Intermittent Text Messaging Problem

It looks like we’re experiencing a problem with our text messaging system. We’re looking into it and will have it back up and running shortly.

Location Issue Resolved

It came to my attention on Friday that some users were experiencing problems with our location based forms, including updating report locations and adding community groups. It turned out that we needed to update portions of our code that referenced Yahoo’s geocoding APIs. That update is now complete and everything should be working again. Please let me know if you experience any additional problems.

Why can’t I join my own community group?

There have been a few requests for tech support over the past couple of days involving new members who can’t join their own local community group. We’re working on a fix to prevent this – in the meantime, here’s a quick fix.

• Go to ‘Your Saved Locations’

• Verify that the marker on the map is placed correctly. Even though your address is correct, the signup form may have been submitted before our geocoder returned your exact location.

• If the map marker is incorrect, edit the location and either retype your street address, waiting for the geocoder to update the marker before saving – or – drag the marker to your correct location and save.

• Return to your ‘Home’ screen – you should now be eligible to join your own community.

If this problem has affected you, thanks for your patience while we work on a permanent solution.

Red Cross Shelter in Jefferson County, WV

I received an email last night ask asking me to distribute a press release with information about Jefferson County’s Red Cross emergency shelter.  Rather than post it in each of our many Jefferson County community groups, I decided to try out our new alert system.  If you are a member in Jefferson County and did not receive the alert, received multiple alerts or experienced some other problem, please let us know.

If you or someone you know needs shelter, the new location is the Covenant Baptist Church, 7485 Shepherdstown Pike, Shepherdstown, WV.  It’s located on Flowing Springs Rd right outside of Shepherdstown.  Please note that the Google Maps location for the church is NOT correct.  If you are unable to provide your own transportation, please contact the Jefferson County EOC at (304) 728-6345 or (304) 728-2100 x2979.

With all the snow on the ground and the new snow coming, please take a few minutes to check on your neighbors – especially if they may need some assistance with shoveling snow or may not have adequate supplies.  At times like these, good neighbors can make all the difference.

Here’s the latest release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Debra D. Palmer,
Public Information Officer
Eastern Panhandle Chapter American Red Cross
(304) 725-5015 office
(703) 625-0162 mobile
dpalmer@easternpanhandlearc.org

Jefferson County Red Cross Shelter Location Change

The Eastern Panhandle Chapter of the American Red Cross, in an effort to protect both our volunteers and clients, will be opening a shelter at the Covenant Baptist Church, 7485 Shepherdstown Pike, Shepherdstown, WV to provide a safe and warm environment for Jefferson County residents who may be suffering from long-term power, food shortage and/or water outages.

If you are in need of temporary shelter, please bring the following items with you: bed linens, clothing, toiletries, and any prescription or non-prescription medications you may require. Please check in at the registration desk in the gymnasium and we will make sure you are directed to safe parking. If you are unable to provide your own transportation, please contact the Jefferson County EOC at (304) 728-6345 or (304) 728-2100 x2979. The dedicated folks operating the EOC will do their best to provide alternative transportation during this snow emergency. At the present time, we are unable to provide shelter for pets due to the road conditions and safety concerns involved in their transportation to the animal shelter.

It is times like this that the Eastern Panhandle Chapter of the American Red Cross can really use monetary donations from the local communities to sustain such massive operations. You can donate by mail to 1948 Wiltshire Road, Kearneysville, WV or via PayPal on our website: www.easternpanhandlearc.org.

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First Nation of Neighbors Sign Posted

Many thanks to everyone who came out to our first sign posting yesterday!  It was an awesome experience to be able to post our first sign across the street from the location of our first public presentation, some 4 or 5 years ago.  We’ve come a long way since then, and it’s completely due to your help.  Neighbors working together can improve communities.  And improving communication between neighbors will give us all a better chance of success.

I’d like to single out Brian of Black Dog Coffee for a special thank you for providing refreshments.  Not only is Brian a longtime member and supporter of Nation of Neighbors, he also owns and runs a local company, Black dog Coffee, that roasts some of the best coffee I’ve ever had the pleasure to brew.  Anyone who knows me should know that’s quite a statement.  I drink way more coffee than I should – and I’m picky!  Brian offers free local delivery and ships his fresh roasted beans nationwide via priority mail.  If you appreciate good coffee you owe it to yourself to check out http://www.blackdogcoffee.net/.

I’d also like to thank the Journal for covering the event and Corp. Tiong from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office for joining us – and everyone who took the time on a beautiful Saturday morning to lend a hand.  Thank you!

Twitter Integration, Anyone?

If we offered Twitter integration, would you use it?

I’ve noticed that some of the communities using Nation of Neighbors have a community Twitter feed.  If we offered Twitter integration it would work like this: local reports would be published to your feed and your tweets could be listed on your NoN page for your community members who don’t use Twitter.  Would anyone use it?

Sign Dedication in Jefferson County, WV

We’ll install the very first Nation of Neighbors Neighborhood Watch sign on Saturday!  If your local to Jefferson County, please try to come out and join us!  We’re going to try to take a ‘community photo’ at 9:20.  If you need extra incentive, consider this:  there will be Black Dog Coffee and donuts!

Here are the details:

Show Your Support for Community Policing

Saturday January 23, 2010 9:00am to 9:30am
Mission Road Community Center

We’ll be posting our first Nation of Neighbors Neighborhood Watch sign on Mission Road at the community center on Saturday morning, January 23rd. The following week, we’ll begin sending them out all over the country!

We’ll also take a group community photo around the sign. The photo will be submitted as a supporting document with our final proposal to the Knight Foundation. We’re asking for $800,000 to help support Nation of Neighbors for the next three years. We’ve made it to the second round but we need your support. Help us create a new high-tech non-profit right here in Jefferson County!

Come on out and join your neighbors, local officials and law enforcement in support of this home-grown initiative.

Neighborhood Watch Signs Available

Nation of Neighbors Sign

I’m excited to announce that our first Nation of Neighbors Neighborhood Watch signs will be available later this week!  They are high quality screenprinted aluminum road signs on a reflective white background.  They are also manufactured locally.  We will eventually offer these signs for sale.  We’ll announce more information about the new signs later this week.

Thanks for a great year

Happy New Year!

I want to take a moment to tell all of our members how much I appreciate you trying Nation of Neighbors. I know there are literally thousands of great web-based projects out there vying for your attention. Thanks very much for giving ours a chance. I hope that you have found Nation of Neighbors useful.

2009 was a wonderful year. We launched Nation of Neighbors in June and we’ve had a great response. We’ve made a lot of new friends, received some great feedback, made improvements, learned a lot and, hopefully, somewhere someone is a little safer.

Despite the great year we’ve just had, I’m really excited about 2010. We’re currently involved in several grant opportunities and exploring other funding options. We’ll be launching several new exciting features this month including the ability to reply to reports and other local news simply by replying to the notification email, discussion groups and Twitter integration. And on a more personal note, I’m also laid off from my full-time job as of today. While it’s stressful, I’m using it as an opportunity to devote more time and energy to Nation of Neighbors. As of today, this is my full time job. I’m looking forward to working with you.

Profile Photos Fixed

Profile photos are working again.  If you’ve had trouble changing your community photo or personal profile photo recently, it should work for you now.