diff --git a/db/migrate/20121106101718_add_slug_to_users.rb b/db/migrate/20121106101718_add_slug_to_users.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a551cf15f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/migrate/20121106101718_add_slug_to_users.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+class AddSlugToUsers < ActiveRecord::Migration
+  def change
+    add_column :users, :slug, :string
+    add_index :users, :slug, unique: true
+  end
+end
diff --git a/db/migrate/20121106101936_give_old_members_new_slugs.rb b/db/migrate/20121106101936_give_old_members_new_slugs.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4c8596ac9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/migrate/20121106101936_give_old_members_new_slugs.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+class GiveOldMembersNewSlugs < ActiveRecord::Migration
+  def up
+    User.find_each(&:save)
+  end
+
+# note: this is basically impossible to reverse without removing
+# friendly_id, because friendly_id automatically updates the slug when
+# you save the object.
+
+end