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Angie Mc
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Joined: Jan 31 2005
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Nov 20 2013 at 9:13am | IP Logged
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Waving to all friends reading this on their phone! Glad you are reading and hope you stop by and say high sometime soon!
I'll be back a little later with links to what I'm currently doing online, but for now I wanted to follow up on last week's conversations about online participation in general and specifically on the 4Real board, it got me thinking...
For those who don't have a lot of daily time to check in online, please consider what has worked well for me. Choose one day a week or month to stop in and say hi at 4Real. I put it on my calendar and look forward to it!
Also consider initiating a topic when you get here. I started Wednesday Shout Out just to give myself a focus when I did get to the board while also ensuring that I was initiating something and contributing. Give your day a catchy theme and start a topic!
And, this document from 2007 Get Involved!Get Involved! has some ideas for how to get and stay involved. May be worth a look:
Quote:
Get Involved!
As our group grows, we have found several tips that have helped members to feel connected and involved. Not all tips are necessary or appropriate for each member. Choose what appeals to you then give your efforts time to flourish!
Find your "cell." Find one to three forums to begin with that really interest you. Get to know some members there through posting and PMing.
Post. Each time you post, you serve this board. Your questions are shared by others. Your experiences and feelings give a unique perspective. Posting regularly gives others a chance to get to know you, too!
Ask. If you have a question, either start a topic, ask within a thread, or ask one-to-one through PM.
Offer. Feel free to offer your help, through posting, suggesting ideas, and sharing your talents and experiences. This can be done by posting directly to the board or by contacting a Moderator.
Thank. When a post has helped you, thank the member who posted it. You can thank them on board or through a PM.
Welcome new members. Follow the introduction topic and/or notice when a member with few posts, posts to a forum and welcome them.
Pray. No need for any expertise at "We Pray to the Lord." You just need a sincere heart. In the process, concern, caring, and frienships can blossom.
Contribute to an Atmosphere of Respect. Thank you for contributing to the atmosphere of respect here at 4Real. Your thoughtfulness, charity, assumption of good intent, and mercy are greatly appreciated.
Assume good intent. Many members of the board feel "out of the loop" at times. The key is to not feel "left out" but rather to assume good intent on the part of members. Usually, a disconnected feeling can be remedied by being active in a forum or two, asking for help, or by choosing to be out of the loop!
Meet face-to-face. Many online friendships have taken off after meeting face-to-face. Members have met regionally, while traveling through an area, on camping trips, and through other arranged get-togethers.
Share your best self! Are you funny? Be funny. Are you an information junky? Share your information. Are you organized? Share your secrets. Are you thoughtful? Share your thoughts.
Use names. Using members names when you post helps us to get to know each other. It's the ole business trick of repeating someone's name over and over until you know them and they know you... "Good to meet you, Mary. How are you today, Mary? I'm excited about this project, Mary. Mary, are you eager to begin?"
Give friendships time to grow. You will see here many examples of friendships that have grown through participating on this board. Many of these friendships have taken years to blossom and have been worth the energy and risk. Through sharing time, sufferings, successes, talents, and experiences, friendships can grow.
For everything there is a season. Don't be surprised to find yourself feeling more connected to this group at some times and less connected at other times. This is common and no need for concern. Just know that our door is always open, and you are always welcome. |
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Love,
__________________
Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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SeaStar
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| Posted: Nov 20 2013 at 10:09am | IP Logged
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This is a great post, Angie... look forward to hearing more!
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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mommy4ever
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Joined: April 08 2011
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Nov 20 2013 at 10:28am | IP Logged
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Angie, great idea!! Love it. Thanks. I am sporadic, but I think setting a day a week to check in, is a great idea. I do stop and read, but don't post all that much. So I like this... Pick a day, and purposefully chose to post something :) Got it.
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Mom to 4,
1 graduated June 2012
1 in Catholic school
2 homeschooled(one considering art school!)
ardently praying for a new addition to our family.
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Willa
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Joined: Jan 28 2005
Location: California
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| Posted: Nov 20 2013 at 10:49am | IP Logged
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Hi Angie,
I used to check the board on weekends. That was also when I checked on blogs.
Recently, I've been spending more time reading online. I have been trying to discern how big a part of my life the internet should be. I just finished a home retreat and this was one of the questions I was discerning.
