Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Chatting => Chatting on the Plot => Topic started by: Longshanks on July 20, 2020, 14:19

Title: IT and communications
Post by: Longshanks on July 20, 2020, 14:19

Just wondering how communications happen at your site. Do you have official (run by steward) Whatsapp or email groups or Facebook or Twitter? Maybe you have a website. We have a noticeboard and that's it.

Title: Re: IT and communications
Post by: Aunt Sally on July 20, 2020, 14:48

We have a notice board and our secretary sends an email (or a hard copy) to members about important issues.

Title: Re: IT and communications
Post by: Christine on July 20, 2020, 15:48

Tenants appear on committee members plots with all sorts of questions - think it's known as jungle drums. You just have to make sure the committee is all saying the same thing.

Title: Re: IT and communications
Post by: mumofstig on July 20, 2020, 16:18

Ashford Allotments' do have a Facebook page, anybody can join, but it's not compulsory and it's not used much, other than as a helpful chat forum tbh.
The council has the email address of anybody that wants to give them their details, but again it's not compulsory. If the council wants to tell tenants something and they're not on the email list then they get a letter.
In a normal year, the site reps and the council reps meet every 3 months or so to discuss matters arising. Plot holders can attend the AGM to meet reps and council, if they want, to discuss anything they haven't told their reps about previously...

Title: Re: IT and communications
Post by: basketcase on July 20, 2020, 16:58

 Only just got the lotty, but communications so far seem to be by email.

There's a Facebook site, which seems to be used spasmodically.  Maybe I should join...

Title: Re: IT and communications
Post by: GraciesGran on July 20, 2020, 18:06

The site where my son is has a website, there is also a Facebook page run by the members.   Mine has a Facebook page and a noticeboard and also uses good old fashioned letters for rent reminders.

Title: Re: IT and communications
Post by: Hampshire Hog on July 20, 2020, 18:48

Notice board and occasionally a communication from Parish Clerk.

Title: Re: IT and communications
Post by: Longshanks on July 20, 2020, 19:10

Maybe membership records should be kept online and rent should be paid online too. There's systems about to do it. So much easier for everybody who wants to pay that way and for the committee too.

Title: Re: IT and communications
Post by: mumofstig on July 20, 2020, 19:30

Quote from: Longshanks on July 20, 2020, 19:10

Maybe membership records should be kept online and rent should be paid online too. There's systems about to do it. So much easier for everybody who wants to pay that way and for the committee too.

But not so good for elderly plot holders, if you have them? Some may not even have computers/smart phones. People have to be able to pay in a way they feel comfortable with.

Title: Re: IT and communications
Post by: Longshanks on July 21, 2020, 08:47

Definitely. I used to run an online subscriptions system for a club. Interestingly, older people were more comfortable with it than most of the 20/30 year olds. Systems manage cash and cheques too