Category Archives: FPF Milestone
Growing Numbers of Vermonters Turn to Front Porch Forum
More than 230,000 Vermonters participate on their local Front Porch Forum as of October 1, 2023! And this is in a state with only 270,000 households. More people use FPF in Vermont than Facebook or any other Big Tech form of social media. See what members recently had to say about FPF…
• “I received so many tips for a walker after surgery. Thank you! I love FPF!“ – Bernadette in Randolph
• “Thanks to wonderful neighbors and FPF my stolen items were recovered from some bushes elsewhere in the neighborhood. I’m so very grateful!” – Cheyanne in Burlington
• “I just wanted to let all those who responded to offer homes to our overgrown [houseplant] beauties that they found a new plant parent! It would take too long to email all of you, but thanks for your interest and I’ll post again if we have more available in the future. Another example of how FPF is so great!“ – Anne in Westford
FPF’s mission is to help neighbors connect and build community. To join your local Forum, go to FrontPorchForum.com and register.
In addition to your local online Forum, check out your local Business Directory, Community Calendar, and Search.
FPF Now Has 215,000 Members!
Members are joining Front Porch Forum across Vermont every day… We just surpassed 215,000 members in a state with 270,000 households*. That’s a lot of traction!
Do you know anyone in Vermont that’s not on FPF yet? Tell them to sign up at FrontPorchForum.com!
*Household data is from 2020 Census
FPF’s 2021 Public Benefit Report
Front Porch Forum is a Vermont public benefit corporation. To that end, our social mission (aka public benefit) is front and center in all our work.
Each year, per state law, we publish a report about our progress in helping neighbors connect and build community in our territory.
Take a look on our About Us page or find the report right here. Feedback is always welcome.
Introducing the FPF Directory
Finding great local businesses just got easier with the FPF Directory.
The Directory is a collection of more than 10,000 Vermont businesses and nonprofits that participate in Front Porch Forum. Browse the 245+ categories to find local businesses and organizations that meet your needs:
Find featured listings at the top of the Directory page:
Scroll down to check out new listings in your area:
A slider at the top of the page allows you to search for the local businesses closest to your community, or to search across the entire state:
You can also “favorite” businesses to add them to your personal “My Favorites” list:
Have a look at the FPF Directory today, and start building a list of your favorite local businesses!
Front Porch Forum Expands Staff to Meet Growth
Burlington, VT, February 3, 2021 — Front Porch Forum now has 200,000 members! This recent membership milestone indicates FPF is serving 75% of the state’s 260,000 households, and more Vermonters sign up every day.
In recognition of this growth, FPF expanded its team of Online Community Managers. We welcome new hires, Emily Bissonette and Zach Scheffler, who will help the organization fulfill its mission of helping neighbors connect.
As part of FPF’s 22 staff members, our Online Community Managers (OCMs) play a crucial role in reviewing and publishing many thousands of member postings each week, and providing member support.
Zach says of his new role “It’s a joy and an honor helping Vermonters inform, inspire, and look out for one another.”
Zach has a background in community media and municipal information services. Outside of Front Porch Forum, Zach enjoys a brisk hike, photography, and woodworking.
Emily joined the OCM team in September 2020. “I really enjoy the collaborative work environment at FPF. I’m originally from Vermont and I am also really enjoying being more informed about what’s going on in our state through my FPF work,” she said of her work.
Emily resides in Middlebury with her sweetheart, and kiddo, and a miscellaneous menagerie including a dog, a cat, chickens, and various waterfowl. She is the only Marie Kondo Certified Professional Organizer in Vermont, and when she’s not at work for Front Porch Forum, she focuses on business, Alchemy Organizing or teaching REFIT® dance fitness.
Front Porch Forum is an award-winning Vermont Public Benefit Corporation. Our mission is to help neighbors connect and build community, leading to more resilient communities. FPF hosts regional networks of online local forums where neighbors, small businesses, nonprofits and municipal officials post about a wide variety of topics. This daily neighborly exchange leads to people feeling more invested in their communities and getting more involved.
Redesigned Website Makes FPF Easier to Use Than Ever Before!
Go to FrontPorchForum.com and experience the newly upgraded FPF website! Each Forum issue is easier to find, search and read. You can also browse and search postings from neighboring communities! And posting is simpler too.
Now you can read your daily Forum via email, website or mobile app… your choice. Customize your email and notification preferences by logging into your account at FrontPorchForum.com
Front Porch Forum is working everyday to fulfill the mission of helping neighbors connect. The Web Forum redesign is intended to make FPF even more accessible, highlighting member postings, local businesses and nonprofits, and events that allow neighbors to join in common interests. Other recent steps we’ve taken to improve our service include:
- Email Forum Redesign
- Launched a mobile app, making FPF easier to read from a smartphone
- Expanded our service to parts of upstate New York and the Berkshires
- Became a Vermont Public Benefit Corporation
- Celebrated our 190,000th member (and counting!)
- Continuing to grow our in-house team of software engineers and online community managers
- Serving as essential civic infrastructure during the COVID-19 crisis
We continue to work to bring value to Front Porch Forum members, and look forward to announcing our next series of upgrades and new features ““ stay tuned!
By the way… did you see FPF mentioned in The New York Times and Forbes recently? Click here to see this and more.
Keep up daily using FPF’s mobile app
Did you know FPF has a mobile app? Compose a posting, search the archive, and more… all in one place!
