HTML Writers Guild Member Newsletter
May 1998

Volume 4 Number 5

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Special Discounts Available to Guild Members
2. Financial Statement Posted
3. GuildWear: Have You Ordered Your T-Shirt Yet?
4. Support the Guild! Become a Paid Member
5. Governing Board Updates and Openings
6. Volunteer Opportunities Available
7. Frequently Asked Questions about the HWG-News Newsletter

1. Special Discounts Available to Guild Members

We are please to announce the re-vitalized Vendor Discount Program. There are 7 vendors offering discounts on products and services such as website hosting, graphics software, graphic design and web design books. For complete information, visit:

http://www.hwg.org/services/vdp/index.html

These discounts are only available to Plus members; read on further in this newsletter to find out how you can upgrade and take advantage of these savings -- and more deals are on the way!

If your company is interested in reaching our membership by participating as a vendor in the Vendor Discount Program, please email Jobin Hume, VDP Manager, at vdp-manager@hwg.org.

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2. Financial Statement Posted

All recognized non-profit entities in the United States are required to make certain public disclosures in regard to financial status. As a Georgia non-profit corporation, the HTML Writers Guild is obligated to make its IRS Form 990 (Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax) available for public inspection. The paper copy of this return is on file at the treasurer's office in Carmel Valley, CA. This office does not have public business hours, but parties interested in inspecting these documents in person will be provided with reasonable accommodation and access with prior arrangements made through the treasurer via email, at site contacts.

A copy of this return in Adobe's .pdf format is available on the Guild's website. It is an accurate copy of the return on file at the treasurer's office, only with the corporate officers' private address data blacked out for privacy/security concerns of online posting. The original on file remains intact.

The 990 document can be found at:

http://www.hwg.org/opcenter/hwginc/990.html

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3. GuildWear: Have You Ordered Your T-Shirt Yet?

Still available -- the official HTML Writers Guild T-Shirts! Display your Guild colors with these distinctive tees printed in full color on high-quality white cotton. Each t-shirt features the world-famous HTML Writers Guild logo on the front; you, too, can look like 65,000 web pages around the world!

These shirts debued at Spring Internet World '98 in Los Angeles and were a big hit; now we're making them available as fundraiser for only $24 (shipping and handling included) within the U.S. or Canada, $28 overseas. Available in XL and XXL sizes.

A copy of the order form is available at:

http://www.hwg.org/opcenter/guildwear/

Get 'em while supplies last! Based on the success of this initial print run, we may offer additional designs or sizes in the future.

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4. Support the Guild! Become a Paid Member

The Guild provides three levels of membership -- Basic, Value, and Plus. Basic membership is free, Value is $20 (U.S.) per year, and Plus dues are $35 (U.S.) annually. With your Basic membership, you get access to a number of Guild resources and services, including our popular logo program to identify yourself as a member of the Guild, and the content-rich discussion mailings we offer.

So why would you want to upgrade your membership and become a dues- paying member of the Guild? One simple reason stands out above the rest -- because you want to show your support for the Guild and your gratitude for the things you've learned, or will learn. Joining the Guild as a Value or Plus member lets you make a contribution to operation of the HTML Writers Guild -- and your dues are tax deductible as a non-profit donation. (Check with your tax authority for details.)

Becoming a paid member is a great way to recognize the value in the Guild, and help us to expand our activities and projects. A book on HTML can cost between $20 and $35 -- have you gotten that much value from the Guild yet? (If not -- try some of our FAQs and resources links on the website, or join a mailing list or three!)

As an added bonus of paying dues, Value and Plus members are given access to additional Guild projects -- including the Mentor/Apprentice program at the Value (or higher) level. The RFP program and Plus lists are only open to Guild members at the Plus level, as is the VDP program (mentioned above).

If you would like to become a paid member of the Guild, it's simple, and you can pay online via a secure transaction; use the following URL to edit the details of your membership:

http://209.96.186.171/cgi-bin/member/edit_profile

Support the Guild -- become a Plus or Value member today!

