Chris Curley

In the season of resolutions, so many of us seek balance with all of the people, things and tasks that require our attention. Connecting with others gives us new perspectives, makes us feel part of something bigger, and often enables us to pursue and share our passions (remember those?). Whether cross country skiing, politics, chess or business startups are your bailiwick, here are five ways you can harness technology to connect to your community.

1. Meetup.com – founded in 2001, “Meetup’s mission is to revitalize local community and help people around the world self-organize. Meetup believes that people can change their personal world, or the whole world, by organizing themselves into groups that are powerful enough to make a difference” (http://www.meetup.com/about/). What, there is no meetup group for sausage making enthusiast? You can start one yourself! I often will look at the “calendar” section which shows every meetup group that has upcoming events, not just the one I am already subscribed—broadening my horizons and connection!

2. Facebook – yes, Facebook seems to have become that place in the ether where we post our children’s, our pets’, and own accomplishments and outstanding moments. Oh, I should not forget all of the entertaining animal videos and the ability to stalk one’s ex. Facebook’s “surreality” is a topic for an entire post itself. Yet, it can be a valuable tool to stay connected with the community. Firstly, you can “follow” a person, place or company that has shared values, things you enjoy and events (and yes, I love pancakes). Secondly, you can view events near you from your home page. Click on “Events” and you will have a number of options: to create an event; to see all events happening near you this week; and even see who is going to an event (and register yourself so others know). This is a great way to see what concerts, art exhibits, comedy shows, and charitable events are upcoming. Finally, you can virtually connect to things, places, establishments, schools and even governments by again following them and then participating via comments in discussions that arise. Just remember that this is real life and you may run into people with whom you interact and comment. This is a great icebreaker, and can also be awkward: “oh, so you are Tim Phelan….”

3. Go old school, but in a technologically savvy way – most all newspapers, local periodicals, churches and event venues have an online “upcoming events” section. Spent a few minutes to scan these for things that may interest you. In some cases, you can subscribe to a newsletter or even a RSS feed to keep you up to date. If you are so inclined and lead a life of leisure, go ahead and do the online crossword and Sudoku while you are at it.

4. Yonder – For those of you like me that spend entirely too much time staring at a computer screen, Yonder is an excellent way to connect with others and get a little (or a whole lot) of exercise in the process. Yonder is an app available for iOS and Android that brings together people and the outdoor adventures they share. It covers a wide range of activities: backpacking, biking, birding, camping, geocaching (got me), hiking, horseback riding, skiing, all sorts of water sports and even yoga. You can share your adventures with pictures, instructions, comments and Yonder links out to the websites of where you were (state park, city, etc…). It is awesome for planning an adventure—or in my case a hike— because you get first hand experiences to give you what no brochure or map book dare say. In addition, people comment on your adventures and likewise. Through this dialog you can meet people who share your outdoor passion, perhaps outdoor geocaching yoga in the rain (I like pina coladas!).

5. Teach – yes seriously! if you have a slant towards geekiness—hey geek is the new cool, then you have something to share. Churches, schools, companies, chambers of commerce, rotary clubs, etc… are always looking for content to add value to their membership. Have you made money on Etsy or Ebay? Maybe you have three teenaged boys and you spend most of your life trying to control and make safe a myriad of electronics that connect to the internet (ouch, that was a little close to home)? Have you fallen for so many scams that you know how to spot them? Or, perhaps a little advice on online courtesy in forums and commenting (Dad, all caps does not make it easier to read!)? Millennials and kids these days electronically communicate information seamlessly, without regard to location, culture or backgrounds. How do we “internet immigrants” who still remember baud rates learn the latest and greatest? Whether it is writing a blog, submitting articles to local papers and periodicals, or speaking to groups, you can add value to your community and become more connected today.

I love this quote from Brené Brown, “I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.” Connection brings about perspective, purpose and most often balance to our lives. Using these five tools—and there are unaccountably more—2016 will be the year that my electronics enhance my sense of being a part of a community rather than isolating. You game? Please share other apps, sites, tools have you used and make it a great 2016!