[UPDATE: download it now, read it and share your thoughts on Facebook]

Last year, when Ton turned 40, we organized an unconference to celebrate (of course we also had a bbq party!), and we invited people from our various circles. The topic was ‘Working on Stuff that Matters‘, ‘WSTM’. Some 40 people participated in the unconference, some 20 workshops were held, and it was an event that is still giving us energy almost 18 months later.

We always wanted to create something tangible as an outcome of the event, to create an ‘Epic Sh*t Multiplier’ as we called it on the day. We created an e-book, explaining ‘how to unconference your birthday’. The text was written during the summer of 2010. A professional designer (BUROPONY in Rotterdam, hire them, they’re great!) created the book itself in May/June this year. In the past days we sent out cards to all participants of the unconference to allow them to download the book. We’ll publish the e-book itself online later. Right now it’s a gift for those who attended. A small token of our appreciation for the big gift they gave us by attending the unconference, and the energy and inspiration that is still generating for us. Thank you.

[UPDATE: download it now, read it and share your thoughts on Facebook]

Below are some pictures giving you a sneak preview.

During the design process

First edition

Sending out cards to participants

This is serious from Elmine Wijnia on Vimeo.

I taped many things during Ton’s Unconference Birthday Party, but this shot ruled them all.

It’s a theme that we both discussed for a longer time now. We feel the deep need to work on projects that have a positive impact on society at large. At the same time we realize that the two of us can’t change the world and that we need to focus on the small steps we can take on things that are important to us.

For me, it’s an ongoing quest to discover what I’m passionate about, matters to me and, more importantly, matters to others as well so they’re willing to pay me for doing the work. One of the outcomes of my own birthday workshop in 2008, is that I rediscovered my passion for video. This is the video that I created back then:

Elmine’s Birthday Unconference from Elmine Wijnia on Vimeo.

Over the past year and a half, I’ve been developing my interviewing and editing skills and I even created a documentary on a topic that fascinates me.

So far my video work is mostly about my passion and working on things that matter to me: uncovering and showing people’s stories and stitching stories into a bigger narrative.

Now it’s time to turn it upside down and see how I can align what matters to me with what matters to you.

P.S.: the qualilty is not at its best. Will see if I can improve it.

[Update 3-10-'08: I uploaded a new one, with better quality. Still some glitches, but much improved.]