FAQs

What is a blog?

A blog is a type of web site that includes frequently updated entries that provide commentary, news, or information highlights. In some sense, it’s like an informal newsletter, with more interaction between the authors and readers than is possible in a standard electronic newsletter. In a blog, readers can leave comments on posts (the equivalent of articles in a newsletter), creating a discussion around the topic of the post.

What is the purpose of the GLRPPR Blog?

The GLRPPR Blog is meant to facilitate and encourage networking and information exchange among P2 professionals and others in the Great Lakes region that are interested in promoting sustainability in industry and everyday life. We hope you’ll use the blog to stay up-to-date on environmental issues and to share ideas and techniques.  Not everyone can come to conferences to network with colleagues. Let the GLRPPR Blog bring the benefits of such interaction to your desktop.

How does the blog differ from the GLRPPR news service?

The blog includes not only current news, but also resources that GLRPPR staff members think you might find interesting or useful. It’s our way of pointing out interesting information to you, while providing you with a way to comment or expand upon on that information, in order to provide us with feedback or to enrich the information shared among your colleagues.

How does the blog differ from the LINK newsletter?

LINK was produced quarterly and was a static publication that did not allow readers to leave comments in direct response to any given article. The GLRPPR Blog is updated frequently. We encourage readers to leave comments on posts and to see what other readers have to say about those posts.  Instead of submitting articles to an editor for inclusion in the newsletter, we encourage you to submit ideas or information for blog post or articles that will be posted on your behalf. The LINK archives are available on IDEALS, the University of Illinois’ institutional repository.

How does the blog differ from a listserv?

A blog is more structured than a listserv. On a listserv, any subscriber can randomly drive the content of the discussion. GLRPPR staff members write the regular posts and readers respond by posting comments. This allows for more focused discussions. Blog posts are also archived, categorized and searchable, creating an online repository that can be accessed at any time. You can link to posts from from other web sites (including the main GLRPPR site and portions of it which might relate to blog categories, such as the Sector Resources).

Listservs are email based and can sometimes become a burden on the inbox of subscribers, causing the managers of listservs to be more conservative in using them to disseminate information (i.e. high-quality, but low volume). Blogs allow for more liberal sharing of information, since the readers are more in control of receiving the information by either going to the blog site to read new posts or reading RSS feeds of posts via news aggregators (i.e. high-quality and high-volume, since the readers can pick and chose what and when to read).

A blog combines the benefits of both a content-rich website and the direct interactions offered by a listserv, while avoiding the information overload sometimes created by high-traffic listservs. If you would prefer to receive posts via e-mail, subscribe here.

Is the blog moderated? How do I leave a comment?

The GLRPPR Blog is moderated. Only authorized individuals (typically GLRPPR staff members, although an occasional “guest blogger” might be asked to provide expert insight on a subject) are able to post.

To comment, readers must register and login to WordPress, the blog publishing system used to produce the GLRPPR Blog. This is free and requires filling out an online form to create a username and password. Once you have a WordPress username and password, you can login at any subsequent time to leave a comment on the GLRPPR Blog. When you click on the “leave a comment” link under a blog post, you’ll be automatically prompted to login to WordPress. If you’re commenting for the first time, you’ll create your username and password at that time.

Blog administrators (GLRPPR staff members) must also approve comments before they are published to the blog. This is for quality control purposes (e.g. to prevent pranksters or spammers from leaving inappropriate remarks, to ensure professionalism and proper etiquette among those commenting on blog posts, etc.).

Can I read the blog with my news aggregator?

Yes, blog posts are available in an RSS feed, just like the GLRPPR news service.

Can I get blog posts sent to my email account?

Yes, if you prefer to check the blog in this fashion, you can do so. You can subscribe to the blog via email by clicking on the “Subscribe to the GLRPPR Blog By Email” link available along the top right of the main blog page or by going directly to the subscription form. Once you’ve completed the form, you’ll receive an email message with instructions for you to confirm your subscription. After you confirm, you’ll start receiving the latest blog posts in your email inbox. You only receive email when something new is posted.

Who do I contact with questions or suggestions?

If you have any questions about the blog not addressed here, or if you have suggestions for information to include in the GLRPPR Blog, contact us at glrppr@glrppr.org.

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