New Publication for Business: The Green Book
The AVW's publishing division is delighted to announce the imminent publication of its second title, The Green Book: A Business Guide to Virtual Worlds. This free downloadable book will be available at www.AssociationofVirtualWorlds.com shortly. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact Dave Elchoness (dave@associationofvirtualworlds.com). As always, we value your comments, questions, and corrections. Dave
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Membership Directory
An updated version of our Membership Directory including members 1 through 1500 is now available in pdf. For your free copy, please contact Dave at dave@associationofvirtualworlds.com.
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Reaching Out in May
The AVW is committed to outreach. Reaching out to harness the passion of the virtual worlds industry and to show those unfamiliar with virtual worlds why it is that we care.
In the two short months since it launched, and now 1,400 enthusiastic members strong, the AVW has:
• Launched our very own publishing division with half a dozen titles in development, designed to appeal equally to industry veterans and newcomers.
• Published The Blue Book: A Consumer Guide to Virtual Worlds, an easy to use but fact-filled directory for virtual worlds.
• Compiled the AVW Member Directory, so that we can all get to know each other better and help each other.
• Announced the first virtual words Person of the Year Award (Feb 21), to showcase the industry and the person who has achieved something extraordinary.
• Established the first Virtual Worlds Day (August 20), to bring virtual worlds to the attention of the public.
• Launched a Global Ambassadors initiative to ensure that the message is strong in every corner of the globe.
Please help us continue this great progress in May by telling a friend, colleague, teacher, or student about us. We value your engagement very much.
For more information about the AVW’s mission and goals, please visit
our Mission Statement and Goals.
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Association of Virtual Worlds Welcomes Dr. Chang Liu and Andrew Peters to Advisory Board
Jacksonville, Fla. (PRWEB) April 24, 2008 -- The Association of Virtual Worlds welcomes two distinguished members to its Advisory Board: Dr. Chang Liu, of Ohio University and 3immersions.cn, and Andrew Peters, of The Pacific West Communications, Harro Research, and Big-Bit Australia Pty Ltd.
"Dr. Chang Liu and Andrew Peters are outstanding additions to the Association's advisory board. In addition to being a prominent member of the Ohio University faculty and founding director of the VITAL (Virtual Immersive Technologies and Arts for Learning) Lab at Ohio University, Dr. Liu helped establish 3immersions.cn, the China virtual worlds development company. Andrew Peters, who resides in Singapore, has years of experience in B2B and B2C marketing and sales for technology companies across Asia Pacific. Instrumental in founding the Internet Industry Association of Singapore (IIAS), he now devotes a substantial portion of his time advising the virtual world, Twinity. Both of these gentlemen bring great talent and passion to our advisory board," says Dave Elchoness, Executive Director.
"Dr. Liu and Andrew Peters are excellent additions to the advisory board. Not only are they accomplished in virtual worlds, but their ties to Asia will enhance the Association's global reach," adds Edita Kaye, Founder.
The Association of Virtual Words is a global industry association for the rapidly growing virtual worlds industry. It serves as a resource for those wishing to experiment and explore virtual worlds for work or play. The Association's mission is to educate, network, recruit, and further the membership's collective goals.
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Association of Virtual Worlds Announces "Most Valuable Member"
Jacksonville, Fla. (PRWEB) April 24, 2008 -- The Association of Virtual Worlds is proud to announce Barry Everett the winner of its first Membership Drive and "Most Valuable Member" award.
"I am delighted to announce Barry Everett as winner of the Association's first Membership Drive and "Most Valuable Member" award. Thanks to our dedicated members, we've attracted over 1,300 members from around the world. Barry Everett is one such visionary and we are incredibly grateful for his contribution," says Dave Elchoness, Executive Director. "We will be making a donation of one laptop to the One Laptop per Child Foundation in the name of Barry Everett."
"In the time I have spent investigating Web 2.0 technology, it has become apparent that Virtual Worlds have vast potential value as venues for education, public outreach, and business collaboration. The networking that the AVW has provided to professionals with similar experience and interests has been important in the pursuit of these goals," Elchoness continues.
With a long career spanning mainframe to iframe, Barry Everett is a public sector information technologies professional, working as a programmer, web developer and technology manager for more than 25 years, currently investigating ways to assist his agency in implementing VW and Web 2.0. A 1971 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and a more recent student of Information Assurance at National Defense University, Barry has been engaged in virtual worlds for a little over a year, as a participant and knowledge networker. In addition to his passion for virtual worlds, Barry is a prolific blogger and dog lover.
