1. Membership drive: More people, more pull
2. What should our online community look like?
3. Freelancers U online seminar: Demystifying Search Engine Optimization
4. Networking party April 30
5. New Discounts: T-Mobile, the Mac Support Store, and more
6. Shared workspace: Room 58 for writers in Brooklyn
7. Events by and for freelancers
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1. Membership drive: More people, more pull

We want to reach 75,000 members by Independence Day 2008, and we're counting on you to spread the word! If we want to achieve real change for independent workers, and get elected officials to pay attention to our issues, we need the strength of numbers, so tell your friends across the country to join us.

To learn more about the membership drive and watch our progress, visit the advocacy page.

2. What should our new online community look like?

We’re rebuilding the online community (profiles, gigs, etc.), to make it easier for members to connect with one another on- and offline, share resources, and promote their work. There are some exciting new tools and functionality in the works—but first we need to know if we’re on the right track, what we’re forgetting, and what people would use most. Are you willing to participate in an online focus group in the next few weeks to give your feedback? Sign up here.

3. Freelancers U online seminar: Demystifying Search Engine Optimization

Are you confused by search engine rules? Do you understand what truly affects your search engine ranking? Is your website properly set up to be found by keyword searches? Pay-per-click, pay-per-performance, link exchanges, and search engine optimization—do you need to do it all? Join Freelancers Union and Jennifer Shaheen, the eMarketing and Technology Therapist, for our online seminar on May 8. Visit the events page for more information and registration.

4. Networking party April 30

Meet us at reBar in Brooklyn on Wednesday, April 30 for drinks and the chance to meet some of the other interesting, creative, entrepreneurial folks that belong to Freelancers Union. (You can see photos from the last networking event on the blog.) Our networking parties usually fill up fast, so be sure to register soon. Visit the events page for more information and registration.

5. New Discounts: T-Mobile, the Mac Support Store, and more

Freelancers Union members have access to new discounts (and if you’re getting this e-newsletter, you’re a member!).

Are you a T-Mobile customer? Get a 10% discount off monthly fees. Freelancers Union members can also get equipment discounts on new activations; a special 30-day return policy on new activations; and free activations on all orders.

Do you need help logging expenses and invoicing clients? Harvest, a web-based time tracking and invoicing service, is offering a 10% discount to Freelancers Union members.

As an artist and a Freelancers Union member, you can receive $5, $50, and $100 discounts on memberships to 3rd Ward, a 20,000 sq. ft. multi-arts mega space in Williamsburg, Brooklyn owned, operated and supported by artists.

Freelancers Union members can get 10% off on an out of warranty Mac or iPod repair or professional data recovery service from Brooklyn’s Mac Support Store.

For more information, visit our discounts page.

6. Shared workspace: Room 58 for writers in Brooklyn

Room 58, a new workspace designed specifically for journalists and other research-based writers, lives inside Brooklyn Artists Gym’s shared studio space for visual artists. “There’s a synergy and fermentation that can happen when creative artists are working in the same place,” says Peter Wallace, B.A.G. founder and co-partner of Room 58.

Room 58 is a joint venture between Brooklyn Writers Space and Brooklyn Artist Gym.

7. Events by and for freelancers

Do you want to offer classes or events to Freelancers Union members? Are you part of an organization that seeks to advance independent workers’ rights? We’re trying to figure out a way to share news about these kinds of activities, and we’re taking suggestions. Use this online form to give us your ideas, whether it’s a community bulletin board on our website, an announcements field in the member profiles, or something we haven’t even thought of. Below are some current examples of events that people want to share with one another.

Dream Project Intensive
From Carmina Perez: “If you have a project or business idea and need a push to get it going, join us for a night of supportive exercises designed to add a little “Miracle-Gro” to your plans! Thursday, April 24th, 3-6pm at Our Lady of Peace, 237 East 62nd St., b/t 2nd & 3rd Ave. Cost $15. Refreshments will be served. http://freelance.meetup.com/44/ RSVP: carminap@yahoo.com.”

Beginner Meditation Classes
From Anthony Varriano: “Learn the fundamentals of mindfulness meditation and approach stress, work, life issues, and healthcare with more clarity, understanding and ease. 6 Tuesdays, 7-8:15pm, Cost $75.00 includes audio cd and workbook. Contact Anthony Varriano, MD @201-424-1179 or avarriano@optonline.net for details/location.”

Domestic Workers United Lobby Day
Personal service occupations make up the fastest-growing segment of NYC’s non-employer workforce. Domestic Workers United represents child care and home health care workers, and they’re planning a day of action in Albany on May 20. You can visit their website to find out more about the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights that they’re promoting, plus their upcoming lobby day in Albany.