understand what Vigrid is saying but I must say I disagree. The ideia of the Spoke is to be a community. As such, the fact that the amount of money being donated is related to the amount of people interested in the program is perfectly healthy. I see nothing wrong in using the ideia of the donation to start a program that will mobilize the community and even bring benefits to the Spoke itself. Of course it brings benefits. Of course there's a bit of marketing behind. But what's wrong with that? As long as people are using creativity in efforts that results in good actions, it's a great thing. I've joined it and I'm inviting people to join it as well. Perharps if the number exceeds 1000, the community itself will be touched and donate more? Or perharps other communities, or even the Spoke itself, will do similar programs soon? Anyway.. I only disagree with the last line. People shouldn't be encouraged to change theirs avatars back to their current pictures. I believe it's even better to have those avatars as symbols of this effort to donate and help others. It should represent those interested in using this community as a way to help others. It should be the banner of a campaign. An on-line campaign. And it should never end. -- Versão em português desse programa: (Portuguese version of this program effort): http://br.thespoke.net/MyBlog/marcelo_barros/MyBlog_Comments.aspx?ID=15268

marcelo_barros


 
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