Your TOTJO needs you!

It would be so much easier to recruit people if we actually had Force powers...

Here are a few ideas:
1. Post videos on youtube like Danny Shine . When I searched youtube for jediism the results were very disappointing. The possibilities are endless. Just go get in a busy place with a megaphone and announce to everyone that you are a Jedi Knight, if they want to learn more about Jedis or how to become one they should come see you. Get it all on video. Bonus points if you can get the police to beat you up on camera.
2. Don't recruit people. It doesn't work anyway. Merely point out the differences between the life of a Jedi and the commoner... and let the rest fall into place. Even if people don't join the temple, they may support you just like people support the red cross, cancer society, etc.
3. Ask leading questions like: Dissatisfied with your religion? Are you tired of the rat-race? Feeling down? Worried about money? You could also use these in blogs.

I think the biggest strength that Jediism has is that it's right for our time. Play on that strength. There are infinite ways to point out problems that others experience but we don't because we're Jedi. Just think of the problems in the Catholic church with pedophiles... sexism... racism... homophobia... etc.

You have to be very carefull and transperant nowadays when raising money. It takes only one acusations of miss handling of funds to get blown out of perportion and stain the Churches reputation.

The Church needs to make a statment on where it stands on fund raising in it's name and it's position on allowing others to raise funds on it's official forum.

I'm not throwing cold water on this this, issues on money need to be addressed in the planning stages before money can be collected.

If you feel TOTJO needs money, send it money. If you feel it needs a temple, build a temple. If you like to talk about it, talk about it. If you want to share the word, share the word. Think about it, make a suggestion, take action. The fruit will bear the tree.

Let us remember how we came to consider ourselves Jedi. For me, it was because I saw in the Jedi of Star Wars, what I had been searching for in our modern world already. I searched the net to see if others had identified with what the Jedi portrayed, and here I am. The Jedi path is not something to put on your dog tags or census form because it's cool or trendy or different. This path is sacred. Whatever the name, it is sacred. I hope this helps see why I don't think leafletting is that good of an idea. The last thing I want is to see the Jedi order taken over by people who just want to be trendy, or rise up through the ranks so they can feel they are important and really not embody the truths of Jediism in how they act offline. I know many Jedi have seen this happen before, how some of the most active and high 'ranking' jedi online, are some of the least active offline. There needs to be a balance in that regard.

Does anyone know how selling consumer products as a 'church' works? I would love to buy a QUALITY and well designed brown hoodie I also would sport a few different T-shirts from the TOTJO as long as they weren't just a wearable advertisement and actually fit nicely and were made of decent materials. I would even probably put a sticker on my car that reminded me of the Jedi even if it had a web address on it. Hmmm, what else would I buy?...

I mentioned on the physical temples thread about how monasteries sometimes make and sell things like wine, beer, soap and candles. The key aspect being that they're hand made. I probably would not buy such things that were just contracted out to the lowest bidder that would take your logo and put it on whatever crappy useless merchandise you wanted. I do appreciate peoples creativity and handcraft. I do know that screen printing at home isn't that expensive to set up or that difficult to do. I haven't had that much experience with sewing machines but I have used one and it's really not all that hard. Like anything, you get better with time. And most of making cloths is just having a good pattern and following it.

Also, another way to make money is to get a job and set some aside for Jedi stuff. You could sell your soul to your government for several (or 20) years and use that steady income to fill your Jedi savings bucket (and get loads of training and in some countries college out of it too). Or start a company all your own and donate a portion of the profits to the Jedi. But part of your 'planning' will need to come into effect the moment the money starts coming in. Who keeps track of it? Who has access to it? Who decides how it gets used? And who is held responsable when it is used? I'm sure some of this has been looked at by TOTJO highers already.

"ome of the most active and high 'ranking' jedi online, are some of the least active offline."

How would one know?

We have a 'Donate' button for anyone who wants to use it...

Jabi Musah wrote: I hope this helps see why I don't think leafletting is that good of an idea. The last thing I want is to see the Jedi order taken over by people who just want to be trendy, or rise up through the ranks so they can feel they are important and really not embody the truths of Jediism in how they act offline. I know many Jedi have seen this happen before, how some of the most active and high 'ranking' jedi online, are some of the least active offline. There needs to be a balance in that regard.

