Possibility to get some interest in F@H [Please read]

[TollhouseFrank]

I have an idea. We are starting to get new members at a faster pace, and we definately need to do something to keep up. What could we do to help out the team the most? Examples: Last spring, I got the team organized, this past summer, Dark_15 got the stickies organized (and VERY well i might add). PMSFishy is always up for organizing a good-natured intra-team battle about 1 or 2 times a year.

I know the recruiting site is officialy down at the moment, but that doesn't mean we still can't recruit. I'll fault myself here and 'fess up that I haven't done any heavy recruiting in about 2 months. I admit that looks bad on me, being one of the 'official' recruiters back when that was still up and running 100%.

Perhaps we need a competition, but not of direct folding prowess. We need something different, something that will spark interest in F@H not only purely from our perspective, but will bring people in that had no idea what F@H was about. We need some sorta talent competition! Perhaps an art contest? Something along the lines of "F@H in MSPaint!" Winner to recieve prize yet unknown (i'm sure we could swing something through david... perhaps a 1 or 2 week rank change... or... they get to put anything they want into some person's sig for a set time (a month or something?) ((i'm willing to be the 'lucky person' that gets to host thier sig)) Possibly even they get to choose your avatar for a month? (again, i'm willing to do this if need be)

What do you guys think? Would it work? I know MSPaint (or the linux/mac equivelants) don't allow much for 'pretty' drawings, but it would show not only mspaint skill, but creativity, thoughtfullness, and i'm quite sure some hilarious drawings as well.

Possibly more than 1 category? (serious/funny?)

Again, this is just a suggestion, and I know the idea needs lots of work, but I think it would be great, especially if you know a very artistic member of the forums that doesn't fold or care about, but this might pique thier interest enough to get them to join.

All criticisms (good or bad) welcome

~Frank

[WarriorII]

Maybe design a new logo / design for public recruiting.

Something that doesn't scare the public to look at.

Something simple, but eye catching to Joe/Josephine public.

The American Cancer Soc. doesn't have a wild logo, it's just simple.

I've trying to selectivly pull in public support. (friends / family), but alas, all not goes well. :(

I've D/L'd the flier, but it really seems like a wild pc user flier, something john public
glances at & pushes on.

I think if it had something... saying YOU CAN HELP FIGHT CANCER... here's how.....

I donno.... just my .02 is all.

A Serious & a Funny contest would be good.

[WarriorII]

I can't believe this.....

no other comments or suggestions yet?

:shrug:

[davekusa]

What we need is a CONTEST. First prize is a kick @ss computer. I can donate money or parts. I've been saying this for the last 4 months. Schools in and now is the time.

1. Must be a new member
2. Minimum entry of 7500 points over 6 months (or 5000 over 3 months) don't get the minimum, so sad too bad
3. Highest new points producer gets a high end video card.
4. Post the contest everywhere (every forum from every team)
5. Front page Overclockers.com

you do that and we'll be averaging 400k daily. the other teams will be dropping members left and right.

[dicecca112]

1. Must be a new member
2. Minimum entry of 7500 points over 6 months (or 5000 over 3 months) don't get the minimum, so sad too bad
3. Highest new points producer gets a high end video card.
4. Post the contest everywhere (every forum from every team)
5. Front page Overclockers.com

The logistics of this of this would be a b***h, there is no way we could control this, basically someone is getting a free computer, and what do we do if it doesn't work out? How do we get the computer back?

[lennytiger]

Get the recruiting site back up, make the F@H recruitmement video as suggested in my recent thread, then we do a contest, but not for a computer, perhaps, a new mobo, cpu ram etc... something small with simpler logistics.

[davekusa]

How does [H] run their contest?

[TollhouseFrank]

hmm.... i think we could do 2 types of contests..... one of the sort i made up for the guys who've been here a while, and another one....hmmm.... instead of a new computer or parts.... how about a voucher..... say... one of those $X.XX gift cards to an online vendor.... about $50.00? I'm sure we could raise that through paypal or something and then give that to the winner.

[gulp35]

Some other sites have free give aways for team members (I think the Madshrimp do this occasionally). They require you post some minimum number of points during the entry period, and then everyone on the team that qualifies gets a chance in the drawing. I have seen hardware given away, or even other stuff. Last Valentine's day, they gave away a dozen roses to give to your SO to make up for all the time you spend folding.

It doesn't need to be a huge prize...the chance of getting a old out dated computer to add to you (future) farm may get new people interested as well as existing folks.

