Part One, Two, Three, Four, Five & Six
DID YOU SEE the TV programme aired on BBC Channel One at 9:00pm on 16thMay ?
“ The Street that cut everything” presented by Nick Robinson BBC TV News
This was a most interesting insight into the interaction of the community in one street in Preston, when the BBC with the co-operation of the Local Council, contrived a situation to illustrate to the community the detailed involvement of the Local Administration their services and how they impact both practically and financially on the everyday life of individuals, their families, their homes and environment in their own Street.
The “Fly on the Wall “ camera work was most revealing illustrating on the dynamics of how individuals inter-react both individually and as a group
All the local services to the Street were discontinued or removed ( street lights, refuse collection etc) and each household was given back ( in cash) their individual Council Tax payment for the period in question . Their first collective decision was to decide how to accept the Council Tax hand-back – as individual households or collectively as a community.- the reulting consequences were most surprising
To cut a long story short the experiment ( as expected) clearly illustrated the lack of cohesion, and overall understanding of where and how their taxes were used to meet regulations, expectations of the wide cross section of individual, family and group needs. It graphically illustrated that how within any community and neighbourhoods, most individuals invariably find it difficult, virtually impossible to understand and more to the point, appreciate the practicalities and legalities needed by a Local Authority to successfully runoperate and administer the services and facilities needed for balancing community lifestyles
What is required is ? COMMUNICATION ..COMMUNICATION ..COMMUNICATION
Communities do have a vital part to play in the day to day situation and lifestyle of their residents. They can provide the adhesive which binds together a neighbourhood, their community, village, town, city and nation and even more significantly as in the case of BJ can and should influence their Local Administration
BJ has a plethora of communities –
Friday Coffee Pop-ins: 9.45am to 11.45am (Methodist Church Hall), Art Group:Tel 9312422- meets Mondays 13.30<15:30 in Village Hall, B. J. Runners:Tel 8447039 and 9312978 - Start at Lord Nelson- Tues 18:30 and Sun. 10:30, Calligraphy Group: Tel 9554222 - Fridays 09:30<11:30 Village Hall , Duplicate Bridge Club: Tel 9313820 and 9323592 - Each Wed evening Small village Hall , Senior Citizen’s Club:Tel 9618254 , Stroke Club:Tel 9313288. each Wednesday URC Hall 11:30, i to One:Tel 9314384 (lost a partner?) , Local History Society: Tel 0115 931 2657 (Secretary) / Tel 0115 9312236 (Archivist), Trent Valley Art Group:Tel 0115 931 2422, Poplars Sports:Tel 0115 931 4084, B J Tennis Club:Tel 0115 953 7137 . Girl Guides:Tel 0115 931 2468, Brownies:Tel 0115 931 3867, Scouts:Tel 0115 966 5739 , Cub Scouts:Tel 0115 931 3805, Burton Joyce Choral Society, BJ Preservation Society, BJ Residents , NHW, BJU3A, WEA etc., etc.
So what is the position in BJ ? The majority of these BJ organisation/interests/groups appear to operate quite independently of each other, with little or no inter-action . What a shame! General awareness of all the groups and their ongoing interests, opinions and availability of information, which will be invaluable in developing and the creation awareness within our wider village community
We really do need to create a system/proceedure/network providing a wider range and understanding and empathy with others, whereby those in the community are constantly aware of the existing and imminent happenings/announcements which may be relevant to ALL involved in our village activities, including our local and immediate administrators .We need a system which enables and ensures communication SIDEWAYS and both BOTTOM UP and TOP DOWN
We understand and appreciate the news and events of those within our village, are regularly publicised in the Parish Magazine, unfortunately this magazine is published monthly with a the copy date the previous mid month - this does not and cannot fulfil the immediacy/exposure related to all and late news/events
Let us also consider the B J Village Plan Committee and their efforts to understand and recommend positive changes to issues to improve our community and individual lifestyles. After several months of investigating/ implementing an eleven page BJ VP Questionnaireand circulating a copy to every household in the village -approx 2000 homes, - yet ONLY 416 actual individuals provided responses to this important community work !
What a Shame Why, Was it.? .
The answer, undoubtedly, is the lack-of " Bottom Up "- COMMUNICATION .. COMMUNICATION .. COMMUNICATION
The significance information provided by the BJ VP and their questionnaire is in the” QUESTIONS” and the “RESPONSES”.
