Plan of Action 2011

This is THE important announcement.
It combines FIVE announcements, each one worthy of its own topic.
Please read it all. I've tried to condense it as much as possible.

On a side note, make sure you've added your dot to the WG Location Map.




TOPIC ONE: RECRUITMENT

With the wilderness returning, this is our time ladies and gents.
We're on a roll, having recruited 20 members in a little over a week, thanks to Jagex.
Let's keep that rolling. To the new guys, if you have friends, refer them!
If every member referred just one person, our ML would double.

We have a very small window of opportunity.
Perhaps 4 weeks, to lap up as many potential members as we can.
They are all rejoining clans now and we don't want to miss out on that dream run.
Get on all the fansites and find people who are interested.

I am going to update WG.com, and make a new real life recruitment video.
Furthermore I'll compile some codes for RSC, Tip.it and the like.
Aragon is working on allowing Flash movies on RSC recruitment threads.
If that happens, you'll see WG's recruitment SOAR.
That's what will happen on my end.

I'll have raid leaders start posting wins on RSC, as this will attract further attention to us.

On your end, there is a number of things you can do.
Like I said, the BEST way to recruit is to refer friends.
This has been the most effective recruitment since the start of WG.
It's much easier than competing with 20 other clans for one member on forums where the potential member goes "tl;dr" to all the adverts.
Second, attend the clanniversary.
The powerful screenshots will go far to attract attention and will serve our recruitment for another year.
Third, in the wilderness, if someone asks what clan, say Wilderness Guardians.
It's fun to mess around but have a bit of pride...
We have gained members from killing them in the wilderness before!
Fourthly, the intro forum. Post in it.
If you tried really hard, you'd add them on RS too.
Imagine if you felt so loved by a clan even before joining.
Finally, idle in my CC and offer your help to anyone who asks about us.
In our recruitment topics I urge guests to test our community.
We all know how awesome it is, so do your best to include them in that.

Keeping the lobby unregistered is beneficial to us but there are obvious threats.
For now I'm not changing my nick so nobody can impersonate me...
But be careful nonetheless, as I may disconnect.
Don't click links I send you in PM unless you've read the URL carefully.





TOPIC TWO: CLANNIVERSARY

This ties in with recruitment.
As mentioned above, the screenshots from these 20 events will make a lasting impression on impressionable players.
It fuels our recruitment for another 11 months, and I cannot stress how important attendance is...
Not that I should be forcing you to attend. These events are truly a joy.
They are the best line-up in WG's year...
The clan quest especially. You'd want to kill yourself for missing that.

That said, anniversary times have been changed and sign-ups reset!
Please sign yourself up, as they are compulsory and I WILL be using them as an activity check.
An active member will make at least 5 of the 8 days.
A decent member will make four.
Three or less means you must be very busy IRL this week... because I expect more.
Zero (maybe even one) attendance just means you're too busy for WG.

Here are the rankings of importance in terms of attendance:

Day TWO
Day EIGHT
Day ONE
Everything else.

If you can make those three, you'll be doing well for yourself.
I put Days TWO and EIGHT on Sunday, during WG's prime time.

Sign up for all eight days, and aim to attend five... I will be attending all eight.

This brings us to our next topic.





TOPIC THREE: CLANNIVERSARY DAY EIGHT - WAR

Clanniversary Day Eight is a Lordy hype war.
New members, this means it's one of perhaps three or four wars a year that WG goes mental over.
I am going to aim nice and high for an attendance of 50 members.
You'll get a war prep movie.
You'll get a banner and mass PM's.
It's going to be one hell of a war. P2P PVP.
If we pull 50 members, RIGHT before the return of the wilderness...
You have no idea how strong our recruitment will be after that!

I also want to take this opportunity to alert you to Jayson's war.
P2P PVP vs THE Clan. Very awesome war which you should all have signed up for.
If you haven't signed up, do so now.





TOPIC FOUR - ACTIVITY STANDARDS

You'll have noticed in the past two weeks I've lifted my game.
I've become a full time player again and I'm making up for lost ground.
I need you all on board with me.
I'm speaking to tertiary leaders over the next few days and assessing whether they need to lift their game.