“Wow! Hyped about the app keep up the incredible work, team. Love Front Porch Forum, always find what I’m looking for using it ” • Zach in St. Albans, Vt.
“Downloaded the app instantly! I’m so happy there is an app now. Its aesthetically pleasing, easy to use, and elegant in it’s simplicity – great work to all of you who developed it and my sincere gratitude!” • Melissa in Rutland
“Get the App…best thing since sliced bread. I will now be able to keep up with it daily. Thank you FPF“ • Tammy in Morrisville, Vt.
“FPF has come of age! Love the ease of mobility when I want to check out other forums.” • Paul and Rosie in Burlington, Vt.
“Thank you! What a delight to use!” • Mary in Starksboro, Vt.
“Great idea about the FPF app! Just downloaded!” • Rebecca in Berlin, Vt.
“Took me about 30 seconds to upload and sign on. Looks like a great way to get this daily information.” • Marie in Shelburne, Vt.
Ready to get the mobile app? Find it in the Apple® and Google Play® app stores.
Front Porch Forum Expands Engineering Team
Front Porch Forum’s tech team is growing! Two more software engineers, Noah Harrison and Aaron Lipman, have joined FPF to continue upgrading and expanding our custom-built mobile, web and email platforms to better serve our social mission.
Since 2006, FPF has been helping neighbors connect and build community by hosting a statewide network of online local forums. Out of Vermont’s 260,000 households, FPF has more than 190,000 members. As part of FPF’s 20 staff members, our software developers play a crucial role in providing high-quality service and developing relevant new features for members across all of Vermont and parts of surrounding states.
New Hires: Aaron Lipman and Noah Harrison
Noah and Aaron each work closely with Lead Engineer and Tech Team Manager, Matt Barry, and tech advisor, Jan Schultz. Together they maintain and improve FPF’s unique web and mobile applications, which are used by more than half of the households in Vermont on a daily basis. Stay posted for new features and updates!
Noah, who is working with email integration and web browser technologies, says “I really enjoy the direct appeal that FPF forums have to many of my friends and neighbors.”
Noah comes to Front Porch Forum after ten years as a software developer and project manager consultant for various companies, including projects for NBCUniversal and on a 3D globe projector. He earned a degree from Dartmouth College, having studied Classics, Religion, and Computer Science.
On his new role, Aaron remarks “I consider myself privileged to work on a platform that helps Vermonters work together in weathering events from Hurricane Irene to the current COVID-19 pandemic.”
Aaron has a background in electoral data modeling and a passion for writing software that strengthens communities. Outside of Front Porch Forum, Aaron contributes to several open source projects. When not writing code, Aaron enjoys road biking.
Front Porch Forum is an award-winning Vermont Public Benefit Corporation. Our mission is to help neighbors connect and build community, leading to more resilient communities. FPF hosts regional networks of online local forums where neighbors, small businesses, nonprofits and municipal officials post about a wide variety of topics. This daily neighborly exchange leads to people feeling more invested in their communities and getting more involved.
FPF Opens in Williamstown, MA
Two months ago a number of Williamstown community members and organizations began a grassroots effort to generate enough interest to bring Front Porch Forum to their community. Volunteers from South Williamstown Community Association, Williams College, Williamstown Chamber of Commerce, Williamstown Elementary School PTO and area businesses all participated.
“We’re really excited to be the first community in Massachusetts to be part of Front Porch Forum. Now that our usual gathering spots are not available to us, we need to be in touch with each other virtually more than ever. We’ve only been active a week and already there has been some good mutual aid” said Bette Craig, president of the South Williamstown Community Association.
People use their local FPF to find lost dogs, give away extra tomato plants, report break-ins, recommend roofers, announce school events, debate town budgets, organize community relief efforts… and much more.
“FPF has served Vermont towns since 2006,” said co-founder Michael Wood-Lewis. “And people use FPF for all sorts of things… this brief daily connection helps neighbors become better informed and more involved in the life of their town.”
If you know anyone who works for or attends Williams college or lives in this area please let them know and encourage them to sign up.
FPF Got a Makeover! Access your Forum three different ways
Since Front Porch Forum released the email forum redesign in June, we’ve heard lots of great feedback from members! See what some of your neighbors have to say about the new formatting:
“Way to go FPF! You are a star in our communities. As a generator of two posts a week, I find FPF an ideal forum to keep our communities informed. You Rock!!!!” • John H. from Charlotte/Shelburne, Vt.
“The great thing about FPF is anyone is welcome to post on subjects that are important to them; for some people it’s Doggy Play Dates or Free Plants, and for others it’s Community Health Issues. The new format and bold subject field enable you to peruse the page, read the posts that interest you, and skip the ones that don’t (or maybe be exposed to a different point of view.) Thanks, FPF, for the opportunity to connect and share.” • Joseph C. from Waterbury Center, Vt.
In addition to the email forum redesign, FPF has taken more steps to make the forum cleaner and easier to use. Last year, we released a mobile app, which can be download from the Apple® and Google Play® app stores. It’s changing the way many FPF members read their forums!
“Get the App…best thing since sliced bread. I will now be able to keep up with it daily. Thank you FPF”
• Tammy W. from Morrisville, Vt.
Lastly, FPF members can access their forum by logging in from our website https://frontporchforum.com. Submit a posting, search the archives, access the business directory, and more!
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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