Happy anniversary Franklin Matters! Goodbye Facebook!
Let’s celebrate your readership (and growing numbers of readers) as we enter November 2021.
It was only in November 2007 that FranklinMatters.org came into existence. I had started reporting on Franklin about two years prior, and as the override vote became a reality, during 2007 my reporting increased to cover it. There had been talk of getting it on the ballot and then all the informational meetings began to prepare for the vote when it was set for May 22, 2007.
After the vote passed, I continued to report on what was happening and my ‘regular’ readers began complaining about ‘this Franklin stuff’ that was taking me away from other topics I had been writing about. Hence, plans began for a new page. As the 2007 local election was also scheduled for November, I decided to make the switch after the election and begin preparing the new page for that introduction.
The Facebook page was added in 2010 and will be deleted at the end of November 2021. There was life before Facebook, and there will be life after the Franklin Matters page goes away from Facebook.
So to be clear, while the Franklin Matters feed to Facebook will go away, Franklin Matters will not.
My commitment will continue to be providing timely and accurate information to all interested. I will continue to ‘follow the money’ focusing on the School Committee, Finance Committee, and Town Council meetings. In my current retirement lifestyle, some of the extra time I have, can then be applied to expanding my reporting to include the quality of life items that ‘following the money’ provides for us.
The content will continue to be text based with appropriate links to the supporting or source documents. Audio will be made available when practical. Photos will be shared. Multiple social media channels will help spread the information to where you can find it. Except that Facebook will not be part of our journey forward.
Email is the best source. One email daily with all that matters.
Twitter will continue to be used for sharing the individual items as well as for capturing my notes during meetings or events. The podcast will share the audio files of meetings and interviews.
Integration with Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio will continue. Someday, not too far away, there will be one page with three views to “Watch, Listen, and Read” all of Franklin’s information.
- Franklin TV and the three channels will be the “Watch” view
- Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) will be the “Listen”
- last but not least, to help tie them all together will be Franklin Matters as the “Read’ view
It does take two to tango, so you have a role to play as we take this journey together to keep informed on what matters in Franklin. What do you need to do? I am glad you asked.
- If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
- If you don't like something here, please let me know
Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for reading, listening, and asking questions.
My ‘radar’ is pretty good but not perfect. So if you want to know something, don’t be bashful. Ask. Send me an email, or use Twitter. You can also use Facebook messenger. I will still participate on Facebook primarily to keep up with family connections so you can use that if you choose.
I also host a monthly “Franklin Matters Q&A” event. It is usually hybrid. I’ll be in person at the Senior Center with a Zoom link to enable remote participation. It provides some time for a quick overview of what’s current and time for in depth Q&A to answer your questions.
Let me close with this is my public service effort for Franklin because I believe Franklin matters. If you do too, then we are on this journey together.
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If you need or want help setting up one of the options to remain 'in the know' , sign up here -> https://forms.gle/x4gWma8PgrmDD1i66
You can find all the archives for the Override Vote in 2007 on my personal blog https://steves2cents.blogspot.com/2007/04/franklin-override-collection.html
All the posts for the Election Collection in 2007 are also there
https://steves2cents.blogspot.com/2007/11/franklin-election-2007.html
Fall house cleaning
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/10/welcome-little-fall-house-cleaning-is.html
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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.
This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
How can you help?
- If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
- If you don't like something here, please let me know
Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.
I hope you enjoy!
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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
