New Web Site Forums Organize Interaction COLUMN BY BOB THOMAS The forums on the new Electrical Rebuilder’s Association (ERA) Web site defi- nitely have a new look, and those who have become used to using the EREN Forum may find the multitude of features a little over- whelming at first. This article will help you adjust to some of the new features and learn how to use them. Getting to the Site To get to the new forums, simply go to: www.electricalrebuilders.org. Log on to the Web site. Then select “forums,” from either the tab at the top of the page, or the menu on the left. If you are an ERA member, and have been using EREN, you can log on using your EREN username and password. If you have been using EREN and are not an ERA member, you will have to fill out a “Join Request.” Once approved, you’ll receive a 30-day guest pass to the site. Topics The first thing you’ll notice is that there are many different forums to choose from, each with its own specific purpose. If you have a computer online at your shop, you’ll probably want to keep a browser window open to this page. From here you can easily monitor all activity. You’ll soon find out that the ERA Forums are almost like a Web site in themselves. Each day a multitude of messages will pass through the forums, and the new format is designed to help you quickly find those that will help you the most. You can see that individual forums are broken into four groups (Fig. 1, pg. 16). The Main Forum group includes: “Technical Help,” “Industry News,” and “Quality Control.” “Technical Help” is where members can help one another with technical questions and problems. “Industry News” is for members to dis- cuss the current events of the electrical rebuilding industry. “Quality Control” is for rebuilders to discuss their quality concerns with particular parts or units. Marketplace is the second group, and contains two forums: “Wanted” and “For Sale.” The “Wanted” forum is for letting other members know you are in need of particular parts, complete units, cores, or equipment (Fig. 2, pg. 16). This will probably be the most active of all the forums. The “For Sale” forum is a place for rebuilder members to offer parts, units, cores or equipment for sale. The third group is ERA Community, which provides a place for members to chat with one another about topics that have nothing to do with electrical rebuilding. The need for this group became obvious because many users of EREN have made online friends within the community. The forums are “Off Topic” and “Political Playground.” Please keep all political discussion on the forum that’s been set up for it, and limit all other non-rebuilding discussion to the “Off Topic” forum. Forums “Help” and “Suggestions” are included in the final group. If you need help in using the forums, or have a sug- gestion for improving them, feel free to express yourself here. Features I’m not going to try to explain all the features now, but will try to cover the important ones. You’ll see a light bulb to the left of each forum title. If there is a new post you have not read, it will be lighted yellow. To the right of each forum title is the subject of the last message. Farther to the right are the number of threads (explained later) and the number of posted messages in that forum. The “User CP” is your personal con- trol panel. From here, you can change your own personal settings. Check this area out first, but don’t let all the options scare you. Everyone starts with basic set- tings. You have many options that allow you customize your messages, including the inclusion of your business logo or photo on each message you post. Also check out the “Forum FAQ,” ERA Web Site Terms of Use e Profanity, references to drug use, sexually explicit material, racist or sexist remarks are not permitted anywhere on the Web site (including private messages) Personal attacks directed toward others or obnoxious behavior will not be tolerated (including private messages and e-mail) Forum posts or replies containing specific price information are not permitted. Private messaging or personal e-mails should be used when sharing price information Forum replies that do not add anything constructive to the topic or have been made for personal amusement are not permitted. Such off topic replies directed toward a specific individual should be done using private messaging. Other off topic replies should be moved to the Off Topic Forum The Off Topic Forum has been provided for all discussion that does not fit into any of the other forums. Please keep off topic comments on the forum that has been set up for them. Any reply that does not make a contribution to a specific thread should be moved to the Off Topic Forum The above terms and conditions are in addition to the END USER AGREEMENT linked to at the bottom of each page. Use of the ElectricalRebuilders.Org site consti- tutes an acceptance of the terms and rules contained therein. Why have these rules? The site rules have b