A NeuroTalk Newsletter
 

We are requesting feedback on the idea of starting a NeuroTalk Newsletter

This would essentially be a member newsletter, and so I am checking to see if there is any interest from members in being involved in this.

If we do this, Ellie and Curious would be co-ordinating things, with Ellie doing layouts and all the editorial stuff and Curious receiving whatever stories, ideas, reports etc that members would like to contribute, and also doing our healthy nutrition section.

We could have member contributions, whether a "my story" or interesting news/research reports on various conditions, along with other stuff to compliment our non-medical forums too...eg creativity, pets, and anything else that would be informative or fun or challenging, inspiring etc

we could also have special "Focus on...."...name whatever condition or issue, again, based on member contributions......

Also....its another way to introduce members from different forums to each other.....especially those who tend not to venture from their "home" forum

As this is just a suggestion at this time, we need to see what kind of enthusiasm there is for it, as well as whether any members would like to volunteer to be part of the Newsletter team

Anyway, this is an intial feeler to see what kind of interest there is in a newsletter soooo.....please post feedback here or PM me
thanks
Cheri :)

A newsletter sounds like a great idea! I for one would support it.

Awesome Chemar!

Wonderful
 

Idea,i would support it. Thanks for asking Sue

You know what would be cool Chemar? Having an "Ask Doc John" section where us members could submit questions Doc John could answer. Just the first thing that came into my mind when I saw the title of this thread. ;)

If that might not be something Doc John would be wanting to do maybe a "Ask Kimmy Dawn" or something might work, something for advice, obviously NOT medical advice, but like advice on other things. Just tossing this out there JIC it might be something to add a little UMPH to a newsletter, how often is it coming out? Monthly? :)

thanks for feedback so far :)

Pamster, we would likely start with quarterly and then see if more frequently is warranted.

Member involvement in writing, editing and co-ordinating this will be key to getting it up and running

I think it's a cool idea, quarterly sounds like it would give it enough time to be written and edited without too much pressure, I support this idea. I think it would be nice to see things written by members here in a newsletter. :D

good idea, guys...
 

Hi Chemar,

This is a very good idea; I've just seen it before popping off to bed, so haven't had time to think further.

But one thing strikes me. On the RSD forum we have quite a few members who never look beyond the RSD forum and see the other sections of NeuroTalk, for instance, the Forum Feedback section. And we've got lots of newer members too. They're unlikely to see this thread.

So...could a mod for each active forum perhaps repost your top post directly into their forums, I'm certain you'll get very much more feedback that way.

It's such a good idea I think people may get quite excited about it; hope so anyway.

Well done whoever had the brainwave,
all the best :)

I think it's a great idea.

Could you put up a poll for this?

I have a nice little piece I've written about Copyright Laws that might be able to be used. ;)

Hi Lara :)

yes, copyright is an important subject, and one that people tend to not have a lot of info on re the Internet, so this would be a good topic to cover in a newsletter

bumping this up as a reminder for those who are interested in participating in the Newsletter as part of the editorial team to please let me know your area of interest

we will likely run a Poll on this idea to start an NT Newsletter soon, and I will ask Doc to also announce it on all the forums, so that we can get a broader feedback on this

What could you put into the paper that is not covered on the site? I guess I just don't see what could be included in it.

With the speed of today any research info etc would not be up to date.

I think it's a very good idea. I would like to contribute in some way, if am I able to.

Hi Thelma

the vast majority of members never leave their home forum and to many it is quite a surprise to venture out and find all the other forums....some like it and participate on many, others prefer their home forum, and that is good too.

However a newsletter reaches all members, even those who havent been here in a while, and would have a whole different format and appeal than being on the forums

The initial newsletter would go out to all registered members, with the option to unsubscribe at any point. Wouldnt want to spam anyone now :D

anyway, again, this is just an idea that has been considered a few times and this time we just want to get member feedback on it to make sure this is worth pursuing.

thanks for all feedback so far!

Hey Chemar [How are you]
So then it is to be like a family paper. That is news from all of the sites here. I still don't get the reasoning for it. If a person here wants to remain in their own forum then it is their choice as it is so easy to get around here. There are some forums that would not be friendly to others coming in and just talking. Those that have troubles typing or indeed have cognitant problems but don't want to advertise the fact all over the forums.

I for one think it would be better to just accapt this site as it is and realize that it is for neurological diseases and conditions related to same.