We would need to get someone to dionate the prize or for the group to cough up some cash to so this .

Just and idea...so don't shoot the messenger...

Junebug

[David]

I'm up for running a contest.

My ideas (will have to run these past the other green and red starred-ones first).

- A contest like I suggested a few months ago but no suppliers or manufacturers got back to us.

- A raffle of sorts. One entry per 500 points, say. Or in some sort of logarithmic way that doesn't give heavy producers an overwhelming advantage, although still provides an advantage.

We have stats and scripting geniuses, excellent committed folders who I think could manage helping run such a contest, and we have a top notch team which needs to get some ramping done ;).

Thoughts, ideas? PS I'm gonna stick this thread.

[TollhouseFrank]

I like the raffle idea. I know some places online allow you to get gift certificates redeemable online... We could do that.... Possibly see if we can't get Joe to get us a freebie sample of say, a HSF combo or something like that... and once we get this set up, get it frontpaged once or twice to build up interest, and then start it about 1 week after the last frontpaging of it

*edit*
over at cryo-laboratories.com... we hold a contest once a month for members with so many posts, but in this case, it could be so many points, and using a random number generator, 3 members are chosen, and given a 1rst through 3rd prize based on what members have donated to the contest... for example... first prize this month at cryo-labs is an x-box with a handful of games... last month, i believe it was a S-939 mobo

[TollhouseFrank]

My ideas (will have to run these past the other green and red starred-ones first).


I remember the last time we tried to organize this, it got shot down for some reason or other over the hardware bit.

[TollhouseFrank]

hey guys.... similar to my thread here: http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=410764, maybe we could do something like pair off and challenge a couple of people from different teams to join us in a folding competition to see how each pair matches up? (watch out for Rage3d and How??)

is that a possibility?

[King Warg²]

hmmm... how about a challenge of F@H desktop backgrounds / boot logos, or even entire desktop themes?

[David]

Hmm... a Folding Team Artwork thread sounds cool.

[davekusa]

I am willing to donate money/hardware for new users. I am NOT willing to donate for present users.

Running a contest for people we already have isn't going to raise our PPD. I've had my fill of being in third place. If I don't see any improvement I may have to start looking for a new home.

[TollhouseFrank]

that'd really suck for ya to leave Dave.

We need all the help we can get to catch up to the 2 teams ahead of us. Right now, its just that they flat out have more CPU's foldin' than what we have, by about 5-600 each. But we still give a good account of ourselves, i think.

[davekusa]

yes, you are correct. We need 5-600 NEW CPU USERS. I will take new users or users from other teams. The only way is a contest. We are loosing ground and its just a matter of time before we drop to 4th. I don't want to be in 3rd place anymore.

[TollhouseFrank]

dave.... Francophone is nowhere near us.... and actually, we are pullin' away from them at a decent clip

[gulp35]

I think you will have a hard time limiting any "prizes" to just new folders. If its a prize someone wants, what is to stop an existing folder from creating a new persona to enter the contest? And to prevent hard feelings (ala cell phone deals) I think it is best to include current members and not just try and reward only new members.

Junebug

[TollhouseFrank]

gulp, that's why i was thinkin' of doin' 2 at a time... one for the established guys with a prize that'll mean something to them, and one for the newbies.

I dunno about you, i'd love the chance to get at someone's sig and put what i wanted to in there.

Now, here in a few weeks, i'll give someone that chance with the art contest i'm working on in the T32 art thread.

[King Warg²]

heh.. this should be loads of fun.. a chance to exercise muh L337 sk1llz

[golfingtigger]

Personally, I have been folding only a short while, and I have made some decent headway in the last few weeks. However, I have to say that being able to modify someone else's avatar when I can't even put up my own doesn't really appeal to me, so I kind of doubt that it will appeal to any other newbies.

I do like the idea of winning a piece of equipment, although I get the impression that this may cause some logistical concerns.

What about someone donating a rig's points for a predetermined amount of time to the winning newbie folder, and some type of special avatar being given to them along with multiple people donating their avatar space to hail the champ.

I'm still pretty new around here, but I just wanted to toss in my $.02

[David]

Personally, I have been folding only a short while, and I have made some decent headway in the last few weeks. However, I have to say that being able to modify someone else's avatar when I can't even put up my own doesn't really appeal to me, so I kind of doubt that it will appeal to any other newbies.

I do like the idea of winning a piece of equipment, although I get the impression that this may cause some logistical concerns.

What about someone donating a rig's points for a predetermined amount of time to the winning newbie folder, and some type of special avatar being given to them along with multiple people donating their avatar space to hail the champ.

