Adult Skating Committee Page on Facebook

[LexiSk8]

This page is for all adult skaters. We will post updates and info here reagrding adult skating. Please also feel free to make suggestions and leave comments here. Thanks!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=96048587244&ref=mf

[Isk8NYC]

I don't have a Facebook account.

[Skittl1321]

You could get one ISk8NYC.

I think it's nice that the adult committee is trying new ways to reach adult skaters, even if these avenues still can't reach everyone, they are bound to reach more than they used to.

[Isk8NYC]

Thank you, I do know that. The thing is that I don't WANT a Facebook account. (Nor does Twitter appeal to me.)
Having watched my husband recently set one up (now up to 225 Friends), I have no interest in spending hours reading and posting tidbits of my day. I'm satisfied with my current online presence.

Can they make the profile public so everyone can at least read it without having to sign up?
Is this information also being posted on the USFSA site?

[Stormy]

You could get one ISk8NYC.

I think it's nice that the adult committee is trying new ways to reach adult skaters, even if these avenues still can't reach everyone, they are bound to reach more than they used to.

Exactly!!! Social networking is everywhere these days and we'd be silly not to capitalize on it.

[Black Sheep]

This page is for all adult skaters. We will post updates and info here reagrding adult skating. Please also feel free to make suggestions and leave comments here. Thanks!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=96048587244&ref=mf

Count me in, please! ;)

[RachelSk8er]

Thank you, I do know that. The thing is that I don't WANT a Facebook account. (Nor does Twitter appeal to me.)
Having watched my husband recently set one up (now up to 225 Friends), I have no interest in spending hours reading and posting tidbits of my day. I'm satisfied with my current online presence.

Can they make the profile public so everyone can at least read it without having to sign up?
Is this information also being posted on the USFSA site?

You can get a Facebook account and keep your page totally private to the point that no one can even search for you. (And just because you have a facebook account doesn't mean you need to spend hours on it or post anything).

I appreciate having more opportunities to find information and connect with other skaters. I get asked a lot of questions pertaining to adult rules, competitions, etc (people at my rink think I know what I'm talking about), and the more places to point them to, the better.

[mdvask8r]

You can get a Facebook account and keep your page totally private to the point that no one can even search for you . . . I too have no desire to expose myself to Facebook-type accounts. But if this is true, that it can be kept totally private, I may reconsider. So if I were to open a private account only people I give permission to would be able to post on or read my account??

[Stormy]

I too have no desire to expose myself to Facebook-type accounts. But if this is true, that it can be kept totally private, I may reconsider. So if I were to open a private account only people I give permission to would be able to post on or read my account??

Yes. I'm more paranoid than most about what I put online, my Facebook is private so that no one can search for me, or see anything about me. Only my friends who I've given permission to can see my page. And there are even privacy settings that you can set so that even your friends that you've given premission to don't have to see things you don't want them to.

People are under the impression a social networking site means exposing yourself to the world. A little research will show you that dosen't have to be the case. You don't have to put anything on Facebook you don't want to, and anything you do put can be kept completely private. Facebook and Twitter and the like aren't eville. :twisted:

[pairman2]

'This is a closed group. Members must be invited or approved by an admin.'

I realize the above caption shown on the Facebook page is somewhat standard for many facebook groups but I really think it's unneccesary in this case.

Facebook is a great vehicle for open communication so why such caution? Symbolically, it comes across badly. There have been valid critisims about the openness of committee process in the past and this communicates more of the same, whether intended or not.

Having said that, I hope this initiative works

[doubletoe]

Yes. I'm more paranoid than most about what I put online, my Facebook is private so that no one can search for me, or see anything about me. Only my friends who I've given permission to can see my page. And there are even privacy settings that you can set so that even your friends that you've given premission to don't have to see things you don't want them to.

People are under the impression a social networking site means exposing yourself to the world. A little research will show you that dosen't have to be the case. You don't have to put anything on Facebook you don't want to, and anything you do put can be kept completely private. Facebook and Twitter and the like aren't eville. :twisted:

I agree with Stormy. Facebook is actually a lot like Skatingforums, except that you can use your real name because the only people who see your posts and photos (or exchange messages with you) are people you have specifically approved. MySpace was utterly UNappealing to me, but once I saw how Facebook worked, it seemed very civilized and I realized it would enable me to keep in touch with all of my friends with maybe 1/10 the amount of time and effort of e-mail, and all of the privacy.

