Scheduled Chat Sessions

You asked for it -- and Disaboom has delivered it.  No, it's not pizza.  

 

We have created a new forum which will allow members to schedule events in the Disaboom Chat Rooms.  For example, if you would like to bring members with multiple sclerosis together for an evening of discussion, you would post an announcement here.

 

Now, because this isn't really a calendar service, everyone will need to follow some basic procedures to ensure that we aren't overlapping in the chat rooms.  When you post an announcement for a chat session, please use the following format for your subject line:

 

Session Name -- Chat Room Name -- Date -- Time (listed in Eastern Time)

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Here are a couple of examples:

 

Spiritual Sanctuary Chat -- Faith and Religion Room -- 03/01/09 -- 8:00pm Eastern Time

 

Multiple Sclerosis Chat -- Disability Discussions Room -- 03/15/09 -- 10:00am Eastern Time

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*  Before you schedule a chat room session, please review the current posts to make sure that the room and time is not already booked by another group.

 

*  When posting an announcement for a new session, please include a description of what you want to discuss.  This will help ensure that the session stays on-topic.

 

*  The length of your chat session should not exceed (2) hours.  We want to give everyone an opportunity -- and there just aren't enough hours in the day!

 

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    Please post here if you have any thoughts or ideas.  Thanks!!!!!

 

~~  Lily  ~~
Online Customer Service
Disaboom, Inc.
Email: custserv@disaboom.com

 

 

 

 Dear Lily,

 

Thanks so much for responding to our requests! ! !

 

 

The only problem I have with this system is that we were asking for site space, so that someone turning to "Discussions," or "Community" or even "Chat," etc. would see a listing, AND NOT HAVE TO GO LOOKING FOR IT.  With a schedule like we have, it is hard to see how people will remember, or new people will even know, that they should check the forum.

 

 

I still have MANY people who say that they didn't even know ABOUT THE GROUPS, much less a forum.  It's a confusing site to get around, and I don't know how this solution helps us keep from "bumping" a reminder.  Who will remember our March 30th chat, or even that its subject is PAIN if they didn't run across it in the first notice, or are not too fogged with PAIN to mark it on a calendar, and then come.  

 

Another suggestion, that I made frequently long ago, and then gave up on, was a GUIDE FOR NEW MEMBERS (AND OLD!) to Disaboom.  It would be such a big, big help for many (including moi).  That might help the problem, and maybe regular and new users could learn to CHECK for discussion times and dates.

 

 So I like this as an effort, but are we there yet?  Just my take, and thank you again.  bonniethesurvivor (co-mod, The Spiritual Sanctuary Group)

 

How exactly would this work/  Are we still relying on postings or do we need instant messaging or how???

jmfay:

How exactly would this work/  Are we still relying on postings or do we need instant messaging or how???

Follow the link.  Follow the instructions and log in. Then you will be able to get into the chat.  http://www.disaboom.com/Chat/Default.aspx

I like the idea of scheduled chat discussions.  I think it will be hard if you miss a day or 2 on the computer to go back in the forum to see what might be scheduled.  It may also be a problem knowing when to schedule something without having to look back several pages to see if anything else has been scheduled for that time.  I know you don't want a bulletin board but someting along that line might cut down on alot of confusion. 

Lynn  

 As a moderator, I can say that until we have group PMs or emails, individual notifications are OUT.  There are just too many to do it by hand, for many groups, and not all potential attendees are even members of the sponsoring group, if it IS a group, and not some or one individual who wants to gather some people to discuss something. 

 

Tridog:  I think you are missing the point, which is not how to GET to chat, but how to know the discussions are happening.  bonnie

bonniethesurvivor:

Tridog:  I think you are missing the point, which is not how to GET to chat, but how to know the discussions are happening. 

Is the Spiritual Sanctuary going to meet EVERY Tuesday at 8....or is it a random thing?