HeadRat
01-29-06, 10:39 PM
As Rat Pack International continues to grow with leaps and bounds, it is about to take a major plunge into advertising. Currently the explosive growth has been do to our members spreading the word of the site and holding true to the potential it holds, along with the ideals of putting the POWER back in the hands of the WORKERS that truly complete these projects. The continued support influencing the growth is GREATLY appreciated because without YOU all out there spreading the word, a lot of what we have done would be all for not.
For years and years of working overseas I had heard of the need for a website such as this to be created at MANY coffee breaks and over MANY an alcoholic beverage. Finally, we took all that talk and the ideas to form Rat Pack International. So far, in only just over a year of existence, we have started swaying the control from the company Human Resources needs, and the "sunshine they blow up our butts", back to the needs of the worker. It is a basic principle that companies need people and people need work, but workers need benefits. Workers need something to compensate for being away from their friends and family. Benefits more along the lines of better pay, better per diem, better living conditions, more than dental or health, though those are not to be left out either. Workers need to know openly and honestly what the job site is like, what the conditions are like, and if what they are being told prior to leaving their home is actually what they will expect when they get there. Surprises are good for birthday parties, not when it comes to your career and money.
One major question I've received or heard on jobsites, is with the shirts, the subscription payments, and donations, where exactly does all that money go? That money goes right back into the website and Rat Pack itself, a Rat Pack Fund, if you will. Last year a member lost his daughter and Rat Pack International was able to send that member over $1000 to help with funeral arrangements, hotel cost, and airline tickets. Sure it wasn't enough to pay for it all in their time of tragedy, but it was enough to help. It pays for the shirts, the website registrations and maintenance, server space, and basically anything that goes right back into the site. Just as you would reinvest dividends on a growing stock, it all helps to make the power of the website stronger and better. Now it is going to go even bigger.
I've currently went ahead and hired a professional logo design company to create a new professional logo that will be used from here on out as the Rat Pack International monogram. Our current logo was created by TheJester and still may be used on things from time to time, but I'm taking the plunge and going professional as TheJester's is a collection of clipart that may cause trouble in the future. The new logo will be used for the site and gear along with other marketing needs. Looking through the logo company’s portfolio I'm excited to see what they come up with. I'll be working hand and hand with them on the phone and email "tweaking" the design until it is just right. If and when I can, I’ll be posting picture updates of the design to also get members suggestions and input. As always, this is YOUR site, so YOUR input is also needed.
At the same time, ANOTHER company has been hired in to create a "tri-fold" brochure to be sent out as advertising to any and all companies. As it stands right now, companies have been invited to the site and do chime in from time to time, but not as they should. "Bucky" did a good job with working the HITT job they needed to fill, but we are still working mostly off of word of mouth. Not that that is bad in any way, it has gotten us to where we are now, but to reach the companies in full force we need to "step it up" a notch.
Also, I'm NOT bailing out on TheJester, as he has done more than his fair share of work with and on the site programming; I'm looking into getting a professional web design company to revamp the website. Even he has confided in me that he can only do so much and I've asked WAY more from him than anyone else. Not surprisingly he has delivered more and more every time and above what I thought possible, but I want to take the next step.
I'm counting on YOU ALL to spread the word to join the site, get members to subscribe, to help the site grow stronger and more influential. I can not emphasize enough that this is YOUR SITE, YOU ALL make it what it is. There are several MAJOR problems we all encounter on each job that if we stick together and unite we can over come. One good example is the current "Asian Project" that is paying incredibly low wages. I've seen how you all are sticking it out just as you did another job that had people living with roommates. Not everyone has the luxury of saying no to jobs, but the majority did and that jobsite switched to single apts. As time has progressed, the "Asian Project" is raising its money package, little by little. If seeing something like that doesn't fill you with excitement about Rat Pack International and the power we all hold, then I don't know what will.
All in all, the site continues to grow, in member numbers and other areas, but at the same time, it remains in YOUR hands. We are going directly through word of mouth, not because we are cheap, but because workers influence is stronger than any ad campaign you could possibly muster. Don't be afraid to share information, knowing that down the road YOU could be the one needing information and we all know "...information is power..." That is why Rat Pack International is what it is.