[rlichtefeld]

'This is a closed group. Members must be invited or approved by an admin.'

I realize the above caption shown on the Facebook page is somewhat standard for many facebook groups but I really think it's unneccesary in this case.

Facebook is a great vehicle for open communication so why such caution? Symbolically, it comes across badly. There have been valid critisims about the openness of committee process in the past and this communicates more of the same, whether intended or not.

Having said that, I hope this initiative works

Unfortunately, Spammers have found Facebook groups. And, if you leave the Group fully open, you will have lots of Wall Posts with links to explicit websites, etc.
Especially, since the word "Adult" is in the group name.

By having the moderator (Lexi) approve people joining the group, it will keep those spammers out. I was approved to join the group within minutes.

Rob

[RachelSk8er]

My facebook is pretty much private, too. I can be searched, but the only thing people who are not my friend can see are an itty bitty pic of me skating, what networks I'm a part of (my undergrad, grad and law schools and the city I live in) and maybe who my friends are. And even people who are my friends can't see everything (I block my photos photos of me to anyone who is not a skating friend or one of my close non-skating friends). I don't approve friend requests from people I don't personally know, with the exception of adult skaters. I usually recognize the name of someone who requests me if they're an adult skater who competes, even if we've never actually met. Or competitions are such a whirlwind of people that I may have met someone for a few minutes.

[Stormy]

'This is a closed group. Members must be invited or approved by an admin.'

I realize the above caption shown on the Facebook page is somewhat standard for many facebook groups but I really think it's unneccesary in this case.

Facebook is a great vehicle for open communication so why such caution? Symbolically, it comes across badly. There have been valid critisims about the openness of committee process in the past and this communicates more of the same, whether intended or not.

Having said that, I hope this initiative works

What Rob said. Facebook unfortunately isn't immune to spammers, and before anyone gets in arms about that, remember, neither is Skatingforums. :) It has nothing to do with the group being "exclusive" or anything of that nature.

[looplover]

I love Facebook, I've gotten in touch with so many old friends through it. It's a lot of fun! I have my settings set so private that I don't allow people searching to view who my friends are or what groups I'm in, they can only see my picture - which is of my dog. (only because I hate pics of me)

It's possible to keep the settings very very strict, the only annoying this is that not all of the settings are in the same place and sometimes have to be reset (for example, a lot of times people don't set their photos to "view by friends only" so I have countless times seen family photos of people I don't know. Yeah...I looked! :P)

I set my photos to private too.

Look forward to this new USFSA group!

[Isk8NYC]

What Rob said. Facebook unfortunately isn't immune to spammers, and before anyone gets in arms about that, remember, neither is Skatingforums. :) It has nothing to do with the group being "exclusive" or anything of that nature.But it does exclude anyone who doesn't have Facebook. Anyone can lurk on skatingforums, but to post, you have to join as a member.

The Adult Committee made an assumption that everyone has a Facebook account or is willing to join in order to be kept up to date on the changes. I'm pointing out that that's not the case and that they need to be a little flexible.

If the Adult Committee wants to limit comments to Facebook members only, fine. I don't understand why the USFSA spends so much money on their website and message boards if they're going to use other sites, but okay. Maybe it'll lower my USFSA fees.

However, I think the information being posted (posts and comments/discussions) should be public. Other Facebook groups have opened up the avenue to allow read-only access to everyone. You have to be part of the "group" to post. That's acceptable to me.

Why should people who aren't Facebook members, but are interested in the information be excluded from these communications?

[Isk8NYC]

People are under the impression a social networking site means exposing yourself to the world. A little research will show you that dosen't have to be the case. You don't have to put anything on Facebook you don't want to, and anything you do put can be kept completely private. Facebook and Twitter and the like aren't eville. :twisted:I have done the research - I'm a business intelligence specialist. I've helped set up several groups for our incoming freshmen. Spammers are the least of your worries.

