Hi all,
I am sorry for extending this thread any longer than it already is, but I could not and would not let Stacy’s email close this down.
I think you (Stacy) are as far off base about the NEARC GIS community as you could possibly be. Far from being a mean and angry community, we are a very tight
knit family… So much so, that, if you have ever attended one of our meetings you would see many of our families with us. I have personally even brought my father down to introduce him to my extended family (unfortunately there are now members of this family
who prefer to see him over me, but that’s a different matter).
The situation that played out in this email string was one where someone not involved in our region (beyond sending these emails in question) got called out for
something that we do not like… unsolicited marketing. This group is truly a user helping user community. If you have a funny story, a cool thing that you want to show off (either of your making or one that you saw somewhere else), or- most importantly- you
have a question, you can ask this group in a non-judgmental environment.
Even at our conferences you would see a vendor area where many vendors from around the country come to join us, but it isn’t the usual high pressure sell that
you see at other conferences (I have heard the vendor area for different conferences be called a number of names, my favorite is running the gauntlet). If you want to stop and talk to a vendor, they’re there for that, if you’d like a give away, take one.
Are there people with shorter fuses on this site who will email quickly, yes, just like some family members. But if you or anyone else who may get called out
on the list attended these meetings, you would see what the real community was about, and most likely one of us would discuss this matter with you over a beer at one of our famous pub crawls.
I have never been on the NEARC board, but truly appreciate everything that the board has done for many years to keep this group truly a user helping user community.
I applaud Brett (the current President of the NEARC board) for posing the question about alternative areas where more in your face marketing belongs. And in response to that request, I would suggest that if anyone is active in the community, we are relatively
aware of who is a blogger, Twitterer, or anything like that (I am none of the above). If you want to be recognized for your blog, answer some of our questions, and if it is insightful enough, I know I will look you up and see what you are about. As for Matt’s
statement about wanting to start a conversation, if you truly want only to start a conversation, my suggestion would be to drop your blog, and send your post in an email that way we could all respond freely. I think you raise some good points, but in my honest
opinion I think you are trying to get people to your site, and that’s it… Sorry if I am mistaken.
Sorry again for beating this horse till its way past pulp, but I had to defend NEARC. Can’t wait to see you in May (and I echo Mike Olkin’s statement) and invite
all of you from outside the region to what I have long considered the best GIS event of the year!
Thanks,
Mike
From: Northeast Arc Users Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Stacy Rogers
Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2016 4:30 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Just another Gorilla Marketing GIS blog post
I agree and it was totally obnoxious, not only to the originator but amongst those who replied. Really just mean. Thanks for giving me the reason to unsubscribe.
BTW – I never looked at the blog in question.
But this string is poor reflection on the GIS community in the area.
From: Northeast Arc Users Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Rodriguez , Orlando
Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2016 8:59 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Just another Gorilla Marketing GIS blog post
Ditto. This thread has been going on for too long.
From: Northeast Arc Users Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Thad Dymkowski
Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2016 8:41 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Just another Gorilla Marketing GIS blog post
Can I invoke the “Reply” vs “Reply All” request? I’m pretty done with this superfluous string of communication. Thanks kindly!
Kind regards,
Thad
Thad Dymkowski, GISP
GIS Manager
[log in to unmask]">
PRIME3SG: the
Technology division of PRIME AE Group, Inc.
55 Capital Blvd. | 2nd Floor | Rocky Hill, Connecticut 06067
P: 860 436 5600 | C: 860 657 6108 |
[log in to unmask]
Connecting. Creating. Conserving.
Community.
From: Northeast Arc Users Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Jonathan Hall
Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2016 8:39 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Just another Gorilla Marketing GIS blog post
Stacy
Why don't you subscribe to Matt's blog?
The vast majority of NEARC listserv members don't want commercial spam. This is supposed to be "users helping users". Vendors selling products or services should not have access to every email address on the listserv because we have not provided our implied
consent to be contacted by vendors. Don't change the rules for everyone just because you like Matt's blog.
Regards,
Jon Hall, RMC Cartographer
On Mar 10, 2016 8:12 AM, "Stacy Rogers" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
As someone who is not up on all the social media …, I actually am interested to see links like that especially if they relate to a recent discussion. Could the organizers make some new policy like links are submitted for approval or with some contingency they must be relevant to an issue that was brought to the list in the last week or two. Or maybe someone who has no perceived financial gain from such a post could collect some and sent that out as an informational note?
