Yearly Archives: 2017
Giving thanks for donuts, dinner and pretty lights
Stories of generosity abound on Front Porch Forum….
“My husband, baby and I were eating dinner tonight and when our check came the waitress said it had already been paid for. Thank you so much to the couple who bought our dinner and wished us a Merry Christmas on the way out!” • Nicole in South Burlington
“I went to the drive through window this morning and ordered coffee. When I drove around to pay, the young lady at the window told me a gentleman had left a bunch of money to pay for the next few cars’ orders until the money ran out! “ • Mary in Northfield
“The village looks so pretty at night now with all the lit Christmas trees. Thanks to the church and everyone who contributed to this lovely Christmas scenery. I don’t know who you are, but it sure is appreciated.” • Amanda in Cabot
Heralding the call for a trumpet
Neighbors respond to a post from a neighbor looking to buy a student trumpet for their fifth grader.
“Thank you, thank you Front Porch Forum users. The response was overwhelming. We now have a trumpet. For us, this use of FPF was truly amazing.” • Ted in Hyde Park
What gift can you provide a neighbor this holiday season?
Delightfully Vermonty and enriching our communities
Our members remind us of the value of our mission: Helping Neighbors Connect
“Our Front Porch Forum is delightfully Vermonty AND useful, so we urge you to join up!” • Roger in Warren
“FPF is a wonderful resource and way to stay in touch with what is happening in our community.” • Judy in Barre
“This forum is great – it has helped me find things and answer questions.” • Mary in Bennington
“Front Porch Forum is a fun means of staying in touch with my neighborhood and a resource when I want to offer something (usually a freebie) that I do not want to take to the landfill. It makes my life better.” • Sandy in South Burlington
“As a long time user of FPF I have used this forum to sell things, search for needed items, and even find a tutor. I am sending a small donation to show my appreciation and gratitude and to personally thank you for starting this forum!!!!” • Anne-Marie in Isle La Motte
Thanks to our FPF Supporting Members across the state! And if you’ve been meaning to make a year-end contribution… now’s the time!
Tales of the Christmas Spirit
Tis the season to share on Front Porch Forum…..
“The other day a young man arrived with his son and spotted a book he held reverently in his hands as out loud he wished he had some money to put this book on lay-away. Suddenly there was a small voice added to our conversation. His son asked me if one dollar would be enough to hold the book for his father. The father said to the boy, “This is why I love you so much.” And the bookseller agreed to hold the rare book for one dollar down. The youngster reached into his pocket, pulled out 4 quarters, and we sealed the agreement. If this isn’t a spiritual time of year I don’t know what is…..”
“Eleven folks who read my story came forward and wanted to help this family purchase the books on hold. We have a truly generous and thoughtful community and I am proud to be a part of it.”
• Ben at the Country Bookshop in Plainfield
From the outpouring of generosity in this community of book-lovers an idea developed to generate a fund to help other needy families to purchase books. What tales can you share on FPF that can help others?
Saved from a mountain of marshmallows!
A sweet story to share from the conversations on Front Porch Forum:
“My friend pranked me with bags and bags of marshmallows (don’t ask) but now that the hilarity is over, I have about 20 bags of mini marshmallows. I’m thinking they would be great for making an army of snowmen. Or for the worlds largest cup of cocoa. Or an indoor igloo for the kids? Start your own gingerbread housing development? Or maybe you dreamed of jumping into a pile of marshmallows (I don’t judge). Either way, I’m hoping a kind neighbor will save me from diabetes and take them away soon.”
And FPF neighbors responded!
“Holy roller coasters, Batman! Waterbury loves marshmallows! Thank you all who responded–I had an avalanche of interested folks, so I apologize if I didn’t answer you directly. The marshmallows are re-homed, and my pancreas thanks you for saving me from diabetes.” • Zarin in Waterbury
Recommendations for home projects
“I am in need of a carpenter… Can anyone recommend a reliable and competent person?”
“Thank you once again to FPF for the great response in my recent search for a carpenter. Thank you all for your emails and suggestions. How thankful I am to be a part of this wonderful community.” • Jodi in Waitsfield
“Seeking Sheetrock Person….”
“AMAZING! First thank you for all the recommendations, Front Porch Forum Rocks! We found a gem who was able to come and finish up projects that needed to be done. He was fair, honest, reasonable, and without a doubt a fabulous contractor!”
• Coleen in Wolcott
Boxes of love
Winter weather has Front Porch Forum members showing their care for the homeless in our communities.
