Hey gang! Here comes another riveting post in our FAT Lab How To series. As our regular FAT readers already know, we are creating a how-to that documents every step in the formation of our Lab, in hope that it might be of service to someone out there trying to start their own non-profit organization. This time we’re opening up the process of finding pro bono legal assistance with filing our articles of incorporation through the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts in New York. To get the ball rolling, the FAT Lab called the Art Law Line and recorded two phone conversations with VLA staff. It was almost exactly like talking to Star Jones. As a result of these steamy conversations, the FAT Lab has signed up for the VLA Nonprofit Incorporation and Tax-exempt Status workshop on November 12th. The workshop costs $75 duckets and is the first step toward the VLA finding and assigning the Lab pro bono legal support. For more info on the VLA workshop click here. Stay tuned for additional sketchy recorded phone calls, hidden camera videos and more from FAT Lab… because this time, we’re getting off like OJ.

The first time I called the VLA Art Law Line I got the answering machine and I left a message:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

The next call was from Adam Alex, a law school student who works at the VLA, who returned my initial call within an hour or two:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

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The Art Law Line : 212·319·ARTS (2787), ext.1
Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Hey gang! Here comes another riveting post in our FAT Lab How To series. As our regular FAT readers already know, we are creating a how-to that documents every step in the formation of our Lab, in hope that it might be of service to someone out there trying to start their own non-profit organization. This time we're opening up the process of finding pro bono legal assistance with filing our articles of incorporation through the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts in New York. To get the ball rolling, the FAT Lab called the Art Law Line and recorded two phone conversations with VLA staff. It was almost exactly like talking to Star Jones. As a result of these steamy conversations, the FAT Lab has signed up for the VLA Nonprofit Incorporation and Tax-exempt Status workshop on November 12th. The workshop costs $75 duckets and is the first step toward the VLA finding and assigning the Lab pro bono legal support. For more info on the VLA workshop click here. Stay tuned for additional sketchy recorded phone calls, hidden camera videos and more from FAT Lab... because this time, we're getting off like OJ. The first time I called the VLA Art Law Line I got the answering machine and I left a message: download the mp3 (2 MB) [audio:FAT_CALL_VLA3.mp3] Download the background mp3 mix from DJ Ripley (78 MB) The next call was from Adam Alex, a law school student who works at the VLA, who returned my initial call within an hour or two: download the mp3 (8 MB) [audio:FAT_CALL_VLA4.mp3] Download another background mp3 mix from DJ Ripley (67 MB) The Art Law Line : 212·319·ARTS (2787), ext.1 Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

“The duration of the Corporation shall be perpetual”

On October 25th, in New York City, Evan, Jonah Peretti and I signed the FAT Lab articles of incorporation. You basically need one of these documents and three board members to begin your own revolutionary non-profit jump-off. As part of our Lab How-To (How to start you own phat, non-profit Lab), we’ve included a pdf, zip scan and an OpenOffice doc of our incorporation certificate. Just click on the OpenOffice document, fill in your name and info in the sections annotated in red, write a check for $75 duckets and mail that john to the address listed here and you too can join corporate America. It might also help to have a music video:

To watch this video at the resolution of the proletariat click here. BTW, we haven’t actually verified that this is a legal certificate. Stay tuned for more on our post on How to contact the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. For more info on starting your own non-profit business you can look here.

"The duration of the Corporation shall be perpetual" On October 25th, in New York City, Evan, Jonah Peretti and I signed the FAT Lab articles of incorporation. You basically need one of these documents and three board members to begin your own revolutionary non-profit jump-off. As part of our Lab How-To (How to start you own phat, non-profit Lab), we've included a pdf, zip scan and an OpenOffice doc of our incorporation certificate. Just click on the OpenOffice document, fill in your name and info in the sections annotated in red, write a check for $75 duckets and mail that john to the address listed here and you too can join corporate America. It might also help to have a music video: To watch this video at the resolution of the proletariat click here. BTW, we haven't actually verified that this is a legal certificate. Stay tuned for more on our post on How to contact the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. For more info on starting your own non-profit business you can look here.

Set up a pay pal account and create a giant donation button. Big buttons = big donations… .or so we hope.

Set up a pay pal account and create a giant donation button. Big buttons = big donations... .or so we hope.

The website is biggest public venue you’ve got and will always receive more eyeballs then a physical location. Getting up content early and often is better then beautiful and never. To get this site up and running took only a weekend and less then $130 (for the year).

- Domain registration: godaddy.com ($10 / year). I’ve also heard good things about 1and1.com.

- Web hosting: dreamhost.com ($120 / year).

- Install blog software: wordpress.org (free). To install wordpress in dreamhost you go to panel.dreamhost.com, login, under Goodies click One click installs, click wordpress and create a new data base. Fill in the remaining info boxes and click Install it for me now!. The site should be up and running.

- Web design: (free) If you are using wordpress then you can let the power of the open source community design your web page for you (for the most part). Just download themes from the web and ftp them to the dir yoursite.com/wp-content/themes. You can change and customize themes in the wp-admin page. Some sites to download free wordpress themes:

- http://www.fresheezy.com/
- http://themes.wordpress.net/
- http://www.wpthemesfree.com/
- 83-beautiful-wordpress-themes-you-probably-havent-seen
- http://www.wpdesigner.com

The website is biggest public venue you've got and will always receive more eyeballs then a physical location. Getting up content early and often is better then beautiful and never. To get this site up and running took only a weekend and less then $130 (for the year).   - Domain registration: godaddy.com ($10 / year). I've also heard good things about 1and1.com.   - Web hosting: dreamhost.com ($120 / year).   - Install blog software: wordpress.org (free). To install wordpress in dreamhost you go to panel.dreamhost.com, login, under Goodies click One click installs, click wordpress and create a new data base. Fill in the remaining info boxes and click Install it for me now!. The site should be up and running.   - Web design: (free) If you are using wordpress then you can let the power of the open source community design your web page for you (for the most part). Just download themes from the web and ftp them to the dir yoursite.com/wp-content/themes. You can change and customize themes in the wp-admin page. Some sites to download free wordpress themes: - http://www.fresheezy.com/ - http://themes.wordpress.net/ - http://www.wpthemesfree.com/ - 83-beautiful-wordpress-themes-you-probably-havent-seen - http://www.wpdesigner.com

In an effort to get the word out about our new fffffat baby we have begun giving more talks and presentations. The more rich and powerful people in the room the better. If, however, there are people or organizations that are too rich or too powerful don’t be afraid to pull out the F bomb.

Here is the 2min Open Office presentation we gave at Gadet Off last week.

In an effort to get the word out about our new fffffat baby we have begun giving more talks and presentations. The more rich and powerful people in the room the better. If, however, there are people or organizations that are too rich or too powerful don't be afraid to pull out the F bomb. Here is the 2min Open Office presentation we gave at Gadet Off last week.

Even with the popularity of blogs and RSS, email announcement lists still seem to be an important way to consistently reach people. This site is hosted on Dreamhost, for which I found this tutorial on how to set up an HTML subscription form on your front page. I tweaked it a little, but it looks like this:

Your E-mail:

    

If you’re not on dreamhost check to see if your hosting provider has mailman installed.

Even with the popularity of blogs and RSS, email announcement lists still seem to be an important way to consistently reach people. This site is hosted on Dreamhost, for which I found this tutorial on how to set up an HTML subscription form on your front page. I tweaked it a little, but it looks like this: Your E-mail: Your E-mail: If you're not on dreamhost check to see if your hosting provider has mailman installed.