Worldwide local support ?

[Rob612]

I have been noticing that, even being US people almost 90% of the forum users (do not have any exact number, I'm just guessing) this is a real international forum.

So I have a suggestion.

While on travel every member can need any sort of help, from a simple CF-DVD conversion, to local tips and hints, or whatever comes at mind, even some serious problem (hoping it never happens, of course).

So the idea is to have sort of POTN Local Directory where members wishing to help other fellow POTN members can leave some sort of contact for other to use while in that area, if needed (or to go for a cold one, whatever :D).

Does it makes any sense ?

Rob

[Carzee]

This idea sounds good! Its one thing being a member of a local photography club, and clubs have great things going for them, but this idea of helping hands via a POTN directory could be good... I'm trying to imagine any negatives...its definitely worth a lot of discussion.

[tommykjensen]

I think this is a good idea too.

It could also be used for photo trips where the locals know more about good spots. For examle IanD and SSIM for owl shooting or Lazyphotographer for birds of prey and so on.

[RichardtheSane]

I also think this is a great idea!

Some local knowledge could really make a good trip great!

[Rob612]

Nice to see that I'm not completely out of my mind :D

Let me try to settle down some ideas (nothing structured, I am writing on the fly just the things that comes to mind).

1) Privacy: this is an important point. While personally I have no problem in setting up a custom email account that can be made public without problem, I know for sure that there is a lot of people that does not want (or can't) either do the same or made his own email address or phone# public.

This is where surely POTN can help. Actually, Vbulletin (the forum engine that runs POTN) already has a service of mail forwarding enabled, so I believe it can be used without problem (hey, I am calculating the bill without the innkeeper, here... of course Pekka must be involved :D). Once the contact is estabilished via POTN, no problem in exchanging personal data via email.

2) "Services" actually anything will do. I have travelled a lot in my life and always had the same problems, sometimes stupid, sometimes serious (I remember once getting halte by the cops in Austria, they did not speak anything except German, and I did not knew a word... after that experience I studied at least the minim German needed :) )

Some ideas:


Photo spots
Food spots
Lodging spots (this is going to be hard... rarely one that lives in a place has tips for hotels... not needing them :))
Tech support (running out of space on CFs and have no idea where to burn a CD/DVD, need to find a place where to shop/rent or even borrowing if necessary a piece of equipment)
Problem solving (If I had somebody to call on the phone that would speak German when I was halted in Austria thing would have turned out much better)
A cold one or a nice dinner with fellow POTN members
Other... do not know now, but I'm sure there are many options tha we can manage, as a community.
3) Not a Job !: Of course, the idea is not supposed to a full time (and even part time) job. So no warranty that the person needed will be always available. We all have a personal life, we all work (and, for instance, if anybody is around Rome on vacation, I'm not... and of course I'll be working). This is important also, because if it becomes a job, it won't be fun and pleasant.

4) Not a photo club: A PC is supposed to organize things, to do some activity for the members etc. This is not the case of course. Its a matter of pleasure to help, pleasure to meet others but NOT a photo club, even if naturally a lot of photography is going to be involved.

At the moment, I have nothing else to add, but I'm sure that somebody does.

Your turn folks :D

[CyberPet]

A great idea, however I think I'm pretty safe up here in Northern Sweden... so if anyone needs my help, I'll do all I can. Just send me a mail, PM or whatever if you're ever heading this way. Might even have a spare bed for the desperate (living in a 2690 sq ft house has its advantages).

Bring warm clothes in the winter and look forward to see some Aurora Borealis. In the summer, it can be warm, but take a sweater just in case and look forward to see the midnight sun.

[KevC]

That's an awesome idea. I'll be completely up for that.

There's already a few of us in Toronto. I'm awesome with computers so I can't help with that. However, I can't really spare a bed cos I'm still living with parents in a smaller house (<1900sqft hehe)

CyberPet: I've always wanted to visit Sweden, maybe I'll come visit sometime (most likely after I graduate). Maybe I'll buy a mirror lens and shoot some stars. Sounds beautiful.

[CyberPet]

Kev, you are welcome!! I'll probably need a guide in Toronto one of these days to go camera gadget shopping. Hubby being from Canada and his parents living in Port Colborne, Ont, we visit about every once or second year (plan a trip in the fall or near Christmas this year). We always fly in to Toronto... but never seem to see more of the city than the Tim Horton near the airport (not a bad first stop in Canada though, it's hard to live without Tim Horton and Wendy's while in Sweden, hubby has his mother to ship coffe in bags for him :D ).

So it means that I can guarantee that you're welcome to visit us in Sweden, since hubby won't mind a fellow canuck come and visit. I'll even show where Mikael Rehnberg lives (I live in the same city as him) and at what gym he trains at... of course he's still injured.... what else (he's such a sissy!). :D

[Carzee]

I'll like to be a "POTN Ambassador" here in the Hunter Valley. There's miles of vineyards some good plonk etc.

Mind you, Murphy's Law & Legislative Handbook would predict that the day someone arrives, the Ambassadorial Limo would be unavailable. No surer thing!:rolleyes: