Category Archives: Case Foundation

FPF posts “Good News” Stories rejected by Media

Posted on Monday, April 14, 2008 by • No comments yet

It seems that traditional media gets knocked every so often for just reporting “bad” news… crime, war, fatal accidents, political fights, etc. I seem to recall hearing that “good” news isn’t, in fact, “news.” I think another take on this is that each “good” news story tends to be interesting only to a small group of people.

“Teen works on Eagle Scout project” is not front page news for a city, but it is something worth knowing for that boy, his family and friends, his neighbors, and those among us who enjoy hearing of such things.

Front Porch Forum is used daily as a conveyor of good news (among other uses). So, instead of all these wonderful little gems floating by unseen, now many happy tales are shared among nearby neighbors… typically not earth shattering, but reaffirming nonetheless. Here’s one that just arrived from Kim in a corner of Burlington’s Old North End…

“i want to thank Front Porch Forum for my new tuxedo kitty, gypsy. i saw an email on FPF from the lovely woman who took in a stray ‘waif’ kitty, seeking someone to adopt her. i am the new proud mama to sweet little gypsy & we’ve already started dancing together. thanks, FPF folks and fabulous ONE neighbors. happiness avails.”

Happy reunion

Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2008 by • No comments yet

Spring comes and cats roam, I guess. Front Porch Forum has seen a surge in “lost kitty” postings. Here’s one from Linnie in Burlington’s Old North End just today…

“Hi All – Thank you for your words of encouragement in finding my cat. The March 31st FPF post that was by Renee was about my cat. Before you judge though he was let out that day and picked up by Renee that day. She was just a cat lover and was worried. He ended up going to Addison county Humane Society. We picked him up and he was very happy to see us. He has a collar now and still likes to go outside but has staying close to home only to venture occasionally to Murray or Peru. He weighed in at 10lbs. Thank you to nice neighbors that look out for my cat. To the gentleman who told me to post here when I was posting fliers last Saturday THANK YOU SO MUCH if I didn’t listen I never would have gotten my cat. Thank you 100X over. My kids are so happy. To Addison Humane society thanks for making it so easy to get him. All I had to do is show Vet records and a pic. I love happy endings.”

Please vote for us! And help spread the word… one vote per email address.

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Is there a need for Front Porch Forum?

Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2008 by • No comments yet

Will Front Porch Forum only work in Vermont? Fair question… Vermont is a little different than many other parts of the United States. But I think the answer is yes, because FPF is designed to address a condition pervasive in many areas… the sense of disconnectedness, isolation and lack of community that many people feel about the place they live.

The Make It Your Own Awards illustrate this in various ways, including tuning folks into what FPF is all about. A local FPF member forwarded me the note below from her NYC sister today. The sister had heard about FPF from some third party…

“I thought it sounded a lot like your neighborhood. I certainly voted for Front Porch Forum, and desperately want it for our little block here in NYC. I think we desperately need it. Thanks for getting in on the ground floor to support. If you see him, please tell him to please keep NYC in mind when he goes big time. We really are just a lot of small towns down here!”

Duly noted!

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Better than Craigslist, Cars.com and local daily?

Posted on Saturday, April 5, 2008 by • No comments yet

We hear this kind of thing all the time, but we seldom capture it in writing. Thanks Wolfgang!

“Just wanted to let you know that we sold our Minivan today to a neighbor through Front Porch Forum. We had more people expressing interest and more people showing up to look at the van who found out through the Forum than the combined interest generated by Burlington Free Press, Cars.com and Craigslist combined. Thanks!” -Wolfgang

Please vote for us! And help spread the word… one vote per email address.

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“Good, honest, respectful communication” among neighbors

Posted on Wednesday, April 2, 2008 by • No comments yet

Andy and Carrie live in the same urban Burlington, VT neighborhood, but they don’t know each other. Carrie posted an item on their neighborhood’s Front Porch Forum and Andy took exception. He sent Carrie a note suggesting that she was out of bounds. Carrie asked me, as moderator, for an opinion. I thought her posting was fine, and she conveyed that back to Andy.

So, is this another story of snarky snipping in Web 2.0-land? Here’s the conclusion just received from Carrie…

“i couldn’t resist forwarding the e-mail [exchange]. it’s from the guy who has an issue with ‘out of neighborhood’ postings. we had some conflict, and now we both feel good about our connection. ALL BECAUSE OF YOUR FORUM! yeah, i know… ‘our’ forum. but you are the inspiration. good, honest, respectful communication is a beautiful thing to experience with neighbors. [emphasis added] thanks, michael.”

“yes, i voted! that’s cool.”