Any website can be hacked. The more secure, the more likely the breach will come from within. (See: Google) Hacker groups always working on these sites because people post really private information without thinking. There are no such things as "secrets" on or off the web. Word of mouth still exists and I really don't want my information being shared by others.

Case in point: even without a Facebook account, I found out about a practical joke that was totally not funny within minutes of it being posted. Why? Because someone sent me a screen print.

Just make the page view-only for those of us who aren't interested in Facebook for whatever reason instead of campaigning for the site. That's exactly why they added groups: to drive up their membership numbers and revenue.

I also suggest that you make the list of group members private so that the members don't get spammed with friend requests.

[Stormy]

But it does exclude anyone who doesn't have Facebook. Anyone can lurk on skatingforums, but to post, you have to join as a member.

The Adult Committee made an assumption that everyone has a Facebook account or is willing to join in order to be kept up to date on the changes. I'm pointing out that that's not the case and that they need to be a little flexible.

If the Adult Committee wants to limit comments to Facebook members only, fine. I don't understand why the USFSA spends so much money on their website and message boards if they're going to use other sites, but okay. Maybe it'll lower my USFSA fees.

However, I think the information being posted (posts and comments/discussions) should be public. Other Facebook groups have opened up the avenue to allow read-only access to everyone. You have to be part of the "group" to post. That's acceptable to me.

Why should people who aren't Facebook members, but are interested in the information be excluded from these communications?

Why is more communication a bad thing? Putting more info out on social networking sites is a great thing and lets adult skaters network and communicate with each other more easily. It costs nothing. If you have a problem with USFS fees, that has nothing to do with the Adult commitee. If you chose not to join Facebook, that's your prerogative. But we're not going to exclude the many MANY adult skaters who do have Facebook by not using it as a communication tool. There are a lot more people that have Facebook than are on Skatingforums.

[Skittl1321]

The Adult Committee made an assumption that everyone has a Facebook account or is willing to join in order to be kept up to date on the changes. I'm pointing out that that's not the case and that they need to be a little flexible.
I think this IS the adult committee being flexible. They are opening up a new avenue of communication that didn't exist previously. Pre-facebook, I have no idea where the adult committee has shared any information, or how to give them any feedback, other than email Lexi. If you don't want to use facebook, you can use whatever the traditional methods were. (Do they have an end of the year report or something? The website is impossible to find anything on) I don't think this changes anything about the way things were already done.


But now we have an additional avenue of connection for the adult committee. You don't have to take advantage of it. But now MORE adult skaters can contact/keep informed about the adult committee than were able to before. So if whatever they used to do worked for you, my bet is that they are going to keep doing that too.

[Isk8NYC]

I said that I don't have a Facebook account and I don't want to be forced to join against my will in order to read the information. I asked very nicely several times if the posts and the comments could be made public. I said clearly that I could understand the desire to prevent spamming by locking down the postings to members-only.

I don't understand why Stormy has brought up this board so many times in her posts. I'm really not concerned about losing members or discussions, if that's what you think. I'm more concerned that this Facebook presence will remove the official postings on the USFSA site that all members support with their fees.

[jskater49]

But it does exclude anyone who doesn't have Facebook. Anyone can lurk on skatingforums, but to post, you have to join as a member.

The Adult Committee made an assumption that everyone has a Facebook account or is willing to join in order to be kept up to date on the changes. I'm pointing out that that's not the case and that they need to be a little flexible.

If the Adult Committee wants to limit comments to Facebook members only, fine. I don't understand why the USFSA spends so much money on their website and message boards if they're going to use other sites, but okay. Maybe it'll lower my USFSA fees.

However, I think the information being posted (posts and comments/discussions) should be public. Other Facebook groups have opened up the avenue to allow read-only access to everyone. You have to be part of the "group" to post. That's acceptable to me.

Why should people who aren't Facebook members, but are interested in the information be excluded from these communications?

I highly doubt that there will be information on facebook that you can't get anywhere else. I think it's unreasonable to object to there being a presence on facebook just because you personally don't want to join facebook. That's your choice. There are other places to get info.

j

[Stormy]

I said that I don't have a Facebook account and I don't want to be forced to join against my will in order to read the information. I asked very nicely several times if the posts and the comments could be made public. I said clearly that I could understand the desire to prevent spamming by locking down the postings to members-only.


