An interview with Mike Bemis (SL Name: Mike Burleigh)
Founder of Remembering Our Friends Memorial
http://www.rememberingfriendsmemorial.com
ViO: Tell us a little about your RL self and how you got interested in or into SL?
Mike Bemis: I started using Second Life about 4.5 yrs ago when I lost my mom to Multiple Sclerosis. I have 23 yrs in Sales in RL. I live in Michigan, USA.
ViO: Tell us how you ended up with the business venture we are featuring here in our story?
Mike Bemis: I had a friend pass away in SL. Plus with loss of my mom, I thought there needed to be a place to grieve in SL.
ViO: What need/benefit do you see your venture providing and for whom?
Mike Bemis: Support for those that have SL or first life friends or family pass away. Plus a collaberation with smaller SL/RL support groups. I want to provide them a way to get exposure in Second Life.
ViO: If others are providing the same benefits or services, tell us what sets your venture apart.
Mike Bemis: Customer service... Opportunity to talk with a real person, not a bot or an empty sim.
ViO: Tell us what challenge(s) you have faced that you have overcome for your venture. What can others learn from your overcoming this obstacle?
Mike Bemis: Misinformation... People think we are only a memorial, when in truth we offer remembrance, education and support. We have learned that you should constantly get the word out through groups like VIO for example.
ViO: Tell us what challenge you are currently facing that you are looking to overcome.
Mike Bemis: The challenge now is finding new creative ways to get people to donate to a worthy cause. We need help to pay our tier, so we have resources to help other groups.
ViO: Tell us a success story about a client or customer that your venture has helped.
Mike Bemis: A person in SL named Pat lost her RL/SL husband. She came here to place a memorial. She has been here ever since. She now runs Remembering our Friends Memorial for us.
ViO: Tell us what the future has in store for your venture. (i.e. new product rollout, goals for expansion, more services, etc).
Mike Bemis: The future is here. We have created The ROF Group to manage Remembering our Friends Memorial, our new HIV/AIDS Education and Support area and Memorial, our M.S Education and Support Area, and The V-Innovate new player help and support at ROF.
We are using our sim and remaining donation after sim tier is paid to help smaller support groups get a foothold in SL to make people aware of theiir cause and to grow. Our goal is to help people. We are interested in working with SL and first life education and support groups.
ViO: Tell us what your ideal target market is for your venture.
Mike Bemis: Ideally, people that have lost loved ones, or who are interested in collaborating with us, or helping us educate and support people on the various cause we are working with.
ViO: Tell us any special offers or deals you are offering to the Vio network.
Mike Bemis: Well our services are free. They always have been. We strictly work on donations. If you are a smaller support group that has a good cause, IM me in world or e-mail me at mikeburleigh@comcast.net to setup a meeting. Also anyone can request a Voice tour so I can personally show them around. :)
