9 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

Some of you already sent it with your Amtrak accommodations, but if you have not done so, please e-mail me your hotel plans for the SERF event in the three host cities. Coming up on 6 weeks to go, it's time to start putting together the contact list. In addition, if I don't have your cell phone number please include that as well. As always, do not post personal information on this board. For those new to the Fests, I compile a chart similar to the Participant List, only it includes where everyone is staying and cell phone numbers. This is mainly in case of emergencies, in the unlikely event something happens such as a hurricane, tornado, or some other calamity that prevents us from riding trains at the proposed times. It used to also include the Amtrak trains, but that was split off into the accommodations charts I now do. It can however also be used for people to plan travel together before and after the official Fest activities if people end up staying in the same hotels or hotels nearby one another. This spreadsheet is confidential to preserve the privacy of our participants, since it contains our phone numbers and hotel information. No links to it will be posted here. It will be e-mailed only to people on the guest list as close as possible to the weekend we begin travel on the Crescent. If you do print it out, please take care not to misplace it. You may wish to just program other people's numbers in your phone, and make plans separately if you see you're staying in the same hotel. Regarding the use of Twitter and other social media outlets, I don't want to see it abused, and that's for the security of everyone involved. Sure we may post things from our travels --- I sure will be doing so. In fact it helps me when I get home to begin putting together notes that will go into the trip report. But we do have people among us who don't realize that Tweets intended for one person still go out to all of both people's followers, people who couldn't care less that you're planning breakfast together but more importantly it broadcasts that the other person isn't home. So .... use your text messaging functions (remember those?) to contact one or a few people, but feel free to tell the world where we are and what we're doing. I'm just looking out for everyone's well being as I always do!

[jis]

A random thought just occurred to me. Perhaps we could set up a dropbox with password protection and just send the dropbox info to the participants so that they can access it from their laptops and smartphones. That way you can update the confidential info without having to keep emailing things to everyone, and only those that have access to the dropbox can get the info. I use a protected dropbox to share info among my various devices and find it quite convenient.

[AlanB]

Actually Kevin, should you wish to consider Jishnu's idea, the simple answer would be to just create a temporary forum only visible to those participating in the fest. It could even be password protected.

[KevinKorell]

But we do have people among us who don't realize that Tweets intended for one person still go out to all of both people's followers...

... as Congressman Weiner just found out the hard way.... Bottom line, it's NOT private!!

[jis]

The saga of the publication of Congressman Wiener's weiner

[KevinKorell]

Random thoughts notwithstanding, the list will be done the way it's been done the past several years, by e-mail to participants. I'm waiting for one more person's hotel info, but the first edition may be sent anyhow by this coming weekend.

[KevinKorell]

Over the past couple of weeks, I've been sending test text messages to the cell phone numbers you provided. This is just to test everyone's texting capability and also to make sure I have the right numbers for the contact listing. The balance of them were sent this morning. Please just respond back so I know you are OK.

[amtrakwolverine]

Over the past couple of weeks, I've been sending test text messages to the cell phone numbers you provided. This is just to test everyone's texting capability and also to make sure I have the right numbers for the contact listing. The balance of them were sent this morning. Please just respond back so I know you are OK.

that was you? I was wondering what it said by pre fest text test. can you resend it i deleted it.

EDIT at 10:40PM got it and replied.

Edited by amtrakwolverine, 11 July 2011 - 09:47 PM.

[KevinKorell]

The first edition of the contact listing was e-mailed to participants tonight. One mistake in somebody's phone number was already called to my attention, so there will be at least one more update coming soon.

[KevinKorell]

Over the past couple of weeks, I've been sending test text messages to the cell phone numbers you provided. This is just to test everyone's texting capability and also to make sure I have the right numbers for the contact listing. The balance of them were sent this morning. Please just respond back so I know you are OK.

Folks, a strange thing happened, and happened at the wrong time. I sent out a number of those test message texts on Monday morning about 10:30 AM. I got no immediate reponses, and I noticed that it appeared that all the messages I had initiated were not showing in my sent or output boxes either.

So I'm thinking --- wonder why everyone ignores me? Or is this thing working? I even cleared out old text messages from my inbox and sent box. Nothing. Then that day I drove 1-1/2 hours to work, spent 8 hours there, and drove 1-1/2 hours home. If there had been a problem with my nearby cell tower, surely as I went through other towns I'd get the messages I expected. But nothing all day. At home I shut down my phone while I charged it, as is routine.

Tuesday I disconnected the charger, turned on my phone, and 37 text messages came in one after the other.... including a lot dated July 10th from those who did respond to me. So the test was successful in verifying I had the right phone numbers and that we could communicate, but a failure in that it took about 24 hours for me to get the answers. Hopefully if you contact me, I'll get it right away, and not a day later! If I don't react to a text, call.