March 28, 2016
With all of today's communication technology, doesn't anyone wish there was a central "Community Calendar" for Watonga ? I was told this weekend that there is a sports-related activity on the same day and time as a church activity. I don't have a child in school, nor did my children go to school here. I don't read the sports section of any newspaper -- I barely know who Kevin Durant is! I am always happy to hear of our local youth sports successes but I don't keep up on their calendars. I'm not on the mailing list or contact list for sports-related activities or local school activities. I don't hear about fundraisers or other activities unless I happen across a flyer on a business door or see it in the newspaper. The Chamber of Commerce community calendar hasn't been maintained or updated for months. The City of Watonga website and their "information line" is not kept up to date other than to post city council agendas. SO, there is no one place where ALL things going on in Watonga can be posted. I suddenly understand the reason communities of long ago had a "town crier".
I administer at least three (Watonga Events, Watonga Community Events, Blaine Co. Community Events) facebook pages that I've set up to share information about events in our community and Blaine County, tourism, arts, music, theatre, restaurants, and other things I think are interesting and people might want to know about. As a local business owner, I sure do want people to know where we are and when we're having a special event.
I administer Facebook pages for the Chaparral Retreat & Guesthouse, Oklahoma House Concerts, Liquid ART, Phoenix Circle Foundation, ART for FUNd$$, and Watonga Arts Center. If I see a post on the newsfeed pages of any of these facebook pages, I will share them -- fundraisers, concerts, special activities....... This takes up a lot of time, but I am a person that wants to know what is going on around me. I am on the board of directors of Red Carpet Country Tourism and can post tourism events on their facebook page. I am connected to a dozen different "groups" on facebook and share information with those groups.
I can only share information about these activities if I know about them. Not everyone reads the newspaper, and not everyone can afford to advertise in the newspaper. BUT, there is a place where any event or activity can be listed --and that is the WATONGA COMMUNITY EVENTS page. All you have to do is "Like" the page, and you will receive anything that is posted there (it will show up on your Facebook Newsfeed, not your Timeline). Anyone who "likes" the page can post their event there. or you can send the information for your event or activity via the "Message" button on that page and I will post it.
/Linda
