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Community Corner

Know your NEIGHBORS? If there's a disaster, it may save your life!

There's a new networking site, called Nextdoor.com, which besides being a place to find out who your neighbors are, and will be a place to post animals that need a home, or animals found in your area.
This site is "geographically specific" to your neighborhood.
Besides finding like minded neighbors, it allows a new way to share all kinds of events, services, needs, and can make a huge difference if you have an emergency.

I attended a "Death Cafe" on Thursday, at Lydia's Sunflower Center, in Petaluma. It was the first one I'd been to, and the first time I"d been there.  I discovered many people who were single, and living alone. Their fear was having a medical emergency, and not having anyone close by to call.  Knowing neighbors could make a difference, and save your life, in a disaster. (think earthquake!)

I want to encourage everyone to check out the site, and find your neighborhood. Take the time to fill in your profile; it will make a difference.  I saw one woman's profile that just listed that she'd lived in Rohnert Park for 30 years, and sold Mary Kay.  That's missing a lot for me.  There's plenty of people selling MaryKay. I want to know "who" she is.  It's really about developing relationships, if only
online.  I think it goes beyond Facebook, and I'm committed to doing my part to promote this site, because it's a connection that can really make a difference.
I know that many of us don't want another thing to read, or another email.  And we don't have to.  I just joined yesterday, and haven't checked out how to set email preferences. It's new, so there aren't that many people on yet.

Since Sonoma County StrayPetNetwork @yahoogroups is focused on animal rescue/rights, I think this site would add another way to get the word out to help animals.  Consider that your cator dog is lost.  You would have an immediate way to get your neighbor's help, before
you even make posters, or post on WaccoBB, Craig's List, or other sites that cover a huge geographical area. 

This may save your animal's life, and be the best way to get them back home to you.  But it will only work, if you're listed on the site, and post when your animal goes missing, or you if find an animal.

I just realized that it would help to add some details about my cat.  Not sure if I can post her picture.  Imagine the possibilities, and consider taking advantage of this true local networking.  You have the power to build something that can only be a benefit on many levels.  This will involve a conscious decision on your part.

In the Spirit of Connecting,

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