Everyone! Last night during Live Chat I was asked how the Neighborhood came into existance. Here is a more detailed answer of how I evolved my expectations for this community --- and also a shameless plug for our super Holiday Subscription sale that ends soon (get 2 years for the price of one). Hope this helps make sense of why the Neighborhood is such a special place.GUESTS: We have Guests who can lurk and learn from some of our conversations, but may not participate or view many of the more sensitive forums, Blogs or galleries.
MEMBERS: We have registered members who can participate in many of the forums, learn from our conversations and read the Neighborhood Blogs and view the Gallery. Forms marked "Protected Forums" are not available to this group. This package is free.
CITIZENS: Our Premier membership is Citizen and is a paid membership with full privileges to use all the amenities in the Neighborhood including every forum, the password protected forums, host a blog and create photo albums in the gallery.
FOUNDATION MEMBERS have equal privileges as Citizens and are key players in the Neighborhood.
When I first made the frightening business decision to include an online community with LivingAfterWLS I did a great deal of research. Having been a member of several unfulfilling "support" communities I knew what I did and did not want the Neighborhood to be:
-I did not want it to be a free-for-all with a revolving door of anonymous people who are insensitive to morbid obesity and surgical weight loss.
-I did not want it to be an advertising cluttered commercial environment where blinking ads and annoying pop-ups distract from the content of genuine posts.
-I wanted to connect with people, like me, who take personal responsibility for their health, including weight loss surgery. I wanted a tangible feeling of empowerment and togetherness, not of indifference lacking compassion as I had felt in other online communities.
- I did not want a division between the "light weights" and "heavy weights".
- I wanted reciprocity for all members: to give and receive kindness, friendship, knowledge and support. I wanted it to feel like home.
- I wanted to know my Neighbors, to learn about the lives as whole people, not just people with a medical condition treated surgically.
- I wanted a place to celebrate and a place to vent: a place to be real.
- I wanted durability of membership as we bond in this life-long project of health and weight management.
- I wanted to create a sense of trust and safety protecting the privacy of the members honoring our slogan "a safe haven circle of friends."
To the best of my slightly biased opinion I believe the Neighborhood has exceeded my original goals and for that I am humbled because it is the quality of membership that has made this happen. Thank you.
To our guest lurkers, please consider my sincere invitation to join our very special community and share with us the unique and valued person you are.
To our Members and Citizens please consider accepting my holiday gift of 2 years membership for the price of one ($60.00). I am honored to offer this gift and it stands as my firm committment that the Neighborhood is here for good true to all the convictions stated above. I look forward to your friendship, support and companionship for many years to come.
(This gift expires at midnight 12/31/2007. Existing premier members will have their subscriptions extended for 2 years beyond their current subscription. Please go to My Controls>>Options>>Purchase Paid Subscriptions and select Holiday Special.)
Mission Statement:
The LivingAfterWLS neighborhood is an online market driven social space evoking feelings of comfort, understanding, knowledge, warmth, acceptance, trust and happiness for those who have had gastric bypass, lap band or other weight loss surgeries.
Core Values:
- Socialization & Culture
- Social Equality
- Education & Understanding
- Health & Wellness
- Information & Communication
- Opportunity & Sustainability
- The LivingAfterWLS neighborhood is built on the strength of relationships.
- The LivingAfterWLS neighborhood is inclusive: everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate.
- The LivingAfterWLS management is accountable to those who find safe haven here.
- The LivingAfterWLS neighborhood is at all times flexible, adaptable, intelligent and creative.