posted
The Letterville Chatroom at PalTalk is now officially owned by Letterville and available around the clock, 7 days a week. At this point, we have only committed to a month to see if the premuium room is worth the investment.
To ensure Letterville Chat users are secure, we will be doing 2 things. The first is to password the room. After the next 24 hours have passed, you will have to enter a password to join the room. That password will be letterhead. Pass the word around in your IM's and emails to other Letterheads.
Our second request is that us all use your real first and last name. I realize many experienced chatter like to use nicks, but we are all business people who are eager to meet each other. Just like this BB, everyone needs to be able to recognize who is in the channel. You are allowed 99 distinct nicks in PalTalk. All we ask is that you create and use one that is your real name just for Letterville Chat.
We're adding more admins everyday. Our goal is to have an ethusiastic Letterhead in the room to greet newcomers, explain the basics and enforce the Laws Of Letterville. This is a G Rated Room that all should feel comfy in. We want to do all we can to ensure you leave this website and Letterville Chat feeling better than when you arrived.
Catalin from Romania is your host in Chat from 5-8am EST. Between 8 and 8:30am EST, Pat Neve will be starting his early morning show. He's the host, so he gets to decide the topic. Join in the fun!
The time is not confirmed, but we are trying to setup a Ladies Only Chat for around 10am EST. Right now, Barb will be host, but we are looking for others to help out. Guys beware! You may be asked to leave and allow the Ladies their privacy. It's up to the Host.
As time goes on, we will be adding more admins in Australia and New Zealand. Our hope is that they can use this chat to promote Letterheads and live meets in their corner of the World. Let us know your ideas. I'm hoping to see a Karaoke and Talant Show happen once or twice a week. We'll show you how to convert your PC into a Karaoke Machine your whole family can enjoy. And its all free!
So once again, I'm going to post the info aout downloading and installing PalTalk. There was a serious system crash there today and people were unable to download the newset version. I'm hoping that is fixed later today. So here we go again.
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Before going any further, we need to teach you how to download and install PalTalk. You'll also have to register a nickname and learn where to find the Letterville Room. Those who want to try the voice feature need to purchase a microphone. We suggest an inexpensive headphone with a mic. A headphone allows you to hear better without disturbing the rest of your family. Let's get started.
You'll find the PatTalk website at www.paltalk.com The first thing we need to do is download the program.
Downloading
Click on the 'Download All New Paltalk Messenger 7' button. You can't miss it! This will take you to the actual Download page. Select a place on your computer to save the file, and then click "Save". Download time is only a few seconds on a high speed connection and a couple of minutes on a 56K connection.
Depending on your Web browser's settings, you may see:
A security warning window. Click "Yes" to install Paltalk.
A file download window. Click "Save" to download Paltalk.
Installation
Once the download is complete, double click on the pal_install.exe icon or file that appears in the folder in which you saved the file. This will initiate the Paltalk installation.
Please note: Many software vendors, including PalTalk, recommend you shut off any anti virus program you are running while new software. Installations often require changes to the Window's Registry File. Most anti virus software detects this and you may find you get an error message and/or buggy installation.
After installation is complete, Paltalk should launch automatically. If everything has gone smoothly, it's now time to Register as a new PalTalk user. Please read the following closely.;
In PalTalk, you are allowed a number of various nicknames. I have one I use for just goofing around, and another I use in the Letterville Chat. We'd like you all to use the same name you use on the BullBoard in the Letterville Chat room. Example? I am steve_shortreed. Barb is barb_shortreed Our real first and last names.
Why real names you ask? There are a couple reasons. The first is confusion. It is vital that we all know exactly who each other are. My memory isn't as good as it once was, and I have a hard time with nicknames. For our own security, I want to know who I am talking with at all times.
The second reason is really much like the first. Letterville is not a secret society. We are all fanatical about what we do and proud of it. Many of us are also small business people. We're here to have fun, as well as to learn. There is simply no need to hide behind a nickname. Register a second or third nick for use in other, less community oriented, rooms.
During the registration process, you will be required to choose a password and create a secret question and answer. You will now be asked if you wish to subscribe to additional services or third party advertising. This is not unusual today. Everyone is looking for ways to increase revenue and a voluntary mail list is one of the most popular. Many consider it spam. Answer no if you don't want any of this stuff!
So you're registered and looking for the Letterville Chat Room. Where the heck is it?
