Dear friends of BluMail,
You know what they say about no news being good news. Indeed there has been radio silence as we have been scurrying behind the scenes in preparation for a public launch of BluMail in early 2009. Thus we thought it was time to share some good news and latest developments:
A beta version of the site is available at www.BluMail.org. As you will see, sections still need content, functionalities will be developed over the next several weeks to allow for be / find a mentor; read / share a story; a mini-biography writing section to replace the current link; declaration of peace and 100 ways to become active; tell 10 friends; etc.
We are seeking content writers to research and write about 10-12 pages per Learning Center section in the areas of conflict resolution, entrepreneurship, women, healthy lifestyles, environment, world knowledge, and human rights. Each section needs content formatted in the following categories: Did You Know, Frequently Asked Questions, Helpful Hints, Books and Guides, Checklists, Inspiring Stories, Favorite Links and Alerts. We will pay $1,000 per section with content due December 12. Writers interested in writing for BluMail may request an explanation sheet be sent to them by writing to info@blumail.org.
We have been working closely with a major foundation to ensure that our proposal to them is accordance with their requirements, and we're hopeful that a grant will be awarded by the end of the year, allowing us to create "phase two" technical functionalities for the website.
Additionally, we are thrilled to have a team forming who have taken the lead in seeking advertising sponsorships, creating a press kit, press releases and media strategy; implementing our global marketing plan; helping us reach our goal of having 100 partner organizations join us by the time we launch; a fellow BluMail board member who is working with me to build a stellar Board of Directors -- 30 members who will represent developing countries, non-profit organizations and the technology sector; another who is advising on further foundation funding; and thank you to our angel advisers in New York, Silicon Valley and Washington who are providing invaluable strategic wisdom and advice on long-term growth opportunities for BluMail.
We are also in the planning stages to hold a "Meeting of the Ambassadors" to the United Nations to explain BluMail to Ambassadors representing developing countries.
Tomorrow we will be trained on how to manage content, allowing us to tweak, edit, update, and add content well into any sleepless night.
And soon, very soon in hopefully a matter of days, you will be able to register for your very own BluMail account. Deepest thanks to our website design firm, Spinbox Creative, for creating what I know will be a simple, and quick email account registration process, and thanks to Google's technical people for answering our multitude of questions to ensure our globally available email system is safe, secure, and easy to use. And our gratitude to Spinbox for creating the beta version of our site - that can be instantly translated into 10 languages with more on the way!
We had a very soft launch of the beta version in September and we look forward to much more public launches at the start of 2009 to celebrate a new year filled with hopeful beginnings, winds of change, something new ... and something Blu!
All the very best and regards,
Sarah McCue
Board Chair
BluMail