Online chapter?

[astroAPhi]

I thought I saw something on alphaphi.org about an upcoming online community.. is this it?

[Aphigal]

Wow that was fast!! Yes the IEB approved a motion to fund the launch of an online community last week. It won't launch till July at the earliest...I think....

[a CA in CA]

There has been an A-Phi yahoo group in existence for some time too...I haven't been overly participatory with it though so if anyone wants the skinny, PM me because I'll have to go log back into it to tell you how to get permission to be in the group.

[TechAPhi]

I set up and run a couple of message boards similar to Greek chat. The problem I have always experienced with these kinds of forums is -- how to get people to actually USE them? They are such a tremendous resource (as we here all know), but how do you get the less technically inclined to even check it out -- much less post and participate?

I hope against hope that the new forum will be the resource we all dream it will be -- there is so much potential!! I would have loved to have been a part of the launching of this forum.

[Sistermadly]

Advertising, advertising, advertising! I'd love to participate in an A Phi Eyes only forum. I don't know the rules of GreekChat, but unless someone says it's spamming, why can't we let people know about the existence of another A Phi forum within this one?

(if that makes sense)

I'm sure GreekChat didn't start out as the behemoth it is now. It takes time to grow a community. A great book to read for people who are interested in building online communities is "Design for Community" by Derek Powazek. He even has a few sample chapters online at http://www.designforcommunity.com.

[TechAPhi]

Sistermadly: I agree with everything you said. It does take time--even after five years of running a message board for one of my websites, I still can't get half of the people to post! It gets read a lot, but not many -- save a gung-ho few ever post.

I think there are lots of people -- particularly older women who need to be shown or guided through the forum. Hopefully, they will have a virtual tour or something similar for the (many) technically challenged people out there.

I've spoken at A-Phi regional conferences before on technology issues and there are most definitely women out there who are scared of new things or are afraid they will mess up their computers if they try something new. It sounds nutty to us -- because we know how simple it is -- but they are out there!

I am sure International has a plan to somehow "train" users (you know what I mean!).

I am looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

[SATX*APhi]

I was visiting www.alphaphi.org the other day and the little pop up window mentioned something about this. I'm so excited!

[Sistermadly]

Ah, that explains why I haven't seen it! I have pop-up windows blocked on my computer.

[SATX*APhi]

This site has all the info!

http://www.alphaphi.org/onlinecommunity.html

[Sistermadly]

This is great...from the description it sounds like an Alpha Phi version of Classmates.com - I was hoping for a 'sisters only' discussion board that all sisters - collegians and alumnae - could use.

But hey - this is better than nothing!

[yogiPhi]

I'm In For Sure!

I'd even pay to be a part of that!

Keep me posted if this ever gets off the ground.