The ones reading this topic are usually the ones doing the right thing.
You read and post regularly and most of you attend events.

HOWEVER, WG's event attendance in general is poor.
We only pull 50% of our ML to wars at the best of time.
I refuse to believe that 35-40 members can't make wars every weekend.
For some time now I've known excuses have been made.
Real life is important, and is always priority number one.
But a number of you aren't trying hard enough, and a few are lying about their schedules.
The only reason we haven't cracked down in the past is because the leadership believes that you have to WANT to attend. You shouldn't be forced.

The good news is that WG is awakening, in the sense that we're suddenly becoming motivated again.
Hop on the bandwagon and get into the WG spirit.
Emeritus members, with the old wildy coming back, there's no better time than now to re-engage.
A reminder that emeritus members cannot be Runescape active, or else they have to take an active rank. There are a few of you who are too active to be emeritus and this will be addressed soon.

The rank to watch is the TRIAL GUARDIAN rank.
Our highest inactivity rates are in that rank.
People decide to dabble in WG and don't fully commit, and then lose touch.
Mentors, get on the case and find out of your mentee has quit or become inactive.
It's easier to work on re-engaging an existing trial than it is to recruit a new trial.
If the trial member graduates, you can usually be assured they'll remain active.
Don't blame the trials. They don't know any better.
Most of them are new to clanning.
We took it upon ourselves to teach them the ways of clanning, so it IS our responsibility to keep them on the forums and at events.

With my CC suddenly becoming more active, this is easier. Even trials are willing to hang in a CC. It's easy. So you should too. Mentors, what I'm saying is, you really do have a huge impact on activity, so be on the ball.

This brings us to the final topic...






TOPIC FIVE - THE SMS SERVICE

The SMS service is undergoing a COMPLETE overhaul.
FOr those of you who don't know, the ervice is designed to alert you to major wars and events you might not know about, that happen in your timezone.
Texts are unintrusive and really do help.

I take your privacy seriously, so you can feel safe to give me your number.
If you have given me your number in PM before, do it again...
Like I said, it's getting reset.
I'll be sending texts out before the anniversary so it's a good opportunity to sign up.
PLEASE consider it. There's really no harm in it.
Your number will be kept on his website: http://www.thesmszone.com and will be safe.

If you are willing to participate in the SMS service (and I don't see why anyone wouldn't), fill out the form below and
send it as a private message to His Lordship.

Sounds good Keep up the activity.

Reading it a second time but I agree. Mentors maybe add your mentees in msn or get e-mails. Other ways to contact them is always good.

Try. That's all.
Every member of the clan can make a difference.
I'm currently in the process of recruiting a few old skool ex-clan mates.

i read it, and i gave u my number that way i dont come late to wars, sorry kyle :>

A great post, and i do not want to, in any way, dampen your zest, as it were, nor is this intended to cause drama, so i want to try to say it in a way that won't hurt your feelings Gene, however:
These promises have been made before, the whole website updating thing etc, but then again as I write this i think things are different this time - it is true you have majorly stepped up your activity - and I for one have noticed it, it's great! Also, as you say, you yourself would be a fool to be inactive at a time like this, because of the return of the wildy and due to us still seeing the effects of Jagex's support of us.
I just hope all of the above will come true.

There is one thing i would like to ask your advice on though? Hopefully you can give me a good answer as i'm in two minds about it and don't really know what to do.
As you can see i'm now emeritus again, having just returned to university, but during the day (at the moment, apart from when i'm doing essays), i usually have an hour to play RS a day, maybe not on Thursdays as my uni timetable is particularly hectic, but on the other days, probably) and so that would largely mean i'm active enough to be an Elite Guardian.
However. I just don't know what is going on in the evenings, i'm at uni and although I may plan to sit and attend a war, or work, or w/e in my room, often I receive a better offer and go round to mates, watch a film with them etc.
Being an Elite Guardian would mean that spontaneity wouldn't be right, and I would feel tied down, and in my first year of uni, i don't want to feel that, i want to be free.

