[Leica] LUG Book Update, and a Question for the Contributors

[kididdoc at cox.net (Steve Barbour)]

good idea Jim...

have fun with the interview,

and please let us know when it will be aired...

Steve


On Jan 26, 2007, at 2:25 PM, Jim Shulman wrote:

> Evidently the success of the LUG book continues, according to  
> blurb.com.
> It's one of their all-time successes, but what they find most  
> interesting is
> the concept of a collective book effort from a diverse (and widely
> dispersed) group.
>
> Today I was asked by blurb.com if I would like to be interviewed by  
> NPR
> (National Public Radio) about the LUG blurb.com project.  I said  
> I'd be
> thrilled to describe the group, the project, and the confluence of
> technologies (high-speed web, digital imaging, and digital color  
> printing).
>
>
> Blurb.com noted that there would likely be a spike of interest in  
> the book
> and, "you might have a lot more people buying the book, which would  
> make you
> more money."
>
> Ah, there's the rub.  The whole project has only been intended to be a
> non-profit activity.  I mentioned that to blurb.com (and think that  
> they
> were a bit surprised.)
>
> So, I have a suggestion for the group.  For the past week or so  
> we've been
> discussing the ethics of photographing the homeless.  If there's an
> opportunity to sell books, why not donate the proceeds for homeless
> services?
>
> Looking at this optimistically, we might be able to raise a few  
> hundred
> dollars from book sales (fifty more copies would probably be VERY
> optimistic).  For that reason, the donation would have the greatest  
> impact
> going to one organization.
>
> My suggestion is that the profits go to Project H.O.M.E., a  
> Philadelphia
> organization that's been providing housing, medical and vocational
> assistance to homeless women since 1989.  You can see more  
> information about
> Project H.O.M.E. at http://www.projecthome.org/
>
> If there are no objections about this from the book's  
> photographers, I will
> change the retail price to $60 hardcover/$50 paperback on February  
> 1, with
> profits going to Project H.O.M.E. That gives anyone on the LUG who  
> hasn't
> ordered a copy a few days to do so for at-cost rates.  I will also ask
> blurb.com to donate their profits from the book sale for this as  
> well (the
> PR alone should more than compensate them for the loss of LUG book  
> profits.)
>
> And again, apologies to all who had to suffer through blurb.com's
> still-creaky fulfillment process. Evidently the finished product  
> was worth
> the wait.
>
> Best,
> Jim Shulman
> Bryn Mawr, PA
>
>
>
>
>
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