"Thanks so much to Barry for his phenomenal contribution. I am overjoyed by the growth of the Association and all that it has accomplished in such a short time," adds Edita Kaye, Founder.
The Association of Virtual Words is a global industry association for the rapidly growing virtual worlds industry. It serves as a resource for those wishing to experiment and explore virtual worlds for work or play. The Association's mission is to educate, network, recruit, and further the membership's collective goals.
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AVW Updates April 21, 2008
Happy Birthday to AVW!
The AVW is exactly two months old today. We have been growing at the phenomenal rate of one new member every hour 24/7 from the day we launched and now we are a vibrant, active 1330+ members strong, representing the thought leaders and innovators of virtual worlds! Thank you everyone for all your enthusiasm and support.
Congratulations Barry Everett!
At long last, the results are in (and our apologies for the delay!) Barry Everett has won the Membership Drive Competition held last month. He will be awarded the “Most Valuable Member” award and the AVW will donate a laptop to One Laptop per Child in his name. Thanks so much, Barry, and to all of you, who, with your referrals, have helped expand the reach of the AVW and its positive message for virtual worlds.
Announcing the first annual “Person of the Year Award 2008”
To commemorate this amazing group we are announcing the first Person of the Year Award to be awarded to that individual who has made the most extraordinary contribution to virtual worlds in 2008. Start thinking of who you would select and why. Nominations will open shortly.
Global Ambassadors Program
Have you noticed the AVW is global with dozens of countries represented? To keep the “global’ going we are launching a Global Ambassadors Program, a group of people who would like to represent the AVW in their own country or region of the “physical” world.
Please feel free to contact us about any of the items in this email…and thank you everyone!
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Association of Virtual Worlds Welcomes Three New Members to its Global Advisory Board
Jacksonville, Fla. (PRWEB) April 11, 2008 -- The Association of Virtual Worlds welcomes Dr. Hanan Gazit, founder of DiGRA Israel (Digital Games Research Association) of Tel Aviv, Israel; Francesco D'Orazio, Ph.D., founder and CEO of Myrl.com, of London, United Kingdom; and Cynthia Freese, founder and CEO of Evergreen Events, of Seattle, Washington, USA; to its global Advisory Board.
"Each of these new Advisory Board members brings a unique background and perspective to the Association of Virtual Worlds. Dr. Hanan Gazit is a pioneer in Digital Games, a researcher, an entrepreneur and an academician. Francesco D'Orazio not only serves as a leader in London's virtual worlds community, but, with Myrl.com, will bring together virtual worlds and their users like never before. Cynthia Freese, Executive Director of the ION Games Conference, is an innovator with deep ties to the virtual worlds and games communities. I am so pleased that each of these superb leaders has agreed to join us." says Dave Elchoness, Executive Director.
"The team that has assembled to advise the Association of Virtual Worlds is exceptional. These three global members make outstanding additions." adds Edita Kaye, Founder.
The Association of Virtual Words is a global industry association for the rapidly growing virtual worlds industry. It serves as a resource for those wishing to experiment and explore virtual worlds for work or play. The Association's mission is to educate, network, recruit, and further the membership's collective goals.
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Association of Virtual Worlds Welcomes Liz Ryan, Leading Workplace Expert, to its Advisory Board
Jacksonville, FL (PRWEB) April 10, 2008 -- The Association of Virtual Worlds welcomes Liz Ryan, Business Week Online workplace columnist, Yahoo!Hotjobs Networking Expert, syndicated workplace advice columnist, Author, and Speaker, to its Advisory Board.
"As an expert on the new-millennium workplace, a former Fortune 500 Human Resources executive, and an entrepreneur, Liz Ryan is the exactly the right person to help propel virtual worlds into the corporate mainstream and lead the discussion on how virtual worlds can assist in an increasingly complex global workplace environment. I am delighted that she will be advising the Association and participating in the thriving community emerging at the Association of Virtual Worlds." says Dave Elchoness, Executive Director.
"Virtual worlds will be the next important arena for leaders to understand and make use of in attracting, leading and hanging on to talent. I'm delighted to be in on the conversation." says Liz Ryan.
"I am thrilled that Liz Ryan has joined the Association's Advisory Board. As virtual worlds transform the workplace, I look forward to Liz's participation helping to drive the Association's discussion on the subject." adds Edita Kaye, Founder.
The Association of Virtual Words is a global industry association for the rapidly growing virtual worlds industry. It serves as a resource for those wishing to experiment and explore virtual worlds for work or play. The Association's mission is to educate, network, recruit, and further the membership's collective goals.