I came to TOTJO through a google search...I did the google search because I wanted to find like minded people...have you ever had someone suggest something to you? You look into it and find it's just what you've been looking for? That's the principle of leafleting...if you're afraid that people will join just to be trendy or cool...they will be met with a thing called the Initiates program...then an apprenticeship...and if they still have the "patience" to rise through that...they then also have to do some actual work to be able to "rise" to any rank in TOTJO...I know people do crazy things for fashion...but last time I checked spending months...even years doing paperwork has never been the definition of cool.

Jabi Musah wrote: Does anyone know how selling consumer products as a 'church' works? I would love to buy a QUALITY and well designed brown hoodie I also would sport a few different T-shirts from the TOTJO as long as they weren't just a wearable advertisement and actually fit nicely and were made of decent materials. I would even probably put a sticker on my car that reminded me of the Jedi even if it had a web address on it. Hmmm, what else would I buy?...

Unfortunately due to Master War Beauty's departure we no longer have a marketing office...there was products there...of course all money goes straight to TOTJO...so keep your eyes open for the marketing position to be re-filled and that to be sorted out. Alternatively if you're looking for a quality well designed brown hoodie I suggest you look in a shop.

Jabi Musah wrote: I mentioned on the physical temples thread about how monasteries sometimes make and sell things like wine, beer, soap and candles. The key aspect being that they're hand made. I probably would not buy such things that were just contracted out to the lowest bidder that would take your logo and put it on whatever crappy useless merchandise you wanted. I do appreciate peoples creativity and handcraft. I do know that screen printing at home isn't that expensive to set up or that difficult to do. I haven't had that much experience with sewing machines but I have used one and it's really not all that hard. Like anything, you get better with time. And most of making cloths is just having a good pattern and following it.

To hand make something will take time and money...unfortunately people who do, do that actually have the time to do it...most of us have real lives...jobs, families, etc so we do TOTJO in our free time...sure you could argue we could spend that free time "hand making" things however...there would have to be a demand for said product...and a handful of people does not count as a demand...and then a supply...so without one or the other...we have no grounds to do this.

Jabi Musah wrote: Also, another way to make money is to get a job and set some aside for Jedi stuff. You could sell your soul to your government for several (or 20) years and use that steady income to fill your Jedi savings bucket (and get loads of training and in some countries college out of it too). Or start a company all your own and donate a portion of the profits to the Jedi. But part of your 'planning' will need to come into effect the moment the money starts coming in. Who keeps track of it? Who has access to it? Who decides how it gets used? And who is held responsible when it is used?

Let me clarify...to make money I need a job? I consider your logic flawless...I am amazed...I'm just messing with you...however you're right I COULD spend my time donating money...I could do this or that...but how do you know I haven't? I know a particular member here who donates to TOTJO on a regular basis...I'm more than happy to donate when I have the spare money...point is regardless of the fact...I alone can not run TOTJO nor can any ONE person run a COMMUNITY...what I'm saying is that if I try and lift a fridge alone...I will struggle...but if 5 of us try... it won't be so hard...so stating that we should just donate money...which there's a giant golden donate button on the top right of your screen...is pretty obvious.

Jabi Musah wrote: I'm sure some of this has been looked at by TOTJO highers already.

Correct! One billion points to hufflepuff...You seem really eager to disregard this because it's likely to have been "looked at" by TOTJO highers already...if this is the case then why the Physical Temples thread? Or is the stickied thread which can be found HERE not "looked at" by the TOTJO Highers already? TOTJO Highers have looked at physical temples...and like most members that have been here a while...will state we don't need a physical temple despite how much we would enjoy one...and before you even begin to rattle on about how you're only "planning" I can just rebuttal you with this three word response.

So Am I.

FYI

I have sales and marketing experience. If there is a way I can help out?

Rickie

Rickie The Grey wrote: FYI

I have sales and marketing experience. If there is a way I can help out?

Rickie

There's always a way you can help out...possibly suggesting ways we can market TOTJO is a start...