Thanks for sharing Carrie! -Michael

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Helping neighbors connect is newsworthy

Posted on Wednesday, April 2, 2008 by • No comments yet

Front Porch Forum’s story of helping neighbors connect and build community is showing up in the media recently. Of note, Mark Glaser just published a lengthy piece at MediaShift on PBS.org., starting with…

“We are a society that lives more and more in our technology-induced bubbles. When we go outside, we wear an iPod; we talk on cell phones while driving. In urban areas, we might never meet our neighbors unless there’s a fire or earthquake. But can technology also help bring us together in our physical communities, and help us get to know our neighbors? Front Porch Forum (FPF) is making a valiant effort to do just that”

Hopefully, his readers will cast a vote for us! And help spread the word.

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Opening Communication with Front Porch Forum

Posted on Monday, March 31, 2008 by • 1 comment

Sometimes it’s the little things that open up communication among neighbors. Here’s a message from Linda and George that was just posted on an until-now-sleepy Essex Junction, VT, neighborhood forum…

“Many thanks to all of our neighbors for helping with the search for our indoor black cat. So many of you called to say you had seen him or would look out for him. Cindy Smith on Villa Drive had been working with us to capture a very scared black cat that keep showing up at her garage looking for food. Today, Monday, she called to tell me that the cat was under the porch across the street. Sure enough, he was. Sassy was gone for 3 long weeks but now he is home: thin, hungry, and dirty, but safe. Again thanks to everyone who was willing to help.”

I’m glad for this family (and the cat!). This is just the kind of success story that leads to more neighbors signing up and putting Front Porch Forum to use.

Please vote for us! And help spread the word… one vote per email address.

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Grassroots Candidates use Front Porch Forum

Posted on Monday, March 31, 2008 by • No comments yet

At its best, Front Porch Forum simply provides a venue for some pent up community issue to bubble up and get addressed. This may be the case in a part of South Burlington, VT recently where neighbors discussed an opening on the City Council…

“I have been concerned that our neighborhood does not have adequate representation in the City and have considered running for it… This is a huge window of opportunity for someone from our neighborhood to take a leadership position in city government, given the attention this newly conceived plan deserves. You need only 30 signatures, and the deadline is mid-April. Our neighborhood needs to be a voice in the discussions shaping the future of South Burlington.”

Then neighbor Liz weighed in…

“I couldn’t agree more… but am also unable to adequately represent our neighborhood at this time.”

And she laid out some of the issues facing the neighborhood (e.g., airport expansion).

And then, lo and behold, neighbor Meaghan jumps in with both feet…

“Dear Neighbors – Because I feel it is so important for someone from our neighborhood to run, I’ve decided to give it a go. My husband and I have agreed, and I’m grateful to him and to our children for supporting me and moved that they are encouraging me in this effort. They, too, love this city and see this step as an investment in the future. If I succeed and am elected as City Councilor, I plan to use this Front Porch Forum as a means to hear your ideas and to communicate with you. This process can start now. And, if someone else wishes to run, I see this as a positive sign for our neighborhood and our city. So please do.”

Please vote for us! And help spread the word… one vote per email address.

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Local News Coverage of FPF and MIYO

Posted on Saturday, March 29, 2008 by • No comments yet

Andy Potter of WCAX in Burlington, VT knows a good story when he sees one!

Please vote for us! And help spread the word… one vote per email address. Read/add comments.

Thanks Andy…

Spot Burlington Friends and Landmarks on Video

Posted on Friday, March 28, 2008 by • No comments yet

In the excitement around Front Porch Forum‘s selection for the big national Make It Your Own Awards, I neglected to share our new video clip! You can see it below, on YouTube, on the contest site, and on local access TV (schedules below)…

Special thanks to CCTV Channel 17 (Meghan O’Rourke, Sam Mayfield and Lauren-Glenn Davitian) and the dozens of local folks who appear in the clip.

RETN Channel 16 (more times forthcoming)

  • Sun, Mar 30 – 7 p.m.
  • Mon, Mar 31 – 7 a.m and 8:56 p.m. (right before our repeat airing of “Winter Soldier”)
  • Tue, Apr 1- 11 a.m., 8:00 p.m. and 12 a.m. (4/2)
  • Wed, Apr 2 – 8:59 a.m. (after Democracy NOW!), 2:58 p.m. and 8:56 p.m.
  • Thu, Apr 3 – 9 p.m.
  • Fri, Apr 4 – 9 a.m.
  • Sat, Apr 5 – 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.

CCTV Channel 17 (more times forthcoming)

  • Sat, Mar 29 – 6:33 PM
  • Sun, Mar 30 – 10:04 PM
  • Mon, Mar 31 – 3:04 AM, 9:04 AM, 3:04 PM

Please vote for us! And help spread the word… one vote per email address.

Read/add comments.

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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