New Web Site Launched for United Methodist Churches Involved in the Nothing But Nets campaign

Announcing the new www.umc.org/nets Web site

‘Send a Net. Save a Life.’

Nothing But Nets is creating a buzz. It’s captivating United Methodists as a way to be involved with saving lives. Thousands of people have bought insecticide-treated bed nets at $10 a shot.

“The reaction to [Rick] Reilly's 815 words made clear that thousands of people were ready to help the million children dying unnecessarily each year of malaria. And so Nothing But Nets was born.” (UN Foundation Web site, www.unfoundation.org/malaria/)

The time is right to be involved. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has issued a challenge and they will match dollar for dollar donations up to $3 million. $2 million has already been raised and so $4 million is on its way to purchase bed nets, distribute them to families in Africa, and explain their use.

The campaign has everything we communicators love – theme, endorsements, storytelling, a way to make a difference, concrete outcomes, ease in communicating and getting involved, and a way for people to feel engaged, connected and doing the ‘right’ thing.

And it just got easier. We have four new things to announce.

1) WEB SITE. The new www.umc.org/nets site has been launched. Every local church needs to know about this site. For example, clicking ‘Find Tools and Resources’ reveals the Game Plan, a plethora of downloadable resources, including worship support, curriculum and publicity materials – as well as Talking Points for Youth.

Click on ‘Get Youth Involved’ and you will see explanations of youth events in 2007 and invitations to get hands-on with the campaign.

Anyone wanting to deepen their involvement with Nothing But Nets can develop a plan of action for adults or youth supported by the information and resources available on the new site. Good news for communicators: Downloadable graphics will be available on the site very soon. Keep checking back.

Send a net. Save a life. Nothing But Nets is becoming so big across the U.S. we urge you to put a link to www.umc.org/nets on your church's site as the source of information for persons in your congregation. NothingButNets.net Web banners are available for download (attached to this e-mail also).

2) GAME PLAN. In addition to being available on the new Web site, the Game Plan (also known as a toolkit) can be ordered for $15. The Game Plan has a sample T-shirt, a poster and a DVD that contains downloadable video, guidelines, sermon starters, curriculum, bulletin covers, drop-in ads, posters and more. It's packaged in a draw-string duffel bag.

Available via the Game Plan or from the Web site, T-shirts sell for $20, with $10 going to purchase a bed net. Coach cards (note cards) will sell for $10 and will be available soon.

An email order card for the Game Plan will be arriving soon so please watch for it.

3) 7 VILLAGES. We know people want to talk about their activities and to learn what others are doing. UMC.org offers a 7 Villages site (networking with others via the Internet) just for Nothing But Nets. We need someone to start a Village – so reach out and be among the first village builders. See www.7villages.com/nothingbutnets.

4) YOUTH REPORTERS. We are looking for youth to serve as reporters on the ground for youth activities so if you haven’t already done so, please send contacts we can work with to tap youth for this special assignment.