Yet more on the Potters' Penguin Project

Finally, the Potters' Penguin Project information you've all been waiting for!

1. Deadlines:

The deadline for our initial penguin push (>1500 penguins) is June 21, 2016. While the Potters' Penguin Project is likely to continue collecting penguins after that date, we have set this initial deadline so we can gauge, relatively soon, both the number of penguins likely to join our colony and the amount of space they will occupy; having a date will also help us as we contact exhibit locations. (Plus, it's winter solstice in the southern hemisphere, the darkest time of year for penguins.)

UPDATE 6/22/16: We have 804 penguins in the colony! We have two more deadlines: October 15, when we hope to pass 1,500, and December 15, when we'll do our final colony census. Thanks to all who have contributed so far!

2. What charity should this project support?

There are many organizations doing excellent work advocating to combat global warming. We've consulted with friends who are active in environmental law, green building, and biology, and among their recommendations, the following organizations stand out:

* Natural Resources Defense Council, http://www.nrdc.org/about/
* Earthjustice, http://earthjustice.org/about, "because the Earth needs a good lawyer"
* The Union of Concerned Scientists, www.ucsusa.org
* and Saving Species, www.savingspecies.org (not penguin-specific, but we recognize that biodiversity is important and that we all share the same planet)

If you have strong feelings about any of these organizations, please let us know!

3. Rules of the colony:

* Penguins should be handmade out of clay. Mixed-media penguins are welcome if clay is the main ingredient.
* All species of penguin, real or imagined, are welcome in the colony. Design, firing method, etc., is up to individual makers.
* Penguins should be less than 10 cm (3.9 inches) tall.
* Penguins must stand on their own, i.e. without needing to hang from or lean against a wall.
* We have no official standards of penguinness: if makers think their creations look like penguins, we'll consider their creations penguins (although we reserve the right to clothe penguins engaged in X-rated behavior).
* We're aiming for "green" (consider single-firing, low-temp firing, etc.), but not greenware: please fire your penguins to reduce the risk of damage during transportation.
* If I've overlooked something obviously important, please let me know!

4. The fine print:

We're trying to find a lawyer who can tell us (preferably for free) whether we need to put any of this into legalese (anyone know anyone?). In the meantime, you should know that...

* All donated penguins to become part of the Potters' Penguin Project, as described on this page and http://mightoughtashould.blogspot.com/search/label/penguins. The Potters' Penguin Project is a community art project to create and exhibit >1500 clay penguins, in order to make the impacts of global warming on distant places more immediately tangible to both makers and viewers.

* After the colony has been exhibited (we're aiming for at least three locations), we will either donate the penguins directly to, or sell them on behalf of, one of the above charities, or one that does similar environmental advocacy. All proceeds will go to said charity.

* If, after reasonable effort, any penguins don't sell or are declined as donations, remaining colony members may be donated to a charity doing environmental advocacy in Durham, NC (where the Potters' Penguin Project originated).

* We are unable to return donated penguins to their makers.

* Participants are responsible for the costs of their materials, firing, shipping, etc.

5. Fame and glory:

We would like to include makers' names in the text that will accompany the Potters' Penguin Project. Please send us your name with your penguins. If you'd prefer to remain anonymous, let us know. We will do our best with record-keeping, and apologize in advance if we inadvertently leave anyone's name out.

6. Getting your penguins to the project:

Please contact me via g e e k p o t s a t g m a i l d o t c o m to arrange delivery/pick-up/shipping.