On occasion members and registered users have scratched their heads, clicked their mouse, and typed out a few questions about the direction and future of Imminst within the forums. The fact that people have to ask this question indicates a failing on my part – since I am the Executive Director of this fine Institution. I am the first to admit that setting time frames, metrics, deadlines, and staying super organized are not my strong suits, but I am trying. I am more of an idea person, promoter, and marketer. From my years at the Institute, I have developed a fairly good grasp on what works well with the Institute, where we need to go, and a general idea of how to get there.
When VIPs from other areas of life and the memespace ask “what goals do you have for the organization?” I usually respond with “growth”. It isn’t the most specific answer but it is a key metric of success. Numbers mean things. The number of members and registered users is an indication of how successful we are at spreading ideas. Numbers are easy to track.
So let’s take a look back at the first half of the year and plot a course for another 6 months of success.
An off-and-on accounting of Executive Director activities during the first 5 months of the newly created position can be found here:
http://www.imminst.o...ies-t19118.html
Successes in the first half of 2008
1. Revived the Sunday Night Chat, which eventually evolved into a live streaming program named the Sunday Evening Update.
2. Finished the forum upgrade. (big thanks to Bruce)
3. New content driven front page.
4. Initiated the F@H prize (big thanks to dnamechanic, Reason, and maestro949)
5. Organized an Aubrey De Grey visit to UW-Madison. (big thanks to brokenportal)
6. Sponsored UABBA.
7. Began discussions for the upcoming Convergence Conference. (big thanks to Shannon)
8. Began discussions for a 2nd printing of the Scientific Conquest of Death and found a publisher. (big thanks to Caliban).
9. Held weekly open Board meetings (believe me, this is a big success)
Other activies
1.Worked on fixing the membership records system (close to completion, big thanks to Richard).
2. Set-up a new accounting and tax payment system.
3. Added non-Imminst life-extension content to the Ustream channel.
Evidence of the successes can be found in the increase of registered users of the site. A recent graph of registrations can be found here: http://www.imminst.o...&...st&p=249334
Revenue has also been steady. In spite of picking up the significant expense of an employee, the Institute’s cash assets have climbed from $50,086 at the beginning of 2008 to $55,600 (as of July19th) with $2,100 in additional outstanding invoices.
Here are the top initiatives I think the Institute should focus on for the rest of 2008 in order to continue the significant success and “growth” the Institute has achieved in the first half of the year.
1. F@H prize (continuation)
2. Convergence Conference
3. MFURI collaboration
4. 2nd printing of SCOD
5. Sunday Evening Update (continuation)
6. Front page content (continuation)
There are many more things that could be done with enough volunteer help. These six are about the max I can organize/handle on my schedule (which includes a 40+ hour a week day job, managing Imminst advertising revenue, tax reporting/payments, membership issues, forum oversight, etc.)