erik gillespie Archives - Uno Deuce Multimedia

#BetterCallPaul – #GivingTuesday Video Giveaway 2017

It’s that time of year again, and I’m joined by Erik Gillespie of the The Giving Jar to give you the ground rules for this year’s Video Giveaway on #GivingTuesday.
To nominate your non-profit go to www.givingjar.org to vote!
Plus go to the UnoDeuce Multimedia YouTube Channel to see the past winners! Don’t forget to vote!

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► Subscribe to the #BetterCallPaul Channel Here:
http://bit.ly/2jbP69q
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Paul has been a visual storyteller for as long as he can remember and decided to turn that into a career. He chose video as his medium and his award winning style has been seen nationally as well as praised locally. A self-proclaimed community proponent and pro-Michigan advocate, he owns and is creative video strategist for UnoDeuce Multimedia which is celebrating its 6th year in Lansing. Paul was just recently awarded the 2015 Entrepreneur Institute Micro-Entrepreneur of the Year.

Don’t forget to
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Thank you for watching this video. I hope that you keep up with the weekly videos I post on the channel, and just so we couldn’t keep this channel going without your support, so please comment, like and share.
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Also Subscribe to the main UnoDeuce YouTube Channel Here to see the client work we are putting out up to 3 times a week!

http://bit.ly/2jklgle

Guest Post: March 14: Lansing’s first monthly Tech Demo Night!

There’s a new tech event in town, and you’re invited.

It’s called Tech Demo Night. Think of it as a show-and-tell for all ages with a technology theme. It’s free and you don’t have to show anything, but you’re more than welcome to.

Already interested? RSVP and we’ll see you there!

Tech Hubbub

Tech Demo Night is a celebration of technology, trying and exploring new things, and of course, the amazing people in Lansing who love both.

Whatever kind of technophile you are—inventor, coder, student, teacher, maker, entrepreneur, designer, fanboy, fangirl, seasoned geek, or newbie—here’s a chance to share that slice of tech you get excited about, meet other like-minded individuals, and discover even more things to get excited about.

It doesn’t matter if you’re creating something that you want to share or you just want to see what’s going on in Lansing’s tech scene: come on out, eat some free pizza, ask someone what they’re doing in tech, and watch some sweet demos. You’ll leave inspired, more knowledgeable, and more aware of Lansing’s great tech community than ever.

We also know that kids are way more in touch with tech than many adults, so this will be a kid-friendly event, too! If your child or some young’n you know is learning or doing something mind-blowing, encourage them to come out and present!

Demos Done Quick

Because this event is open to such a wide variety of tech and ages, we’re hoping for a bigger turnout than other tech meetups in Lansing. In order to make sure as many people can demo as possible, there are a couple of rules for demos:

Demos must be 5 minutes or less
Demo material sent to Erik Gillespie (event organizer) goes first

A 5-minute demo will go by fast! If you’ve never given such a short presentation, try it out. You’ll discover that 5 minutes is not enough time to get into the technical details. In fact, it’s just enough time to demo and high-level overview. ????

Sending slides and demo content to the event organizer saves us from all that wasted time disconnecting and reconnecting laptops. We highly recommend putting your material somewhere on the web and providing a link so everything can be ready to demo when it’s your turn. If you have physical props, bring those with you and try them out before the demos start!

An hour of demos, an hour of banter

If you want to talk about something at length, there will be 30 minutes both before and after the demos to do so! You can also sign up to present your idea at one of Lansing’s many other tech meetups.

If you liked a demo, we encourage you to chat with the presenter after all of the demos are done. This is also a great time to learn more about how they discovered that sweet piece of tech they showed off or created, where they work, if they’re looking for help, and how you can get involved.

Pizza and drinks are generously provided by our co-sponsor, Michigan SBDC. You should also ask them about how they’re helping build a better tech scene in Lansing.

Things to Remember

Bring your favorite new project or product, give a quick demo, and finish with some light convo. Anyone who loves tech can present, including kids!

Lansing Tech Demo Nights are held on the second Tuesday of the month, doors open at 7:00 pm, and noms will be provided.

Don’t forget to RSVP. We hope to see you there!

Discover more Lansing tech meetups at Lansing.Codes.

