It seems like I never give up looking for volunteers. They can be hard to work with, dry out, or are unpredictable. some get downright nasty and become very undesirable.
Others have been with me for nearly 30 years. They are the ones who keep me alive. What I am about to do I cannot possibly keep up with by myself.
If you volunteer, You won't get paid.... I made that mistake already (the exception being our $50 prize contests, but that doesn't go to the volunteer, but the prize winners).
Several of my domains are being added into freeminds.org, which is currently being converted to Wordpress format instead of Joomla (a hopeless and time-consuming open-source mess and no longer as Google-friendly), whereas Wordpress is tops. We have converted 200 of the 2000 files on the new freeminds.org already (the site is not online yet), and predict all of the files, with a few exceptions (mostly media, outdated stuff) will be up online in about 3 months. When I get to the 1000 mark I will switch over to the new site permanently and continue to convert the files.
Juan Viejo has volunteered to help. Thanks Juan!
It seems like 90% of our current bloggers have taken a permanent vacation. Good for them... it's often a part of healing to get completely away from a cult forever. I will keep their blogs but unless they awaken I will archive their blogs and we want a whole new group of bloggers using Wordpress, which is easy to use compared to Joomla.
In addition, on 13seconds.org or exjws.net anyone can create their own webpage or blog, tell their story, and have a photo and video gallery if they would like. We will have writing and video contests with $50 prizes for the best per month... and only those who join and commit can vote the winner... not even me or the mods. Videos will also be placed on the Free Minds' Youtube or Vimeo channel. Some that don't win will still be used.
Watchtowernews.org will be incorporated onto the site. The United Nations info from randytv.com will become just articles in freeminds.org. exjws.net will have another use later.
WatchtowerWorld.org will be incorporated into the freeminds site as a helps source from mature Christians whom I have known for many years and trust.
13Seconds.org will be the social interaction section, with many blogs and photo albums and contests and forums... forums for the disenchanted, the outcasts, youth, and the movers and shakers. We might even get a Bible forum going. All of these need volunteers as mods and designers. This is our biggest need for volunteers now, and a lot of youth (kinda "R" rated) and is designed to meet the needs of the youth now leaving the WT. It is the site for the writing and vlogging contests as well.
RandyTV.com will be our video/media interviews with key people I choose. It is already up and running. No call-ins, but they will be on Youtube so people can discuss them.
The freeminds.org site will also be more user-friendly towards those who use smartphones, tweets and Facebook, etc. Our Facebook page will be redesigned. I need a volunteer for that. :-))
I am mentioning this in advance so some of you who might like to can volunteer. We will start building the newer sites soon! Any graphic arts talents will be appreciated, too.
The whole purpose is to be a virtual halfway house for the many that are leaving, young and old. Eventually it will become a community.
If you are interested, better to email me at [email protected] than leave me an email here... I don't pick them up that often because it acts up.
Thank you,
Randy Watters