Forums, what's the point?

Being a diverse & inclusive bunch, we've lots of ways of communicating with each other... For those who prefer the in person and face to face, there are the regular weekly 'Coffee & natter' sessions (alongside the 'Make & Mend' sessions), there's also the monthly 'Open Shed' meeting (in my experience that could be renamed 'Beer & natter' 😀). We've also a very active members online community of WhatsApp groups: for chit chat ('Shedders'); for specific larger projects ('The Outdoor Space', 'The Workshop', etc.); and announcements (you guessed it, 'Announcements') - These groups, by their nature, tend to be fast moving & conversational.

Announcements get sent out to members via email. Though on reflection we should probably have an external physical noticeboard at the shed (a white board project if it's not on there already). And with Simon's contacts, we're getting more plumbed into the WendoverNews news cycle.

For the wider world: project articles on the Wendover Shed website provide detailed write ups on our activities; our Facebook group and Instagram channel provide connection to the most popular online communities.

For new joiners that prefer, we have paper based application forms.

So now on to forums... Forums gives us an additional, members only, online space for longer running discussions on topics where posts, comments & associated threads of discussion are grouped together and rather more ordered than the WhatsApp group streams of consciousness. I'd expect to see more forum categories emerge to represent different interest groups over time. The posts/discussions are handy places to record tips & tricks or to develop ideas in an open way, but we'll see how the forums develops over time and how useful people find them.

Electronic communications are not for everyone, and as I think is demonstrated above, we're trying to accommodate as many people as possible. That said, technology & the internet open up worlds of opportunity, information & entertainment, and now with a laptop permanently stationed at the hog, we also have the potential to help any technophobes that wish to, build their online confidence.

Lastly, a word to pedants as I feel there's bound to be some in our midst, forums is a perfectly acceptable plural of forum 😀.