Wow. I can’t believe the year has already gone by. The newest candidates for CafePressVoice, the shopkeeper panel that was introduced last year to provide CP with feedback on various features and services. Meet the 2008 CPV Candidates.

I’m quite pleased with the variety of candidates - varying levels of experience, seniority and community participation mean a well rounded panel that can represent all the different ways CP is used. Some of us will be staying on through the end of the year, so there are just 7 seats to fill this time around.

My first year on the panel was enlightening. I think that although we may not be able to share all we have done, that there have been a lot of great changes at CP based on feedback provided by the CPV reps, as well as services to be improved upon based on our voices. It’s been great to share not only our own experiences and feelings, but those of fellow shopkeepers.

The question came up about the nominees forum participation. Many people seem to think that it should be a pre-requisite for nomination. I disagree. I would love to see more shopkeepers in the forums, but for some, that’s just not their thing. And the fact is, forum participants are a small percentage of the CP community. Many people just lurk, some have yet to find them, some don’t touch the doorknob with a ten foot pole. I think that it would be good to have the perspective of a shopkeeper who’s not too active on the forums, as it would represent a large portion of the community that has never been there. I would love to see them become more active in the community after they are elected, but it’s most important to me that they participate in CPV by offering their experiences from the other side.

Elections are April 21st, which just so happens to be my 8 year wedding anniversary. Hopefully I remember the anniversary before the election

My only question is this… Is Kippy chewing leather? Or is that chocolate? And if it is chocolate, where’s mine?