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Hot off the “PRESS” AVW Member Directory
Just out. The first AVW Member Directory. This pdf version includes the AVW mission statement and goals, a listing of Advisory Board members and AVW Executives, and the first 1,000 members’ complete profiles and contact information from the Business & Social Network. To get a copy of this invaluable resource members, please contact Dave Elchoness, Executive Director, at dave@associationofvirtualworlds.com
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The Power of Just 1 Friend
Last week was amazing. Our small but vibrant organization is growing by leaps and bounds and the growth is stimulating some of the most exciting and important conversations and connections about virtual worlds that the Internet has ever seen.
Not only have we passed the 1000 mark…but also the 1100 mark! And we are climbing fast!
Now we are down to the last few hours of our first hugely successful membership drive…do you know someone who could add their voice, ideas, and connections to the AVW? Invite them to join us today!
And let’s not forget that the member who brings in the most new members receives:
1. A laptop in his or her name donated to One Laptop per Child;
2. A plaque from the Association recognizing his or her achievement as Most Valuable Member; and
3. Recognition for the member and his or her company or organization in a press release issued by the Association.
A few important rules:
1. The contest period will be from February 20 (when the network first went live) through 11:59pm US Eastern Time on March 31. So, we will consider those efforts made by Association members before this Membership Drive was announced.
2. All invitations must be made through the Business & Social Network, so that they can be tracked.
3. To count, the invitee must accept membership by entering a confirmable profile. Profiles that can't be confirmed as "real" (or real avatars!) will not count -- so no “N/As,” “Will input laters,” or “TBAs” allowed!
Good luck and thank you.
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Association of Virtual Worlds Welcomes Chadrick Baker of Metaversatility to Its Advisory Board
Jacksonville, Fla. (PRWEB) March 27, 2008 -- The Association of Virtual Worlds welcomes virtual worlds specialist, Chadrick Baker of Metaversatility, formerly of Linden Lab, to its Advisory Board.
"Having Chadrick Baker join the Advisory Board is a tremendous plus for the Association of Virtual Worlds and the whole virtual worlds community. His six years of experience developing virtual spaces, and leadership on governance and legal issues at Linden Lab, will be a great asset for us. Chadrick is pioneer and a visionary and I look forward to working with him." says Dave Elchoness, Executive Director.
"I'm very pleased to be joining the Advisory Board of the Association of Virtual Worlds. The number of virtual worlds present on the internet is growing, and having a unique place for users and those who want to learn more is a growing need which the Association has recognized. As time passes and the two dimensional web browser is slowly replaced by the three dimensional one, the three dimensional internet will emerge, and it's those who get involved now who will be considered the new early adopters."
says Baker.
"Thanks to Chadrick Baker for recognizing the potential of the Association and joining us as we strive to serve the virtual worlds industry, adds Edita Kaye, Founder.
About The Association of Virtual Words:
The Association of Virtual Words is a global industry association for the rapidly growing virtual worlds industry. It serves as a resource for those wishing to experiment and explore virtual worlds for work or play. The Association's mission is to educate, network, recruit, and further the membership's collective goals.
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Membership Drive Contest Getting Hotter!
March 20 2008
Just 6 days ago at the 650 level we announced our 1st membership drive contest…and the response was huge. We are now just a few new members shy of 900! We now have just 11 more days to go to reach our goal of 1500 members by March 31.
So please help us with our outreach efforts. Start inviting friends, colleagues, clients to this exciting and vibrant group.
And let’s not forget that the member who brings in the most new members receives:
1. A laptop in his or her name donated to One Laptop per Child;
2. A plaque from the Association recognizing his or her achievement as Most Valuable Member; and
3. Recognition for the member and his or her company or organization in a press release issued by the Association.
A few important rules:
1. The contest period will be from February 20 (when the network first went live) through 11:59pm US Eastern Time on March 31. So, we will consider those efforts made by Association members before this Membership Drive was announced.
2. All invitations must be made through the Business & Social Network, so that they can be tracked.
3. To count, the invitee must accept membership by entering a confirmable profile. Profiles that can't be confirmed as "real" (or real avatars!) will not count -- so no “N/As,” “Will input laters,” or “TBAs” allowed!
Good luck and thank you.
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Friends:
The Association will issue the following press release Wednesday, March 20, 2008.
Association of Virtual Worlds Partners with Altadyn and Trimensions Metaverse Development to Construct Virtual World Headquarters and Facility
Jacksonville, Fla. (PRWEB ) March 20, 2008 – The new Association of Virtual Worlds is proud to announce its partnership with
Altadyn, developer of the 3Dxplorer 3Dweb authoring tool and player, and
Trimensions Metaverse Development, a noted virtual worlds developer and designer, to construct a 3D virtual world headquarters and facility for use by its members.