Again I thank you ALL for what you have done because without YOU, we are back to square one letting the companies "walk all over us". I look forward to the future of Rat Pack International with great anticipation. :cheers
For years and years of working overseas I had heard of the need for a website such as this to be created at MANY coffee breaks and over MANY an alcoholic beverage. Finally, we took all that talk and the ideas to form Rat Pack International. So far, in only just over a year of existence, we have started swaying the control from the company Human Resources needs, and the "sunshine they blow up our butts", back to the needs of the worker. It is a basic principle that companies need people and people need work, but workers need benefits. Workers need something to compensate for being away from their friends and family. Benefits more along the lines of better pay, better per diem, better living conditions, more than dental or health, though those are not to be left out either. Workers need to know openly and honestly what the job site is like, what the conditions are like, and if what they are being told prior to leaving their home is actually what they will expect when they get there. Surprises are good for birthday parties, not when it comes to your career and money.
One major question I've received or heard on jobsites, is with the shirts, the subscription payments, and donations, where exactly does all that money go? That money goes right back into the website and Rat Pack itself, a Rat Pack Fund, if you will. Last year a member lost his daughter and Rat Pack International was able to send that member over $1000 to help with funeral arrangements, hotel cost, and airline tickets. Sure it wasn't enough to pay for it all in their time of tragedy, but it was enough to help. It pays for the shirts, the website registrations and maintenance, server space, and basically anything that goes right back into the site. Just as you would reinvest dividends on a growing stock, it all helps to make the power of the website stronger and better. Now it is going to go even bigger.
I've currently went ahead and hired a professional logo design company to create a new professional logo that will be used from here on out as the Rat Pack International monogram. Our current logo was created by TheJester and still may be used on things from time to time, but I'm taking the plunge and going professional as TheJester's is a collection of clipart that may cause trouble in the future. The new logo will be used for the site and gear along with other marketing needs. Looking through the logo company’s portfolio I'm excited to see what they come up with. I'll be working hand and hand with them on the phone and email "tweaking" the design until it is just right. If and when I can, I’ll be posting picture updates of the design to also get members suggestions and input. As always, this is YOUR site, so YOUR input is also needed.
At the same time, ANOTHER company has been hired in to create a "tri-fold" brochure to be sent out as advertising to any and all companies. As it stands right now, companies have been invited to the site and do chime in from time to time, but not as they should. "Bucky" did a good job with working the HITT job they needed to fill, but we are still working mostly off of word of mouth. Not that that is bad in any way, it has gotten us to where we are now, but to reach the companies in full force we need to "step it up" a notch.
Also, I'm NOT bailing out on TheJester, as he has done more than his fair share of work with and on the site programming; I'm looking into getting a professional web design company to revamp the website. Even he has confided in me that he can only do so much and I've asked WAY more from him than anyone else. Not surprisingly he has delivered more and more every time and above what I thought possible, but I want to take the next step.
I'm counting on YOU ALL to spread the word to join the site, get members to subscribe, to help the site grow stronger and more influential. I can not emphasize enough that this is YOUR SITE, YOU ALL make it what it is. There are several MAJOR problems we all encounter on each job that if we stick together and unite we can over come. One good example is the current "Asian Project" that is paying incredibly low wages. I've seen how you all are sticking it out just as you did another job that had people living with roommates. Not everyone has the luxury of saying no to jobs, but the majority did and that jobsite switched to single apts. As time has progressed, the "Asian Project" is raising its money package, little by little. If seeing something like that doesn't fill you with excitement about Rat Pack International and the power we all hold, then I don't know what will.
All in all, the site continues to grow, in member numbers and other areas, but at the same time, it remains in YOUR hands. We are going directly through word of mouth, not because we are cheap, but because workers influence is stronger than any ad campaign you could possibly muster. Don't be afraid to share information, knowing that down the road YOU could be the one needing information and we all know "...information is power..." That is why Rat Pack International is what it is.
Again I thank you ALL for what you have done because without YOU, we are back to square one letting the companies "walk all over us". I look forward to the future of Rat Pack International with great anticipation. :cheers