Update: Members Rewards Program...

I want to give you an update on the Members Rewards Program...

Some of our members suggested that Jackets, Polo Shirts and Caps from yacht builders would be good items to include in the Rewards Program. After sending out requests to purchase these items from various builders, I've been recieving some apparel... at no charge! I think this speaks volumes about the builders in our industry. It also shows their enthusiasm and respect for the members of YachtForums.

I'm still working out some details, but I think we're ready to launch this next month. Thanks!

Carl

I'm hoping the Member's Rewards Program will encourage others to join in and begin posting more information that we can all benefit from. I think the builders recognize that YF is a good resource. Quite often, some ingenious ideas result from lively discussions and collective knowledge. This can also be a good gauge of consumer acceptance and appeal for the yachts they build.

The kind of information I'm hoping to encourage is news, ideas, technical expertise, interesting trivia, educational info, design ideas, travel experiences, etc. The more information we have along these lines, the more people will join in.

Members who makes the most informative posts each month will receive various promotional items. This will range from apparel to various accessories.

Oh yeah... and I may not wait wait until next month to start this program. It may already be underway.

Every post counts and content is the key!!

Members Rewards Update...

Getting down to the wire on this. We've been privileged to receive a limited supply of polo shirts & caps from each of the following yacht builders. I'm REALLY proud that these builders have recognized YF and are sponsoring the program. I'll have another update in a few days.

LOL! Well... as a member of YachtForums you'll have the same opportunity as everyone else. My post above was only an update.

Kelly,

You and a few of our regular members have MORE than earned some complimentary apparel. I'll make every effort to get you guys a shirt & cap of your choice.

Let me do this... I haven't received all of the apparel yet. In some cases, we have very limited quantities from some builders, while others have supplied us with more than expected. The sizes and types of items are widely varied too.

After everything is received and we have sufficient quanitites from each sponsor for the program to run through the summer... I'll set aside a few extras for you guys that have helped YF to grow.

Please be patient. I've been putting this program together in my free time and it's a bit more involved than it sounds. I simply wanted to find a way to say thank you to everyone who supports YF and hopefully... encourage a few more people to participate in the discussions.

We have some very respectable and knowledgeable members on this site, most of whom never speak up. Ultimately, I'm hoping the program will give some incentive to these people to get involved, share their experience and add more content that we can all learn from.

~Carl

Actually Dave, you possess the kind of knowledge we could all benefit from... how to talk a woman right out of her shirt!

An update on the progress of this program...

I'm still waiting on apparel from a few builders to arrive, so I don't know the exact quantities we'll have from each builder. Let me give you an example... I have 11 shirts from one builder, but NO caps. I have 9 caps from another builder, but NO polo shirts. We're going to mix & match some of the apparel as needed.

I have really made an effort to get some of the marine electronic companies involved in this, but they often have layers, upon layers of management... compounded by ad agencies. I have finally given up. We owe a great deal of thanks to the builders who are participating in this program. I have to tell you, the owners and marketing directors of these companies are first class! More than that, they are keen to what's happening on the internet and they have vision.

So here's what's happening... I have gone in a different direction. I had hoped to have rewards such as image stabilized binoculars, VHF/GPS hand-held radios and some other very useful marine related items. Basically, First, Second and Third place prizes. Instead... ALL monthly winners will receive the same rewards. I have purchased a good number of REALLY neat (but low-end), digital cameras. The reason? We want members to share pics of yachts and ports.

In addition, I came across a deal (a steal actually!) on one of the coolest USB flash drives (jump drives). It's not only a USB storage device, it's also an MP-3 player with ear phones. Everyone can use these!

Because the products chosen are relatively affordable to use as promotional items, it means we'll have more winners every month. At the moment, I think we'll be able to reward up to 5 members each month with...

1. A 3.0 Megapixel Digital Camera
2. A USB Flash Drive / MP-3 Player.
3. A polo shirt and cap from a sponsoring builder.

I'm trying to kick this off on June 1st and it will run through the rest of the summer, maybe longer. I'll be MIA for the next couple of days while I get this prepared.

I hope this meets with everyone's acceptance...

I have to tell you guys...

You're going to really like these cameras! I'm impressed!!!

Before deciding to buy a bunch of 'em, I took one home and tested it. It's the size of a credit card and about 1/2 thick. It's super easy to use and even easier to download images to a computer. No software needed because it's a flash drive!

The images are excellent. Nearly as good as my $500 Canon. Although it's only 3 pixels, this is MORE than enough resolution for the internet. The camera is the Vivitar Vivicam 3780s. Google it for more info.

I think I made a good choice! I'm keeping one of them.

I'm doing some graphics in P-Shop and happen to have the images of the Vivitar Camera open, so here's a preview...

Vivitar Vivicam Digital Camera 3780s – 3 Megapixel w/USB storage

3.0 Megapixel
4x Digital Zoom
1.4” Color TFT LCD Display
16 MB Internal Memory
Image resolution up to 2032 x 1520
Records movies (320 x 240) at 24fps
Built-in auto-flash
USB Mass Storage Device!
10-second self-timer
Automatic white balance with settings for Daylight, Cloudy and Fluorescent
3 1/2" W x 2 3/16" H x 1" D
Uses two AAA batteries
Uses SD™ memory up to 512MB
Includes carrying case, USB cable, and software

THESE IMAGES ARE MAGNIFIDE! This camera is actually the size of credit card.

And here's the USB Flash Drive / MP-3 Player. It's only 128 Megs, but it will play 2 hours of MP-3's or swap files between your desktop and laptop with the built-in USB plug. I'm already using this little rascal!

REMEMBER: These pictures are magnifide because I'm in Photoshop right now!