Contests and 2+2 merchandise

[Lloyd]

Any way we can run occasional contests where the winners get 2+2 merchandise - a book, a shirt, etc.? Maybe it's a monthly or quarterly vote on most valuable post in a particular forum. Or we're doing a digest in MTT so maybe for every post that gets included in the digest somebody gets one opportunity at a drawing (so 5 posts, 5 opportunities).

[Sniper]

We are running a stock competition for 2006 in the Stock Market forum... it would be great if we could offer a 2+2 related gift to the winner(s).

I 2nd the motion that the powers that be, give this idea consideration!

[Mat Sklansky]

It's fine with me. It's up to Mason who has been notified of this thread

[Lloyd]

If Mason is cool with it I would suggest giving those forums where it makes sense (i.e. not BBV, maybe others) an annual budget and the mods of those forums can figure out the best way of utilizing their alloation. Thanks for the support Mat. I do think this could be for everyone's benefit.

[Jurollo]

Ooooh lala, an MTT budget! I like, i like, haha.

[MrWookie]

Having a budget of 2+2 stuff to dole out would be pretty awesome.

[Mike Haven]

Good idea.

As an alternative, I'd suggest a quarterly Mod Forum budget of, say, $120, and we'd all have to apply here to obtain the others' general approval for drawing down items for our chosen ventures.

Some well-respected and keen volunteer, (like astroglide, or Dynasty, for example, if they'd take it on), could act as LQC, (Loot Quartermaster and Coordinator).

[Lloyd]

If there are multiple mods in a forum, then certainly those mods should should decide collectively what to do. I really wouldn't want to go through the Mod forum to make those types of decisions. At the very least, Mason (or the mods) could decide which forums cannot participate (and if the mods of certain forums don't WANT to participate they could exclude themselves). We could get an overall budget (and by this I mean x number of books, x number to t-shirts, etc.) and allocate either evenly or perhaps by some measure of forum activity.

[Mike Haven]

All very sensible.

I was only suggesting a central fund because if items are pre-allocated to numbers of forums:

1. it might become off-puttingly expensive for Twoplustwo to start the scheme;

and 2. I've always found that such allocations are often used up on silly undeserving ventures simply because the Managers think by using their allocation they will get another one in the next time period, or, vice versa.

In my own opinion, I'd rather that five rewards went to five deserving OOT projects than to five single undeserving projects in five different forums.

[Lloyd]

So perhaps the solution would be for us to agree on a framework of what constitutes an acceptable contest/award. I would guess that OOT and other non-strategy forums might be somewhat different than strategy forums. But there still could be a consensus on what is acceptable. And whatever is allocated should be on an annual basis, so don't go blowing everything in the first month.