Just some suggestions for whatever they are worth!
From: Northeast Arc Users Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Olkin, Michael
Sent: Wednesday, March 9, 2016 8:03 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Just another Gorilla Marketing GIS blog post
Dear Matt,
I understand what you are trying to do as a small business owner and I respect it on various levels. Blogging is a very effective way to build a brand and to generate interest. It is incredibly difficult to consistently post interesting, informative content on a blog. You deserve commendation for posting consistently and finding ways to reel in blog subscribers.
However, I do think that you are missing the mark by posting to a listserv that does not openly welcome commercial solicitation. Your posts are well designed for social media, but a listserv is much different than social media. On social media, we choose who we wish to follow. For example, I follow you on Twitter because you offer something that I wish to see there. On a listserv, we're not following a specific person, but rather we are following the group and we are trusting our fellow subscribers to continue the discussions in the intended spirit of the group. When that trust is broken often enough, subscribers leave the listserv, and we all lose out. People subscribe to NEARC-L for several reasons, all of which relate to what the list has had to offer up until the present, whether it's job postings, technical assistance discussions, geospatial event announcements, or general geospatial banter.
Fortunately, NEARC is much more than just a listserv. The group hosts two fantastic conferences every year, and we collaborate with other groups that produce great events as well. There is a significant commercial presence at these conferences and events, which enhances and supports them in many ways. NEARC would not be what it is without all of the great commercial and non-commercial sponsors that collaborate with us. I invite you to step into that realm; join us in May in Amherst, MA at the Spring NEARC Conference as an exhibitor, presenter, or both. Interact with us in person and you will stand a much better chance of finding a warm welcoming reception among us. Most of us are northeasterners, with the (perhaps undeserved) reputation of being as cold as an early morning in January, but we really are quite nice once you get to know us.
Warmly,
Michael Olkin, GISP
GIS Administrator, Town of Amherst
4 Boltwood Avenue, Amherst, MA 01002413-259-3247
www.amherstma.gov/maps | @amherstgis
Preview the new Amherst Maps at www.amherstma.gov/newmap
From: Northeast Arc Users Group <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Donald Meltz <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, March 9, 2016 4:00 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Just another Gorilla Marketing GIS blog post
Twitter.
From: Northeast Arc Users Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Matt Sheehan
Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2016 2:40 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Just another Gorilla Marketing GIS blog post
Apart from being hosted on our company web site, I'm struggling to see how this is a commercial blog post. As a 20 year veteran of GIS, given today's changes if there has ever been a time we all need to share: this is it. Its certainly not my intention to upset anybody. And I apologies if that has been the case here. I would ask though, if a mailing list like NEARC is not a good place for these types of conversations where is?
-Matt
On 9 March 2016 at 12:16, Brian Cooperman <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Completely agree with Roy. What these e-mails on the NEARC list amounts to advertising. 600 words on a company blog is not pithy commentary on our industry; its a thinly veiled attempt to drive traffic to your commercial enterprise.
@Matt, if you can't tell, Brett's most recent e-mail (on the 4th) reiterating the rules of this list - as a forum for non-commercial purposes - were directed primarily at you; there have been no other offenders of this policy in recent memory as other e-mails have been job postings, actual user questions, and e-mail based industry discussion. Please stop spamming this list.
If you are so concerned about maintaining a connection to your readers and truly believe your blog is valuable divorced from your company, host it elsewhere and set up an RSS feed.
On Wed, Mar 9, 2016 at 1:57 PM, Roy Apostle <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Gosh, these are so annoying. If you are going to spam the NEARC page, please at least get the technique name right.
It's guerrilla marketing.
Roy
On Wed, Mar 9, 2016 at 1:50 PM, Justin Jobin <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
I agree, I enjoy reading them...usually very applicable topics.
Sent from Outlook Mobile
On Wed, Mar 9, 2016 at 10:49 AM -0800, "Matt Sheehan" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
I sometimes share our blog posts with GIS mailing lists. Google analytics reports crazy spikes on days I share (I’ll admit to revisiting often over the day to see the number of hits). Why share with these groups: to sell? Nope. To start conversations! .....
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