Monthly Archives: November 2014
Thanksgiving
I’m grateful for this forum,
As I’m sure you all are too,
So as I count my blessings,
I’m counting you good neighbors too.Happy Thanksgiving All!
Posted by Peggy on the Jericho Front Porch Forum.
Giving Thanks for FPF Sponsors
In this season of thanksgiving, please join us in thanking the major Front Porch Forum sponsors for 2014. Without their support, your local forum would not be possible. Special appreciation to:
- New England Federal Credit Union
- Building Energy
- Bourne’s Energy
- Lake Champlain Chocolates
- Cabot Creamery
- Smugglers’ Notch
- Bolton Valley Resort
- Almartin Volvo
- The Edge Sports & Fitness
- VTrans
- VPIRG
- Casella Waste Systems
- The University of Vermont Medical Center
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont
- Vermont State Colleges
- University of Vermont
- Windows & Doors By Brownell
- Wick & Maddocks Attorneys at Law
If your Vermont business, nonprofit, institution or agency would like to join this community-minded group, please contact us at localbiz@frontporchforum.com or 802-540-0069 x1. Learn more about how FPF advertising can help you reach Vermonters.
Additional 2014 FPF sponsors to whom we’re also grateful include:
- SunCommon
- Vermont Teddy Bear Company
- Jay Peak Resort
- Stowe Mountain Resort
- Dealer.com
- TIAA CREFF
- Vermont Gas
- Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District
- Healthy Living Market and Cafe
- Natural Provisions
- Greater Burlington YMCA
- The Essex Resort & Spa
- Johnson Law Group
- The Vermont Realty Team
- Computers for Change
- University Mall
- Morning Dew Landscaping & Stonework
- Big Rock Landscape
- Cathedral Square Corporation
- Vermont Precision Woodworks
- SerVermont
- Go Vermont
- Chittenden Co. Reg. Planning Comm.
- Chittenden Solid Waste District
- CCTA and GMTA
- VAST
- Northwestern Medical Center
- Copley Hospital
- Vermont Health Connect
- Champlain College
- Vermont Tech
- Community College of Vermont
- Sterling College
- The Schoolhouse
Best wishes to all this coming holiday season.
Town Clerk: “If FPF wasn’t there, we’d have to invent it”
A central Vermont FPF member emailed several of her local municipal officials urging greater use of their FPF to reach and engage citizens about a host of topics. The Town Clerk just replied with this:
“… the Clerk’s office makes quite a bit of use of Front Porch Forum. I get quite a bit of feedback on it, particularly around election related deadlines and events. I’m pretty sure the Senior Center (and probably others) does too, so I know the utility has been spreading. I love FPF for clerk stuff, actually. It’s a perfect fit. If it wasn’t there, we’d have to invent it.”
Moving to Ripton… neighbor gratitude
“Thanks to a Front Porch Forum member, I quickly found help for my move to the Ripton area. Hurrah!” Posted by Jean on the FPF that serves Ripton.
Kindness of neighbors… priceless
Lisa posted the following on the Front Porch Forum in West Windsor, Vermont, a few days ago…
I came home this morning to grab my 4 winter tires (Nokian studded snows) and they were GONE! I paid $650 for those tires just last year so I could live here, so I could get to work, make a life.
That was taken from me. I have no money to replace those tires and don’t know how I will be able to keep my job.
The police can’t help.
If anyone hears any rumors about someone selling used Nokian studded snows or knows of anyone who may have some information, please contact me…
I guess this is a reminder to watch for ourselves and our neighbors. Maybe it’s a good time to introduce ourselves to our neighbors BEFORE something bad happens. Maybe together, as a community, we can have safe homes/neighborhoods to live in.
Thieves are obviously in the area 🙁
Although she has yet to recover her tires, the FPF posting did net something else for her and her neighbors…
I want to thank the people in our community for the kind responses I received, after posting on Front Porch Forum.
It was heartwarming to come home to several e-mails, offering kind words and even offers of tires! Unfortunately, none fit but the kind offers meant so much more than any set of tires.
Tires can be replaced. The kindness of others is priceless.
Eureka Idea!
What you have started with FPF, is simply an eureka idea.
The website is very sophisticated as well as easy to read.
Fine, fine work and so needed.
An honest, trustworthy site. Thank you!
What a lovely note to receive today. Thank you, Judith in Burlington!
Relocalizing Vermont on WGDR
Skepticism –> incredulity –> acceptance
The good folks at FeverBee are channeling Saul Alinsky today…
If you try to build a community for a group of people (especially within an existing boundary i.e. employees), they tend to react the same way.
First, they’re skeptical.
They don’t know you. They don’t have time for the community. They’re worried that the community will change a status quo that benefits them… You must remain enthusiastic and keep pushing. You must work with the rare believers in your vision, not those against it.Second, they’re incredulous.
They can’t believe it’s succeeding. Why are people going along with this? Are they crazy? They set an increasingly angry tone. You must not react/respond to them… Be open to any questions they have. Don’t let them provoke a negative reaction that will undermine your efforts.Third, they accept it.
They’re members. This is quite sudden. Once they realize they’re in danger of being left behind, they become members.
As we’ve opened up online Front Porch Forum communities for every locale in Vermont, we find many who welcome us gladly, some who are indifferent, and a few who follow Alinsky’s pattern above. But those few make a lot of noise and demand our attention. We remain open to input, concerns and fresh ideas… but we’ve also come to realize that the initial skepticism and incredulity will most likely be replaced with acceptance in a few weeks… and even blossom into vigorous use and championing of their local FPF to neighbors.
About Blog
Ghost of Midnight is an online journal about fostering community within neighborhoods, with a special focus on Front Porch Forum (FPF). My wife, Valerie, and I founded FPF in 2006... read more
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