The online public services provided by the Erin Residents Association (ERA) could go dormant this fall if no one steps up to continue them.
ERA founder David Spencer has developed the web-based Erin Community News and Erin Events calendar listing, but is only willing to continue administering them until the end of October.
He sees his role as planting seeds and helping projects get established, and now he wants to move on to other activities.
“It’s to bring people together,” said Spencer, who has been a teacher for 35 years.
He is willing to train people to take over either of the services, which use the Google Groups system.
“If people can get on Facebook and post things, they can do the Newsletter or the calendar,” he said.
“If they want to take over the Erin Residents Association – and most communities have one – they can take it over.”
He said the town or a service club may want to get involved. The online elements could be renamed and re-branded if necessary.
The calendar is available on the association website, erinresidents.wordpress.com, allowing viewers to click on an item for more information, plus access a map with another click.
The ERA calendar can also be imported as a layer onto anyone’s personal Google calendar, and be turned on and off as needed.
Spencer has also produced 50 Erin Newsletters over the last four years, which allow community groups to post not only text, but photos or PDFs about their activities.
There are 190 subscribers who receive email notifications, and their names are listed at the bottom of the Newsletter.
“Part of the goal of the Newsletter is to connect people – it’s by the people, for the people,” he said.
“As a Christian, my mandate is to love and support the community. I’m trying to apply my faith in a realistic way, and I feel like I’ve done something constructive.
“I want to say thank you to all the people who have supported this – the groups made it alive.”
Anyone wanting more information about this opportunity can contact Spencer at erinresidents@gmail.com.