Erik Gillespie is a software developer and semi-pro advocate of amazing things. He founded Giving Jar, a blog and upcoming donation platform for Lansing charities, and helps people learn how to create websites and other software at Lansing Code Lab. He’s kind of obsessed with board games, too.

Guest Post: SoupGrant Lansing: Eat Soup, Do Good

A hot bowl of soup is a great way to warm up and wind down on a crisp autumn day. But what about the rest of the year? Can’t soup be enjoyed then, too? Is there a way soup can warm your soul as well as your body? And can the soup be free?

If you live in Lansing, you can proudly answer ‘yes’ to all of this thanks to a spectacular event known as SoupGrant Lansing.

Go grab a spoon and a bowl. I’ll fill you in on the details when you get back.

SoupFunding

Think of SoupGrant Lansing as a crowdfunding event with free soup. On the third Thursday of every month, at Grace Lutheran Church in Lansing, people from in and around Lansing come together to enjoy great soup and support people doing good things in their community.

After some chit-chat with new friends, everyone settles in with a hot bowl of soup and watches 2-3 presenters discuss projects they are working on to improve the community.

Community Boosting

Each presenter gets 5 minutes to describe their idea, how it helps people in Lansing, and how they would use the money from the SoupGrant. The crowd then has a chance to ask questions.

Once all of the pitches are done, anyone in the crowd who donates $5 or more gets to vote for their favorite project. The project that receives the most votes gets the whole pool of money donated by the voters, also known as the SoupGrant.

Big Hearts Welcome

One aspect of SoupGrant Lansing that really stands out is its inclusiveness. Anyone with an idea to improve their community can apply and present. High-schoolers, senior citizens, businesses, nonprofits, and everything in between are all welcome.

SoupGrant is also a great way to discover and support great, new things happening in Lansing. A lot of people are working very hard to make Lansing blossom and it’s so inspiring to see a few of those folks each month.

Spread the Word!

Have an idea that could put a smile one someone’s face? Apply and talk about it! Share SoupGrant with a friend. When word spreads about an event such as this, Lansing, your community, benefits.

Hope to see you and your spoon at the next SoupGrant Lansing!

Erik Gillespie is a software developer and semi-pro advocate of amazing things. He founded Giving Jar, a blog and upcoming donation platform for Lansing charities, and helps people learn how to create websites and other software at Lansing Code Lab. He’s kind of obsessed with board games, too.

Guest Post: Charity Spotlight: Building Twentyon

Building Twentyone helps teenagers develop positive habits and values by giving them a safe, constructive place to drop in after school. They offer tutoring, a large space for safe party alternatives, workspaces for homework and projects, and the only indoor skate park within 75 miles of Lansing, Michigan.

In this charity spotlight I spoke with the Executive Director of Building Twentyone, Benjamin Schartow.

Origin Story

About five years ago, tragedy rocked the Holt community. A group of seniors from Holt High School, who had been partying at MSU, crashed into a tree. Three of the seniors lost their lives. The driver had been drinking.

Members of the community met to discuss what could be done to change teen perceptions. This is when Benjamin knew he had to help.

“Who is offering an alternative for these teenagers?” was the question Benjamin asked. When no one answered, he decided to take action. After talking with students, he began offering 5th Quarter parties after football games. These parties provided free pizza, a DJ, inflatables, giveaways, and a safe alternative to other house parties.

These 5th Quarter parties paved the way to Building Twentyone.

Today

Building Twentyone’s campus consists of two large buildings between Mason and Holt. Students can be bussed there after school. There are a number of workshops offered, such as photography, DJ, and improv. Building Twentyone also offers tutoring, games, and plenty of space for personal projects. There is also a lake out back where students can boat and fish.

And then there’s the skate park. Benjamin says it wasn’t part of his original vision for Building Twentyone, but a couple of volunteers put their hearts and backs into it and made it happen.

Empowering volunteers is something else Building Twentyone does well. Most of the staff are volunteers who don’t have leadership backgrounds. It’s not just teens who are looking for a purpose.

Big Wins

There have been some big moments for Building Twentyone this year. They have started holding assemblies at Holt Junior High with uplifting messages. The teen center has also been around long enough to see the long-term positive impact it has on teenagers. Working with a teen for a year or more and watching their life completely turn around is a very personal accomplishment for Benjamin.

