I should start with an apology to those who did not attend last Thursday’s meeting, because you may have noticed an addition to the site. And if you haven’t, well here’s my chance to take you to the prom.

As of Thursday evening, ca 7PM CST, Underground Graphics released an online store. Currently, and most apologetically, only one item is listed; and it’s not even something recent. But I’m certain that will change.

The important thing is that the venue exists, and marketing opportunities are available to all current members and alumni.

Have you been working on a cartoon series? Are you wiling to part with some work from figure drawing, or maybe you have a deck of cards that craves new ownership? List it on our store.

I think the driving force behind the online store, too, is that fundraising has always been a poison to this group; and there’re only so many people on campus who want our stuff, which has led to non-designery (not a real word) products being sold. And, to be honest, baking cookies should be the absolute last alternative for sales from a group of designers. We’re among the creative elite; why are we resorting to predictable and inherently bland capital techniques?

Sure, they work to an extent. And they get us to where we’re going. But should fundraising only be a means to an end?

Looking forward, I hope that the store will become a stable source of income for the group, not only to help fund trips and whatnot, but to give opportunity for creative fundraising.

With that said, I’m challenging the group to forgo the easy road to DSVC. We are not Aramark; we are not the Girls Scouts of America. So shame on us for appropriating their money-making paradigm.

So what do you say? Can I pick you up at your parents around 8?