(Newsletter Table of Contents)

5. Governing Board Updates and Openings

Your HWG Governing Board is:

• Joe Cline, President site contacts
• Gerald Oskoboiny, VP/Information Tech. gerald@hwg.org
• Ann Navarro, VP/Finance site contacts
• Kynn Bartlett, VP/Marketing & Outreach site contacts
• Leanne Phillips, Secretary leanne@hwg.org
• Charlotte Crothers, Board Member char@hwg.org
• Jim Barchuk, Board Member jim@hwg.org
• Mike McGhan, Board Member mike@hwg.org
• Fred Barnett, Board Member fred@hwg.org

Leanne has recently been appointed to the GB; a hearty "welcome!" to her and a "thanks!" for taking on the secretary duties are both due. We have two remaining open positions on the Board for qualified candidates at present. If you are interested, please send a note to gb-search@hwg.org that includes your resume (text version please, no attachments) and a vision statement of how you see the Guild and your role within it.

Board members should have the following qualities:

• Familiarity with the way the Guild is managed
• Member of the HWG for at least one year
• Any of the following desired types of experience:
• Business/Corporate
  Marketing/Public Relations
  Non-profit Organizations
  Virtual (Internet) Organizations
• Must be at least 18 years of age

As part of the Board, you will be expected to:

• Serve a term of up to three years on the Governing Board
• Invest a minimum of 10 hours per week in Board-related activities, and possibly more if asked to serve as an officer on the Executive Committee
• Contribute to setting the direction of the Guild through participation on the Governing Board's private discussion list, and effectively articulate your vision for the HWG
• Reach decisions based on the best interests of the HWG Inc. corporation as a whole, in cooperation with other members of the Board
• Be willing to travel (if necessary) on behalf of the Guild

Being on the Governing Board is a major responsibility and commitment, but it can also be very rewarding to shape the future of this organization. If you have any questions, feel free to direct them to gb-search@hwg.org.

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6. Volunteer Opportunities Available

The Guild is entirely volunteer-run; as such, that means there are many opportunities for active members to become involved and help contribute back some of what you may have gained from your Guild membership! Volunteering with the Guild is also a great way to gain valuable experience, learn new skills, and make friends. In addition, volunteers can earn Volunteer Credits which can be applied against the cost of paid membership.

If you are interested in any of the positions listed below, please write directly to the listed contact; if you wish to volunteer but haven't yet found your niche in the HWG, please write to our (new) Volunteer Coordinator, Allen Gould, at volunteer@hwg.org and he can assist you in finding the right project to work on.

Some of the open positions with the Guild include:

• Bookstore Manager
• Logo Management Team Members
• Grant Researcher
• Marketing Team Members

Further positions within the Guild are on the volunteer page:

http://www.hwg.org/opcenter/volunteer/index.html

POSITION: Bookstore Manager

The Guild is seeking a volunteer to manage our future online Guild bookstore. This position currently reports to the Treasurer but may be subject to later reassignment under Business Services.

Will participate in:

• Locating books appropriate for a high-quality web-related online bookstore
• Convert article-length reviews of books into appropriate store HTML format
• Creation and maintenance of a distinctive and attractive graphical style for the HWG bookstore website
• Assist with special events (author interviews, feature of the month projects, etc)
• Production and review of retailer affiliate statements
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills required:

• Familiarity with spreadsheets and other business software
• Well-organized and reliable with steady net access
• Must be able to produce valid 4.0 (transitional) HTML
• Familiarity with accessibility issues
• 5-10 hours per week of time.

Interested? Volunteer by writing to site contacts, and include a text resume. (No attachments please.)

POSITION: Logo Management Team Members

The HWG Logo Management Team is looking for volunteers!

Duties of an LMT member are:

• Answering questions about the Guild's Logo and its proper usage.
• Helping those who are having trouble with the Logo.
• Checking sites using the Logo, and verifying that they are within the Logo Usage Guidelines.
• E-mailing webmasters of those sites which are not using the Logo properly.