“With its unique 3Dxplorer technology, Altadyn is positioned to deliver a virtual world experience to benefit even those who have never before explored virtual worlds. Trimensions Metaverse Development develops imaginative 3D spaces that are also functional – a necessary combination. We believe that this team will create a place and experience that our members will enjoy, regardless of whether they are industry insiders or newcomers to virtual worlds,” says Dave Elchoness, Executive Director.
“I am delighted that the Association has chosen to use Altadyn’s 3Dxplorer to build its virtual world presence. Altadyn and the Association share an interest in creating accessible virtual environments, and we believe that our 3Dweb browser solution does just that,” says Darius Lahoutifard CEO, Altadyn, of Paris, France and Irvine, California.
“I look forward to designing virtual environments that will enhance the Association’s interaction with its members and showcase the power of our new platforms and technologies. This is a wonderful opportunity for us in a new medium – virtual worlds and the 3D Internet,” adds Rahul Dutta, CEO Trimensions Metaverse Development, in Gurgaon, India.
“It was my dream from the very beginning that the Association have its own virtual world, not only to allow members from all over the world to easily attend all the exciting events we have planned, but also to be able to initiate businesses who may not have yet experienced a virtual world and to demonstrate just how fantastic this future can be for their enterprise,” says Association Founder, Edita Kaye.
The Association of Virtual Words is a global industry association for the rapidly growing virtual worlds industry. It serves as a resource for those wishing to experiment and explore virtual worlds for work or play. The Association’s mission is to educate, network, recruit, and further the membership’s collective goals.
For more information please contact: dave@associationofvirtualworlds.com or edita@associationofvirtualworlds.com
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ION Game Conference Partnership & Discount
Friends:
I am delighted to announce the Association's partnership with the ION Game Conference, an extraordinary industry event being held May 13 to 15 in Seattle, WA.
As part of the partnership, Cynthia Freese and her team at ION have graciously offered AVW members a $75 USD discount on the price of admission. Just enter the discount code "AVW" when you register.
For more about ION, please visit its website www.ionconference.com.
I look forward to seeing you in Seattle!
Dave Elchoness
Executive Director
About ION: The ION Game Conference (formerly known as OGDC) is the only annual game industry event with a laser-sharp focus on the rapidly evolving business of online game development on all its platforms. ION’s theme for 2008 is redefining online. Redefining online means we’re actively exploring the boundaries of online game development, covering more than just MMO fantasy games. Console, wireless, virtual worlds, mash-ups, mobile, casual games – all of these categories intersect with online gaming. Online games are global and expanding into new markets that boxed games can't. Redefining online is an ongoing interchange of ideas and information that will involve everyone at ION.
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Membership Drive Announcement
Membership Drive Contest!
Just 3 weeks old and already over 650 members strong. Time to raise the bar with a Membership Drive Contest.
Why? Because a primary goal of this Association is to enhance and amplify the extraordinary discussions happening inside virtual worlds to those on the outside. To achieve this, we need numbers.
The Goal: A minimum of 1500 members by March 31.
The member who brings in the most new members receives:
1. A laptop in his or her name donated to One Laptop per Child;
2. A plaque from the Association recognizing his or her achievement as Most Valuable Member; and
3. Recognition for the member and his or her company or organization in a press release issued by the Association.
A few important rules:
1. The contest period will be from February 20 (when the network first went live) through 11:59pm US Eastern Time on March 31. So, we will consider those efforts made by Association members before this Membership Drive was announced.
2. All invitations must be made through the Business & Social Network, so that they can be tracked.
3. To count, the invitee must accept membership by entering a confirmable profile. Profiles that can't be confirmed as "real" (or real avatars!) will not count -- so no “N/As,” “Will input laters,” or “TBAs” allowed!
Good luck and thank you.
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Publishing Division Announcement
Attention Authors!
The AVW announces the formation of a publishing division.
When we sat down to brainstorm the goals of this Association, we determined that two of the most exciting goals would be to showcase the extraordinary talents and skills of our members in the new virtual future of business, education, technology, entertainment and more. And then, to introduce those talents and skills to the general and business public. We believe that the best way to achieve these goals is through a publishing division.
Let’s get the word out about virtual worlds, virtual lives, the virtual enterprise and all of the amazing possibilities that virtual worlds represent.
If you have an book, a white paper, or a report you would like to author, if you have a speech you would like transcribed and published, or if you would like to be a contributor to in-house titles developed by the Association, please contact us.
