Sometime in 2007, a small sub-group of members at www.storymakersstudio.com realized there is a need for asking animation innovators, veterans, and entrepreneurs how they are doing what they do for the benefit of all animators. Yet this group also knew that the industry offers a virtual sea of animation choices unless we had a truly compelling point of difference, they just couldn't justify further muddying the waters. Plus this group was also thinking that they really wanted to do more to help those less fortunate. They really wanted to 'do something good' as corny as it sounds. The problem is, volunteering time and money isn't all that easy. One day the light bulb clicked on, and inspired by companies such as Paul Newman's Own, the two dreams were connected and a vision was born to have a society dedicated to assisting making great animations and donating profits to charity. In late summer 2007, Animation Arts Society called and sent out an e-mail offer to roughly 40 animation programs. The title of the e-mail was the "Animation Arts Society initial Offering" is born. The letter asked the question "Wouldn't it be great if every time you enjoyed great information from animators that you were doing something to better your community?" We told the recipients our story, asked them to join us, and encouraged them to forward the message on to others they thought might be interested. People not only embraced our concept, but clearly, a chord was struck and they 'paid it forward' by sharing the offer with others. Today, Animation Arts Society is a reality and you are invited to be a part of it. Vision: To create a practical, easy to understand, and You TOO can do it animation online community site. Objectives: To create a site that excites, entertains, educates, and converts profitably in order to allow Animation Arts Society to give to agencies and organization that assist others.