“I’d like to say Thank you to FPF for giving me a way to reach out to people to get rid of items they may not want anymore for the homeless. Each year I put out a post telling my story of our “boxes of love” and our winter clothing giveaway to the homeless. Ever since my post, I’ve been getting emails regularly and items dropped off at my house. The collection is growing and I’m so thankful that FPF has such amazing kind hearted folks.” • Tricia in Shelburne
“My family and I bring food to local homeless people every week and I’ve noticed that many of them do not have proper winter attire. I am planning to make “Homeless Care Packages” and I am hoping you will consider donating some items.” • Amber in Williston
“The 13th Annual Gifts of Kindness toy and clothing drive was created to support individuals and families experiencing homelessness during the holidays. We seek to collect new and gently used toys, clothing, outerwear, boots, hats, and mittens to make the holidays brighter and people warmer in our harsh winter months.” • Jennifer in Waitsfield
Our disconnects in values, relationships and social fabric
danah boyd was quoted on Wired yesterday…
“[W]e have a cultural problem, one that is shaped by disconnects in values, relationships, and social fabric. Our media, our tools, and our politics are being leveraged to help breed polarization by countless actors who can leverage these systems for personal, economic, and ideological gain.”
She went on to state “How do you reknit society? Society is produced by the social connections that are knit together. The stronger those networks, the stronger the society. We have to make a concerted effort to create social ties, social relationships, social networks in the classic sense that allow for strategic bridges across the polis so that people can see themselves as one.”
“Part of what is really collapsing here is that the networks have become too fragmented and too polarized. Technology doesn’t help; it simply magnifies the poles. This is dangerous and cyclical. Polarization leads to distrust and tribalism which leads to more polarization. So for me, the path forward, which requires business and the public sector and civil society working together, is about reconstructing the networks of America.”
In our own small way, this is Front Porch Forum‘s work… helping neighbors connect and build community… reconstructing networks of neighbors across political, class, racial and other boundaries.
FPF supports Net Neutrality
Please join us at Front Porch Forum in actively opposing the proposal to gut federal net neutrality rules. Act now before it’s too late: https://www.battleforthenet.com/
Today in the United States we have a free and open internet. Our current net neutrality rules support innovation and give all businesses the opportunity to compete equally for consumers. With strong net neutrality protections, the internet is an open marketplace where any business can compete, allowing individuals to start companies easily, market their products across the country, and connect with customers anywhere worldwide.
Because of the open internet, Michael and his wife were able to start Front Porch Forum out of their spare bedroom in 2006. VTDigger.org, MealTrain.com, Localvore.com, Dealer.com and other successful digital Vermont businesses have similar stories. Because of net neutrality, consumers and businesses have unfettered access to one another, increasing competition and consumer choice.
Disastrously, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently released a draft order that would end this open commerce by repealing the current net neutrality rules and eliminating the protections that keep the internet free and open for America’s businesses and consumers.
Without these rules, internet service providers (e.g., Comcast) will be able to favor certain websites and e-businesses over others by putting some in fast lanes and slowing down or even blocking others. Businesses may have to pay a toll just to reach customers. This would put small and medium-sized businesses at a disadvantage and prevent innovative new ones from even getting off the ground. An internet without net neutrality protections would be the opposite of the open market, with a few powerful cable and phone companies picking winners and losers, instead of consumers.
For these reasons, Front Porch Forum supports net neutrality. Please join us in defending free-economy in the digital space by learning more and speaking up this week. Please check out the action steps outlined here:https://www.battleforthenet.com/ and http://verizonprotests.com/
And spread the word. Please encourage people you know in other states to contact their Congressional delegation immediately.
Thank you!
P.S. Portions of this statement come from a letter to the current FCC Chair from hundreds of tech businesses:
https://www.burlingtontelecom.com/bt-signs-fcc-letter-to-support-small-biz/
Open discussions in our communities
We’re happy to see that Front Porch Forum is recommended and used by many to have important discussions on relevant town issues.
“I am really liking this thread on minimum wage. This kind of discussion is exactly what Front Porch Forum was designed for. We should be having a lot more of these kind of discussions as long as we can keep to the issues and not personalize the debate or attack those we disagree with. Our community and indeed our culture in general would be much better served if we had civil discussion and debate about important issues as though we were speaking face-to-face, FPF seems like an excellent vehicle to have those discussions.”
• Jeff, Town Energy Coordinator, Richmond
“The public must be better informed about this School Capital project. Information put on a school website is not adequate public outreach. We recommend Front Porch Forum as it is a primary source of local information for me and many others in the community.” • John in Morrisville
Reach out to your town officials on FPF!
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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