MoogFoundation.org — behind the curtains
Hello to all of you out there in our online community. I wanted to take a minute to give you an update on 8 months of hard work by a small group of dedicated volunteers in building this website. So, I present: a peek behind the curtains of the MoogFoundation.org. First and foremost, thanks to our Rockstar team: Gene Felice, Jeremy Ferguson and Mike Ostrich. These guys have put in countless hours to make this machine work and in doing so, added tremendous value to the foundation and given us so much more capacity to fulfill our mission.
First, a quick tour of the software to give credit where it is due. We use the open source, world-rocking, amazing Wordpress content management system, as well as Linux, MySQL and PHP. We use about a dozen free and open source Wordpress plugins, which I won’t list for security reasons, but sincere thanks to all of the developers who have made these systems available and open source.
There are several third-party services that expand our functionality. We use iContact for our email newsletter, Groundspring for secure online donations, and we based the original design of the site on a template from GraphPaperPress. The current design of the site is a collaboration of our team, with Gene Felice doing the heaviest lifting.
It would surprise some people to realize just how much we have going on. Did you know, for example, that we have an iPhone and mobile friendly version of the site? Yep, we do.
A few other things people might not realize is that we have a regular blog series that will be expanding across the course of 2010. We maintain a micro-site for the Moogseum at www.Moogseum.com. Beyond that, we have our Twitter account, Facebook page and Facebook Causes page, a YouTube Channel, a MySpace page and an email newsletter list that reaches somewhere around 5,000 people a month.
[edit: I also forgot we maintain a Flickr account with lots of great pictures of Bob's Archives.]
Later in the year, I hope that we can be a little more transparent about the traffic to the site, but for now we are not releasing that information.
All of this is in place to help us foster innovation at the intersection of science and music. So special thanks again to our Rockstar team. You guys are amazing!
And thank to you, our friends, donors and allies.
–Sean McDonald, board member
p.s. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention our bloggers–Dave & Seva–and our truly tireless Executive Director, Michelle Moog-Koussa. This foundation depends on Michelle for everything we do, and she is remarkable in her commitment!
Thank you. (And happy Thanksgiving!)
This Thanksgiving, The Bob Moog Foundation is thankful for you.
Happy Holidays!
I’m Sean McDonald, one of the board members of the Bob Moog Foundation. Like most people, my attention is turning from my job and day-to-day life, to focus on the things that matter most–the things that make my life rich, meaningful and happy.
The past year has been a great year for the BMF. We have had some huge accomplishments. I want to take the time to highlight a few and express my thanks for all of your support.
First and foremost, the BMF has been blessed to work with our incredible Executive Director, Michelle Moog-Koussa. Most people know Michelle–or “Mimi” to some of you–as Bob’s daughter. But it’s important to understand that Michelle is a talented, tireless and deeply committed individual who has built this foundation from the ground up. Her leadership and determination are among the things I am most grateful for this Thanksgiving.
We launched our effort to build the Moogseum and received a commitment from the Buncombe County (Asheville, NC) Tourism Development Authority for 20% of our total goal. (That’s $600,000 out of $3,000,000 FYI.) That is a great start to building one of the world’s most innovative community engagement and artistic development spaces.
Additional thanks go to the Grammy Foundation, Moog Music–who just donated a Moog Guitar signed by Lou Reed, which will be auctioned off Dec 7th as a benefit to the BMF–and all our donors and other funding partners.
We also hosted our first Bob Moog exhibit with our partner, the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, CA. If you are in Southern California anytime soon (think: NAMM 2010), make sure to visit the space.
We released a new version of MoogFoundation.org, and I am eternally thankful for our Web Development team, one of the many groups of our “Rockstar Volunteers.” (There are too many to thank individually, but we love you all!) In addition, we held several MoogedOut events with the support of actual rockstars, like Umphree’s McGee and Toubab Krewe.
Most important, and I can say this on behalf of the whole Board of Directors, we are thankful for you: our friends, partners and allies. For your gifts of time, talent and treasure to the BMF. For your creativity and enthusiasm. And for your commitment to our work, fostering innovation at the intersection of science and music.
If you would like to give some time, talent or treasure, email me and we’ll talk directly about how you can help. (If you are interested, we’re accepting applications for board members.)
I hope you and yours have a wonderful Thanksgiving. We’ll be in touch soon.
Sincerely,
Do Something!
Do Something. Donate your time, talent, treasure.
The Bob Moog Foundation wouldn’t exist without supporters like you. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, we depend on donations of all kinds to continue our important work and make the foundation a success. Here’s how you can help:
Volunteer Your Time
The Bob Moog Foundation has a variety of projects and therefore a variety of ways you can help. We need administrative, archival, event, educational and museum planning assistance. Want to help? We would welcome your involvement! Please complete our Volunteer Information Form and allow 15 days response time.
Lend us your talent
Are you a musician, artist, teacher, engineer or have other talents and skills that would help our projects or assist in raising funding? Let us hear from you! Fill out our Volunteer Information Form.
Share your treasure
Financial Donations
Money makes the world go around — and it’s essential to making the Bob Moog Foundation function. We accept your donation of any size with gratitude. You can donate online here, or send a donation to: Bob Moog Foundation, P.O. Box 8136, Asheville, NC 28814. The Bob Moog Foundation is a 501(c) (3) non-profit, making your donation tax-deductible.
In-Kind Donations
Donate instruments for the Moogseum, equipment for our outreach program, supplies for our Archive Preservation Initative, food and drink for our events, gifts for our volunteers. Let us know your thoughts at info@moogfoundation.org