The members will not feel too good if they are included against their will in any newsletter going out.

Perhaps that is my problem, the fact that it is being referred to as a newsletter when i think you are referrring to a sort of floating get together of sorts.

Don't know how to word this exactly.

Each and every individual forum here is a family of sorts and could you not think of it as an extended family. Rarely do most members interact and that is fine.

This is not a site to me for what you all are thinking. We are brought here because of seeking information on diseases and if we find friends here well that is good if not it still has done it's job.

What exactly is this site in everyones mind then. Is it to be a social club for chit chat or a serious entity in the world of neurological help.

Better decide soon.

Did somebody already ask if this is a newsletter that would be received by email?

I think it's a neat idea, and it's a lot of work! I've done several newsletters in my work life and it can be fun.

If members didn't want to receive it, they could request not to be on a mailing list, right?

no Thelma...not for chit chat or frivolous stuff tho yes, we certainly would like to do features on member's talents etc

It would be a Neurologically Relevant Newsletter.

Doc already does one for PsychCentral which is primarily an update on recent news and research related to the topics there

Here the idea is to have that and a bit more.

It would for example feature any member stories who WANT them told, while also reporting on research and news related to Neurology in general, and specific conditions that may be in the news, or that members of that forum would like to get out to a broader readership.

It could also carry relelvant information on important news re medications or SSI/Worker's Comp.....or ideas for coping with neurological illness or a whole host of things that many members may appreciate.

And it certainly wouldnt in anyway result in a flood of members visiting each other's home boards any more than they do now, rather it would just provide a means to share more info to a broader membership than read CFF

the Newsletter concept here was first suggested months ago...last year in fact.
and it actually isnt my idea....I am just the one who has volunteered to see if the membership has any interest in this and then try to get an editorial team together and try one edition.

If the feedback here indicates a clearly not interested, or if a first edition doesnt really work, or, if many members join you in requesting not to be sent a quarterly Community Newsletter :D , then we would just drop it and move on with no disruption to the normal life of this community.

Again, this is something that was suggested and we are only discussing its viability or relevance or desirability.

howdy Doody :)

yes, it would be emailed like the PC one is and members could choose whether to opt in or out to receive it

Howdy Doody. lol I love that. I remember that saying from a tv show from the US that I can't remember the name of at present. :rolleyes: Where is my brain?

Thelma,
sometimes you confound the socks off me.

Bear with me please as I'm a little frustrated this morning after attempting to post something that I feel is important on another site which in the end took me about 40 frustrating minutes or more from go to woe...

"Is it to be a social club for chit chat or a serious entity in the world of neurological help."

Why on earth would you think that a newsletter is akin to a social club or that the newsletter would not be handled in a discreet and proper manner to begin with?

What if it was a type of social gathering or a floating get together anyway? Who would that actually harm or hurt?

"i think you are referrring to a sort of floating get together of sorts"

What on earth is so wrong with people finding companionship with others anyway? You obviously don't like doing it but other people might have different needs. I'm far from the social butterfly, but I don't mind if other people find a bit of relief in chatting or humourous pursuits.

Obviously what this site is in my eyes is different from what it is in your eyes 'cause that's what you keep telling me. I've no idea really, because I'm not sure you do know what it means to me personally nor have you ever asked. e.g. do you know anything about me at all? I'm just saying this as an example, it's really a rhetorical question so no need to answer.

Some of us have known each other for 10 years. Some less of course. What's it really matter? The only thing that matters to me is that people have died, people have been born, people have done well, people have struggled, people found no answers, people did find answers, and in the middle of all that people found friends who helped them through it. Some with relevant information. Some with a hug for support. Some came bearing gifts, Some others send messages privately. Some others barely speak yet we know they love and care for us or others nonetheless.

Heck, a lot of us actually don't get out a lot and find it barely impossible to make friends anywhere else, let alone go shopping or do regular things. We need to remember that there's a whole lot of stuff goes on in people's lives that you or I probably know nothing about. I prefer to try to learn a little about people 'cause I love people and I care about them and what's going on in their lives.

:/

No offence taken

After saying that I have to tell you I have been around since the very first beginning of what became Braintalk. We tried a newsletter there. We did the petition Do you remember what hapened? It was so well received as was the annual meeting we planned to take place and then all H broke out.

