Interactive Forums
Sometimes a wonderful idea is right under your nose, so close in fact, that you can’t see it until someone shows it to you. “Eureka! Why didn’t I think of that”, you say. And that’s exactly what happened to us recently.
You may recall that, a while ago, the parish sponsored a survey to determine what we were doing well, what we could do better, and what we weren’t doing at all. A meeting was called to address the survey results and we got quite a turnout. Some folks came with a wish list, others with a passionate concern or a pet peeve, others came just to listen. And there was plenty worth listening to. So it was a very promising beginning, but frankly, we couldn’t figure out where to go from there. The more we thought about it, the more we realized that the best ideas and the most clever solutions come from a flight of the imagination. And then, after all this time, our “Eureka” moment came to us from a parishioner – Patricia D’Alfonso.
She said, “LET’S HAVE A BLOG!”
Blog is shorthand for Web Log. It is a website that allows users to reflect, share opinions, and discuss various topics in the form of an online journal. What will appear? Various topics that will reflect thoughts which fellow parishioners have posted. “Why don’t we start a bereavement group?” could be one. “How can we do a better job of welcoming new parishioners?” “How can we get our tweens and teens more involved with the parish?” Or, “What about prayer groups…for men only, for singles, for couples”. Then you could add your 2-cents worth to any of the topics that catch your interest. Or start a new one on another subject altogether.
WE’RE ASKING YOU TO LET YOUR IMAGINATION FLY
We are hoping that we will inspire one another, not only with the threads of ideas that give birth to new ministries, but also with the mechanics that enable them to work and, in the process, that we will bring together parishioners with similar interests.
Guidelines
- Follow the Conversation: Read all the comments in a topic before you post your comment. No need to be formal. Write like you are talking with a friend.
- Keep it Simple, Keep it Focused: Each post should contain just one idea and naturally be about the topic being discussed. If you would like to start a new discussion simply click on” Suggest a NEW TOPIC”.
- Demonstrate Passion: Participate often and comment about what you care about. Take a position on issues. Agree, or disagree, and always be respectful of this forum and the other contributors.
- Tell a Story: Tell your story – a compelling story helps entice people to read on. A personal story makes you seem more human. Even your set-backs and defeats make you likeable.
- Use Links: By sharing links to other great sites of interest you broaden our appeal. People who are passionate about a topic will appreciate another source for information.
- Final Advice: Please use your best judgment when posting an entry. Publishing a blog is as easy as pressing a button. Double check your entries for tone, appropriateness and accuracy before sending them. Comments that post material that is unlawful, abusive, defamatory, invasive of another’s privacy, or obscene to a reasonable person will not be published.