Building Twentyone also recently celebrated its largest fundraiser. With utility bills exceeding $900 in the winter, those donations help a lot.

Advice For Donors

Benjamin revealed to me that Building Twentyone is primarily volunteer-operated. The larger expenses are rent and utilities. It’s very easy for those expenses to exceed 33% of their expenses.

When donors look at that percentage to gauge the quality of a charity, it’s also important that they look at the value being offered by that number. Facilities like Building Twentyone’s are invaluable to teens, and letting them explore technology, art, and other indoor activities year-round have a high energy cost.

Fortunately, Building Twentyone was recently awarded a grant that will reduce their utility bills by 70%.

Goals

In the near future, Benjamin would like to add digital media, speech writing, and public speaking workshops to their programming. He is also working with Mason schools to help influence more teens.

Looking farther ahead, Benjamin thinks it would be great to see an additional Building Twentyone location in the Lansing area.

Advice to Nonprofits

For anyone running a charity, Benjamin suggests planning fundraisers well in advance. Pick a date and work backward on your calendar to decide when you should start promoting it. If you start too late, there may not be enough time to spread the word and attract enough donors.

Benjamin also recommends looking for volunteers who are capable in areas where you are weak. Keep people doing what they love for as long as they love it. Touch the lives of your volunteers and they will become champions of your cause.

Photography by Ian Kast

Guest Post: A Tabletop Gamer’s Guide to Greater Lansing

The popularity of tabletop gaming—a broad term that includes everything from board and card games to roleplaying games—has exploded in recent years. Now, you may not think of Lansing as a mecca for gamers, but the Lansing area has been doing a fantastic job keeping pace with hobby gaming. Almost too good a job.

Newcomers to the hobby may be intimidated by the abundance of options to choose from and newcomers to Lansing may simply not know of a good place to start for their particular niche.

When it comes to tabletop gaming, I’m what you might call obsessed. Have been since I got HeroQuest in the early 90s (and am still its proud owner). I’ve even been fortunate enough to write for Geek & Sundry about board games.

More importantly, I’ve curated a list of places in Lansing where gaming addicts and newcomers alike can go to have some fun.

Where to Buy

When you want to find a new board game, miniatures, roleplaying books, or other gaming supplies, the place to go is usually a comic book store. Here are some of the Lansing area’s comic shops that also have a solid selection of games:

Summit Comics and Games has a huge selection of board games. They have more space dedicated to gaming than to comics even. They also have a sort-of-but-not-really hidden back room where games can be played.
Fortress Comics and Games sells comics and board games, but where they really shine is wargaming. If painting minis and constructing terrain to hold tiny epic battles, visit this shop.
Hollow Mountain Comics and Games is the newest shop, but they have an eclectic mix of board games. If you want to pick up a fun, new game that hasn’t received a lot of attention, start here.
Just 4 Fun Hobbies and Comics probably caters to the widest variety of hobbyist. They’ve got comics, board games, and all sorts of supplies for making terrain, painting, and making hobby trains and models.

There is such a thing as a dedicated game store and Lansing has ’em. If you know you want games and nothing but, check out these friendly local game shops (FLGS):

Evolution Games has a big selection of pretty much everything. Whether you’re looking for board games, card games, roleplaying, wargaming, or painting/terrain supplies, there’s a good chance you can find something here.
AFK Games. AFK has a selection of board games, collectible card games, minis, paints, and space to play. If you want to ogle some pre-painted miniatures, you can find do that at AFK, too.

Since board games have become so popular, bookstores have started selling them. Both Schuler Books and Barnes and Noble have pretty good selections of the more popular (and usually beginner-friendly) hobby board games.

Looking for Group

Whether you’re new to Lansing or just looking to expand your horizons, there are a number of gaming groups that are all very welcoming. For starters, practically all of the game shops have groups that meet regularly, organized and unorganized play times, tournaments, and other events.

If that’s not enough or not your cup of tea, there are also a number of groups on Meetup that get together at other venues to play. Lansing Board Gamers is an especially dedicated group and I’ve had a blast anytime I’ve met up with them.

Looking for something more low key or kid-friendly? Check out a nearby school or library. Schuler Books also hosts gaming events in their Chapbook Cafe occasionally.