I'm still pretty new around here, but I just wanted to toss in my $.02

I like this idea. :D

[TollhouseFrank]

i do too. Good idea GT

david, whaddya think... get a couple more suggestions and put a poll to see what people are interested in?

[pscout]

I would be willing to donate some points ... i remember my early folding days when i was anonymous before joining the team .... I will offer up a few days worth of points ... not hard for me since all the rigs are in the house ... and my current ppd is not too shabby compared to when i started.

[pscout]

ok ... lets not be cheap ... i will offer a weeks points for the rigs in my house ... which are all in my sig.

[pscout]

but as you can see i have no avatar to offer up ... if someone wants to make me wear one i am willing ... although depending on what it is i might put a time limit on it.

[TollhouseFrank]

hmm.... i'm still up for allowin' someone to whatever they want in my sig, avatar. We could do a prize structure still.

first place gets some kinda prize like a gift certificate or something.

2nd place gets someone willing ot donate rigs to donate to thier folding name for a set period of time.

3rd place gets recognition through possibly a rankchange/special avatar/something else?



and we still have as of yet to decide on what to make the contest on.

[ihrsetrdr]

This is a difficult task to implement...either a person wants to fold for all the right reasons, or he doesn't. Offering incentives usually produces short term gains.

Please don't think that I'm trying to throw cold water on the recruitment effort; it's just that I've seen the results of a similar effort on a forum of which I've been a long term member. What percentage of the OC Forums membership FOLDS? Maybe contacting non-folding members via PM and encouraging them to consider joining the team might prove fruitful.

BTW, earlier this evening I joined Team 32 and switched some of my folders over. Why? Not for incentives; just 'cause I like your teams attitude!

;)

[TollhouseFrank]

as for contacting members through pm to fold... i think i've contacted over 3k people out of however many we have here. i all the time go through each day's new people list and send PM's to them asking them to join the fold

[pscout]

ihrsetrdr ... welcome to team 32 ... and I obviously agree that it does have the right attitude for me.

Not to disparage, but the attitude in some other team's forums are definitiely not for me ... but then it takes all types to make the world go round.

[ihrsetrdr]

Thanks for the welcome, pscout. Some teams lose sight of the main reason for folding...the science. Other teams just...lose sight, lose the enthusiasm needed to sustain interest for those members not in the top 20. I don't know what the solution is. How to generate enthusiasm is the question. T-shirts, video card/motherboard give-aways work for awhile, then people just walk away with their goodies and shut their machines down and forget about the experience. <very frustrated> :eh?:

[{PMS}fishy]

PMSFishy is always up for organizing a good-natured intra-team battle about 1 or 2 times a year.

I ran across this via Google.

I haven't read a single post.

Is it time for another race?

Let me know, Id be glad to get one going, or atleast help who ever wants to run it.

[pscout]

And my offer of contributiing a weeks points from my farm still stands for the new folders if the comp'n is to include them.

It just demonstrates that while a points race is a bit of fun, giving up a weeks points doesn't matter to me since it still goes to the science ... and I expect i am here for the long haul.

[davekusa]

What does our team leader have to say?

[David]

Uh... being that IMOG is around even less than me, and I am partially trapped under a pile of Uni work .... I shall speak as team leader ;).

I have been trying to organise a contest (with prizes) and not having a great deal of luck.

However, PMSFishy, if you would like to run another race I think it should go down well :)

[{PMS}fishy]

Uh... being that IMOG is around even less than me, and I am partially trapped under a pile of Uni work .... I shall speak as team leader ;).

I have been trying to organise a contest (with prizes) and not having a great deal of luck.

However, PMSFishy, if you would like to run another race I think it should go down well :)

Doesn't matter to me, let me know what you guys want to do.

[TollhouseFrank]

ok... i'm about ready to call a start to the Team32 Art Contest. I'm gonna hafta look for judges for it, as I have a couple of entries, and its hard to be partial to oneself.

[icyicy]

I installed the program on two system, both were freezed, have to reset. No idea.

[TollhouseFrank]

guys... we need to do a new plug for the front page. Maybe if we did a combined plug like last time with the BOINC/SETI team... we could help both teams out. The BOINC guys are havin' a hard time recruitin' people in, and even though I don't do BOINC, I hate to see our 'brother/sister' DC team here on the forums having such problems with low membership.

[David]

Exams finish up next week, I'll draft a spiel at that time.