There is now little doubt, even with the low numbers who responded, that every question responded to ”as creating a SIGNIFICANT concern” has already been raised by MANY in our community - over MANY years . WHY is it then that the community voices have NOT been heard or positively acted upon ?
However, WHY was the opportunity available to the BJ VPC to obtain answers to the following OVERLOOKED ? -
a) How many households in BJ have a BROADBAND service
b) How many residents in BJ have the use of and can use a COMPUTER
c) How many residents in BJ actually use the INTERNET
The ANSWER is quite simple - THERE WAS OR IS NOT THE UNDERSTANDING, NOR APPRECIATION OF THE VITAL CONTRIBUTION which DIGITAL COMMUNICATION does make in improving and enhancing the everyday life of everyone, everywhere - which is the significance of
COMMUNICATION .. COMMUNICATION .. COMMUNICATION ..
PART 2
Here is a classic example of NON COMMUNICATION -
"June 2011 BJPC to meet with Notts Library Services to assist in reducing impact of reduced hours . NCC Library Services have already eased fears by adding additional hours and bringing in a self serve book checking system. Further work with volunteers is needed.Councillors are to meet at County hall to discuss further options"
We in the community who attended the THREE meetings with the Notts CC library Administration over the last 10 weeks, were given to understand that by volunteering to provide unpaid assistance to the Library personnel (ensuring longer opening hours) we could also become unvolved in a "Partnership" with the Notts CC. A Parnership to develop, extend and create additional facilities attracting and satisfy all age groups and interests, thereby bringing together the wider BJ Community - It now appears the new BJPC may have developed wider interest - WITHOUT COMMUNICATION with the community
COMMUNICATION is vital in the distribution of GOOD and CONSTRUCTIVE information – however everyone should also appreciate that COMMUNICATION can and is frequently used for the distribution of UNTRUTHS and MALICIOUS GOSSIP in all levels of society -. Note the phone tapping saga at the News of the World
Many within our own immediate community may think that untruths and malicious communication is a condition which exists only in a national /celebrity context. This is just not so, we should all be aware that inflated personal egos and ambition exists in many levels of society, everywhere, and it can result in a colouring ( spinning) of statements, proposals and suggestions from all levels, personal , business, and yes in local Administrations also
All this aside – Communication is vital, to everyday life and particularly when mobilised for it can provide so many additional benefits for all in our community. Communication can also unify the voices of residents, it can be the means for good and can provide constructive comment , proposals/ suggestions to all levels of all local administrations.
Community voices can also be used challenge and question
DID anyone see the East Midlands Politics Show on TV last Sunday the 23/05 – It was presented by John Hess the EM Political Editor ? -The main topic featured was the recent upheaval in the local politics of the village Parish Council in COTGRAVE. The power of sitting Council was usurped by a newly created “Revolution” group who were fed up with the decisions of the sitting Cotgrave Parish Council
Here are a few recent comment on the Cotgrave Town Council Website – message board
“At the inaugural meeting of the council it was decided that the message board should be allowed to run for 2 months to prove itself rather than remove it. Members felt that the board was becoming dominated by negative threads which put Cotgrave in a bad light. In the meantime a working party is tasked with coming up with an alternative method of communicating with the community. Facebook was 1 option
If anyone can suggest any other methods please let council know. Cotgrave Parish Council”
“ threads are important when they start out, they are not negative. They become negative when certain individuals become out of order in their own personal response which is what has happened lately. It is these posts which may give a bad feeling to others looking in. Occasionally these posts crop up and may give a bad impression but surely over the years the message board has been running it has conveyed more good posts than bad. The bad ones seem worse because they get more hits and once people start trying to dominate a post with their own views this is when the aggression creeps in. “
“There needs to be put in place a set of rules to overcome this. The board is a medium within the village to convey news, information and ideas. I feel it should be kept in place. As for facebook I'm not a fan and very rarely use it and know many others who now don't bother either”
“Further to my last post after looking down the pages for May it seems that some censorship of certain posts has already taken place and rightly so after what was posted on there by certain individuals. Maybe that's the way to go. If a post gets out of order then delete it.”
“The message board is a useful way to get answers to questions and communicate views for discussion. Facebook is not the way, why change a system that works. Is this the start of the Revolution party starting to censor and control communication?”
