Hello, Portal! Goodbye, Google Group (eventually).

As I'm sure you've all read in the email from our President (Jessica of AccentEnvy), we are transitioning away from the Google Group site ...

... to a new Portal, http://lartisans.informe.com/portal.html

While anything new has a learning curve, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with all of the features and ease-of-use with the new site.

Says Jess in her email, "Great Features of the New Group:

• Organized Forums - Looking for something in particular is not a problem any more. There is a forum for almost everything you may need. If there isn't, there can be.


• Chat - Yep. I said chat. There is an area that you can talk to anyone else online at any time.


• Portal - The intro section on the Forum gives you the latest details of what's up in the forums.


• Committees and Local Groups - Have their own area to use to their advantage.


• Private Messages - You can contact anyone in our group without needing their email info or Etsy username.


• Mass Email - I can send out mass emails without my host shutting me down for the day.


• Ease of Use - Once you become familiar with it. It is much easier and friendlier to use. "

Google Groups won't be eliminated immediately, but please, please do NOT count on it to be your source for important, late-breaking info. Give the new Portal a try...

Once you create a login account, an email will automatically be sent to Jessica, who will then grant you access to the site.

Looking forward to seeing you on the Portal!

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Gustav

I hope you'll check in at the LouisianArtisans Google Group and let us know how you're doing. My thoughts and prayers are with all Louisiana Artisans and residents affected by Hurricane Gustav (which seems like pretty much the entire state, some more than others, obviously).

Lisa

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Last Night's Etsy Chat - A Recap

Turnout was small, but it was a lively bunch. A couple of the points discussed include:

• Google Group is our primary mode of communication.

Although the other networking sites (IndiePublic, MySpace, WeLoveEtsy, etc.) have message boards, we agree that the Google Group is our primary mode of communication among members. By all means, feel free to post of the other message boards, but if you have an official question about our group - or for our group - be sure to post it on Google groups. Revelant info will also be posted to our blog, but it's not as up-to-date.

• AccentEnvy updated the committee list on Google Group to include the ideal number per committee.

She will post a deadline for signing up.

• Should we invite Louisiana buyers to join our group, or perhaps a sub-group? If so, what access will they have to our Team networking sites?

Just an idea that's being tossed around. I'm sure you'll see more about this on the Google group page.

For those of you who attended last night's chat, thank you - it was great getting to know you. I hope everyone will mark their calendars for Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. for our next scheduled chat.

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Etsy Treasury by tu2cute!

Did you see that LArtisans Team has a Treasury! Click here to be linked to it. It expires August 29 at 9:47 p.m., so be sure to check it out before then. Also, leave a comment on the treasury.

tu2cute is the curator and she did a great job putting it together!

AccentEnvy posted the following on our Google Group page (click here to read her post in its entirety):

"For now, if you create a treasury with 25% or more of LArtisans Team Members, post it on google group. Hopefully, all members will support and click pics and comment. Although this doesn't guarantee front page, it can move you up in the treasury, where you will be better noticed. "

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