I like the Get Involved post. Good reminders there. One of the down sides to just skimming through forums and blogs once a week is that I become a sort of consumer -- I don't feel like it's a relationship. And I've come to realize that the internet is about relationships for me.
We have been up in Oregon visiting our two oldest sons. So nice to see my set of boys all interacting together!
__________________
AMDG
Willa
hsing boys ages 11, 14, almost 18 (+ 4 homeschool grads ages 20 to 27)
Take Up and Read
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Nov 20 2013 at 11:02am | IP Logged
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Another "trick" I use often is I will often read the board in the mornings (sorta like waking up with a newspaper) and I may not post then. But I've read the posts and I can get things started around the house and have those times of physical activity without much mental activity required so that I can think about something I've read and even frame a response in my head. Then when I get back to the computer I can post after I've already done a lot of the composing part in my head.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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Booksnbabes
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| Posted: Nov 20 2013 at 12:10pm | IP Logged
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I like the idea of scheduling. Right now I just pop in when I can. I will try to come up with topics to share/questions to ask, scheduling might aid in that goal.
It would be so nice to be able to meet more of you IRL! That not being an option, I like the idea of using pm to get to "know" others better.
Thanks, Angie!
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Wife to wonderful DH, mom to SIX beautiful gifts from God!
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Angie Mc
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Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Nov 20 2013 at 3:08pm | IP Logged
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Willa wrote:
And I've come to realize that the internet is about relationships for me.
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Me too! And now I'm stretching myself to engage across social media...to sharing great news about families with others!
OK...so on my blog I've got some good stuff. I just posted my original content about kids clothes in rubber bands. Deep 
And here's stuff on my scoop.it
[quote]At Gems for a Happy Family Life my favorite explains How Managing Your Time is a Waste of Time. While there is no way around wrestling with time, there is a need to not obsess (and gosh knows I’m guilty) or buy into every supposed time management rule. Also, you’ll find out how to send greeting cards on your iPhone, how to fearlessly make decisions, how to respond to negative feedback, learn about the importance of early bonding for mothers and premature babies, and more.
Family Food and Feast is all about staying warm this (relatively if you live in a desert like me) cold season. You’ll find how not to cook in a slow cooker, how to brew an amazing cup of tea, and make delicious dinners rolls (secret ingredient = beer.) Then go ahead and treat yourself to a dinner out and learn how to order a perfect martini.
At Family Learning see how libraries are adapting to community needs and the importance of music in education.
And for Twitter fans, Twitter 3F: Family Friends Fun shows how to get government emergency alerts on you phone, how to repair a damaged reputation online, how to create a perfect tweet, and more. My favorite is an article called 13 Internet Morals That Children’s Books Can Teach You. [/quote}
Let me know if I can expand on anything.
So for me social media is about engaging in relationships, being generous, and sharing great content.
How much time to give to social media? Currently, I'm looking at it as part time job...more on that next week, maybe :)
Other than that....things are pretty routine here - hooray!!!
Love,
__________________
Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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3ringcircus
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| Posted: Nov 20 2013 at 5:07pm | IP Logged
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I've never posted on this thread before. I'm still feeling like a newb! I did ask a question on a new thread, though. I'm having a tough week, but hopefully a visit to a new chiro. will do the trick. The kids are handling it moderately well, at least.
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Christine
Mom to my circus of boys: G-1/06, D-1/04, S-4/10
Started HS in Fall'12
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JuliaT
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| Posted: Nov 20 2013 at 5:33pm | IP Logged
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Great post, Angie! I do have an assigned day to come to 4Real. My day is Wednesday. I have some other forums that I visit and they, too, have assigned days. It makes it much easier for me.
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Blessings,
Julia
mom of 3(14,13 & 11 yrs.old)
MusingsofaPrairieGirl
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MomTo8
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Thank you for this post, Angie! I am a new member, but have read these boards for years! I should go ahead and thank every one of you for all of the wonderful information you have shared! I finally posted a question last week and will try to get better at contributing when I think I can share something worthwhile. This site has been invaluable to me. God bless!
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Nov 20 2013 at 8:42pm | IP Logged
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You know, sometimes just knowing you're being "heard" by others helps, even if no one has answers. So just sharing that you're there and reading is worthwhile.
Besides we'd love to get to know you and we can't unless you post something.
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Wednesday Shout Out: Get Involved