Requirements:

• Approximately 5 hours per week.
• Must be friendly, willing to help those who need it, check on sites that are reported to be using the Logo improperly, and write to those who are using the Logo improperly.
• Experience in dealing with the public a plus, but not required.

If you would like to volunteer, please write to site contacts.

POSITION: Grant Researcher

The Guild is looking for a volunteer to fill the position of "Grant Researcher." This individual will report to the Vice President of Finance and Personnel.

Job duties will include:

• Conduct research to find grant opportunities that the Guild would be eligible for as a 501(c)3 organization from private and public sources.
• Assist the VP of Finance in completing the required application materials for those grants.
• Follow up and interface with granting entities as requested by the VP of Finance or Governing Board.
• Other duties as assigned.

Complete details are available upon request by sending email to ann@hwg.org. Interested parties should forward a letter of interest and a resume (text in email please, no attachments), to ann@hwg.org.

POSITION: Marketing Team Member

The Marketing Team for the HWG is responsible for assisting the Marketing Manager [*] in planning and implementing marketing strategies, both on- line and off-, to promote the Guild and Guild activities. The Marketing Team is a committee of volunteers who can provide constructive advice and tangible assistance in the area of marketing, outreach, and advertising.

Qualifications:

Ideal committee members will have experience in online and offline advertising and marketing, and will have time to commit to working to improve the visibility of the Guild. Experience writing or editing press releases is desirable, as is knowledge of online/offline media outlets.

Applying:

Interested parties should email Kynn Bartlett, VP of Marketing & Outreach at site contacts, and include a summary of relevant experience and/or a resume (in text format only -- no attachments). Qualified individuals will receive one or more email "interviews" if further information is required.

[*] The position of Marketing Manager is currently open. The Vice President of Marketing and Outreach will chair the Marketing Team until a Marketing Manager can be selected.

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7. Subscription Information and other Frequently Asked Questions

Some questions you may be asking:

Q: Why did I get this mail?

A: You received this newsletter because you are a member of the HTML Writers Guild. This message came from hwg-news, the Guild's mandatory mailing list for all members. If you need more information about hwg-news, please see the List Charter at:

http://www.hwg.org/lists/hwg-news/index.html

Q. Why doesn't this newsletter talk about web design or HTML?

A. The newsletter is the Guild's administrative bulletin to the membership. If you are interested in the topics of Web design and HTML, then you might want to subscribe to some of our discussion lists devoted to those topics. More information on the Guild's offering of discussion lists can be found at:

http://www.hwg.org/lists/mailinglists.html

Q. How can I find out more about Guild activities?

A. The Guild has set up a one-way announcement list, HWG-Announce, that carries bulletins of day-to-day Guild business. For details on how to subscribe, please see:

http://www.hwg.org/lists/hwg-announce/

Q: How do I unsubscribe from hwg-news?

A: Since this is a required list in order to maintain your Guild membership, unsubscribing is the same as resigning from the HTML Writers Guild.

If you have your Member ID and password, to resign your membership in the Guild and to unsubscribe to hwg-news, visit:

http://www.hwg.org/member/resign.html

Fill in the pertinent information, and submit it.

If you don't have a Member ID, or have forgotten your password, send mail to:

site contacts

with a Subject of: Resign membership

In the body of the message, provide the following information:

• Your email address(es)
• Your member ID if you have one.
• The list of discussion lists you are on.

Please remember that unsubscribing to hwg-news automatically resigns you from the Guild. If you have problems with unsubscribing, please contact the Database Manager for help.

Q: What if I want to comment on the newsletter?

A: The HWG-News Mailing List is a "Read-Only" list -- please do not try to reply to this message directly.

If you wish to contact the editor of this newsletter, you may do so by sending email to editor@hwg.org. Each article begins with the contact information for the author as well.

This issue was edited by Kynn Bartlett.

(Newsletter Table of Contents)

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