PalTalk consists of 2 windows. Your main control window, and a room window. In the free version of PalTalk, you may see a popup window. Use any popular popup ad killer to eliminate these if you desire. We're interested in the main PT window at this point.
Look for a group of 4 tab selections called Home Groups Pals Favorites. You want to click on the Groups Tab, scroll down the list to the Business & Finance section. Click on it to open, and look for Letterville. Double click on that link and a box will appear. Type the word letterhead in the box to join the room. That’s all there is to it!
[ February 01, 2005, 06:30 AM: Message edited by: Steve Shortreed ]
-------------------- Steve Shortreed 144 Hill St., E. Fergus, Ontario Canada N1M 1G9 519-787-2673
posted
Where does it ask for a password other than the personal password to connect? When I double click on the icon to open the chat, it also opens a new window to this site at the same time. How do I stop that from happening?
[ February 01, 2005, 08:40 AM: Message edited by: Rick Sacks ]
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6714 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
I still have not password protected the room. We decided to hold off another day to make sure everyone had a chance to read this.
One of the features of the PT Chat is the ability to launch the this automatically for those entering the room. We thought it might give you all something to discuss as you scan the posts. If it turns out to be a pain, we have no problem in turning it off.
-------------------- Steve Shortreed 144 Hill St., E. Fergus, Ontario Canada N1M 1G9 519-787-2673
posted
Steve- What do you hope this all ends up like? What would be the perfect scenario? (also: why go through all this? It sounds like a lot of work)
Please don't get me wrong- I like the idea of instant question/answer conversation.
Thanks for your work.
-------------------- Phil Steffen, 29 Van Rensselaer St City of Saratoga Springs DPW Saratoga Springs NY 12866 Posts: 563 | From: beautiful Saratoga Springs NY | Registered: Aug 2001
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We've always dreamed of having the ability to bring our users a chat that offers text, voice, video and fast file transfer. PalTalk is the best solution I have seen at this point.
For many years, we had the ability to trnsmit video without sound. We were hooked into a system that serviced the female webcam business. It was donated and proved to be very popular. We all miss our HeadTV.
Letterville now has the ability to use sound and video. There are all sorts of workshops and video courses that we can share with other Letterheads. We've already tried our first live on-line interview. Anyone present will tell you it was a wonderful, new experience.
Then there is the typing issue. I've been using computers since the 80's and I am still a lousy typer. My typing is slow and I have to watch the keyboard as I type. As the screen scrolls by, I will miss what others have typed. Some feel I am ignoring them when the reality is I never saw their message. Voice solves this problem.
We are in the process of searching the World for Letterheads who will commit an hour or 2 each day to be on chat. Our goal is to have a live voice in the room to welcome you, teach you the basics and do whatever it takes to make sure you leave feeling better than when you arrived.
Letterville was founded to serve the needs of Letterheads. Letterheads is all about the sharing of information and making new friends. We believe the tools in PalTalk are a giant step towards a whole new learning experience.
-------------------- Steve Shortreed 144 Hill St., E. Fergus, Ontario Canada N1M 1G9 519-787-2673
posted
I think the PalTalk thing is a great idea. I'm sure it will find itself being used in ways we haven't thought of yet.
I guess the only thing that I could say, that certainly wouldn't be negative regarding PalTalk, but rather it's applications...I've found that there are (at least for my needs), plenty of non sign-related posts on the bullboard now. You already have to wade through a lot of off topic posts as it is. To start promoting a "talent show" and a "kareoke night", kind of pushes the envelope as to what this site is supposed to be about...
If it is indeed a non-stop online Letterhead meet, I don't understand the excitement in subjecting everyone to my rendition of "Leaving On A Jet Plane".
Just my two cents.
(maybe we could cover "Signs" by the Five Man Electrical Band, or Brenton Woods' "Gimme Some Kind of Sign"!?)
Don't get me wrong, I wasn't knocking PalTalk, I was just curious as to what the reasons for Steve's making the investment were. A couple of people have commented on it, both negatively and posatively...I just didn't have enough information to make ANY judgements as of yet.
I think the idea of doing what Mark from Estimate did last week, is a great one! Other people have mentioned Sign Gold and other merchants getting involved. That would be really advantageous to be sure.
I just wondered about the whole "ladies Night", and kareoke stuff, and it's relevance to the sign business or a letterhead meet.
posted
You arn't that all far off Don. At many meets we often break out the instruments. In many cases, there is lots going on that has nothing to do with signs at all. I've seen parades, hockey games, whale watching, bus tours...all sorts of stuff. At Don's meet in Ft Meyers we even got to rock with Bill Davidson, the guy who wrote Wooly Bully.