Ofc, this is totally ignoring the fact that once again I aim to get cast in a play (auditions this week) and like last term, my hours will then be severely reduced ) , i guess i could always take emeritus then if I feel that I can no longer even play RS much.

What do you think Gene? the thing is, if i become Elite, obviously i will be required to attend events, but i'm out most weekend days, and certainly we go out to the same club EVERY saturday night, so that would scupper a lot of wars...

Edit: Adding in that I really do recommend the SMS service to EVERYONE. I've used it for 3 and a half years now, since I first joined WG and it's safe, never abused and very helpful - both for WG to get as many people as possible to wars, but also to you when you forget and are reminded that an important war is about to start.
I urge everyone to sign up for it. I've just sent you my details again Gene.

~George

Oh i see now, lol. I'd like to keep myself personal when it comes to numbers sorry Gene. But the thing is .. im active now and been attending tons of wars / raids now days. Having a talk with Kyle helped a lot. Anyway .. i'll always be on IRC Gene, and i'll help as much as I can.

-Joey

Ok George. Take the time to assess for yourself whether elite guardian is right for you.
There's no rush. Spend a few weeks thinking whether your timetable allows for it.
Rank changes should be signs of commitment. Changing back and forth sends a bad message.
So think hard and stick by one decision.

Just quickly about George's post, I think in order to be serious about our activity standards we should work on the emeritus rank.
No offense to those in mind but there are emeritus that play more Runescape than what is expected of that rank..

Joey, I can't change your mind, but respectfully remind you this is WG.
I've met like 20 people IRL and mailed shirts to 50 different addresses.
I've had up to 50 numbers in the SMS database at one stage.
You can trust me with your privacy.

I can maybe make 1 or 2 of the clanniversary because this is a very busy month for me.. Need to find a job, my pc broke, lost my account, my birthday is comming up and more..
Read everything else and i agree.

Well Zurvivor, in my defense, you are playing RS regularly so your PC doesn't factor in, you can job hunt at any time (and most of the events are at night for you anyway). It doesn't have to be during event times, and your birthday is one day, perhaps two if you have more than one celebration.

For your timezone, there are at least 5 good anniversary days for you.
So all these factors considered, a member as committed as you could make at least four.

One: I can't advertise or post on recruitment topics on Tip.It. I also can't post in Wars & Run-Ins or Clan Videos. We need any member (doesn't have to be a raid leader) to post our topics and recruit.


Five: I've PMed you my number once again.

I prefer Tip.it's community to RSC's, but I prefer RSC's activity.
I'll make that special effort to be on both.

Sounds good to me. I might start recruiting people from my CC. Probably only the odd ones that are 115+. And I'd love to join the SMS Service. I've missed my fair share of raids and I get pissed when i get on and realize I missed something fun

Lets do work boys

Alright I don't have enough insight into your life to judge what you can and can't do.
I can only ask for whatever you are willing to give, and I'll try to be understanding if your real life prevents you from giving more than you want to.
Just give me your best and I'll appreciate it.

Topics like this make me so happy. I love it when plans are put in place by leaders and they show the members what we are attempting to do.

This is a golden opportunity to get the ball rolling, don't let it slip guys & gals. We need everyone doing the best they can to see that WG succeeds and I know that we are capable of doing it. We have a really good group of people here.

I like all of these such things. Gene, as of now I'm going to say no to the SMS thing because I always know about every event and I never forget. The only thing between me attending or not is real life such as school or practices and such.

On another note, I'm looking forward to seeing the updates website and I always try my best to read and reply to our RSC posts.

Uhm, I've also noticed your increased activity, mostly due to me increasing MY activity.

All in all, I'm looking forward to this stuff.

I'll see what I can do, but school, band, my girlfriend and my other friends are miles ahead of WG in terms of priority to me, sorry.

I'm Emeritus so it shouldn't be that much of a deal, but I'm just letting you know.

Weekends are spent doing band stuff during the day, and drinking or spending time with my girlfriend at night. The following day is used for recovery and work.

I don't really have the time for legitimate activity during the week because I'm on campus the entire day.

I'll give what I can, but it probably won't be very much.

Joe, are you allowed to have any ties to WG whatsoever on Tip.it?