What jskater said. The page will be run as Lexi sees fit. Nothing on the page is a state secret and no one's forcing you to join anything against your will. I just used skatingforums as an example to show that just like as you said, no site isn't immune to spammers, hackers and the like and also to reiterate my point that having more sites to spread information is a GOOD thing.

[sk8er1964]

I said that I don't have a Facebook account and I don't want to be forced to join against my will in order to read the information. I asked very nicely several times if the posts and the comments could be made public. I said clearly that I could understand the desire to prevent spamming by locking down the postings to members-only.

I don't understand why Stormy has brought up this board so many times in her posts. I'm really not concerned about losing members or discussions, if that's what you think. I'm more concerned that this Facebook presence will remove the official postings on the USFSA site that all members support with their fees.


Nobody is going to force you to join Facebook against your will.

I'm sure that the information will still be available in the traditional places - like the user-unfriendly USFS site or the usually incomplete Ice Network. I'll bet it will also be posted here, and in the members only Yahoo groups for pairs, ice dance, and the CAS group as people start talking about things.

I say kudos for the adult committee for providing another place for information to be shared.

[Isk8NYC]

I just asked if they could let lurkers read the information and the only responses I've received are criticizing my position about not setting up a Facebook account. Still haven't gotten an answer, but everyone seems to understand the security features very well. (As do I. It's easily done.)

I don't think that's criticizing them, but I'm sorry if that put people on the defensive. I guess I can send a message to the USFSA asking the same question, but since Lexi started the thread and said we could discuss this new venue here, I figured she would consider it and post a reply.

I would hope that they'd continue to post changes on the USFSA site. Again, no one has said that would be the case. (Frankly, the Adult Committee page is the most organized one on that site and I think the USFSA would appreciate the information being on their official site.)

[LexiSk8]

I just asked if they could let lurkers read the information and the only responses I've received are criticizing my position about not setting up a Facebook account. Still haven't gotten an answer, but everyone seems to understand the security features very well. (As do I. It's easily done.)

I don't think that's criticizing them, but I'm sorry if that put people on the defensive. I guess I can send a message to the USFSA asking the same question, but since Lexi started the thread, I figured she would consider it and post a reply.

I would hope that they'd continue to post changes on the USFSA site. Again, no one has said that would be the case. (Frankly, the Adult Committee page is the most organized one on that site and I think the USFSA would appreciate the information being on their official site.)


Hi All,

I have been working on the USFS adult pages for about a year, trying to get the info into an organized manner for you all. Suggestions are welcome and appreciated!

As for the FB page, you won't be able to access it without a FB account, sorry. It is, as others have said, for security reasons, not to hide any info. If you have questions on how to use FB in a secure, private manner, I am happy to assist you.

I will be doing my best along with the committee, to post factual updates in as timely a manner as possible. You can also follow along on Twitter: @LexiSk8.

Nothing the committee does is secret. But please keep in mind that there is a long pipeline of channels that information and proposals must go through before they can be made public as factual. For this reason, it is not wise to have items posted publicly until they are absolutely true. I want to make sure you all have real info, not just various opinions.

That said, opinions help the process along in deciding which way is best to go for adult skaters. So please share!

Thanks!

~ Lexi

p.s. Please don't attack each other for the choice of venue by which anyone chooses to receive adult skating info. We are trying to make as many options available as possible.

[rlichtefeld]

Currently, as far as I know, there is only 1 place where the Adult Committee is putting up "offiicial" public info.

USFS Adult News and Information page (updated by USFS)
http://www.usfigureskating.org/Programs.asp?id=112

However, Lexi is trying to get more info out to more people in newer ways. Right before this year's AN, she started a blog on IceNetwork and she started using Twitter

Twitter:
http://twitter.com/lexisk8

IceNetwork:
http://www.icenetworkincrowd.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=4328391&as=72859&b=

And, then this week she added Facebook:

The new Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=96048587244

She is not trying to limit the info that anyone can get, she is trying to get the info out quicker to more people.