“Please can we have reassurances that only abusive posts be removed and not ones that disagree with council members views?
“I seem to have had a post removed which was not abusive, infact it only urged the new council members to be inclusive and to listen to the views of all villagers”
“So the Revolution team vote to stop this message board?? Who cares, they can only do that because this message board is under their control.”
“If they do stop it we can just start our own message board which they'll have no control over. I'll gladly start one up, web space is dirt cheap these days. They can either join in on the NEW message board or ignore it. They CAN'T and WON'T stop the voices of Cotgrave being heard”
“Not sure what positive messages mean. When I was in council I welcomed the message board even when there was the harshest criticism because I wanted to know what people thought - good or bad. It seems the new democracy will not tolerate dissent. I thought that was democracy being able to have your say?”
“I’m with Harry b here. I don’t do face book either. Plus, as I see it in my experience Facebook could and probably would cause rather more problems than this message board ever has, even allowing for the recent divisive ‘over exuberance’ on the part of some users.”
“With concern being expressed with regard to the use of a ‘nom de plume’ rather than a name, this is surely the way of the majority of forums?”
“There is I know a wish on the part of some to close this message board down, or perhaps to supply it in another format open perhaps to further monitoring”.
“Whilst having given this matter some consideration I appreciate the views of both sides, I do though have to question whether if we were to close this board we would in the actuality not only be closing down the right to freedom of speech for the residents of Cotgrave but also losing a very useful resource?”
“NUFF SAID” - for these are the themes expected within most “Administration controlled” Message/Notice Board or Forums -
Our case FOR a for genuine OPEN and TRANSPARENT, SOCIAL COMMUNICATION is well illustrated by the visitor levels to our own FORUM by the following statistics:
Parish Council Information - 5,415 readings .. Wind Turbines - 5,105 readings .. Community Watch - 2,508 readings ..
Low usage /High cost of Poplars - 2,698 readings .. Bus Plug - 5,314 readings
PART 3
COMMUNICATION is making known - revealing information, and it is imperative that it occurs in BI-LATERAL directions, by parties that should always be willing to communicate in a reasonable and prompt timescale, with politeness and good manners.
Regretfully all too frequently “Administration” personnel invariable omit courtesy, in their communications - the time and delay element being of little significance usually being justified by “investigating” . In particular, individuals should expect prompt attention to a personal demise or alternatively, when volunteering (to providing their time and service for the betterment of their community) EVERY individual seeking information deserve a prompt response in a reasonable timeframe - not weeks or months – at least, a prompt acknowledgement of receipt of contact should be the minimum and least display of common courtesy
Here in BJ we really do need greater communication within all levels of our community - even at the highest level (Parish Council) communication is abysmal The PC minutes give little of no explanation of queries and the decisions - The answer given is that –
“BJPC minutes are produced in correctly and accurately in accordance with guidelines and are an approved reflection of the agenda items and outcomes of proposal and views within that meeting. They should not and do not provide a narration of individuals. Councillors are required to approve the accuracy of the minutes at the next meeting one month later. Selections of BJPC minutes have been checked by N.A.L.C (National Association of Local Councils in year 2008/2009 period and found to be clear, concise and of high quality”
Not a satisfactory answer ! It is the BJ Community who need to be kept informed by the BJPC, in a clear, precise communication with those they represent - - NOT the NALC . The BJPC website set- up in 2009 to assist with communication is invariably way behind the clock, full of propaganda for individual councillors “pet” projects many way out of date for instance, the last report on the Poplars Sports activities is Oct 09 Poplars Income up 65% 2009/2010 period - latest Club news - 18th May 2009. Also and of great relevance where is the Online version of the 2010/11 Financial returns, and the Budget forecast for 2011/2012. It would appear that residents are expected to make an appointment thro the Clerk to the Council and then trek thro’ the BJ cemetery to the isolated Parish Council Office in order to see the records – In BJO’s opinion, these are examples of unacceptable communication by the first tier of LA Administration with the community they represent
We sincerely believe that the MOST IMPORTANT line of communication in BJ needs to be a COMMUNICATION LINE between the PARISH COUNCIL and the COMMUNITY ( in both directions )
Incidentally we also believe that the “BJ VILLAGE PLAN COMMITTEE” should establish significant/effective/permanent communication with ALL BJ GROUPS and RESIDENTS
We also add at this point that the communication from Notts CC (Library Administration) , since January of this year (over 5 months) re- the planned BJ library cuts and the community volunteers required to supplement the library’s reduced services, has been . ?*!*????
