If you are reading this....thanks!

It's been a while...and I think that's because we've been keeping a lowish profile while we worked to get Jack ready for our first impressions with the public (perhaps this is you).

So a quick historical recap….we started putting a beta site up around Valentines Day….and quickly realized that what started off as a nice idea, really needed lots of work (I also realized that your activation emails are often getting blocked by spam filters…please email us if you never received one and I will activate you…you probably won’t receive the email I send informing you that you have been activated, as this will also likely go to your spam filter).

For those who first visited Jack when we launched....and are just checking in to see what’s up…Jack is growing up.

Jack is evolving from a place where you were able to post pictures for the cause of your choice...to what I like to think is a growing online community where social networking is good for your conscience...perhaps?  (to be honest…when this first started coming to life…I didn’t realize that what we were creating was in fact a social network with some pretty unique features….other than making dollars for the charity of your choice…with your online time…just by being here).

The transformation has come in various phases as we realized what wasn’t working well with Jack…and what we thought were solutions along the way.

• First we added profile pages where you can post more things about yourself (if you so choose...while controlling the level of privacy hassle freeishly…and please note….updated profile management pages are coming later this week…)....
• We then added status updates...but as an update…we got rid of those last week...they've also grown up...they are now "deep thoughts".
• A deep thought? Oh yes, if you have something on your mind...put it out there...and see how people respond to it (people...you can respond to each thought...they are supposed to be thought provoking...to hopefully provoke a little discussion….about anything…ANYTHING...just realize the community is going to see it).  All the while making coin for your charity…can we call it 1.1 pennies for your thoughts?

The reactions from those who have started connecting with Jack the past few weeks has been more than positive…and I quote,

“I have been waiting for a site like this.”

“This site is friggin cool”

“I think this is the best site ever. I love photography and I love sharing what I have. But best of all, I love helping those who need it wether it be human o animal.”

But yes….we still have work to do.

Coming soon (later this week…hopefully)....

• we will be updating your profile management pages…why? Your profile management page has always been a little ugly…and while beauty is more than skin deep….this was an easy facelift (sign up to see what I am rambling about)
• As the traffic builds and more people are posting pics and thoughts...we also realized that merely showing the 5 most recent, 5 most active etc pics or deep thoughts wasn't doing justice to those who also posted recently...but got bumped from the podium....so when we load the updated profiles later this week (please note the hopefully disclaimer…hiyooo)...we will also be uploading hotlinks and pages to view the top 25 etc from each category….you’ll know what I am talking about when you see it.

Now…to the charities who you can be supporting with your time online. 

First off, I want to thank them for believing in what I think we can achieve together.  As I said, I realized quickly that what we launched based off of a genuinely nice thought….was kind of…well, it could have used some improvement.  So thanks for joining….and thanks for your patience with me and the community in general as we continue to evolve. 

That being said, there are now 20 charities from across Canada and the US that members of the community can choose to support with your time online (freely and regularly…per the rules of giving a poop about the charity of your choice).

The movement started to gain some momentum when Plug In America gave Jack the nicest plug possible in their June newsletter…(Obama was also in the newsletter…I thought that was cool). 

Plug In America - June Newsletter

I am looking forward to seeing them again August 9th at the following:

Plug-ins, Pinots and Progress

Aside-ish, I will be in what I like to think of as one of my homes away from home… California from ~ August 4th - 14th if anyone wants to meet and/or chat about anything (except baseball). I'm easy (like Jack).

Back to Q2…We also got our first piece of press about Jack. (FIRST PIECE OF PRESS) it helped give the “giving a poop regularly” movement some legs…and started to show those in the know…that I am mos def serious about what this can become.

I also can't thank the charities enough for starting to put some clever tweets and posts out there on Twitter and Facebook about JackTheDonkey.com (including those with the twitter handles  @alexslemonade @bfas @cardtherapy @reenafoundation @pluginamerica @alscanada @MSSocietyCanada – me…I’m @inyourfacebook )

So that’s where the virtual component of Jack stands at the moment (please note the aforementioned updates <<hopefully>> coming later this week….more within a couple more weeks…and then we will go from there to see what’s next. Before I close this bracket…..if you want to join the facebook fan page to help get Jack out some more...that would be grand of you:  (JackTheDonkey.com's FACEBOOK FANPAGE...PLEASE JOIN)  - I am convinced that as more people get wind of Jack that this really can turn into something special)

Last but not least, I have recently joined the committee that is organizing the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada’s Wishmaker Walk For Wishes - York Region taking place on October 17th, 2009  (note…Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada is one of the charities you can now support with your time on Jack).

As part of my roll, I am recruiting teams for the event (if you can participate in any of the walks that day....great...if you can participate in the York region Walk....even greater!).

I am going to be fielding a JackTheDonkey.com team of my own (yes...I have 4 donkey suits...I just need to work on my cardio)....but am hoping that if you see this, that you will consider putting together a team of your own.  Make it a team of people you work with...live near...are friends with...or how about your family?

We are also looking for "corporate sponsors" for the event who might be interested in donating prizes for participants...or perhaps bigger ticket items for silent auctions? Your call.

And last but not least….celebs…if you are one…or once had coffee with a guy who once met a celeb…let me know (stayintouch@jackthedonkey.com).  In the past – Cujo (the goalie…not the dog) appeared…but is busy this year…anyone else available?

If you want more info...here's the link

Wishmaker Walk For Wishes

....or feel free to contact me at stayintouch@jackthedonkey.com

That’s it for now….I think I am going to start rambling more in the future here...I realize I can't always get everything across in 140 characters…but we will see…thanks again for reading this…if you saw this.