There is no reason that anyone HAS to join Facebook or Twitter. You can watch here for info in this forum, and the people that do choose to use the other services will most likely cross-post the info here.

Rob
(BTW, I have a Twitter account, that I very rarely post anything to, and also rarely check. But, I'm on Facebook daily, mostly to keep up with my skating friends.)

[daisies]

What most others have already said: You don't have to join anything you don't want to join. It's not like the FB page is the only source of info for adult skating; it's one of many, and it's convenient for FB members. So, if you happen to be an FB member, there's a page for you. If you're not, you haven't lost anything. It's not like all other avenues of ASC info are being shut down and FB is the be-all, end-all. The more outlets we have, the better.

It was absolutely the right thing to make the ASC page members-only because of the spam problems mentioned earlier. But it's easy as pie to join. And if you don't want to, that's OK. All news will still be posted on the USFS site.

I applaud Lexi for using all of the latest technologies to the ASC's advantage!

[Kat12]

Out of curiosity, if my FB is locked down, if I join a group, doesn't that mean that I'm allowing access to (whoever...) to my FB page?

(My FB is locked down as well, as much as is possible. It was intended to keep track with friends and family back home, so it has all of my contact info, pictures of me, etc.--IOW, a stalker's dream so I don't let anyone in that I don't know IRL. Unfortunately, my relatives are not going to join FB to keep up with me, and I tried to create another account everyone could log into but I quickly realized they weren't about to do that either. Oh well)

[Skittl1321]

No, people in groups that you are in cannot see your pages unless they are your "friend"

[doubletoe]

Currently, as far as I know, there is only 1 place where the Adult Committee is putting up "offiicial" public info.

USFS Adult News and Information page (updated by USFS)
http://www.usfigureskating.org/Programs.asp?id=112

However, Lexi is trying to get more info out to more people in newer ways. Right before this year's AN, she started a blog on IceNetwork and she started using Twitter

Twitter:
http://twitter.com/lexisk8

IceNetwork:
http://www.icenetworkincrowd.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=4328391&as=72859&b=

And, then this week she added Facebook:

The new Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=96048587244

She is not trying to limit the info that anyone can get, she is trying to get the info out quicker to more people.

There is no reason that anyone HAS to join Facebook or Twitter. You can watch here for info in this forum, and the people that do choose to use the other services will most likely cross-post the info here.

Rob
(BTW, I have a Twitter account, that I very rarely post anything to, and also rarely check. But, I'm on Facebook daily, mostly to keep up with my skating friends.)

Very well put. Thanks for summing it up! Now I need to look you up on Facebook. . . ;)

[jskater49]

Speaking of facebook if you are on facebook and want to be my friend - PM me

(ugh -that sounds pathetic!)

[rlichtefeld]

Out of curiosity, if my FB is locked down, if I join a group, doesn't that mean that I'm allowing access to (whoever...) to my FB page?

(My FB is locked down as well, as much as is possible. It was intended to keep track with friends and family back home, so it has all of my contact info, pictures of me, etc.--IOW, a stalker's dream so I don't let anyone in that I don't know IRL. Unfortunately, my relatives are not going to join FB to keep up with me, and I tried to create another account everyone could log into but I quickly realized they weren't about to do that either. Oh well)

I just checked, and clicked on members of the group who are not my friends, and the only thing I see is the profile pic and the list of mutual friends.

I'm guessing that even the mutual friend could be turned off. But, not sure.

Rob

[Mrs Redboots]

I do have a Facebook account - but this group is of relevance only to American adult skaters, not worldwide.

Sigh.

[RachelSk8er]

Out of curiosity, if my FB is locked down, if I join a group, doesn't that mean that I'm allowing access to (whoever...) to my FB page?

(My FB is locked down as well, as much as is possible. It was intended to keep track with friends and family back home, so it has all of my contact info, pictures of me, etc.--IOW, a stalker's dream so I don't let anyone in that I don't know IRL. Unfortunately, my relatives are not going to join FB to keep up with me, and I tried to create another account everyone could log into but I quickly realized they weren't about to do that either. Oh well)

No, people in groups you are in cannot see/access any more info off your page than anyone else who is not your friend.