Denver JUG tonight - new Certified Architect Exam

[paul wheaton]

See www.denverjug.org for details.

[paul wheaton]

Apparently they will also be giving away a Palm VII !!

[Patrick Krook]

A Palm VII?!!! Can I get a plane ticket cheaper? I raffled off the Practical Java book as you recommended at a recent Sybase User's group and it was great. Plugged my company, got introduced to everyone, plugged JavaRanch even...I filled time while there live EJB demo crashed...they were showcasing their EA Server. And later raffled off a copy (a $600 value when it works!)
Now my trouble is, how do I follow up while not coming off like wanting to 'eat their lunch'?
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"She is having a bad hair day."
"It is having a defective day of hats."
-Alta Vista computerized Italian translator
[This message has been edited by Patrick Krook (edited May 10, 2000).]

[paul wheaton]

Follow up? The important thing is that these people now know you exist and you were generous enough to give away a good book! The key is to hand out lots of business cards.
Maybe a strategy would be to prepare a bunch of business cards with numbers on them. Then have a "hat" full of matching numbers. This way, everybody who wants the book has one of your business cards.

[Patrick Krook]

Well, I collected everybody's business card who wanted the book for the raffle, picked the winner and kept 'em. Then I passed my card out at the same time the speaker did. He even introduced me and the raffle. Sweet huh?
Now, I have these business cards and I'd like to send and e-mail, maybe thanking them for their participation in the drawing and maybe soliciting a book title they've found helpful so I could raffle that one next time.
I just don't want to seem too 'in your face'...what do you think?
P.S. Do you find more greenhorns at usergroup meetings and training classes or Project Managers who are trying to keep current? There weren't that many newbys at this meeting.

[paul wheaton]

My experience is that there is a good mix.
I suppose you could send an e-mail, although I'm not sure how to word it. Maybe you can ask for prize suggestions for next month and then have a tag line that points out what you're up to.

[Patrick Krook]

A La:
Just wanted to drop you a line to thank you for your participation in the book raffle of "Practical Java". We'll do it again next month! Any raffle suggestions or tools you've found helpful?-please share.
Patrick Krook
S3 Java SWAT Team-Recruiting Specialist
For more information on how to be a Java Swat Team Member emial me or check out our website at www.strategicstaff.com
_________________________
or The above raffle was a subversive attempt to facilitate familiarity, gain your confidence, discover your personal professional goals and work to actualize them. If you have no ambition, please disregard these attempts....
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"She is having a bad hair day."
"It is having a defective day of hats."
-Alta Vista computerized Italian translator

[paul wheaton]

Looks good!
How many people were there?
On a related note: at the DJUG last night, a recruiter raffled off Practical Java and I got it.

[Patrick Krook]

I got about a dozen cards. How did DJUG go?

[paul wheaton]

DJUG went fine even though I didn't win the Palm VII

[Patrick Krook]

Originally posted by Paul Wheaton:
DJUG went fine even though I didn't win the Palm VII

Hey, lokk on the bright side you won a book you probably already own.
By the way JavaRanch is addictive. I need to actually recruit sometimes, but I find myself here. Maybe its my raoming heart, yearning for the Big Sky and open country...
Anyway, I got two other groups I am going to at the end of the month. The Association of Internet Professionals in Chicago's Loop and KnowJack- Java people who meet once a month a Quigley's Irish Pub to socialize (drink). I doubt I can raffle anything off there...

[paul wheaton]

Actually, I don't own the book. My previous employer owned a copy that I read maybe 30% of. It is a really good book, so I'm glad I'm getting the opportunity to read the rest.
KnowJack - But you can buy a round!