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SWAG Bag detritus has got to go
Please consider severely reducing the amount of paper and other stuff in the SWAG bags. I know this is a significant source of revenue for NRN, but I ended up throwing out several pounds of material before I left for the airport. It is stomach churning to discard so much unused stuff.
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Inappropriate?I don't know if this is even realistic, but if instead of wasting all that paper, all exhibitors could get a folder on a CD or key drive with their messaging in PDF form or something, that might eliminate some waste.
I’m thankful
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Inappropriate?We'd discussed jump drives for the program previously, maybe we could put all those materials on jump drives?
I'm not sure if this is logistically possible due to timelines and sponsor preferences, but it is certainly something we'll consider as we strive to lessen our environmental impact as a convention.
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Inappropriate?When I went to DemocracyFest in 2005 in Austin, (which I believe YearlyKos and NN was originally based off of since I recall Gina and Markos being there) they gave us CDs with all the workshops, panels, etc. Since speakers are scheduled in advance, we should have all the power points, handouts, etc. on a CD or removable flash drive in the bag or at least after the conference. They could even have it as a fundraiser...for $10 or whatever you get the CD and photos of the event. That way we could get the materials that we miss at the sessions we attend and we could also get the ones that we miss while there.
I personally like the stuff we get in the bags but for those that don't, it is a big waste. I try to read everything, look up the websites, etc. Part of it is the sponsors need some guidelines on how to market themselves better and reach their intended audience.
Even better, put it on a DVD set with the video since it seems every panel just about was videotaped then you have the materials, video and photos all in one plus it could be a really good fundraiser for NN which could cover some upfront costs for the next year's. Sell it after the conference as a fundraiser where people can order it. You can have the downloadable materials online before the conference and the full conference with video and materials (incl photos) available on DVD for purchase after. I really liked the materials we got at DemocracyFest and it was the only one I attended that had the foresight to do that.
Also, regarding the bags...why not use organic bags instead of the non-eco friendly ones? I know lots of people who sell them and can do the custom logos and they are sturdy. I use them for grocery shopping and it would coincide with the eco theme of next years NN.
Too much about this conference was not eco friendly which is sad for a progressive conference (but I loved it anyway ;)
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Inappropriate?Nolan & lyrehcmai, I think we are all on the same page. I too enjoy the materials in the SWAG bag. However, I do not have time to actually read/review the contents during the conference. Then, when it's time to go home, I don't have enough space in my carry-on to take most of it home with me. Hence, it ends up in the trash can at the hotel. I hate that.
I too love the idea of a CD. I attend several law conferences each year and those events put all of the materials on CD. Later, after the conference, I actually read and utilize the materials on the CDs and save them in my office.
Excellent work, Nolan. Thanks for putting on such a rockin' conference again this year.
-Gloria -
Inappropriate?is using a cd better than paper? maybe they could just put it on a server and let people access it they wanted to, or at least a jump drive since those are resuable.
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You can get re-write enabled CDs and DVDs. The problem with the jumps is compatibility across multiple computer systems. I run into this all the time between computers and operating systems. Maybe there is a great universal one that really works across platforms but I haven't found it and I have wasted $$ on many.
I think ultimately a combo of some actual materials and a CD/jump would work. I understand the point of needing to promote the sponsors who pay for the event and I agree. My vision is doing it not only in a more eco friendly way, but one that better promotes the sponsors so they get the best bang for their buck too. A win/win for all involved.
I liked getting the magazines, but I read them online already. The t-shirts are always great as well as anything that is truly functional. T-shirts are always good because when you wear them it is free advertising for the sponsor as long as the sponsor is wise enough to make the message clear and have the url high up and visible on the front of the t-shirt.
The rest of the handouts were not as effective. I think for the money the sponsors spend they should get guidelines on how to do a better job to get the attention and make sure people at least try them out. I totally didn't get the condom thing (not to mention what do lesbians need one for?) so I stopped by the booth to ask them why the condom in protecting constitutional rights? It was cute but the website url wasn't big enough that people are really going to go to their website. So other than helping someone get safely laid, lol, not sure about the marketing effectiveness. It did make a fun conversational piece though. :P
Here is their website for their efforts:
http://ccrjustice.org/ -
Inappropriate?SO TRUE. This was the 2nd time I left the entire bag in the hotel room, unopened. Didn't fit in the luggage, and I didn't think I'd want much in there anyway.
I’m thankful
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Inappropriate?But OC, the bag was cool and reusable at least :)
This is a comment we heard a lot, One thought was to have more stuff out on the tables during keynotes so people only took what they wanted, but then their were complaints about all the stuff on tables as well, some of which we have no idea where it comes from.
Bottom line the sponsors pay loots of money for us to get there message into the hands of all of our attendees such that we can actually offer the conference at as low a rate as we do. We really do love our sponsors and want people to patronize them, but I think that it means teaching them the difference between good swag and insting recycled material. However, we got comments from folks who like the reading material. (Personally - I left my book in the hotel room - aarrgg - so I enjoyed my SEED magazine and Mother Jones on the way home.)
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Inappropriate?As someone considering sponsoring, I like the idea of putting on CD. Drives would be expensive but cds cost just cents per cd. This is a computer literate group that attends and having all those materials in one simple CD is a marvelous idea. There could still be ads on the CD jacket and insert with a one sentence blurb and link to the websites.
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