It is now widely accepted that Digital COMMUNICATION is vital to the progress/development of individuals, communities and society ( most of the following information is extracted from Wikipedia files)
Communicating via-The Internet Wasconceived as a fail-proof network k that could connect computers together and be resistant to any one point of failure; the Internet cannot be totally destroyed in one event, and if large areas are disabled, the information is easily rerouted. It was created mainly by DARPA;(USA’s “Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency”) its initial software applications were e-mailand computer file transfer.
Though the Internet itself has existed since 1969, it was with the invention of the World Wide Webin 1989 by British scientist Tim Berners-Leeand its implementation in 1991 that the Internet truly became a global network. Today the Internet has become the ultimate platform for accelerating the flow of information and is, today, the fastest-growing form of media, and is pushing many, if not most, other forms of mediainto obsolescence
Communicating via - Social networking is an online service, platform, or site that focuses on building and reflecting of social networksor social relationsamong people, e.g., who share interests and/or activities. A social network service essentially consists of a representation of each user (often a profile), his/her social links, and a variety of additional services. Most social network services are web basedand provide means for users to interact over the internet, such as e-mailand instant messaging. Online communityservices are sometimes considered as a social network service, though in a broader sense, social network service usually means an individual-centered service whereas online communityservices are group-centered. Social networking sites allow users to share ideas, activities, events, and interests within their individual networks.
Web based social networking services make it possible to connect people who share interests and activities across political, economic, and geographic borders.[16]Through e-mail and instant messaging, online communitiesare created where a gift economyand reciprocal altruismare encouraged through cooperation. Information is particularly suited to gift economy, as information is a nonrival goodand can be gifted at practically no cost.( in other words – “a gift economy” is that where the www ethos is -
COMMUNICATION with “the FREE transfer and use of information ”
Part Four
Mr Oakley was also a poster boy for the recent Silver Surfers' Day that set up to encourage more older people to go online.
It was in 2006 that Mr Oakley signed up to YouTube using the jokey name of Geriatric1927. He had lost his wife in 1998 and after that felt he needed to make a new life for himself with new friends and interests. It was at that point that he decided to buy a computer.
Mr Oakley said: "I thought having a computer and the internet and would enable me to have a life. That didn’t really work because I went into chat rooms which were full of kids. But somebody mentioned YouTube. In everyday life, the old don’t have communications with the young outside the family, but the internet can address that.”
In the drive to get more older people online, internet entrepreneur and the Government's "UK digital champion" Martha Lane Fox founded The Race Online 2010 charity. Recently, the charity has launched a range of refurbished computers available at less than £100, and has also signed up 100,000 volunteers from various companies and organisations to make available a host of new social and economic opportunities for older users. The initiative will also make it easier for governmental online communication with citizens, especially older people.
Mr Oakley is full of praise for the internet and hails these recent developments with enthusiasm and positivity. He says: "The internet is a wonderful tool for information, education and communication, I work with a friend in America who gives instructional lessons to his friends in a community centre, and has organised high-school students to come and give lessons one to one, and he reports the wonderful friendships that have developed between the old and the young.”
Part 5
Communication , Communication, Communication
and the proposed “BJ Library Partnership” assisted with community volunteers
During the 3 meetings organised by the Notts CC Library Administration, the topic consistantly and repeatedly raised for discussion by the Administration was ,specific list of volunteers to assist the BJ library staff in extending the new opening hours . These volunteer lists ( providing zero cost assistance were to be generated via recruitment by our community (ie those community individuals/groups invited to attend by the Administration)
However in our opinion there are important questions/answers required beforewe can arrive at the recruiting of volunteers and the means where- by, the re-construction of a progressive and effective “community partnership library” on a sound financial footing can be achieved by a true“ partnership” Administration .
So much for “open and transparent” governance– in our opinion the following questions needs answers, for they are vital in any quest to build and meet the future needs of a progressive public/or BJ Community Partnership Library .