Members didn't want to read old stories as they called them nor did they want to hear about what was of interest on other forums. seems much of what was written had already been on the site in one forum or another.

I am not being negative Lara just to be a pain. Been there and done that. Do you remember Whitey from Aussie land. wow she took us to task over just the suggestion snd I wish now I had of listened to her. It was me and Giraffe and boy were we sorry about it.

You are right I don't know much about you but I think you don't know much about me, right? You are only guessing about me but I am not guessing about a newsletter.

So I will let you all work it out and while you do please heed what a mess it can evolve into.

Having to write this is a good portent of what it can be like.

That is when strangers assume about each other and then the fur flies. It is easy to do the paper but when the words need to be monitored or edited then the fun begins.

And there is no way of pleasing everyone about many things but changing their words or not printing something and you will be fried in every forum they go to.

It is just so unrewrding


PS If you want to talk to me you know how to and I can be found here or in the ALs or Parkisons forums and sometimes addiction.

this is why I am asking for feedback, Thelma, and why we arent just rushing ahead with something before looking VERY carefully at how members feel about it and whether it will benefit the community

I've avoided responding to this thread Chemar..I guess because suicide isn't a neurological problem...it isn't an illness and most people don't want to think about it let alone talk about it or read about it.

Most of our threads are off topic and I doubt if you would find anything of interest there Thelma. But I'd like to think it serves a purpose..that the hugs can reach those in need of support.

We can't give people a reason to live but we can listen without judging them.
We can let them know that we have been "there" and lived to tell about it.
Somedays I tire of it to the point of throwing in the towel but if just one person can be talked..loved..guilted..out of killing themselves then it's all worth it.

:grouphug: for the room and that includes Thelma. *grin

Alffe....I think the SOS Forum reaches a lot more people in need of support than you or I could even begin to imagine...........

and it is a VERY relevant topic, nomatter how people may want to avoid it. Suicide may not be a neurological problem, but neurological problems and the severe physical and emotional pain and changed lifestyle that they can cause, makes it a topic that is relevant to this forum, and I thank God that SOS members are here. :grouphug:

I have experienced a sense of real wonder :) when reading many of the posts on SOS and witnessing a caring that goes deeper than I have ever seen not only on the Net, but in Life.

If our Newsletter gets going there would certainly be room for any contributions from SOS whether OT or not.

Thanks, Thelma.

I actually wasn't meaning to offend you or anyone else. I was just not understanding why it seemed such a bad idea to you especially since you mentioned :""Is it to be a social club for chit chat or a serious entity in the world of neurological help."

I just figured something like this would be a serious entity whether it was only about neurology or whether it was a bit of everything.

I do remember when a similar idea was suggested some where else and I do remember all the kerfuffle about some get together although I don't recall too much about that because I'm in Australia and it wasn't something I could be involved with anyway plus I didn't like getting involved in a lot of the arguments or 'discussions' that went on at that time in the old Forum Feedback area.

I did at one time make my own trip over to the US and Canada and met up with friends at a conference there as well as enjoyed some amazing downtime as well. That was probably the greatest thing I've ever done for myself in my life one way or another. :)

I got the impression from what Chemar has written that nothing would be rushed into and like a lot of things, it's good to talk about it all first and get ideas from everyone.

Also my question about how much do you know about me wasn't a personal type question, it was as I already said a rhetorical question. More of a general statement about how some of us might know more about others than they might know about us. We're both saying the same thing there.

Hey Thelma...
:Wave-Hello:
I remember vividly what an eeyore you were about this whole forum when it started up :p ....and look at us now!

Credit where it's due, the management here told us at the start what it could deliver and what we could expect, and encouraged feedback and suggestions from the fledgeling members to help them formulate the best working structure for *us* - they didn't just say, "we've got a blueprint for running a forum already from PsychCentral, let's just use that".

PsychCentral has a newletter, I notice NT isn't saying "from next week we'll be sending you a newsletter, same kind of thing PC has" - i.e. doing it first, sorting out problems later.

They're again asking us for our feedback and suggestions before formulating a working plan for a newletter specifically to suit *us*. In fact they're going further; this very thread, from what Chemar says, is just a "toe in the water" before casting the idea on forum waters more widely.

Past experience with the NT management has shown that if they do something they take all the necessary trouble to do it well.

So - give'em a chance, why not...but watch out, you might actually enjoy it ;)

all the best!

