Quarterly KIVA Newsletter??

[Guest]

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[Henry]

What are some topics you might be interested in seeing if an email from KIVA came to you -  let's say Quarterly.?

[Joe]

I'd say updates on the company, loan numbers, money numbers, recent press, etc. Most of the stuff that will probably be old news for us here, but news to those who wan't to help but aren't as addicted and/or make loans but don't have the time to keep up with the news/blog section of the Kiva site.

[Henry]

from under another topic: 

I would utilize my giant list of emails which KIVA has from their member list and send out a "thank you" and include a P.S.>> these are other ways you could help.  Include the Digital Camera need, the wish list, etc.  Some stats regarding how KIVA is doing would be nice.  ...  It could also talk about how terrific the news tv spots did in regards to membership, etc.  I could think of a multitude of things I would enjoy reading that might not be available on the website.  Oh yeah, they could also mention their own KIVA account with IGIVE.COM, they could mention the one I created for KIVAFriends as well.  They could mention Groups---see a whole bunch of useful/less info!!!!

[QueenOfHearts]

I would love to see updates on new MFI's as they are being added at a lightening pace.  Also the issues of double dipping, loans going for purposes other than stated or any other problems/concerns for the lenders could be addressed.  Kiva Friends could also be prominently displayed somewhere to pique interest here.

[Henry]

Repayment terms  EXPLAINED!   And if the addition of extended time has any affect on KIVA real default statistics.

[michael]

Stories of people who have paid off thier loans - - what did it actually accomplish for them, what's next for their business, etc.

Profiles of Kiva staffers and volunteers.

Profiles of lenders - maybe a guest column setting.

Discussion of timely issues....  such as new MFI's, lending issues or political issues in countries covered by current MFI's, etc.

[cpbailey]

If there were a newsletter, I would want to see:

1.  A wish list for items Kiva could use--cameras, frequent flyer miles, etc.
2.  A regional social/political/economic review of a country or area of an MFI.  (Help people understand for example WHY Azerbaijan needs loans when there is an appearance of more wealth than other areas.)  Kind of like kid of the week, but MFI of the quarter.  Have pictures or info on the area--schools, education, work opportunities (why does everyone seem to embroider in AlSol?)
3.  Volunteer information--what, how when, and so on.  Including a blurb for translators.
4.  Special activities, fundraisers, and whatnot that are Kiva.  Give the who, what, where, why, when and how.
5.  Article on unique ways a group got involved--human interest.  This could be schools, clubs or work. 
6.  Explanation of quirks with Kiva.  Ex. Why Senegal and Ecuador appear to be behind in payments (loans are set up to be nonlinear, and the computer assumes it is behind).  Also, what is going on with WITEC???
7.  IF someone imports Kiva borrower's products, where they can be found to purchase.
8.  Kiva in the classroom--how does a teacher bring Kiva into the curriculum?  (Maybe offer a prize for best Kiva experience)
9.  New MFIs coming on board, and maybe the challenges encountered with this.
10.  Do companies do matching for Kiva donations (not loans)?  Which companies?
11.  A Looking Back article on a borrower from perhaps a year earlier--what has changed after Kiva.
12.  New opportunities/changes that may be coming up.
13.  The awesomeness that is Prisma.
14.  What Kiva personnel or even loaners' experiences are when meeting a borrower.  (Loved the one from Ecuador)

Can I have a job now?

Colette

[Joe]

Good suggestions, everyone. Does anyone have the time to volunteer and create a Kiva newsletter? I think it would be pretty easy to bang them out if it was a collective group effort, with some data/stats from Kiva.

In my experience with Kiva, if you have a good idea, you kind of just have to do it. They are not kidding when they say they only have a small staff and can't entertain every good idea that comes their way. I'm pretty sure they would not have a problem with someone doing something like this. And if they did (usually minor legalities/wording) they'll let you know what to change to make it work.

[tarzan113]

I think I would be interested in seeing some of the effects that Kiva is having on the local community; perhaps the creation of new listings after one individual in the community successfully used a Kiva loan to expand their existing business.

I think that this would be one of the best messages to stress: That Kiva microloans are able to have a sustained and positive impact within individual communities.

Just my $0.02,

David Cox

[KivanSteven]

No one seems to have followed up on this topic, but I purposely searched for the keyword "newsletter" since I remember reading this post somewhere last week.  Well I found it and Im glad I did because none of us new anything about Oprah airing a piece on Kiva until Sunday morning, and if they did it wasnt made available to forum members until Sunday morning anyways.  I am on kivafriends all the time and didnt realize this until sunday afternoon, less than 2 days before the actual airing.  Fred let us know as soon as he found out.  Anyways, not that a newsletter would have gave us more of an advance warning because thats still information we would have to be privy to in order to post it in a much more timely manner, but who knows.  I may not have known sooner with a newsletter or notice but I would most definitely be sure to have known.  Im sure there are hundreds of forum users here who still and will continue to still have no idea that Kiva is being discussed nationwide on Oprah Winfrey, not to mention many thousands of actual kiva.org members who are oblivious to it all... and a handy newsletter, or even small notice that could be distributed to all forum members or even kiva.org members if kiva chose to cooperate with something they honestly should have worked on long ago (if only they had the time and people power), would serve the kiva community very well.  Notices could be constructed when information like the oprah piece comes to light with little time to spare to get the message out.  We can come up with a general list of items and ideas we would like to see recurring in a quarterly or bi monthly newsletter, fine tune them through forum discussion and brainstorming, and then take volunteers to work on certain small segments, that can all be compiled when completed and issued in the form of a Kiva newsletter.  Everyone can have an equal voice, and anyone who wants to become involved can.  If there are disagreements or conflicts for some reason, which can arise believe it or not, even here, issues can be put to a vote.  We can even have some people work on a nice template to make it more visually appeaking and attractive, which wouldnt be difficult at all with the many well learned minds we are privileged to know here.  Anyone want to resurrect this idea and put themselves on a list of volunteers to put the idea into movement and see what comes of it?  I think it will give us something even more to contribute to because of Kiva, though I think most people who step up for something like this would be the same people who always contribute here anyways and already find the whole thing with Kiva inspiring and motivating to begin with.  We definitely need to get more forum members involved though, and maybe this would help, on account of either creating or receiving the newsletter.