(In any “private enterprise” initiative there will be many important questions and answers on the table before serious discussions can be considered) ie
Historical Information–
a) Footfall- time period (am/pm) : b) Number of loans/returns per visit :
c) Type of loans– fact, fiction, technical, activities, reference, adult, teenager, tiny tots etc,
d) Tiny Tots activity : e) Teenager activity : f) Family activity : g) Seniors Activity
h) Computer use – Days and times : i) Actual number of Computer reservations
j)Average Computer reservations per day/week
k) Number of Daily exhibitions : l) Number of “out of hours” activities - weekly/monthly
m) Number of total/annual opening hours :
n) Past and present financial statement/budgets (forcasted and actual - suggest last 2 years )
o) Forecasted 2011/12 financial investment /expenditure
etc., etc..
Part 6 COMMUNICATION COMMUN ICATION COMMUNICATION
It is estimated 19milion broad band users in UK - NOT Broadband installations
9 Aug 2010 ... The Over 50'snow make up 31% of the total UKInternet Audience and ...
Alarmingly, over 14 million people who are 50 plus and 60 plus have never used the Internet and as many as 44% representing 8.4 million people have no access to a computer, which means they are missing out considerably.
Many over 50s feel they have little need for a computer and are often put off by the purchase price and associated running costs, not to mention wary of learning new skills and troubleshooting any issues that may arise. However 55% of computer users over 50 extol the benefits of using the Internet with most firmly declaring that they could not now live without a computer and over two thirds of computer users over 50 feel the benefits far exceed the associated running costs.
The UK Over 50's age group account for over half of new internet users– the increased over-50s internet access boost for UK web figures ( 50% of BJ population is over 50)
In the last year two million more people in the UK have joined the on-line community, over half of who are “Over-50” according to the BBC.
Researchfrom the UK Online Measurement Agency found that the number of people online in the UK jumped in the last twelve months from 36.9 Million to 38.8 Million. The majority of these newbies were “Over 50” with more men joining than women
- family/friends in contact with someone who is seriously ill
- local societies eg history group
- networking with other individuals in your profession (eg carers )
- keeping in touch with people who have moved away
- supporting a cause or joining a protest
In other words enhancing Communication, Communication , Communication
As the increase in popularity of social networking ( Communication) is on a constant rise,[23]new uses for the technology are constantly being observed.
At the forefront of emerging trends in social networking sites is the concept of "real-time web" and "location based." Real time allows users to contribute content, which is then broadcasted as it is being uploaded - the concept is analogous to live radio and television broadcasts. Twitterset the trend for "real time" services, where users can broadcast to the world what they are doing, or what is on their minds within a 140 character limit. Facebookfollowed suit with their "Live Feed" where users' activities are streamed as soon as it happens. While Twitter focuses on words, Clixtr, another real time service, focuses on group photo sharing where users can update their photo streams with photos while at an event. Friends and nearby users can contribute their own photos and comments to that event stream, thus contributing to the "real time" aspect of broadcasting photos and comments as it is being uploaded. In the location based social networking space
Social networksare also being used by teachers and students as a communication tool. Because many students are already using a wide-range of social networking sites, teachers have begun to familiarize themselves with this trend and are now using it to their advantage. Teachers and professors are doing everything from creating chat-room forums and groups to extend classroom discussion to posting assignments, tests and quizzes, to assisting with homework outside of the classroom setting. Social networks are also being used to foster teacher-parent communication. These sites make it possible and more convenient for parents to ask questions and voice concerns without having to meet face-to-face.
**The use of online social networks by libraries is also an increasingly prevalent and growing tool that is being used to communicate with more potential library users, as well as extending the services provided by individual libraries.**
Access to information
Many social networking services, such as Facebook, provide the user with a choice of who can view their profile. This prevents unauthorized user(s) from accessing their information.[40]Parents who want to access their child's MySpace or Facebook account have become a big problem for teenagers who do not want their profile seen by their parents. By making their profile private, teens can select who may see their page, allowing only people added as "friends" to view their profile and preventing unwanted viewing of the profile by parents. Most teens are constantly trying to create a structural barrier between their private life and their parents.[41]
To edit information on a certain social networking service account, the social networking sites require you to loginor provide a password. This prevents unauthorized user(s) from adding, changing, or removing personal information, pictures, and/or other data. However posting can be read WITHOUT membership
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