By Scott LaMay
Revised: Tuesday April 11, 2011 at 11:04 AM
NEW Singles Network Launched January 6th
Current membership: 161
HISTORY: Why we chose Meetup.comWHY YOU SHOULD JOIN
- We're Motivated to Keep Adult Singles Informed and Engaged
GBCC's Unifyer Online Social Networking System went offline the end of January, 2011. Leaders from several local Northeast Wisconsin singles groups came together to discuss options to how best stay connected Online through a private secure platform. Several people who used Unifyer voiced their concern with using Facebook due to offline safety and online security issues and refuse to use the site. Well taken, we're listening. The leadership team felt the biggest downfall with using Facebook is that you can't edit or delete most of the content posted. We have your, and the singles' community, best interests at heart.
Meetup.com is a fantastic Online social networking venue and the only logical solution which met our present and future needs that offered amazing tools, convenient and easy to use features for members and organizers alike.
Debra Van Asten from GBCC Singles Ministry says, "This is a secure website and is far easier to use than GBCC's Unifyer system ever was!"
- Meetup.com — A Real-life Community Focused Social Networking Platform
who's mission is to focus on intentional face-to-face connections with people who share similar interests and values. By sharing information from this venue with family and friends on Facebook, as well as other networking sites, and when talking with those in our offline social circles, we raise an awareness and reach people looking to network socially while offline—In the real world, where we can do life together as intended which has a higher probability of a positive affect and outcome on our culture, our community, and in our personal lives.
- Meet new people, expand your circle of friends, and take part in activities you enjoy with other single adults.
- Our philosophy on life is: If we are committed to Learn as a life-long value and Relate what we learn to our relationships and in our daily lives, we will Discover. . . contentment, possibilities, and opportunities.
- RSVP for Events
Let us know you'll be joining us by simply clicking the Count me in button. When doing so, you'll have the option to post a comment why you are attending - or "skip." Now the red button turns green for I'm GO-ing!
RSVP'ing is encouraged and extremely helpful to event hosts so they know who is coming, and how many, when firming up details and accommodations during the planning process.
Another option is the No thanks link. But to keep "as they are posted" E-mail's to a minimum, please only use this to let the host(s) know this sounds like a cool event and you might be able to join us "IF" . . . You can change your RSVP to "Can't make it" at any time and are given the option to leave a comment or "skip".
Each calendar event has a discussion area. Members can suggest events in the field on the top of the home page.
- Attending Events - Organizer & Host Tools
Meetup has given organizers and hosts many tools to help keep things organized, one of which is the ability to print the list of who's coming along with their photo thumbnail so we can recognize those who are new to the group as they arrive — Greeting with a warm welcome and introductions to others.
It's important to arrive at the scheduled start time, as it is a planned welcoming time before the hosts get actively involved in the busyness and distraction of the event activity.
- Get E-mail Event Reminders
Meetup.com offers a powerful reminder system of which the settings can be controlled from a link at the top of the member profile page. While we don't want to flood member E-mail boxes with unwanted mail, we do want to use the automated reminder system to keep everyone informed of what's going on and what is being communicated with hopes not to be a distraction. Automated E-mail saves organizers a lot of time in the way we communicate and take care of the administrative tasks necessary to keep members informed and connected as a collaboration of singles organization's.
- Communicate and Share
Meetup.com offers ways to get the word out and connect people. Use the message boards by starting a new topic or replying to a thread. Don't be shy, this private social media was created with your desires in mind. Share to Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, and other social and professional networking sites and apps.
Communicate, share, connect!
- Considering Joining but Desire to Come in Under the Radar?
We understand there may be times and circumstances when a person may need to keep a low profile, yet desires to interact with other single adults while taking part in activities, shared interests and conversation. Whether a Doctor, lawyer, Fireman, Police Officer, manager, CEO, business owner, aldermen, television personality, business coach, motivational speaker, going thru a separation or divorce, whom ever - for what ever reason, we respect the desire to come in under the radar.
As part of the request to join process, you'll need to set up a separate profile for NEW Singles Network. The only required field at this time is "name." First name — real one preferred. You may keep your last name private and a photo is not required. The three question fields may be left blank but they won't divulge much, if any, personal identifiable information if you do answer them.
HOWEVER,
This lack of transparency is not in our members best interest, yet, some of the leadership team wants to continue this practice to allow members to have the choice to be somewhat discreet with their identity.
PLEASE NOTE THAT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR MEMBERSHIP, EVERYONE SHOULD WILLINGLY PROVIDE A PHOTO AND REAL FULL NAME
At the discretion of one of the many organizers, a request to join may be denied. Although extremely rare to decline a request for membership, in a case where this happens, a message will be sent with the reason(s) for denial and/or a request to correct a profile issue and/or a request for more identifiable information (which will be kept private among the leadership team) and perhaps an invitation to resubmit the request to join.
Once a member, any one of the many organizers may send a private message, besides the personalized welcome message when accepting a member request to join which was a communication between the joining member and the referenced organizer, to get to know new members who are somewhat discreet. Should an issue arise, or no response is received, any organizer has the option to: 1) Ban the member from the mailing list or, 2) Ban the member from the site entirely. We do so sincerely, as a means to protect members and the integrity of the network as a whole. Declined and banned members can re-join.
- We're a 30+ Network. Are you Under 40?
Members of NEW Singles Network are mostly over 40 years old. We have a couple members over 26 and a few over 34.
Our goal is to build on this younger age group within NEW Singles Network. We encourage everyone to take part and enjoy the activities, growth opportunities, and conversations with us slightly older, baby boomer, singles'.
If between 26-40, allow some time and effort to make this network of singles' work to meet your social goals. It would be easier to build this age group of younger adults within our network than it would be to start a new group focused on this specific age range, only to likely fissile out after a short time due to lack of long-term commitment by membership and/or leadership. Help us help you meet good people in group settings.
The only thing in life that holds its true value is time. Invest it wisely with people you want to spend it with. One thing is certain. We all grow old. Lets grow, nurture and encourage one another, and do life together! A stand of trees is stronger than a single tree left to weather the elements alone.
- We're A Support System and A Safe Place to Connect
If you have a concern or need security beyond privacy, inform the organizer of your circumstances.
