ok, so it is official, i have moved from Rumi to the Lower East Side. it felt weird at first, but i am excited about the move. i know some very cool people here, so the transition will be easier.

upon hearing the news of my move, "siamiyami" who lives in rumi, jokingly called me a "sell out". *hehe* have no fear, i have the freedom to regularly visit my peeps in Rumi

alright mike, let's get to it! some additional questions/suggestions that are worthwhile discussing:

What can we offer our community that other neighborhoods can't?

how about redeeming/trading in Rep points for site services? creating a space where one or more citizens can lease services like a neighborhood chat room that all citizens of that neighborhood can enjoy. upon the termination of the lease, the original renters can have first right of refusal to renew the lease. it would also be a nice touch to allow the renter(s) to name the chat room or any other public service rented (like say, "Habib's Hookah Lounge").

what other services would be useful for us to have in the Lower East Side? maybe news feeds about the arts, international affairs, politics, technology, etc ? or maybe a digg like feature that allows citizens to deliver/vote on the news reported? for example, i have noticed that many Rumi citizens introduce excerpts and links to US/Iran related articles on their blogs. it would be interesting to see how the news reported and voted on by citizens varies by neighborhood.

Lower East Side landmark and description: how can we formalize this process so that there is a vehicle by which members can chime in and reach consensus for the aforementioned.  shoot,  how about neighborhood and city wide elections? those who run for office would raise funds via Rep contributions from citizens for ad space/DAPs that can help them get their message out. what  powers do elected officials have?

ah man....this is Great stuff that Darren and I explore regularly. mike, for you to raise the questions that you have is inspiring and a huge first step for citizens to own their city.

let us continue to dream beyond the illusions of limitation.

peace.

OOooo I like the idea of polls.  and wow! I hadn't thought of pooling resources for amenities and such but that's a fantastic idea!!! I have absolutely no idea what a 'digg' is so perhaps someone could tell me about that?

I'd like to see rep points being shared for the community. Getting rep points is a lot of fun but for me it's not what Nuzizo is all about it's about community and not being the one with the most points. I'd gladly use my rep points to start some services for the neighbourhood.

I also like habib's idea for a logo for the lower east side. I am just not that artistic so, don't look to me for that one but I'm sure others in our neighbourhood would have much to offer in that way.

Hi this is what I initially wrote as an answer to your group ( when I thought it was open to the entire city)

Well I think the first thing that makes Bharat unique is that I live there. That said there is something that has bothered me time and time there are new people joining Bharat and yet I do not know when. It is difficult to keep track of new members in the city much less your own neighborhood. You see them on the main city page then poof they disappear into some unknown neighborhood and the only way you know they are there is if one you request friendship or vive versa or if you read a blog and you see that this interesting person has commented on a picture etc. One way to help created a blanketed bond within the neighborhood is to alert all current residents when someone new has moved in. That gives the current residents a chance to say hello and greet them properly, there’s nothing worse than walking down the stairs in your complex and see a new strange face. A neighborhood that’s has close ties is more apt to spread it to the entire city.

I think it's a good idea. You have to work on the small stuff first then move on the the larger issues.  A cardiologist cannot repair damage to the heart until he first makes the incision to get to the heart. Getting to know your neighbors and the workings of your neighborhood is an excellent way to spread love to the city and encourage participation in the city.

ghalbroshan  said:  "Or just want to be able to convert their rep points into cash or something with monetary value, a percentage of which could then be donated by Nuzizo to a local charity group of their choice?"

Yes!  That is a great idea, an affinity program.  Earning tiny amounts for charity isn't just morally good, but it is a great motivator.  There have to be models in place.  Set up partnerships with a number of charities would be a great way to get started on that.

As far as the idea of a virtual greeter, that is also great.  But why just one?  Each neighborhood could have a video guide.  User contributed of course.  What better way to meet the locals than through there own voices.

Here is another thought. I don't know if these request were above the plate or not but it gave me an idea.  I take for granted that I have dual citizenship US/ BWI so it never really crosses my mind when I have to travel. I was asked a few times if I knew anything about immigration laws or on sponsoring someone from over seas and I realized I did.  Now before I get the :are you mad questions" think of this; nuzizo is an international site and although there are going to be people who are fly by night we are going to meet true blue people and hopefully friends for life.  Wouldn’t it be great in our neighborhoods to be able to assist them with information on how to better their lives? Learn a second language?  Groups set up to assist with preparation for school, jobs, life advice. If some one is studying for an exam a study group.  Sponsoring a nuzizo citizen would hopefully pay off in the emotional and mental way.  Tell me if this sucks….cause to be honest I’ve already sent a ton of immigration information to one friend I’ve met who lives in well that‘s between she and I

Well that would be where inner neighborhood blogs come in.  Or a bulletin of some sort an internal message board for only that neighborhood for the time being....as a sort of outlet for the different offerings. For example I would post a blog offering my helpf to someone who wants to brush up on their english or studying to take the INS exam.  A few weeks ago I helped my friend study via webcam. I have no clue if I was any help butI tried.  I take things like that seriously I remember when my mum cam home with her little american flag then when she was naturalized.  All she thought about was how it was going to help her family. Each neighborhood should have a local postoffice where all can go look for new postings...

For ideas about starting how to start up an advice network, I might take a look at 43things.com.  It is a site based around goals and peopleare able to form teams, discuss progress, and most interestingly, when you finish a goal it asks whether you would be willing to help other people who have questions about that goal.

How can we in Nuzizo better connect people who have questions or need help with those who can and want to help? Groups and forums can be used.  It is good that we are already tagging groups.  I have some ideas on this, but as I mentioned, I am already working to build something like this for libraries, so I don't want to give too many secrets away.  I think you are on the right track..

I like the charity affinity program idea a lot as a first step.  I think that will help people want to contribute the data that iwll help connect them with one another.

I wrote this a while ago, but if you are in interested, here is a report I wrote on 43Things for a virtual communities class:  http://mchabib.com/43things/

What about some sort of Classified system?  I suggest a bulletin board in the new Community Center Working Group that I set up.

Anything ever happen with any of these ideas?  I would love to know what has been going on if someone wants to shoot me an update.