By Sharon Hill
- Does your neighborhood or community have a website? How about email blasts?
- Is there one person in charge of keeping it updated?
- Is it totally public on the internet?
- Are there concerns about placing too much information regarding neighborhood and individual neighbor events?
- Do the residents want a way to communicate with each other about neighborhood issues?
- How about garage sales and events not sponsored by the neighborhood association but interesting to the residents?
I live in this neighborhood and I am our volunteer webmaster. I understand the limitations of a website, especially the technical side of keeping it updated and fresh. I also don’t want to be the editorial police of the website so we limit the content to issues that concern the neighborhood as a whole as compared to individuals.
Facebook is a perfect solution in addition to a public website. Here’s why:
- You do not need one person in charge of keeping the Facebook group page updated. You will need to have administrator or two.
- You can limit the access to the group to your neighborhood easily. Members only. Someone will be responsible for screening requests to join
When you create a group, you can completely control its privacy. There are three different access levels:
Open: For “global” groups, everyone on Facebook can view the group and join. If the group is exclusive to a specific network, only the people in that network can view the group or join it. All content (e.g., photos, videos and discussions) is visible to anyone viewing the group.
Closed: For “global” groups, everyone on Facebook can see the group, but the administrators must approve all membership requests or personally send invitations. If the group is exclusive to one network, only people in that network can view the group or join it. Only group members can view its Wall, discussion board, and photo or video content. Non-members can view its Info and Recent News. If you are not a member, you will not receive stories about closed groups.
Secret: These groups cannot be found in searches or be viewed by non-members. The name of the group will not display on the profiles of members. Membership is by invitation only. Non-members will not receive stories about secret groups.
Group administrators can change these options at any time by clicking “Edit Group” below the group photo.
3. Residents can post their garage sales, events of interest in the neighborhood and share referrals for having work done such as tree trimming or remodeling on the Wall.
4. Volunteerism can have a prominent place in your Facebook community.
5. Residents will police themselves.
The best part about your Facebook Community page is when someone complains, the administrator recruits!
Here is what a Facebook group page will look like:
Look what you can do:
- List events in neighborhood and community
- Link to outside websites such a city services
- Post photos and videos of events, yard of the of the month and recognition of volunteers
- Provide information about the association, whom to contact, history and etiquette
- Discussions threads can be about volunteerism, crime, referrals and events where neighbors can share ideas and take action
Setup of the page will be initially required and monitoring by the officers/administrators.
A Facebook group page does not replace a website. A Facebook group page provides an easy and everyone-can-do-it-way for neighbors to connect real time about real issues and opportunities in their neighborhood.
Oh and you know it is free right?
Tags: communities, Facebook, Facebook group page, neighborbhood associations, neighborhood facebook, volunteerism