[quote=Thelma;99981


What exactly is this site in everyones mind then. Is it to be a social club for chit chat or a serious entity in the world of neurological help.

Better decide soon.[/quote]

and why is that? we have nothing to decide. we are doing just fine in the direction we are going. we offer both. if you only like the non caring data sites. go for it.

seems to me even the most die hard research posters here chime in and offer support.

[quote=Thelma;99981


What exactly is this site in everyones mind then. Is it to be a social club for chit chat or a serious entity in the world of neurological help.

Better decide soon.[/quote]

and why is that?

decide for the paper not the site. What does the 99981 mean? After you form the contents then an accurate response can be made as to it being viable

Artist

I still believe that the management can only be a reflection of what the members want else they will have nothing to manage. EG BT

Yep...hence this thread to talk about whether the members want a RELEVANT Newsletter

soooo
let's get back on topic shall we

I will assume that your vote is "no" Thelma :D so rest assured, it has been registered and all your comments have been noted. Thanks for the feedback

Again, unless members want this, AND are willing to help put it together....it will be just another idea that gets archived.

i quoted you thelma.

the quote goofed up and showed the numbers.

you said site, not paper.

LOL Lara! Yes, I watched Howdy Doody every time it was on. And...it was aptly named The Howdy Doody Show. Buffalo Bob and Clarabell were his most frequent sidekicks. :) As a matter of fact, Clarabell the clown was played by Bob Keeshan who later became Captain Kangaroo. :D

The only reason for that number, Thelma, is probably that Chemar hit the 'quote' button to quote you, but deleted some of your post out so that only the part she wanted to respond to was shown. When deleting the rest of your post out, she probably accidentally deleted the bracket in the HTML code.

Whenever you use that quote button, you'll notice that it has a number behind the name...why I don't know, but I'm betting that's why the number showed up.

Chemar just messed up when she was deleting the rest of the thread from the quote. :D

Oh, heh...edited to say, CURIOUS MONKEYS messed up the quote!!!! :D

erp!! which curious are you calling a chemar there Doody!!:D

[QUOTE=Chemar;100361]erp!! which [B]curious[/B] are you calling a chemar there Doody!!:D[/QUOTE]

Just for the record.

There is a number on every quote. It just doesn't usually show up. If you use the quote button on the post you wish quoted it shows the user name followed by ;number

example above

If part of the code is accidenly left out e.g. the ] or the [ , or there's a space it will show the number.

Ok

as this got a bit OT :D I am bumping it up again for discussion on the pros and cons of introducing a NeuroTalk Newsletter.

We have had mainly positive responses, as well as the noted points that Thelma made as to why it would not be a good idea.

BUT

in addition to "that's a good idea" I also need to know if any that feel it is a good idea would like to be directly involved in helping us put it together.

again
IF we do this, it would be quarterly, and it would need member participation on both the editorial side as well as in the content

now
no:mf_argue: or :mf_swordfight: please

only NICE Newsletter Talk :)

ROFL at the admonishments.....but is it really a God idea? :D

ooooooooooooooooops:o

corrected and thank ye ma'am :D

hehehe.

Y'all are fun and make me smile. :)

KD

A Little Slow on the Uptake...
 

but i like the idea of a neurotalk newsletter, i actually grew up right next door to johnny mcdonough, who became the NEW captain kangaroo (still lives in that same house in CT, admits publicly to being afraid to this day of the attic and the basement)...and i have a degree in linguini, er i mean, linguistics from like a million years ago so could maybe help out torturing the english language (or spanish, french, portuguese, japanese, ameslan, legelese, gobbldegook columns on the side) or something along those lines. hey, i could be the one they love to hate! my life doesn't suck enough; perfect!

these are my qualifications, folks. oh, yeah, and i took a journalism class in high school back in the late 60's. that should totally count for something here, right?

just kidding, glad actually, to help in any way i'm able, would probably have to get dragon set up with some kind of speaker system for sure to do it but what a great impetus to finally get that marked of my long list of to-do's. procrastination is so exhausting, anyways. i'm tired! (so damned good at it though; think it's related to the perfectionism...).

i think there are probably a lot of good and bad reasons to do or not to do something like this. the best of both won't become evident until you venture forth! i will say from where i sit, all of the feedback so far has been interesting and constructive. all of it.

i love neurotalk.

you guys save me every day!

alison