We anticipate that the Association’s first title will be published in early 2009.
Edita Kaye, Founder
Dave Elchoness, Executive Director
All submissions published by the Association become the property of the Association.
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Association of Virtual Worlds Names August 20 First Annual Virtual Worlds Day
Jacksonville, FL. (PRWEB) March 11, 2008 -- The new AssociationOfVirtualWorlds.com in recognition of the rapid emergence of virtual worlds has named August 20 the first annual Virtual Worlds Day and applied to Chase's Calendar of Events for inclusion.
"How better to recognize virtual worlds than to give them their own day? People everywhere work and play inside of virtual worlds and the number of users is growing dramatically. Whether you enjoy on-line games or simulating real life events for training or connecting with colleagues around the globe inside a virtual workspace, this day is for you," says Dave Elchoness, Executive Director.
"I am very excited that the Association of Virtual Worlds is, to the best of my knowledge, the first to not only identify the need for such a day of recognition and celebration for what is rapidly becoming the future of the Web, but to take action and apply to have this very special day included in such a respected source as Chase's."
Chase's Calendar of Events owned by The McGraw-Hill Companies has become one of the most comprehensive and authoritative reference available on special events and holidays and is a trusted reference source for thousands of libraries across the country, broadcast and print media, speakers, meeting planners and more according to a description of the company.
The Association of Virtual Words is a global industry association for the rapidly growing virtual worlds industry. It serves as a resource for those wishing to experiment and explore virtual worlds for work or play. The Association's mission is to educate, network, recruit, and further the membership's collective goals.
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Association of Virtual Worlds Advisory Board Goes Global
Jacksonville, Fla. (PRWEB) March 10, 2008 The Association of Virtual Worlds welcomes four new members to its Advisory Board: Dr. Sara de Freitas, Director of Research at the Serious Games Institute at the University of Coventry in the UK; Darius Lahoutifard, CEO,
Altadyn, with offices in Paris, France and California; Rahul Dutta, CEO,
Trimensions-Metaverse Development, of Gurgaon, India; and Bruno Cerboni, Founder and CEO of
Virtual Italian Parks, of Rome, Italy.
“I am thrilled that these four leaders in their fields have agreed to join the Advisory Board of the Association of Virtual Worlds. The Association is truly a global organization and the addition of these four international members to the Advisory Board underscore the global aspect of this new group.” says Dave Elchoness, Executive Director.
The Association of Virtual Worlds is experiencing rapid growth both in the US and around the world. “It is extremely exciting to see such an enormous global interest in this organization,” says Edita Kaye, Founder.
The Association of Virtual Words is a global industry association for the rapidly growing virtual worlds industry. It serves as a resource for those wishing to experiment and explore virtual worlds for work or play. The Association’s mission is to educate, network, recruit, and further the membership’s collective goals.
For more information please contact: dave@associationofvirtualworlds.com or edita@associationofvirtualworlds.com
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Friends:
The Association's Business & Social Network is the first phase in the launch of the Association's efforts. To achieve the positive impact we have in mind, over the next weeks and months, we will be tapping members of the community to share their insights, skills, and vision for the industry.
Today, we announce the Association's first Advisory Board and its first member.
I am pleased to announce that David Wisotzky, founder of
Xivio, has agreed to serve on the Association's Advisory Board. We issued a
press release this morning. Please stay tuned for more over the coming weeks.
Thanks.
Dave Elchoness
Executive Director
Virtual Worlds in Australia
(8 members)
Virtual Worlds in Singapore
(5 members)
Virtual Worlds in the UK
(5 members)
Virtual Worlds in China
(7 members)
Virtual Worlds in New Zealand
(5 members)
Virtual Worlds in Denmark/Scandinavia
(18 members)
NEWCOMERS to Virtual Worlds, You're In the Right Place!
(36 members)
PROJECT POSTINGS
(19 members)
The Imagination Age
(14 members)
VW Developers
(28 members)
Education in VWs
(79 members)
Making a Living from VWs
(82 members)
@Boulder CO
(2 members)
Knowledge Networking
(97 members)
Virtual Worlds of Tomorrow
(151 members)
If you're a newcomer to virtual worlds, please don't be alarmed -- you've come to the right place. Join the NEWCOMERS to Virtual Worlds group for assistance.
With so many demands vying for our time and attention, sometimes even a simple, uninterrupted phone call seems to be a stretch of the imagination. Cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), instant messaging, pagers, faxes, emails and the list goes, on all contribute to information availabil… Continue 
Dave Elchoness
created this social network on Ning. 
