A 2008 Kiva Calendar -- Suggestions and Plans

[Guest]

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[Jill]

EDIT by Moderator Diane :  Jump to posts on P. 8 of this thread for the OK from Fiona to proceed, and plans for production!

             This thread is here to ask for feedback
             about the possibility of (someone's) putting together a
             KIVA CALENDAR.

ADDED LATER:  PLEASE, EVERYBODY, BE SURE TO VOTE IN THE CALENDAR POLL #1
                      http://www.kivafriends.org/index.php/topic,996.msg8359.html#new
We just found out that our time is very limited if we want to try to have a Calendar made in time for Christmas distribution.

       Following are a couple of posts on the subject originally found on the Anything Goes thread,
       http://www.kivafriends.org/index.php/topic,458.msg8194.html#new

   Thanks, Richard, for the Cafe Press idea, but.....
       What I had in mind, actually, when I brought up the idea, just now,
in the Best Smiles thread,
http://www.kivafriends.org/index.php/topic,515.100.html
was for a mass production of those Kiva Calendars
where all profits would go to Kiva and....

      where, in the hanging of each calendar in (tens of) thousands of homes around the world,
it'd be like THE MOST PERFECT ADVERTISING FOR KIVA
in that every visitor to every home that had one hanging
couldn't help but be drawn to the Lovely Lovely Pictures of Kiva Entrepreneurs,
couldn't help but want to know more, more, more about Kiva,
and ultimately, (many of those visitors to Kiva Calendar-Hanging Homes)
would become Kiva Lenders, Kiva Friends, and Kiva Champions, themselves.

EDIT:  That's why I asked and
         Why I'm still asking
         Whether anyone knows anyone
         Who could produce a Kiva Best Smiles Entrepreneurs Calendar
         in Mass Production,
         With all the Capital, Know-How, Marketing Expertise, Contacts, Etc.
         That would enhance its probablilities of success, availability, and
         The Widest Distribution possible.
                                                                    and, just now, from Oli (thanks, Oli)

            as regards the calenders: I think the guy from Cafe Press is a Kivafriend also. His name is chris.
             Why don't you suggest to him to develop a draft to offer for Kiva to sell on its Website.
             I guess he's the best suited guy to get this going.
             You could talk about the details of suggesting photos through Kivafriends
             (maybe even have a poll on what photos should be in) etc.  --  Oli

Oli-- Would you know how somebody could get hold of that guy,
Chris, specifically, at Cafe Press?

             Eventually, maybe  this new thread should more properly be placed
             under Marketing Strategies under Kiva.org, above.
             I just thought I might be able to get more responses if I put it here.... for now.

               
                EDIT:
                I just now e-mailed Cafe Press, so maybe we'll get a response from them.
       Still, if anyone has ideas about any other possibilities of Calendar-makers
       or anything else related to the idea -- feedback both positive and negative --
       I'd really appreciate it.
                If it turns out, by popular opinion (read, apathy),
       the consensus is that it's just Not That Great of An Idea,
       we'll just let this one fade off into the sunset
       along with the many many others already there.
       

 

[wind5001]

Jill,

I think it's best if you send chris a personal message via this forum (he was on the forum lately), here is his profile again: http://www.kivafriends.org/index.php?action=profile;u=165. I don't know whether he'll be able to do something, but I guess he is the right one to contact - he created the http://kivastore.org/. So far he sells wristbands and lanyards as a volunteer, profits go to Kiva. I'm sure he has the know-how.

Kiva itself sells a variety of stuff through Café Press, as Richard mentionned. This, however, should probably be raised with Kiva's marketing person, whoever that is (I couldn't find a name on the Kiva site). An email to Fiona Ramsey might be the answer, I am sure she'll be able to supply a contact.

In my eyes, the easier thing would be chris first.

Oli

[DianeCharlie]

When the time comes (not just now 'cause I'm swamped at work and In Real Life), I'll offer to post a poll of representative photos from the Best Smiles thread so folks can vote on their 12 favorites.  (Unless we decide on a different layout design other than one big photo per month.  I was thinking one big photo, with perhaps 3 smaller ones down the side.  We can work on the design aspect a little later... but not TOO much later, it's already September!)

Let us know how you make out with chris, Jill.  And thanks for following up on this!

--Diane.

[Henry]

Maybe Jill can write us a poem for each month.  A kiva poem.  I'll be happy to help in anyway possible.  Good Idea, I'll buy one unless it comes with my KIVA ornament! 

[Ulli]

We should also find out from Chris or any other calendar-making person what the minimum file / image size has to be to get high-quality prints. Some of our favorite photos might not pass this quality check.

Ulli

EDIT:
I looked at the cafepress.com guidelines for making wall calendars. They recommend an image size of 2300 x 1800 pixel with 200 dpi (dots per inch)
See template

[wind5001]

Good point, Ulli!

[Jill]

Diane and Henry,  (You, too, Ulli -- I saw your post, after)
      I was REALLY happy to hear from you both on this
and will look forward to Diane's having a little more time
when you can post some design ideas for us.
      Because there are So Many Beautiful Entrepreneurs,
I like the idea of having more than one pictured for each month.
It could be that your idea of having one large with 3 smaller per month
would be a good way to go.
      Anyway, thanks to both of you.
           Jill

TO YOU 2 AND TO EVERYBODY ELSE:
          With things being so slow, right now,
        at the Kiva.org website,
        and with at least some of us trying, valiantly,
       to exercise at least some self-restraint
      when it comes to making more loans, right now,

      THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME
      for anybody who is willing to
      Go Mining the Website (and Your Own Portfolios)
      In Search of the Treasure of More Best Smiles
      to add to the Best Smiles Thread
      http://www.kivafriends.org/index.php/topic,515.100.html      and maybe
      to have be selected for our Maybe-Kiva Calendar-To-Be.
     

[Henry]

Here you go Jill, a quick down and dirty 2007 for you to print.

attached pdf file:

[Jill]

      That's great, Henry.
This could be pretty exciting stuff.
There are (and I hope Will Be) so many
Happy Happy Choices,
It's going to be very hard to make the ultimate selections.

    For me, right now, the only Slam Dunk
of the Calendar Pages you whipped up
was October, the two giggling Pakistani girls.
I LOVE THAT ONE!
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=16376

      Oh yeah, I love the Goat Lady, too (and her smiling goat).
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=14450

      It's all Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder preferences.
      If we do it,  Everybody's Vote Will Count the Same.

      I just hope you all realize
      What a Testament This is to My Love for Kiva
      that I would even think of
      replacing my beloved annual Koko the Gorilla calendar
      on my wall of honor.

[Ulli]

Great job Henry 

When I look at the photos, I always get the urge to know more about these people. Can we add some text or the link to their business page?