Letterheads is not just about signs. To me, it's always been more about the people who make them. As a former shop owner, I am always interested in how others in the same boat handle family, financial and other issues. And yes! I like to party down with my Letterhead pals.
Now that's my own personal take on Letterheads. I'm sure there are others that have a different opinion. Nothing wrong with that! Variety is the spice of life.
-------------------- Steve Shortreed 144 Hill St., E. Fergus, Ontario Canada N1M 1G9 519-787-2673
posted
I understood what you were saying, that you weren't knocking it. You didn't ask any questions that many haven't wondered. Even though it was tongue in cheek, the gist was what I wrote is that this is Steve's site and he can/will do whatever he wants.
Heck, he can tell us we can't talk about signs here anymore if he wakes up one morning and it strikes his fancy. LOL
posted
FYI: I'm not touching any more paytalk posts. Promise (so long as my name's kept out of it) Y'all have fun. It's a shame that this whole thing has fostered so many bad feelings on both sides of the issue. My posts haven't and won't change any minds on either side of the issue and are a waste of time to write or read.
posted
what makes a letterhead different to every other signmaker?
what makes a letterhead meeting different to any business conferance?
I think it has to do with the interaction of the participants
If you hang around here or any live meeting long enough you will find the words 'family' 'kinship' 'comunity' used alot, there is a good reason for that.
The majority of folk who find themselves drawn to the letterhead movement seem to have a lot in common, with just enough differances to keep things interesting
Generaly small business owners who need to manage all those different hats, all at the same time. Boss, worker, office admin, installer, laborour, purchasing officer,handy man/woman, sales person etc.
Added to that mix is the solitude that many find their working life consists of
The family's eyes start to glase over about the 5th time they have to listen to what went wrong in the shop this week, and friends... if you have time for them, really can't see why you'd put yourself through it in the first place
On bad days niether can you
But then there are the good days, the days when the work flows, the customer is happy to pay, the supplies arrived on time and none of the machines... or helpers, break down, take time off or generally make things worst than they have to be.
The days of gold when you just know 'you wouldn't be dead for quids', are why we do what we do... because we can!
Letterheads, and by extention Letterville gives those of us lucky enough to find it, the oportunity to see that we are not alone in those struggles and in the bonus's The questions we ask of ourselves and each other highlight the truth of that
The kinship we feel for those, who by their very existance remind us that we're not deluded, or stupid, everyone has the same problems.... and the same need to express what ever it is in side of us that makes us do this job, creates that sence of connection
Being female didn't make me any better or worse a signmaker
But it did give rise to situations in my life that other females in this industry could relate to, and for that resaon I found being able to comunicate with other woman in the trade saved my sanity more than once.
When you get that close to human beings it is a natural progression to become interested and involved with what is happening outside of their offices and workrooms... you become friends
Letterheads are no differnet to any other person is some ways though, we like to laugh and dance and sing, we like to eat and drink, race cars, or ride Harley Davidsons, sail boats and tinker with weird projects that have absolutly nothing to do with how we earn a living.
We like the oportunity to not have to be so seriouse all the time... to have some fun
And who better to have fun with than your mates, after all most of us have a strange sence of humor at best Inside jokes that only another signmaker could possibly understand being just one example
We can't expect everyone to like the same things, at the same time that we do however and so we practise being thoughtful
And sometimes we just leave the party if we get bored or tied or frusutrated because we just can't shake that feeling that we should be more focused on working out how to hang that 20' panel the next day than sitting around talking to people about 'other stuff'
It's a ballancing act... it's life
cheers gail
-------------------- Gail & Dave Hervey Bay Qld Australia
gail@roadwarriorproducts.com.au
sumtimes ya just gota! Posts: 794 | From: 552 O'Regans Creek Rd Toogoom Qld 4655 Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Gail, I think that you just put the the whole meaning of Letterheads in a perfect light. Many have given their thoughts on it, but you did a beautiful job of expressing your feelings. Your words should be printed and posted at every Letterhead meet. You are a very special person and I am proud to know you personnaly.
-------------------- Bill Riedel Riedel Sign Co., Inc. 15 Warren Street Little Ferry, N.J. 07643 billsr@riedelsignco.com Posts: 2953 | From: Little Ferry, New Jersey, USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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