Really looking forward to the next week and a half

I'd love to come back to activity, but without audio raids/wars can be hard especially when no one calls in game. Not to mention it really isn't fun without it.
I've attended the last few wars and raids, but until i can get audio fixed i don't think I'll be an active Guardian.

If that means I have to leave then so be it, I probably should've left when it first happened, seems everything turned out as i expected.

That aside, good post Gene. Theres alot of work to be done but if every member commits then WG can definately be a force in the wild again.

This a great topic, 2011 sounds like it will be great for WG.

But on a side note for me, the clanniversary comes during the middle of the last week of my exams, so I won't be able to attend most of them

Yaaaaaaaaeeaaaaah!

I'm gonna try to attend more events from the clanniversary.
And we need more dutchies in WG. So ya, I'm going to try to recruite some people.

Kaykay.

Great post, lets just hope it turns out as planned
infact i missed my bus this morning reading this lol.

Side note: Looking at the people who didnt sign up for the wars, the list is quite big. I definitely agree with the activity point. In fact I agree with the whole thread, I just think the acitivity is a point needing to improve

But it's all good saying this, but it's all us members that have to read this and act on this.

This was a great motivating topic.
I still love RuneScape (and I obviously still love WG) and I would love to start playing again now that free trade and all is coming back. But I just can't. There is too much else going on in my life with school and music.
That is why I've been Emeritus for such a long time now.

I will return one day though. Until then, I'll do my best to at least post in these forums from day to day and visit the IRC sometimes.

Hope everything goes well with the events and wars and the recruitment, I'm sure it will!

Great topic Gene. Glad to see you active again.

As for myself, I'm a bit like Zeth. I still play runescape once in a while, to check up on old buddies, manage my kingdom or do a random quest but also or just walk around gaining absolutely nothing. I am however, not active enough to prove useful here. I know I want to return... I know I want to help here but I'm just wearing myself down should I will take this upon myself again.

Now with the changes to the wilderness and free trade returning I'm really interested in the path you and the clan will take to reclaim WG's old glory. maybe even surpass it?
Too bad real life is holding me back to do more. And it's not changing any time soon


And even though words can be a powerful motivator as we use them to bless or curse others; encourage or discourage; hearten or dishearten; embolden or frighten; exhilarate or dispirit; inspire or deprecate you should never forget (and I'm not looking at the leaders now) that it's the members who form and shape this beautiful clan... this wonderful place of friends and family.
It's time for those still wielding a sword and shield to collect themselves and put every fibre they have to further strengthen and fortify the clan they once swore to protect and honour. People shouldn't forget that it's not the motivating words but their actions that can make, or break this clan.


I always thought this to be true: “Fail to honour people, they fail to honour you; but of a good leader, who talks little, when his work is done, his aims fulfilled, they will all say, 'We did this ourselves.'” I hope some will understand this.

Eugene, I know that promises are like babies: easy to make, hard to deliver, but I promise you this.. one day I'll be back to fight and die in battle for WG again.


Love you all and best of luck.

Best regards,

Jesse

I just came out to say congratulations and good luck. It must have been a happy day when Jagex decided to put the wildy and free trade back. I know that WG will soar!

I will be watching with much pride!!!!!

WG forever
<333333

Gene, i trust you 100% its the thing about sending out the money. My parents go crazy like, "wtf you need it for? why? for who?" its fucking anyyoing dude.

Money? What money? There's no money involved.

I'll give you the paypal account to send the funds too

Theres a difference between being RS active and WG active.

I'm a fucking good runescape player, tell me otherwise. I play productively and so my tracker gains can give you false information. Also, i'm almost never on the same time as events. If im on ill surely go im not a douchebag, i love WG.

I'm a junior in highschool, the most important year so far. I have SAT March 12th, ACT April 9th, 2 AP exams in the first week of May, then finals/regents in June. I'm doing drivers ed 2 times a week. I'm an athlete too, i currently have basketball which ends in about another month then spring track for the rest of the year.

I don't have time for WG. Whatever free time i get, i want to enjoy so i play a little runescape (productively).

I don't want to come back to activity and attend 1 event a week. Its not me.