Conventions

When you’re ready to take your gaming hobby to the next level, I recommend attending a convention. These are large events where hundreds or thousands of people get together to enjoy their hobbies together. Lansing has at least three conventions (‘cons’ for short) where you can enjoy board games.

MittenCon is one of Lansing’s two conventions that are all about board gaming. It’s held over President’s Day weekend and goes for three days. Gaming is a pretty good way to pass the time during Michigan winters!
DaveCon is the Lansing area’s other board game-exclusive convention and you only have to wait until September to participate. You can join someone else’s game, bring your own, participate in a tournament, or even test out unpublished games by local designers!
Capital City Comic Con is a comic book convention, but just like you can buy board games in comic shops, there’s typically board gaming at comic cons. This one’s on August 27, so you’ll have to decide quickly about attending.
Shuto Con is actually all about anime, but they have rooms for video and tabletop gaming nonetheless. Plus you can admire all sorts of amazing cosplay and perhaps pick up yet another hobby!

Where to Give

If you have a heart of gold, you may also wonder about how to put your gaming hobby to better use than purely your own entertainment. One such way is to volunteer at Creating Heroes Stephen’s Way. They are a Lansing nonprofit that uses comics and games to help educate children and provide a safe place for them to play.

Other ways you fuse gaming with philanthropy in Lansing? You could join the Extra Life Lansing Guild to help heal sick and injured kids. Sparrow Hospital Children’s Center and MSU Federal Credit Union also organize toy drives and are happy to accept donated games!

Looking for More?

If you have more questions, are looking for game recommendations, or just want to play or talk about games, reach out to me! Find me on Twitter or Facebook.

Erik Blog Bio

Non-Profit Spotlight: Creating Heroes Stephen’s Way

Creating Heroes Stephen’s Way is a comic book shop in Lansing, Michigan that provides kids with a safe place to play games, learn to read and draw from comics, and get mentoring from enthusiastic volunteers. All profits from their comic book sales are dedicated to helping children. In this charity spotlight, I spoke with the Director of Creating Heroes Stephen’s Way, Monica Jahner.

Origin Story

Monica’s brother, Stephen, used to run Capital City Collectibles, a comic book and hobby game shop in Lansing, Michigan. When he passed away in 2010, the business was left in Monica’s hands. After learning about all of the work Stephen had been doing to help children in the area, she decided to carry on his philanthropic efforts. She made the decision official by reinventing Capital City Collectibles as the charity, Creating Heroes Stephen’s Way.

Today

Creating Heroes Stephen’s Way continues to sell comic books at the back of Everybody Reads Book Store. All profits go to mentoring and other youth programs. These programs include literacy through comic books and drawing lessons through Rick & Joe’s Comics Crash Course for Kids. Creating Heroes Stephen’s Way also offers children a safe place to play games such as Magic: The Gathering, Pokemon, and HeroClix. Regular tournaments are also a big hit. Creating Heroes Stephen’s Way also participates in Free Comic Book Day, encourages kids to get involved in cosplay, and they even got one of Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man costumes for one of their events!

Big Wins

Each child she is able to help is a big win for Monica, but it’s also not uncommon that she is able to help the parents through her work at the NorthWest Initiative. The NorthWest Initiative is a nonprofit dedicated to helping build and sustain healthy communities in Lansing. When Monica meets new children, sometimes she also discovers parents who need help getting back on their feet. If she can help those parents get the right experience, education, and licensing to get back into the workforce, she can help a whole family. Those wins are huge.

To Nonprofits

If you want to start a nonprofit or charity, consider the misery you have experienced in your life. “Make that your mission and save someone from the pain you’ve experienced.” Monica also advises that nonprofits are not the place to make a lot of money.

Goals

Kids are always looking for love and family. Monica would like to find more opportunities to bring kids together and keep them engaged. Expanding the literacy program, introducing new subjects, and tutoring are great ways to do this. Creating Heroes Stephen’s Way regularly holds Magic: The Gathering, Pokemon, and HeroClix tournaments, but they would also like to include more volunteers to help with other games.

To Donors

Monica has this advice to give to donors: “Run with your passions. Put yourself out there and the energy will come back to you.” Find something you love to do and do it for a good cause. Do you like drawing, reading comics, or playing games? Creating Heroes Stephen’s Way is looking for volunteers like you. Share those interests with children. You’ll change lives.

Erik Blog Bio