[TollhouseFrank]

ok man. best of luck with the exams

[RPM_Computing]

Must make the milestone thread a sticky again.

This was one of the main reasons why I started to fold for team 32.

Take heed to this suggestion.

It is fun to have friendy competition that is updated regularly on OUR (team 32) boards. What does team 32 (oc forums) have to offer? Make it fun.

I keep recruiting CPU's/Members, what does team 32 have to offer?

I may not be a "heavy hitter" in the overall but I am in the top 1% of overall folders worldwide. My CPU count grows on a regular basis.

Rick (rpm_computing) (long time member(folding for team 32 for 3+ years...) (even longer time watcher of the oc forums/oc.com).

[dlavrenz]

I am not folding currently but I am going to within the next couple of days. I think a team logo would be awesome. You could also get some shirts made for the winners or something because I know I would like that. IMO, any kind of contest would help. Keep up the good work! :D

[robertm]

Well as some of you might know I ran a contest some time ago. They can work they are hard to set up and you cant make it just new members cause people will just change names.

If I had to run one again I would base it on past Average production. Have a prize for the most improved production over some time frame. This would be only for people already on the team. Then have a prize for new people to the team.

Just some ideas. And just be ready no mater what you do someone will not like it and bitch about it. Make rules and stick with them even if you find there flawed. Later on.

I just hope the CPU I gave away is still folding for team32.

[TollhouseFrank]

hmm.... a new contest? Yes... it's about time....but i'd hold off till the monkey war is over.... (our Folding_Monkeys vs. MaxPC's team Spider_Monkey)

[dlavrenz]

There should be a contest for team logo. No prizes are necessary, just the pride of your design being used as the team logo is cool enough.

[gt24]

I have a few insights and ideas...

First off, an insight... A friend of mine STOPPED folding before I even joined. The reasons were simple, he couldn't game and fold. Ironic how a program that is using idle CPU cycles can prevent ALL gaming. I joined and downloaded the graphical client... started a game... 2 minutes later BAM the game died... I troubleshooted it and learned that the graphical client SUCKS because it grabs the video card when minimized or trayed killing games. EMIII on the other hand doesn't do anything as terrible although it isn't easy to install. I installed it manually (the best way to do it) and now I only use the console client beacuse of this issue. I got through that incident... my friend did not. Perhaps there should be a huge stickied thread that lists major issues such as that and their workarounds... or did I miss that sticky somewhere?

Second... let's look at the ever so amazing http://folding.extremeoverclocking.com/ website. No, we don't need a full blown interface to rival their own. Way back when I had a key tracker which recorded the amount of keys that I pressed and ran that as a contest. Why would I join that? Simple, there was a signature graphic that I would put in my forum signatures and other areas... bragging rights I suppose but it worked well... I even broke the signature rules (oops... :)) by putting said graphic in my sig for a while. Now, I want to do something similar in relation to Folding at Home... and I can have something like this...

Build!.Borg!.Recruit!.Folding.for.Team.32! (http://www.ocforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=21)
My Folding Stats:____Currently Monitored WUs:
score:_____266628____{|||||||||||______}_66%: p2106_lambda_5way_melt_4_10011
Pts Per Day:_1584____{|||||||||||||____}_75%: p2095_Protein
Pts 7 Days:_1,584____{|||______________}_15%: p991_longfkligand
Clients:_______18____
Work Units:_10819____
Team 32 Rank:_172 (+2.in.7.days)____
(quoting robertm's sig)

Oh, wait... I can't... I don't have hosting capabilities... my bad... in fact, I don't want my ISP chopping my head off for hosting a perl script, it is a lot of work... on second thought, I would LOVE a signature panel for Folding at Home... but I suppose it isn't easily possible for me...

http://folding.extremeoverclocking.com/?nav=IMAGES

Well... nice to know that signature graphics aren't a problem over at their website... hmmm....

My question here is... would it be possible to have signatures hosted elsewhere? It would make signatures possible for many people and also make people proud of their work. It doesn't have to be updated every 5 minutes... a 24 to 48 hour update for each signature would probibally be enough for these purposes (with the sidenote that if you did host your own script that you could update every second if you wanted... well, then again, I don't know the details of such things so I am most likely incorrect in saying that). While hosting signatures would take a bite out of CPU times, it might be worth it if we get a ton of new folders beacuse of it. Perhaps a poll will determine if this would be a good idea?

Well, that's all I can think of at the moment. I'm still amazed that I have folded as far as I have...

[David]

Unstuck for tidinesses (sp?) sake.

Consider this a free bump :)