Vermont Connected - Engaged Communities

Resilience Through Engagement

Engaged Communities: A Panel of Stories & Ideas

Engaged Communities (A6)

!  Michael Wood-Lewis, Co-Founder & CEO Front Porch Forum (Moderator)

!  Sarah Waterman Manning, VTResponse.com !  Steve Butcher, Mad River Valley !  Janette Shaffer, Middlesex

Michael Wood-Lewis

!  Founded FPF with his wife Valerie in their Burlington neighborhood in 2006

CEO, Co-Founder Front Porch Forum

How can community-‐focused programs succeed when only 25% of Americans know most of their neighbors?

© Front Porch Forum 2014.

Front Porch Forum Our Mission

To help neighbors connect and build community We host a statewide network of online local forums 86,000 VT members + thousands more joining every month


Front Porch Forum helps neighbors connect and build community

Our contribuPon FPF results for many Vermont towns: • 67% of households subscribe to FPF • 50% of members spoke up last year on their FPF • 330% more members feel “very informed” about opportuniPes to get involved in their local community since joining FPF than did before joining (56% vs. 13%)

• 89% have recommended FPF to neighbors • 98% of members say FPF helps their local economy

“I can’t imagine our neighborhood without FPF!” Tim Douglas, Burlington FPF member


ConnecPon leads to engagement

•  Neighborhood watch kickoff •  Book club forming •  Let’s support neighbor’s new business •  Rebuilding playground this weekend •  Block party returns aber 30-‐year hiatus •  Join meal train for fire vicPms

“FPF connects me to my community, makes the bond between us stronger, and personal conversaPons conPnue due to FPF posPngs. I look forward to reading it every night. I'm not a Facebook fan but I LOVE Front Porch Forum.” Marianne Eaton, Bristol FPF member

And move toward... •  Plumber recommendaPon •  Lost dog! •  Car break-‐in •  Teen babysiger available •  School play Friday •  Bicycle to give away •  Best ice cream in town? •  Car for sale

Neighbors start with posPngs like...


FPF’s local impact

•  Heightens interest in local issues •  More informaPon flows •  Organizers solicit parPcipaPon... and get it!

Increases civic engagement


•  People seek and make recommendaPons •  Business owners post offers directly •  Businesses buy adverPsing

Nurtures small businesses

•  Neighbors talk more face-‐to-‐face •  Increases parPcipaPon in public processes •  Supports neighborhood watch & mutual aid

Builds more resilient communiPes

Connected communiPes respond beger when calamity strikes...

"In 36 hours we all donated 3 tons of food and supplies, and $3,000 in support of Hurricane Irene vicPms. The goods were loaded by an enthusiasPc group, then Jack and Adam headed for Bennington, detouring through New York State to avoid closed road." -‐ Dennis Shanely, Cambridge FPF member

“We’ve lost half a house but gained a community. Thank you neighbors for your heart-‐breaking generosity.” -‐ Elga Gemst, Moretown FPF member


Sarah Waterman Manning

!  Founder of VTResponse.com in 2011

(Digital) Neighbors Helping Neighbors

A Story of the Vermont Way in the Digital Age

Where the Story Begins

Twitter After Irene

Key Goals of VTResponse

•  Consolidate information •  Create a place to connect •  Accessible to all •  Simple to use

Managing VTResponse •  Check Email, Twitter, and Voicemail •  Review comments and forums •  Review VTExchange.org •  17 individual town pages •  12 individual town web pages •  6 State of Vermont Sites •  27 person contact list •  Traditional Media Sources

WHAT IS SOCIAL MEDIA?

Social media is what you make it. It’s a place to engage, to share, to learn and to connect.

The tools change weekly. The basic principles don’t.

GETTING STARTED

The Basics Build your audience before you need it. Manage the information. Use a few tools well, rather than all the tools poorly. Create a system that is as automatic as possible.

Building Audience

Engagement is key. •  Identify key players •  Follow/add/participate generously •  Create a conversation

Manage the Information

If you don’t share it, someone else will. •  Clear, concise, original. •  Provide contact information for follow-up •  Seek user generated content •  Active, consistent participation

Thank You

•  Vermont Council on Rural Development •  Tom Birkland •  Matt Sisto/Katy Kent

Questions/Comments/Contact

Sarah Waterman Manning [email protected]

Steve Butcher

!  Mad River Valley

Janette Shaffer Ø Middlesex

Janette Shaffer The Town Meeting Solution Committee‘s goal is to improve participation in Middlesex town meeting and Middlesex civic affairs through

Remote Town Meeting Participation Coordinator, Middlesex Town Meeting Solutions Committee

1.  Information •  Middlesex Operator’s Manual (Print and online) •  Welcome new voter letters •  Town Meeting Tidbits on FPF •  Facilitation of f2f roundtable meetings

2.  Remote Town Meeting Participation (RTMP)

Contact the Panelists

!  Michael Wood-Lewis, Front Porch Forum [email protected]

!  Sarah Waterman Manning, VTResponse.com [email protected]

!  Steve Butcher, Mad River Valley [email protected]

!  Janette Shaffer, Middlesex [email protected]

[email protected] [email protected]

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